<p>Sometimes it is challenging living w a teenager…I recall the days when I had three teens so this time should be a piece of cake, maybe I’m just a little worn out, thanks for listening…and my s is a great kid…</p>
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<p>Y’all still drinking from glasses? I’ve moved on to chugging right from the bottle. D found a reach she’d like to consider. Showed her the college board’s info of middle 50% of scores. ”oh, I don’t have that" she said. Well, how about you do some prep and get it? I mean, those scores are at the high end of her PLAN test range, but they are within her range. Grrrr…</p>
<p>Oh, but her relay team qualified for a really big meet. Last year, she took a picture with Wallace Spearman, who was there running (but obviously not in the hs divisions).</p>
<p>I think I’ve reached a state of Zen at this point. Either that or I am just exhausted! </p>
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<p>or numb from the wine!! ;)</p>
<p>I have become comfortably numb. </p>
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<p>It took me a couple of minutes, but I knew those words sounded familiar - Pink Floyd!</p>
<p>So how long does it take to go from ‘registered’ to ‘tested’ on the ACT website? Anxiously awaiting results … again! DS’ previous scores were good, just had to add the writing portion. And now trying for President’s Scholar qualification since he’s pretty close (I think one of his teachers told him a 34.75 will qualify in our state). But, like you guys, he refuses to study extra. If he would have just studied a little before the PSAT, he would have more options now. </p>
<p>DS has started showing an interest! woohoo! He’s wanting to take a tour Midwest / NE this summer. Plugged in all the schools (10) that he wants to see and looks like a 3700 mile round trip! WOW! I’m all for a road trip but a little concerned what to do with the younger DS while we’re gone. I guess I can sign him up for summer care and have Dad do the shuttling while we would be gone. </p>
<p>I went back to March posts and re-read novamom’s midwest trip. Several of the same schools that were on DS’ list. Has anyone else done Northwestern/U Michigan/Purdue/MIT/Olin/Va Tech/Ga Tech all in the same trip? There were a few others, I just can’t remember right now. What other schools might he look into for mech engineering?</p>
<p>beady - I think I got the results less than a week early last time. I’m sure it will be announced all over this site when it makes the switch!</p>
<p>For Mech Engineering - Univ of Md, Villanova, Lehigh, NC State, Clemson</p>
<p>It feels like so much needs to wait for the test scores, but beyond that, I feel like we’re pretty much done, though I’m open to throwing in another safety or match.</p>
<p>beady - sounds like a fun, adventurous trip! Planning to visit when school is out of session or right after school starts? How long would that trip take - 2 weeks?</p>
<p>It’s always a dilemma with younger siblings or pets, LOL! We think we may do another one end of August as suggested by our counseling office when school is just starting for most colleges, except for those on quarter systems. Our DD and DPet will probably join us then.</p>
<p>Just toured Bard, Wesleyan and UCONN. We were supposed to go to BU and NEU today, but have put that on hold because of the bombings. Will see Conn. College on friday. My daughter fell in love with Wesleyan. Middletown seemed a bit seedy to me, but that is ok. Bard is too much in the middle of nowhere. And UCONN was hopping. Very busy and lively.</p>
<p>Well it certainly sounds like I am not alone! S2 is just much more stubborn then S1 with everything and yes it is certainly wearing me down! He also cannot make up his mind about when to take Subject II or the SAT next. Registration for the May date has passed and we are coming up on the registration date for the June date. I have sent him info on the Subject II’s and he has not looked at it yet. I told him you do not want to get your back against the next deadline and feel forced to make a rushed decision! I am trying to give him the “power” and just “explain” my opinions but man is it hard sometimes! Thanks for listening!</p>
<p>Jasmine - Re: SAT II tests. I don’t have any info, but it would seem that any school that is looking for a “well-rounded” kid would want SAT II’s from different areas. There are 4 subject tests that DS could take this May without too much additional prep (because I know he’s not going to do any!!). Math II & Biology will not be a problem and he should get decent scores on those. His big decision is between US History (taking APUSH) and whichever English corresponds with his AP English class this year. We have History in right now, but could still change later. I asked him to at least look through some practice tests so he will be familiar with what they are looking for.</p>
<p>ognopgod - I’d love to be able to tour while school is in session, but our HS school year is pretty much on the same calendar as colleges, so it will be a summer tour.</p>
<p>I love road trips!! Two weeks would be stretching my outer limits as I’m a serious homebody, but I love touring schools so there is a balancing point in there. Our spring break trip involved the addition of DH at the last minute because he didn’t think I was well enough to make the trip on my own (I adore him, am devoted to him, he is an unbelievable husband and provider…but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t just a wee bit bummed at the ‘intrusion’ on the mother-son bonding trip. Those trips I had with S2 before he left for school are some of my favorite memories.). We’re so much tougher then we get credit for!! Then there was snow at every school (two in NC) where when we left on Friday the forecast was sunny & 50. Add to that a stop in at my mothers who I have a tenuous relationship with. Ummm, I want a do-over and am planning one!! 
No husband, no snow, and no mother. I love them all, just not on college road trips.</p>
<p>On a quick glance of the e’schools you’ve mentioned beadymom, I’m most familiar with VT & Ga Tech. They are both excellent schools. Ga Tech will get the overall ranking, but VT is no slouch. Pay close attention to the culture. Ga Tech is a stressful program and their 4year grad rate is pretty low. They will tell you this is due to co-ops. From current and past students that’s not their take. Ga Tech has a nice scholarship that has to be applied for early (11/1 if I remember). VT is not exceptionally high OOS but they do not offer very much merit at all. Occasionally a one time $5k to OOS students. They do have an exceptionally competitive scholarship, Dean/Davenport, specifically for e’school students awarded on holistic review. They want the whole package, outstanding grades, rigor, scores, service, leadership, ECs, national awards, etc. They do have an Honors College, however it’s not really a great add on for engineering. The GPA to stay in is a 3.5 and with VTs weed out process the first two years that’s a tall order. I advised S2 when he was considering VT (who was top of his class 4.3gpa, etc.) to consider VT w/o honors because he may not continue in the program. I thought it was a lot of pressure for e’school kids. JMO. We’re instate and I know a lot of kids doing very well at VT. It gives you a great e’school and that big state feel if that’s what you’re looking for. Probably more information then you wanted. ;)</p>
<p>Of the schools eyemamom mentioned I’m familiar with UMDCP, Lehigh & Clemson. UMDCP is a great school with a wonderful program. Some kids love the more urban setting of College Park, S2 wouldn’t consider it (very frustrating, but I wasn’t going to push something). They do give good merit aid to high stats to offset OOS tuition. Lehigh is going to give you a more LAC feel. I have a friends DD who is there and absolutely loves it. We’d like to check it out for S3. He’s in admissions range but are waiting on scores from the June SAT to see if he’ll be in merit range. They do have some non need-based merit, but not much. Clemson is going to have the Big State U feel of VT but is not as big. I know they do merit for OOS students (I believe you have to be in the top 10% of your class for consideration). It is not stated amounts (between $5-$15k) so you have to wait until spring to see how much is awarded however scores are key in getting the higher amounts.</p>
<p>S3 wasn’t given much input on testing dates…bad mother unit. Back in December we mapped out testing. He knew May was going to be SAT2’s (he’s taken one last year). He also knew given his test scores in March he’s be taking them again in June. If he’d put up any sort of argument I guess we would have reassessed, but he seemed perfectly fine. He’s exceeded his goal in one section, met his goal in another, and just needs to focus on one. If he comes close in the last (writing so not terrible critical) we are going to call it a day and close the chapter on testing. Mentally I think it’s important for him to be done and move on to other things if at all possible. He only needs two SAT2’s and has what I feel is a really solid score from last year in WH. He’ll test in Bio and APUSH. The real push is Bio to have the diversity of subjects (WH & USH being so close) but we’ll take what we can get and move on. Only one school, a reach, cares about these. He’s been studying and doing review, along with his other APs for the AP tests in school, as well as a couple of books we have at home. There is such a balance between that, hw, and continuing to study for the SATs in June…he can’t put that off until after the May SAT2s.</p>
<p>We are very pleased that the big academic push since the middle of the third quarter seems to have paid off. His end of quarter grades are considerably higher then at mid quarter when we pulled him back from the time sucking EC (amazing what a kid can do when they’re not in an activity 30hrs/week and traveling/missing school 2days every other week, and only participate 10hrs/week w/no travel). Grades were even higher then at mid terms in January so we see a real drive and effort to finish the school year strong. It’s no fun, but we’re giving him a lot of positive reinforcement and pulling him for ‘mental health breaks’ to watch movies etc. If he continues through the 4th Q and class rank holds, scores are met in June SAT, this opens the possibility to apply ED to his first choice reach, merit at a couple of schools that would be financially off the table otherwise, etc. So in June we’ll be doing a lot of regrouping to see where we go next.</p>
<p>In keeping with the “how difficult is my Jr right now” for some reason I scrolled way back in my fb last night looking for something and found a post I’d written in S2’s ‘honor’ three years ago. S2 is about the easiest going kid and was a joy to raise, but even he had his moments. My friends here from the 2015 forum who remember him as bluejr remember a few of his antics. This was the post…</p>
<p>“With over a billion apps I don’t know why Apple doesn’t have an iphone app that indicates your teenagers mood. For instance; ‘Danger! Foul mood for no reason. Do not approach’. Or, ‘You have a one hour window where you are not the most stupid person on the face of the earth’. Or simply, ‘In a good mood for everyone BUT you mother’… Now there’s NO app for that!!!”</p>
<p>It makes me laugh that I was writing this about bluejr, but Jr year is a rough year and brings out an animal in even the most agreeable of kids. I can attest that bluejr is now almost 20, is a wonderful young adult who loves his mother, calls and texts often, skypes to see the dog, is finishing his second year in mech’e, and balances academic and social life very well. We couldn’t ask for much more. He’s not perfect, but we are certainly very proud of the man he’s growing into. So, there is hope. :)</p>
<p>I’ll be back tonight to share a virtual glass of wine. I think we can all use the group therapy. Hugs to all my peeps!!</p>
<p>Wow, sorry! That could have been five different posts. Braindump? :o</p>
<p>Blue - sounds like you do need a do-over! Just DS & I would make a great trip. Throw in younger brother or DH and I’m sure things just wouldn’t go as smooth. Thank you for all the info on e’schools! I had actually thought of Clemson last night as well. </p>
<p>So far we have seen 6 schools - 3 small/medium private, 3 large public. 3 in session, 3 during student breaks. I think right now the large publics are winning, although that is not what he expressed he wanted from the beginning - he wanted a small school! I’ve probably mentioned on here before, but he is also interested in automotive R&D. I’m afraid Northwestern & John Hopkins will be similar to Vanderbilt and not really have what he is looking for. Michigan and Clemson do have automotive programs. I’m thinking the real plus will be the co-op / intern opportunities, which he has expressed interest in.</p>
<p>DS and I are visiting Lafayette this weekend so I will report back afterwards. DS would really like a midsized school that has an engineering program but also a LAC feel. We are there for athletic recruiting so most of the day will be focused on meeting coaches, etc but we will get an information session and tour in. </p>
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<p>Greetings to all; this is my first post, and I am very glad to have found this forum! Reading through the earlier messages, I feel like I have already gleaned a lot of helpful information (I will be getting some peppermints for my D’s first SAT next month for sure!), and I am sure there will be more to come. We live in CA, and my D is in the class of 2014. Her grades have not been equal to what I know her abilities are, so college choices will be challenging. I will see how she does on the SAT and we will start planning from there. We looked at a few places in Oregon over spring break, and I plan to try to take her to additional UC and CSU schools this summer to get a “list” put together. Looking forward to going through this journey with all the parents here!</p>
<p>Welcome GoldenWest and your D! </p>
<p>2014novamom – I think you’ll love Lafayette – fits what you’re looking for. </p>
<p>I asked S if he could miss a day or two of school to get some his remaining visits in; he said he’d rather wait until end of August and go then. I have to agree. Unless someone finds a way to make Rhodes and Sewanee a little closer together, it’s hard to do in a short trip. And not a lot of affordable non-stop flights to Memphis. Something to consider.</p>
<p>Thank you Classof2015!
What do people do about visiting colleges over the summer? It seems like it is not the optimal time, as regular classes are not in session, but for a high school student, it may be the only feasible time to go. If you have toured in the summer, do you feel like you are getting a reasonable “feel” for the campus? Do most campuses offer tours and admission sessions during the summer, or do we have to wait until fall?</p>
<p>@GoldenWest
Most of the UC’s (UCLA, UCSD, Irvine to name a few) that are on Quarter calendar ends their Spring quarter mid June. Not sure about your kid’s school, but my D’s last day this year is June 5.</p>