Parents of the HS Class of 2014

Parents of Class of 20xx
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<p>Youngest is really starting to focus in on Eckerd (FL) as his top choice (Tropical Bio of some sort). Does anyone know how close they come to meeting EFC? They have a forum here, but no one has posted in it for a LONG time - no threads visible. We can probably meet our EFC, but exceeding it could be problematic. I’m trying to figure out whether to let him just go with Eckerd being his dream school or whether to bring him back to reality with finances.</p>

<p>Also, if Eckerd would be financially feasible, it would mean he wouldn’t have to retake the SAT as when I put the numbers in the NPC for merit, it doesn’t change with higher data.</p>

<p>Suggestions of other schools similar to Eckerd are also welcome. He knows about Juniata (we’re in PA), but he wants southern (including Hawaii as an option). Humbolt state would work if it weren’t a CA state school - we definitely can’t afford that one.</p>

<p>He wants small, southern (for the tropical part) and a bit of hands on. With his test scores of 1870, suggesting upper level schools is rather pointless, but I know there are oodles in his range score-wise. I’m just not up on many small southern (or HI) schools. Meeting an EFC will be fairly important (and tough to get, I know).</p>

4362

<p>Can I just say, suddenly there is a thread going for current 8 th graders, of which I have one. I was nice and relaxed, looking at S14, and then that appeared. Rats.
I’m happy to read about all the spring break tours- sounds like we are all doing what needs to be done right now…</p>

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<p>I am thinking this about DS14 as well. Although he still claims that he wants to apply to the “top” schools, I think that is <em>also</em> part and parcel of being in his brother’s shadow – DS11 got into an elite school, so he wants to prove he can do it too (only I’m not sure he can, since his test scores are similar but his class rank and ECs are not as good). I think all in all he’d be better off not aiming for those schools and “coming up short”. We’ll see.</p>

<p>I definitely second the EA/rolling options. Drexel used to be rolling and DS11 had his acceptance there with a big enough scholarship to make it doable very early on. It was one of his “final four” when it came down to making the big decision. DS14 really liked Drexel when we visited as well, and is likely to be a good safety for him, too, but they no longer do rolling admissions or EA. :(</p>

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<p>Eyemamom & mathmom - I think about this with my DS, as well. I cannot picture him at an ivy school, but MIT definitely has crossed our minds. He has the scores/gpa/ECs to be entered into the lottery. But, would he be happy there? Or he could go to a state U and enroll in the honors program. Since he has nailed down a specialty within a major, I think that is the main thing we will focus on - which schools have that specialty. Our spring break tour definitely opened our eyes on that specialty. Visiting two state schools that had it, then going to a top tier school that didn’t brought it home! I think at this point he’d be happy to applying to one and being done! I still want him to investigate a few others.</p>

<p>Creekland - we get the mailings from Eckerd. That looks like a really fun school! What about other gulf coast schools. I have seen a marine biology major at Texas A&M - Galveston and Corpus Christi campuses.</p>

4365

<p>MIT is what my DS14 says he wants. I honestly don’t think he can get in, but he has the scores to at least enter the lottery (assuming he gets his act together to take a sciences SAT II).</p>

<p>Even if he thinks he has nailed down a specialty, keep your eyes open for what opportunities he’ll have if he changes his mind. My DS chose Cornell in part because of their game design minor, and then decided first semester freshman year that he actually isn’t going to do the minor (although he is still pursuing a career in game development, for now at least).</p>

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<p>U of Alabama & Auburn both had a wonderful Mechanical Engineering with Automotive (either as a minor or just a concentration) - and great co-op opportunities within the automotive industry. You’re right, he might change his mind once he is there but I think they both had a deep enough program that it wouldn’t be a problem. Our state flagship has a good program, I just don’t see the automotive concentration like I did the two Alabama schools.</p>

4367

<p>Sparkle Son saw Princeton Friday - we both think it would be a good place to go if he gets in. If. The kids seemed like a comfortable mix to S '14. I didn’t see any preppy looking kids at all. ((Now imagining a ‘pre-prospie’ clean up effort to move the preppy looking kids out of sight, like has been done to the street people before big Conventions - that’s a funny thought!))</p>

<p>Visiting Cornell Engineering Monday - any suggestions for reasonably priced hotels, motels appreciated. Restaurants suggestions gratefully accepted too! I’m looking forward to it.</p>

<p>Thanks to the advice and attention re: when to say when on the SATs. S’14 decided to take the Subject tests in May alongside the APs to free up his schedule for June. So - we have a plan!
PS</p>

4368

<p>We went on a 9 1/2 hour driving tour of Eastern Michigan, University of Michigan, Albion College, Kalamazoo College, Western Michigan and Grand Valley State University. S14 has had no clue what kind of campus he would like. He felt very relaxed and at home at the two small private schools- Albion and Kzoo. He thought the others seemed kind of overwhelming. At least now we know where to focus our energies. Small private LACs.</p>

4369

<p>Finally home! And I think I have land sickness … I feel like I just got off a cruise. It feels weird to NOT be moving. </p>

<p>mathmomvt … re: U of Rochester. I think if we would’ve seen this school earlier in the week, it would’ve been a more positive experience. It was our last stop and she was just done - and still in love w/ Cornell. On a positive note, all the kids got tshirts, a snazzy U of Rochester folder, pen, free water, free coffee. :wink: The info session was fairly generic - we left right after and didn’t do the tour. Like I said, she was just done at this point. </p>

<p>29happymom26 … Valpo? So … what did you think? Did you tour or just drive thru?</p>

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<p>There are no reasonable hotels in Ithaca. If you want to save money, depending on your schedule, stay in Cortland. </p>

<p>Moosewood Cafe is in Ithaca. Haven’t been yet but it’s supposed to be amazing for vegetarian food (you’ve probably seen their cookbooks). Both sets of grandparents have taken the boy out to eat at the Boatyard Grill, which is quite nice. When we were doing the college visits we had buffalo style wings delivered to our hotel from Wings over Ithaca, and they were not bad. We were so exhausted – we went for our first and only visit on a accepted student day, and literally walked 10 miles that day going back and forth between events at North Campus, where the freshmen live, and events in the Engineering quad a mile away, and the campus tour, engineering tour and dorm tour!</p>

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<p>ParentSparkle - we stayed in Cortland at the Holiday Inn Express. Not too far away … I believe the hotel is only a couple of years old too. $129/night.</p>

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<p>PS–I sent you a PM (that sounds odd!)</p>

<p>I suggested eating in Collegetown, not for the quality of the food, but so that your son could more fully experience Cornell, especially if your visit is brief. Cut diagonally across engineering quad, take stairs alongside furthermost building (Thurston Hall maybe–the old Eng buildings all look the same), follow wooded path into Collegetown. It is not even a five minute walk from the Engineering quad. </p>

<p>I have no idea what the tour covers, as I have never taken one, but if you have extra time, here are a few fun places to check out:
–stop into Sage Chapel (near Day Hall, so may be on tour)
–check out the catwalks at the Andrew D. White library
-the view of West Campus & the lake from the terrace behind Uris Library is lovely
–go to top (5th?) floor of Johnson Art Museum for the view over the lake
–walk over the pedestrian suspension bridge. Go to far end of Arts Quad (you will almost be there if you go to Johnson Art Museum). From Art Museum, go down onto University Ave. Walk a tiny bit south and you will find it.
–From other side of suspension bridge, you can work your way up to North Campus and walk around Beebe Lake.<br>
All of the above assumes favorable weather and a willingness to walk.</p>

<p>Cornell has added a lot of new buildings, but there is still so much natural beauty. Have fun!</p>

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<p>Want to echo what 4kidsmom said about kids’ “growth” between April of Junior year and April of senior year. Keep options open because that No. 1 school could slip down the list. The kids learn more about the schools and the kids change themselves. It happens.</p>

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<p>Happy Easter everyone! And thanks so much for the in-depth post-tour discussions. Not sure how many miles I drove, but it’s so nice to be home. In retrospect, I think we were too ambitious. We saw seven schools (but only six tours). By the time we saw Brown yesterday, we were all tour-fatigued. Although I have to share a funny story. The Brown admissions clerk told us they had had 8000 students through during the week. The Saturday group was smaller so there were four tour guides (no info session because of spring break). Each tour guide introduced themseleves and what they were studying, where they interned or worked. One gal said she worked at the Sexual Pleasure Center and Gender Something Something. I turned to another mom and she looked at me with wide eyes…“Did she just say Sexual Pleasure?” My 13-year old was in stitches. Now, I couldn’t find the Sexual Pleasure Center on the map and I’m guessing, the rest of the crowd is still looking for it, too! </p>

<p>I think the perils of cramming so many schools in a week is similar to trying to see as much of a major European city in a week. All of the museums start to feel the same; so do the buildings. DD said she really didn’t get as much of a feel for Brown without the info session. It’s a very pretty school; smaller campus than some of the others we’ve seen. Providence seems like a nice-sized city and with the State government facilities there, I’m sure there are a lot of opportunities. </p>

<p>I spoke to a lot of other parents on tours to find out what they had seen and what their kids were “feeling.” I can’t tell you how many times Cornell came up and how so many parents and kids were “suprised” how much they liked it. I wish we had had another week so we could have explored it and Univ. or Rochester. At the airport we ran into a bunch of families we knew on our flight. Although we didn’t look at any LAC’s, I heard that a lot of families were impressed with Clark (a smaller univ.), Amherst and Wheaton. Heard only negatives about Williams and Vassar. </p>

<p>Since this was basically our East Coast “Reach” Trip, now we’ll focus on finding those safeties she can love. I think we’ll find more on the west coast for her that has the potential of meeting her criteria for a mid-sized university but still will offer good merit aid. </p>

<p>I’m glad that we all had the experience of hearing what some of these lottery schools have to offer – to be honest, my preconception was that they would all be pretty much the same but just different locations. But you definitely realize when touring that not all of them are for everybody.</p>

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<p>I’m jealous of all of you who are done! We head out tomorrow. However, we’re only going to 3, we’ve seen quite a few already here and there since last spring break. My kids have both gotten tired of looking at schools after day 2. </p>

<p>We decided a few we just won’t visit til she sees if she gets in. I’m surprised ivy’s even put in the effort to do tours before you’re admitted - lol. I’m sure the tour guides are thinking - 5% people, 5% get in so don’t get too excited about what you see. My philosophy now has evolved to get the safety/match in the bag that you are excited about, then throw out the reaches but know for sure you have a few you will not be depressed about if it’s your only choice.</p>

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<p>G’morning all …</p>

<p>Feels great to have slept in my own bed and my own pillow!</p>

<p>I hope no one minds, but I’m going to use this post as a mini-review of our college visits - perhaps it may help someone a tiny bit, but most likely I’ll refer to it later in the college selection process. So bear w/ me! :)</p>

<p>Due to the impending storm (that never really materialized) we skipped Johns Hopkins and holed up in Philly. Whatever you do, don’t stay at the Holiday Inn on the river. We typically use Holiday Inn’s when we travel via car for kid’s functions as we’re Priority Club members, they have decent rates, clean rooms, are EVERYWHERE and have a pretty decent free breakfast. This was the first (and hopefully only) HI I’ve ever hated.</p>

<p>University of Pennsylvania: We had to make reservations, but no one checked us in. Online, it said the sessions/tours were closed and they could not accomodate walkins, but that was blatantly false - anyone could’ve walked in off the street. I knew going in the Penn was most likely a no-go for my DD as she said she didn’t think she wanted an urban school. And I was right - but I think we needed to see it so she would 100% know what she wants/doesn’t want. The buildings are gorgeous and the info session was GREAT. She spelled out exactly what a selective school wants - most rigorous curriculum YOUR school offers, leadership positions and dedication to ec’s, essays that speak in the voice of the student, blah blah blah. We opted to skip the tour per DD … she just wasn’t into the school. </p>

<p>(I should say that we told her that when we were visiting schools, if she knew it wasn’t the right school for her, we could skip or leave whenever she wanted.)</p>

<p>Brown - No reservations required. Tricky parking - definitely give yourself time to find a spot to park. Good/decent info session done by adcon … she began w/ some Greek mythology stories - I didn’t think I was in the right place for a while. :wink: DD loved the open curriculum of Brown and how roommate selection is done. (Freshman can’t know one another - I liked it as well.) Tour groups were fairly large - our guide did a fairly good job, but did not have a voice that projected. We missed a lot of information due to her volume and the sounds of spring break construction. I should also mention that my DD15 and my husband both fell down the same small hill right after one another. (Which left me to joke that half the family already fell for Brown - which wasn’t really appreciated, but I thought it was funny anyway.) Tip: use the stairs. Overall, DD14 really liked Brown and the research opportunities. Depending on how the summer goes with her shadowing, she may apply early decision to the PLME program & Brown.</p>

<p>Wiliams College - I grew up in the midwest. I’m used to flat land driving. I HATE any kind of hill or mountain - coupled w/ snow, I can’t see myself EVER driving to visit my daughter during the winter months if she went here. And I guess I won’t have to as Williams was a no-go as well. But it was a school I think she needed to see - the very opposite of Penn. Williams is in a BEAUTIFUL setting - remote, but beautiful. We did a morning tour, but opted to skip the info session as this was not the school for my DD14. This was actually the only school that we took a dorm tour … I think they should’ve chosen the dorm a bit more carefully though. This particular one had foul words and phrases on the walls, and a poster to tell you how you know you’ve drank too much. I wasn’t particularly offended as these are college kids, but I can see how some may be. No reservations were required, but the kids did fill out a contact form before the tour. </p>

<p>(A side note, 95% of people on/at tours/info sessions had on North Face jackets and cute scarfs/boots. Apparently, there seems to be a uniform that you’re encouraged to wear while touring.)</p>

<p>Cornell - if you visit Cornell, stay in Cortland. Its 20-30 min. away and more affordable than Ithaca. The Holiday Inn Express was only 2 years old - the rooms were beautiful and the staff was fantastic and very friendly/helpful. If you park in the Hoy parking garage, disregard the signs and head to the upper floors to park or you will be trapped. Every single car that entered the garage did the same thing and had to do 3 point turns to get out of a dead end. From the second DD14 entered the campus, she was in love. I really don’t know why - I would’ve guessed it would’ve been a bit too big for her, but maybe it was the hustle and bustle of students on campus that she liked. This info/session tour required reservations and there were several Cornelians w/ clipboards checking in students before the info session. Lots of materials were available to pick up (and pencils!) before going into the auditorium. The session was tailored to Engineering, CALS & Arts and Sciences - with an overall presentation by the Director of Admissions and then an Admissions person from each college giving a presentation as well. I believe her name was Pamela Tan (?) from CALS - by FAR the best speaker/presentation we heard all week. The 3 admissions officers took questions from the packed auditorium as well - microphones were set up for people to come and ask questions. In theory, its a fantastic idea. In practice, with an audience this size, the info session ended up being almost 2 hours long. And people asked questions that were either too personalized (so, I’ve taken 3 history classes - should I take a science or a math?) or so generalized that they could be found on the first page of the folder that you picked up a 1/2 an hour ago outside the room (what’s Cornell’s admission rate?). The tour was immediately following and were ended up w/ the best tour guide we’ve had to date. Great voice projection, funny, witty, relateable - and is on their mock trial team that’s headed to nationals. (She high fived my daughter when my DD told her that her team is headed to nationals as well - this just may have sealed the deal for DD.) I’m not really a fan of the fact that most upperclassmen seem to live off campus - but that may just be a personal hang up. 50% of the freshman doorms we were told were singles - I’m not quite sure I like that. I can see where a maybe not really extroverted kid could be quite isolated by not having a built in buddy. I dunno how I feel about that yet. Overall, great info session (though long) and fantastic tour guide.</p>

<p>University of Rochester - poor U of Rochester. I think the school would’ve faired better in my daughter’s mind if it would’ve been scheduled a bit earlier in the week. By Saturday, everyone was pretty much done and we wanted to get home. We needed reservations and the kids checked in via computer when we arrived. Best presentation packet so far - great folder with U of R details, a pen and a tshirt! Water and coffee was offered as well. Info session was pretty good - but DD opted to skip the student lead tour. I should also mention that when DD read the stats of the accepted students, hers surpassed most of them … I think she likes the thought of being at a school where all of the kids are frickin’ geniuses and she’s in the middle of the pack. (Does that make sense w/o sounding snooty? I hope so … )</p>

<p>All in all, I think it was a great trip! Right now she’s in love w/ Cornell. (If you could see her twitter feed … oh my gosh!) That may or may not change. But I think she knows was kind of school she doesn’t want. </p>

<p>Happy Easter!</p>

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<p>Quote: Now, I couldn’t find the Sexual Pleasure Center on the map and I’m guessing, the rest of the crowd is still looking for it, too! </p>

<p>Can I resist saying the first thought that comes into my mind? Apparently not:</p>

<p>Punchline: If that crowd needs a map to find the Sexual Pleasure Center, I don’t hold out much hope for them.</p>

<p>Metapunchline: The Internet, I think, is more modern than a map:
<a href=“http://thecsph.org/about-the-csph-2[/url]”>http://thecsph.org/about-the-csph-2&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Thanks for all the resturant and motel tips! I had no idea Moosewood Resturant was in Ithica - drooling to try it. I wonder how to bribe sparkleson to go with me? They do have take out though.</p>

<p>Smiles,
PS</p>

4378

<p>Ever wish you could just transport yourself to the college for the tour without the hassle of getting there or staying in hotels?</p>

<p>We’re going to be rebels at Va Tech. They only had 1 spot left for the tour, so we registered my d for it and she got a ticket. Do you really think they won’t let us tag along? We figured they really couldn’t prevent people from walking along but if it really is an issue we’d just hang behind or follow at a distance. </p>

<p>My son goes to UR, really enjoys it, but clearly isn’t for everyone. Definitely a different curriculum and vibe. He’s happy there and finds the students extremely bright and quirky. He has really enjoyed all his classes, no TA’s and grad students teach classes and all his classes have been quite small. He goes out weekly to lunch with one prof and fellow students and hangs out discussing things with the profs during their office hours. It’s a good fit for him, and that’s ultimately what you want to find for your kids - the school that engages them and fits them in most aspects.</p>

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<p>Welcome back to those who are returning from tours. S leaves early tomorrow for his school’s East coast college tour. 6 days, 10 schools: probably none that are realistic for him (due to either stats or major). I’m encouraged by your stories to hope that he will at least get a feel for size and location and other factors. I do hope he doesn’t completely burn out on visits, or get discouraged by stats… after recently receiving his first SAT scores, which he is not happy with.</p>

<p>sent from my smartphone with my fat fingers</p>

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<p>ParentSparkle, believe me, it took everything I had not to ASK her where I could find my you-know-what! My daughter was already embarassed that my son and I let out a loud guffaw when we heard Sexual Pleasure. Unfortunately I tend to have middle school boy humor.</p>

<p>KaMaMom–So sorry we didn’t run into one another at the tours. I think LindZ was also on the same route. I was shocked at how many kids and families were out touring. </p>

<p>The only Ivy that we went to that did not require any registration was Princeton. We kind of felt like they were doing us a favor letting us tour. Of course with such a low admittance rate, I guess they sort of are…We didn’t see a lot of students on campus during our Princeton tour which made me a bit concerned. Unlike Penn and Yale tha really emphasized collaborative, interdisplinary learning, we felt that Princeton really wanted independent, self-directed students who pretty much knew what they wanted to do. They also discouraged any second major which was a deal breaker for my daughter.</p>

<p>One thing I might add, I was surprised to hear how few Ivy kids take advantage of Study Abroad. Our Princeton tour guide said that only 10% take advantage of it during the school year since there is such a major focus on the senior thesis. However, she did say that they will underwrite your researchy just about anywhere (yoga in India, anyone?) and many students use the summer to do it. I didn’t notice any hoity-toitiness either. Our tour guide was very nice–articulate and enthusiastic.</p>

<p>My daughter was able to spend the night at Yale (two good friends going there) and one of the boys, a junior, just did study abroad in Italy and loved it. He said most kids just don’t want to miss out on anything at Yale so they don’t take advantage of study abroad. The student life really sounded amazing. Freshman housing is still sorted Harry Potter style in the residential colleges but it’s all freshmen in your particular college. If there are 15% admitted international students, then they divide up the colleges so that they each have 15% international students. Same geographically. The residential college system really resonated for us–students really stay on campus their whole four years as a result of the comraderie. Lots of practical joking all around.</p>