<p>Quote: We are nowhere near having a list ready in this house. Will be visiting nine schools next week so hopefully that will provide some direction.</p>
<p>CT - I hope you have a great trip, and that you come home from your safari with lots of enthusiasm. My S felt very insecure before the ‘big trip’ with even a bit of whining. After the trip he was so proud of himself and felt like
a) he’s way ahead of the crowd
b) he can get his arms around the process
He could hardly wait to get back to school and indulge in a bit of well earned bragging about the ‘big game’ he spotted on ‘safari.’</p>
<p>It’s so cool to see them grow up before our eyes.
As for the magic number of applications, I think it really depends so much on individual circumstances. I think there is a sharp line between how many colleges one looks at and how many one applies to! Keep looking until you find a safety you love. Personally, I can easily picture 12-15 apps IF one is has the stats to get into the Super-Reaches and is seriously considering going to one of them. </p>
<p>It also matters if one has a hook, or is hookless. A female interested in Engineering might need fewer apps than the quite different situation of a female looking for a small LAC.</p>
<p>Not that I have any personal experience - I’ve got a one and only! This is just my overall distillation of what I’ve read and heard.</p>
<p>PS^, what you describe above is how my S1 '11 handled his apps. He applied to 15 schools. He had an ED and 2 EAs he heard from in mid December (deferred and then later accepted to his ED, and accepted to both EAs) but kept his other apps in because they were either schools that gave merit aid or were in the east, which is where we live (the two EAs were midwestern schools), and we thought that he might after all prefer staying closer to home (his ED school where he now attends is about 3 hours away). He did experience the typical lottery madness: applied to 4 ivies and was accepted to 2, rejected by 2, and wait listed at a peer institution, while getting into other peers. But, call me pollyanna, I believe in the karma of this process: I think most kids end up exactly where they will be happy and grow. Perhaps in the last 3 years, though, as things have gotten even more competitive, that’s changing?</p>
<p>S2’s experience may be more difficult and nuttier. Three years ago, a safety could be counted on to act as a safety. But that seems to be changing. S2’s stats are uneven. He has stronger test scores than GPA, but one academic EC in which he’s gotten nat’l and regional awards. The rest of his ECs are more common – community service, a counseling job, etc. – and won’t stand out. He’ll be nat’l merit something (his PSAT score will probably be on the cusp for our state) but that too won’t necessarily stand out, although its unlikely that he’ll apply to any ivy bc of his overall A- average. I’m hoping that he gets into his EA/ED schools so he’ll be 3-4 apps and done, but if not, because of his lopsidedness, he’ll probably apply to as many as his brother did.</p>
<p>blue, not offended at all. I thought that acronym pretty much accurately summed up what those schools are in this crazy process!</p>
<p>Thanks to EVERYONE today for your wonderful kind words of acceptance and humor. Sometimes we look at something we’ve said or done and can overanalyze a bit. I think I was a clear victim of myself here. Thanks for the group-check here. Please use any phrase, word, letters, that pleases. I just didn’t want to be the instigator. I love being among friends here! :)</p>
<p>fogfog - I’m smiling very big as I’m happy for k2. I’m just sorry you’ll miss it. fogdad will have to take very good pictures. I’d be freaking out if it was one of mine though. I will say this is one reason why my boys had three piece black suits bought midway through their soph year in hs. Add a colored vest (rented from the tux shop) and you wouldn’t know it from a tux. It got us through S2s Jr & Sr proms plus a couple he went to at other schools. S3 dresses up for anything he can at school. Monday there was a debate in APUSH…three piece suit and fedora. At 6’2" he does look sharp and is hard to miss, but I’m a bit biased. He has yet to wear it to a prom. He was asked by a Sr. last year (his soph) and thought she was joking which kind of killed the entire invitation. He has NEVER lived that down!!!</p>
<p>spritle - We are also in Va. I have one at UVa (second year SEAS). They and W&M use the FAFSA and Profile. VT only uses the Fafsa. I’m not sure what you’ll need to file with the GI Bill.</p>
<p>fog, LOL, my S decided the week before to go to prom. Junior prom was last friday. He got his tux on monday and we both (!) forgot about the flowers. Called a florist while he was in the shower and picked up the wrist corsage on the way to someone’s home where photos were taken. Get there, speak w/ other parents, including the parents of the girl he accompanied, and they asked if he had his student ID and his prom ticket, both of which were necessary to get on the bus to prom (his school had buses for the kids both to take them and bring them back to the high school parking lot). He had his student ID but NOT his ticket. I had to make a mad dash home and meet them at the buses. Thankfully, after all that, he had a great time.</p>
<p>CT - We found that our S-11 had quite different results and responses to the two tests. He felt more comfortable and did better on the ACT so that was where we focused. That was after two SAT’s and two ACT’s. Our plan is to have D-14 also take the tests twice and then take the better option for her and prep over the summer with the last sitting hopefully in September. I don’t disagree that practice tests may work just as well as the real thing but our son said that the actual test taking environment is different than the practice tests taken at home or school. She does have a couple of high reach schools on her list and knows that she has to get to minimums of 2100-2200 SAT or 32-34 ACT to have a shot. </p>
<p>Since her brother hit those ranges and is attending one of his high reach schools (ivy peer), there is also some competition there between S and D. I realize we could most likely pick one of the two tests and just go with it now but we still have the time to complete a second go at each which will give her more test experience to consider when selecting her prep path and program for the summer.</p>
<p>Not sure how I missed this thread…2nd son starting to think about his college list.
? for 2018Dad…S also interested in Cornell and you made mention of Cornell not looking at SAT writing score. I have read through quite a few posts on this. I was unable to find anything officially stating this on the Cornell website, but have consistently seen mention that this is only true for Engineering. Have you found additional confirmation on whether this is actually true? Thanks!</p>
<p>AvonHS–thanks! Was just curious if there were an angle I wasn’t considering. I had my son prep for the SAT last summer and take fall of Jr year, thinking that if it didn’t work out well, he could try the ACT this spring. Happy that he won’t need to look at ACT, as I don’t think it would be his test. (Processing speed concerns.)</p>
<p>Lillypod–everything I have read indicates that Cornell does not look at W scores. I would have to dig a bit to find their app materials, but perhaps this document will comfort you.
<a href=“http://dpb.cornell.edu/documents/1000001.pdf#zoom=100[/url]”>http://dpb.cornell.edu/documents/1000001.pdf#zoom=100</a>
As you can see, they do not even report W scores. Having said that, when my son’s first attempt at the SAT resulted in a W score well below the CR & M, I suggested he focus on W just so that the three scores were closer. A little effort on W went a long way. Truly the easiest section for a quick score boost, other than the timed essay.</p>
<p>Cornell is fairly transparent in reporting their admissions’ stats, although you do have to hunt for the info and it is sometimes expressed on different bases across the different colleges. One point that you may already know: Cornell requires that the applicant submit all test scores. My son sat for the exam twice and earned his best scores on all three sections during the second sitting, but he will still need to report the results of the first sitting, even though he does not need those results for the calculation of super scoring.</p>
<p>Fogfog & seattle-mom: Our DS’14 prom is just a few weeks away. We have been trying to stay out of it, but just yesterday, I mentioned to him that he would need to get a tux and flowers. I was feeling pushy and meddling about even raising the issue. I feel so much better after reading your posts this morning. Thanks for that.</p>
<p>This morning k2 handed me a slip of paper with a few requests including my running by the florist. Normally I would say–here are the car keys–take care of it…
However k2 just left for school at 7:40 and won’t be back til 6:45pm tonight. Dinner, hw, bed, and then tom am the team leaves for an out of town event…K2 will come back Sat night very late…and next week will be a blur.<br>
So I will be doing the florist run (was given an idea of what to order) Also got a request for more hair conditioner!</p>
<p>I did give K2 a list of questions of info we need re prom…the pre and post prom plans, parent names and cell phones as we will be verifying. Just can’t imagine putting my kid in a limo with 9 other kids and not having an idea about their plans and any post party locations. I am not progressive enough to think unchaperoned 15-17 yr olds and the possibility of alcohol is ok. I do realize that in other countries the kids pre-party and club hop after prom. If we lived elsewhere it might be a different story.</p>
<p>Okay - so I had to scroll back to find out what Blueiggy was apologizing for. OMG! I am RFLMAO. No reason to apologize, I would rather learn about those earthy acronyms here at a safe place such as CC than out of the streets.</p>
<p>@blueI. I too was wondering what the apology was for and had to go back a few pages to see what the what was!! Its been awhile since I have pulled my chair up to the kitchen table so I has some catching up to do.</p>
<p>No offense taken! I am far more offended by what I see on TV/ hear on the radio & at DDs school when I visit! </p>
<p>Welcome to all of the newcomers, good luck to all of the 2014ers taking the ACT on Saturday. DD is sitting for it and has taken no practice tests. I am trying to apply the hands off approach and not be a buttinsky…</p>
<p>Here’s why.
She took the SAT 12/1/12 and did ok for her 1st time. I pushed, prodded and nagged prior to the 2/27/13 sitting. Even paid for a private tutor to help increase her math section. She focused on the math only for those 12 weeks. Paid absolutely no attention to the W or CR sections. Guess what? Her CR scores increased by 50, her W section increased by 20 and her math? Saw a decrease by 20!! W. T F. ??? Yes, I said it!! To all the acronym police, I apologize. :)</p>
<p>So all the $$$ spent was a waste! The cajoling, poking, haranguing was all for not. I think I put too much pressure on her and she choked! She said she even changed answers, which she has been known to do on tests anyways. So I am holding my tongue, keeping my pie whole shut and will see what the results will bear. She is busy and overworked I think! </p>
<p>Good news, she will be traveling to UNC Chapel Hill for a fly in weekend next month. She will have to miss 2 days of school as the program is from Thursday -Saturday. At least it’s at the end of the month/after AP exams.</p>
<p>She applied to/was accepted to do cancer research at Yale U School of Medicine. It’s pretty selective/competitive with only 25 slots for 200 kids throughout CT applying. She still awaits word from a few more programs and has one more app due on 4/26. </p>
<p>Not looking forward to 8/1. Need to get a bit more organized.</p>
<p>NewHavenCTmom: Sometimes, it does pay to back off a little when it comes to the SAT/ACT. My son took the SAT as a freshman – just to say he took it, and did better than many of the seniors that year. Not a great score, but okay. Then, following some advice from some older friends, he tried the ACT. Again, he did well, but not great – although math was no problem. This time, I suggested the March SAT. He agreed to try it, because he has schedule issues and cannot take it in May or June. What a difference. He was much more relaxed. Never really studied – did a couple of 25-question reviews. </p>
<p>As soon as he saw his scores, he looked at me and said, “I want to take it in October.”</p>
<p>He needs 70 points for the full tuition ride at his top school. He plans to work with his older brother, who is a marvelous test taker, to bring up his scores. </p>
<p>I have learned that it does not pay for me to push when it comes to tests. Even with colleges, I know that pushing does not help. I offer suggestions. I offer to go on the tours. But, I’m leaving him alone. He has enough on his plate with three AP classes, upcoming AP tests, a part-time job on the weekends, volunteering and running on the track and field team. Speaking of running, he scored a personal-best in the mile the other day.</p>
<p>Thanks CT1417. Actually no worries on the W SAT section as he scored very well on both W and CR , math was 92%…was more hoping that as a prospective humanities major they would at least glance at his W score . This issue of reporting all score to Cornell makes us wonder whether he should retake the SAT given that he scored so well in 1st sitting…I guess we have time to decide
thanks again</p>
<p>newhaven - I’ve had two opposite experiences with tutoring. S aced the sat math section but did horribly on the cr. So we had him tutored all summer long, spent a fortune, he was irritated by it and he only improved about 30 points. He probably would have done the same without the tutoring.</p>
<p>I’m having my d tutored for the act. If her last practice test is any indicator - her overal act score looks to improve by no joke - 7 points. That’s a huge increase from the last act to now if she can really hang onto it.</p>
<p>I think it all depends on the underlying issue. S is dyslexic so perhaps no amount of tutoring could overcome that. D has major test anxiety and needed test taking skills. </p>
<p>Prom here is the first weekend in May, seems awfully early to have already had it! How do girls wear those slinky dresses in the cold weather? ;)</p>
<p>I’ve posted this in the ACT forum, but perhaps you wise parents of 2014 can weigh in, too.
DD has a solid ACT composite, with a good writing score. She thinks she can bring her composite up a few points, but would prefer not to deal with the writing section again. For those schools that require the ACT with Writing, would they look at a second composite without writing, as long as she sends in two score?</p>
<p>Short answer Mimama is no. Mostly, if a school wants ACT with writing, they only look at sittings that included writing. I’m sure there are exceptions, but I wouldn’t risk it.</p>
<p>NewHaven, congrats to your D on the summer acceptance!! Sorry about your experience with test prep. I hope the new strategy pays dividends.</p>
<p>I’m trying to get S to practice a little for his SAT retake in May. No desire to over-stress here. He’s on break this week so it would have been a good time to do 1/2 hour a day but he has been sick for days. Strep test this afternoon - no prep at least! ;)</p>
fogdad will have to take very good pictures. I’d be freaking out if it was one of mine though. I will say this is one reason why my boys had three piece black suits bought midway through their soph year in hs. Add a colored vest (rented from the tux shop) and you wouldn’t know it from a tux. It got us through S2s Jr & Sr proms plus a couple he went to at other schools. S3 dresses up for anything he can at school. Monday there was a debate in APUSH…three piece suit and fedora. At 6’2" he does look sharp and is hard to miss, but I’m a bit biased. He has yet to wear it to a prom. He was asked by a Sr. last year (his soph) and thought she was joking which kind of killed the entire invitation. He has NEVER lived that down!!!</p>