Parents of the HS Class of 2014

Parents of Class of 20xx
4201

<p>MathMom–Re: Lehigh–your comment made me ask myself why I didn’t schedule an interview at Lehigh for our April break so I pulled this comment off my spreadsheet. </p>

<p>“On-campus interviews last approximately 45 minutes and, in terms of demonstrated interest, are considered equivalent to the Group Information Sessions (thus, doing both the Group Session and interview is unnecessary). In fact, we highly recommend that the Group Information Session be your first choice since it is more comprehensive.”</p>

<p>Now, they may just be saying that b/c they can’t possibly interview everyone who applies. What are your thoughts? I am inclined to think that he should take an interview whenever one is offered, especially when CDS lists interview as ‘Considered’, but at the same rate, I don’t want to be overbearing. I am trying to weigh the pain of a return trip to some of these schools in August, if they even grant interviews then.</p>

<p>I must have copied this off their website at one point:
Interviews at Lehigh University are designed for students who would feel more comfortable in a one-on-one situation, have many specific questions, and/or have a personal situation to discuss. Interviews are NOT required for admission. Though evaluative in nature, they are one part of the holistic review our staff uses when considering an application for admission. The outcome of an admissions decision, therefore, should not be interpreted as a reflection of the student’s performance during the interview.</p>

4202

<p>Lindz–I am in awe that you can travel for a week using just a backpack. My shoes alone would fill a backpack. </p>

<p>Will you be driving from Logan out to Tufts & Brandeis? Boston driving is an adventure. I have lived in both Boston and NYC and owned cars while living in these cities and found Boston driving more challenging, and more fun. It is not for the uninitiated in certain areas. The locals outnumber the tourists whereas in NYC, cabs and delivery vehicles outnumber everything else and you just have to obey traffic laws or you will get nailed. Boston drivers interpret road rules a bit more loosely! </p>

<p>Safe travels all.</p>

4203

<p>Thanks for the info on Lehigh interviews CT1417. Now that you say that I remember reading the same myself. I’ve just been reading the Lehigh thread and getting the impression that “everyone” did the interviews :wink: My thoughts are that if I think DS can pull off a strong interview where he presents himself well, he should probably do that. He would definitely need to “practice” in advance. I think first he needs to think about what his “story” is about what he would bring to the community. He’s not really a leader personality, but honestly, how would it work out to have a community of all leaders? Yet it always seems like schools with “holistic” admissions are looking for that. </p>

<p>Lindz (and others) – If you’re driving in Boston, bring or rent a good GPS! Boston driving is definitely rather intimidating, and all the more so if you’re not sure where you need to go next! Boston drivers are always in a rush and don’t tolerate hesitation, and will be obnoxious about letting you in if you’re in the wrong lane. (Eventually, someone will – it may help to be driving with out of state plates, though.)</p>

4204

<p>mathmomvt, congrats on DS being done with the ACT! My DS would love to be done with testing, but he doesn’t feel that his SAT score is going to make that possible. We’ll find out a week from Thursday!</p>

<p>You guys are making me nostalgic for driving in Boston… :)</p>

4205

<p>Good luck to everyone waiting for the most recent round of SAT scores – my DS was very pleasantly surprised by his ACT score – he didn’t think it had gone as well as it had.</p>

4206

<p>I’m on my phone and it’s a bit hard to backtrack and refer to certain posters specifically BUT I think it’s looking like we should have a mini get together at Mock Trial Nationals in Indy! We will be there too!</p>

4207

<p>we’ll see if I can really pull it off w just the backpack…taking Go to bus from NYC to Cambridge, then picking up a car there for the next day’s visits to Tufts and Brandeis, then driving to Providence for our final visit.</p>

4208

<p>Shoes-
ahh bought several pair of great shoes “with attitude”…they are far higher than I ahve bought in the past and fun…though the last day or so I have gone barefoot</p>

<p>:)</p>

<p>I am taking a pair of track shoes for the tours. I bought them a few years ago when during a nor’easter in New Haven my shoes came apart…No shoe store open and so I had to glue them together to get on the train between NH and Phl…
First stop in Phl was a shoe store…and I bought these. Comfy…good insoles and water-resistant.</p>

<p>The schedule is grueling–we don’t have much choice. I think I will snap a pic of a few things. I do have my kiddos do a little “form” each day/night. Sometimes we work on it over dinner-- what did you like.hate…etc. K2 has an interview at almost every school…
sheesh.</p>

<p>I am hoping to fly with only a carry-on…did it last year…The weather may get in the way… because wet=more dry clothes.</p>

4209

<p>OK so put the route on google to mark the places starred for my navigation…
9 schools
6 states
close to 1700 miles
27 1/2 hrs</p>

<p>Calgon–take me away… ;)</p>

4210

<p>I feel like a whimp…a whimp with fancy shoes. :o</p>

<p>Driving, leaving Friday night returning Tuesday night, 730mi. Three schools, info sessions & tours.</p>

4211

<p>Lehigh info session gave us the best information on college essays. First she said only interview if you are strong in that area. She talked about the college essay - explained to the kids that she has to read hundreds of essays a night. Do not talk about your dead grandma, your dead dog or about your sports game if you are just relaying how the game went. Write about what isn’t obvious on your application, let her know you, your voice and your opinion. She didn’t care if she disagreed with your opinion she wanted to know you had one. </p>

<p>S applied but we never found out if he got in because he did ED somewhere else. We pulled all the stops out with that school though and I’ll forever be curious if he would have gotten in or not. </p>

<p>Talk about a shoe horror story - I wore sandals to one of the tours, which were perfectly comfortable until some enormous kid stepped on the back of my sandal as I was taking a step and my sandal straps broke. The shoe was nearly impossible to walk in without the straps.</p>

4212

<p>To those flying and then driving to college visits as the only parent–don’t do what I did. Forgot rental car companies require all drivers to be 25 years old. It’s going to be a LONG week for me as the sole driver on our midwest and east coast tour later this summer…>>sigh<<</p>

4213

<p>I have a gf with a d at Lehigh who is very happy, doing very well, and is involved is so many things! I’d love to take S3 but it’s in the opposite direction. Depending on his SATs another trip. So glad to hear so many people having good experiences there.</p>

4214

<p>Several pages back, Blueiguana and others were talking about questionnaires. What are these used for?</p>

<p>As far as contacting admissions is concerned, it wouldn’t get done if I don’t do it. She leaves the house at 6:30 and it’s often after 9 before she’s home. </p>

<p>No sperry’s for college tours. I haven’t had a pair for 20 years and didn’t realize they were back. Much less in gold! Is that how we can recognize each other? By our gold sperry’s? Depending on the weather, it’ll be boots or comfy shoes. Spygirl and I leave Sunday for our college tours. We’re only doing 2 possibly 3. But the first one is a 7 hour drive. Ugh. And we have yet to receive an email confirmation.</p>

4215

<p>99–The questionnaire is something our GC requires both the parent and student to complete (different questions on separate forms). This info is supposed to help the GC assist us in college selection and also provide her info to use when completing her LOR. To be honest, I think it was a great starting point for our family as it forced each of us to sit and think about our responses. One page of the student version seemed to follow the Common App format of activities, etc. While it is a bit too late to attempt to fill in the gaps, it did serve to illustrate to my son all that I have been telling him. It is always better to hear these things from an outside source.</p>

<p>As far as I know, each HS develops its own questionnaire and I suppose there may be schools that do not use one at all.</p>

4216

<p>fwiw</p>

<p>I went back and read the questionaire my “k1” did for the GC and the one we did…</p>

<p>and the one for K2 … and our response for ours will be different.</p>

<p>Feel similar to the age old question of “what I wish I had know when I was in high school” …when you are over 40…</p>

<p>Every hs does it differently. Not better nor worse…just differently which is why being here helps us figure out what gaps to close/help with for our kids on the couch…</p>

4217

<p>Seattle–Re: Driving in Boston…</p>

<p>I had not been on Comm Ave other than in the Back Bay area in years. Quite surprised to find that a bike lane had been added to the already crazy maze of car, pedestrian and street level T tracks near BU. Turning left across all of these lanes really brought Boston driving to new levels. </p>

<p>fogfog–my 8th grader is already benefiting from all that I am learning with my 11th grader.</p>

4218

<p>^^fog, I’m on my iPhone which doesn’t allow copy & paste w/i the cc app, or I would to reference this last paragraph…</p>

<p>I love this!! :slight_smile: Our hs’s are all different, and as parents we all have a different knowledge base, talents, and such a willingness to share information, and support one another, and each of ‘our kids’…they are all unique with different goals. :)</p>

4219

<p>We actually had two packets. The first was only for my DS to fill out, and it called for basic information: classes taken, summer experiences/plans, potential course of studies in college, ECs, etc. This was due end of January, in anticipation of individual counselor meetings in February/March. I don’t remember much detail about this first packet since I didn’t have to do any work on it!</p>

<p>The second one, which is due in June, is more involved. Here’s what it requires from the student:</p>

<p>Activities: You will need to write a resume that will “formally” document your work/volunteer experiences, academic and extracurricular activities, awards (both academic and non-academic), and achievements. Be sure to list any intern/mentorship experience in this section, as well as activities outside of school and your summer.</p>

<p>Post Graduation Plans: Where are you thinking about applying? Early decision? Early Action? Why, specifically, have you decided to apply to these schools? What major(s) are you interested in? What do they offer that make them attractive to you?</p>

<p>Self-Assessment: Support your responses with examples and stories. </p>

<ol>
<li><p>If you were to write your own recommendation, what would you say in your first paragraph that would prompt your reader to read on? WRITE THE PARAGRAPH! Make it reflect you!</p></li>
<li><p>How have you taken advantage of the challenging curriculum and/or opportunities at our school?</p></li>
<li><p>How have you contributed to our school or local community? Have you shown leadership ability, team work? If so, how?</p></li>
<li><p>What is your passion? Give examples (current- from the beginning of ninth grade)… How do you spend your free time? What is a typical weekday or weekend for you?</p></li>
<li><p>Which single activity has been most important to you and why? (You may choose a school-affiliated program or an independent one.)</p></li>
<li><p>How have you demonstrated strong character and maturity? Examples and details needed! </p></li>
<li><p>Describe any work or volunteer experiences you have had? How did the experience impact you?</p></li>
<li><p>Describe an incident in which you demonstrated strong character (loyalty, integrity, self-discipline, kindness, commitment to high ideals, caring for others, etc.) Think outside the box, not cheating is not the only answer! </p></li>
<li><p>What three words best describe you? Why/how so? You can always ask a friend, coach, teacher or family member if you get stuck.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Then there is the parent section, which asks the following questions:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>What are the definitive personal characteristics/qualities of your daughter/son?</p></li>
<li><p>What are your child’s passion(s)? Is there a story you could share that demonstrates his/her passion(s)?</p></li>
<li><p>Are there any financial limitations that could impact where your student applies? </p></li>
<li><p>How has your daughter/son demonstrated strong character and maturity?</p></li>
<li><p>Describe one or two major events that you see as turning points in your son/daughter’s development and explain why you view them as such.</p></li>
<li><p>His/her greatest strength/weakness is:</p></li>
<li><p>Please relate anecdotes that describe your student’s strengths, accomplishments, preferences, work habits, goals, personality, etc. </p></li>
<li><p>Is there anything you wish to add which would help me in writing the Counselor’s Statement for colleges?</p></li>
</ol>

<p>And finally, there is the teacher section, which asks for one anecdote that describes the student. Some suggested topics include:</p>

<p>• Academic performance and how it distinguished him/her from others.
• Qualities as a student and/or person.
• Impact in your class or activity for which you sponsor.
• Personal circumstances.
• Unusual accomplishments.
• What you like best about this student and why.</p>

<p>There’s also a list of characteristics listed, and the teacher is asked to choose any and all that are associated with the student.</p>

4220

<p>2014novamom - great list of questions. Thanks for posting them.</p>

<p>Our first one-on-one with D and GC is tomorrow for 40 minutes. We’ve already had two general sessions. The first was a 2 hour panel presentation with 4 college Adcons and the second was an hour with a LAC Director of FA, a local scolarship organization rep and the school counseling staff. Extremely informative for the first timers and still beneficial and helpful to those of us who have been through this already with an older child.</p>

<p>We expect to get the questionnaires tomorrow as well as to discuss general search parameters, resume preparation and the essays which they look at as a summer study project since they review and refine them in their 12th grade English classes in the fall. This is a private school and is much, much more hands on that the public HS that DS attended.</p>