<p>I just got an interesting response from dd. I read on here about Univ of Denver - so I looked it up, looked good for an intial look. So I tell her the school I just found and she said Denver?! That’s so far!! And she ran and gave me a hug.</p>
<p>This is the girl who has been claiming forever that she was going far, far away to school and that she wouldn’t consider any school in our state or the one to the south (which has a gazillion schools) because these two states are too boring - lol. </p>
<p>I also started my initial overworking for the college prep - I’m making a spreadsheet of potential schools with vital info on location, size, m/f ratio, etc. I made one from the admission process for my son to track passwords, due dates and things needed which cracked my friends up. Hey - we didn’t lose a password or miss a deadline.</p>
<p>It’s looking like she’ll want to stay on the east coast after all. Yet why going north or south doesn’t seem as far to her as going west is a mystery.</p>
<p>Kids who are in “gifted” classes often get invited to take the SAT or ACT in middle school as part of academic talent search programs that direct them to summer programs on college campuses. If your kid always scores in the 99th percentile on state grade level tests, it is also a way to track academic progress. It probably does help a little to take these tests early simply because kids gain familiarity but they can also get burned out early. My D13, for instance, started taking these tests in 6th grade. She has taken the SAT 4 times and the ACT 4 times and says she’s had it even though she’s never gotten past 2250 or 32. So, in retrospect, it probably isn’t a bad thing to lay off testing until kids get older.</p>
<p>Our D used to say the same thing but I don’t hear that anymore. She hasn’t ruled out the east coast or the south – yet. But it hasn’t escaped her notice that her friend’s older sister (at school at the state flagship) is home a lot more than friend’s OOS brother.</p>
<p>Apollo6: It may be that Oregon is behind the curve or because we live in a backwater, but both kids are 99% and this has never been offered to them. I’m fine with this as D is the overachiever of the family and the repeated testing would drive her and by extension, us, nuts.</p>
<p>agent99 - Johns Hopkins and Duke, and I think some school on the west coast have this program. You take the sat or act and if you score high enough you can attend special camps at college campuses during the summer. My son did it through johns hopkins and did robotics, engineering and psychology. </p>
<p>He only took it twice, but I believe it did make him more comfortable when it counted. I don’t know if it made a difference in hs, but he was certainly tired of standardized testing between that, the subject tests and the ap exams.</p>
<p>Agentninetynine - Great list of schools to visit! Between that and Disneyland I’m sure you and your DD with have an amazing trip!!</p>
<p>Good news in our house today. S3 started the application process back in October for a fairly competitive summer program. We just found out today that he has moved onto the final level of the selection process. So fingers crossed that he makes the final cut. He did apply for a less selective program as a back up. If all else fails he will be getting a good old fashioned job. All three are perfectly good options to keep him busy this summer.</p>
<p>Agentninetynine: We started the college tours with the oldest son (now a college junior) following his freshman year. In most cases, S’14 went along. His job was to check that the dorms/classroom buildings had restrooms. He was only nine or so. </p>
<p>That same son has done two college visits in the South, as his older brother attends school down there. S’14 really, really likes schools in the south, because many have spent a lot of money to renovate/build dorms, rec facilities, etc. He would like his own bedroom, something that his older brother has enjoyed for three years (and will do so next year). We’ll hit a few more schools this summer, and probably next before he narrows his selections.</p>
<p>DD has been reluctant to discuss college. Doesn’t want to visit any during spring break. But she did sit down and open all the college mail that has been piling up, and even went to a few web sites to ask for their freebies. First, she asked me to help her set up a new email address for just college mail…I wonder if she will ever check it?</p>
<p>momreads, If your son likes southern colleges, he might be interested in Ole Miss’ Summer College for High School Students. S14 will attend this summer. He plans to take a computer science course and a logic course. They give great scholarships for good ACT or SAT scores but even without a scholarships Ole Miss’ summer programs are a bargain. It is a beautiful campus.</p>
<p>Hi all, just joined to dive in and roll up sleeves to embark on this journey. About our only: S15 is a sophomore interested in Comp Sci at UVA. Is a NHS, Life Scout (maybe Eagle),has held A-B’s and thinks getting Cs in AP classes will elevate his gpa to be competitive. Last year was easy for him, this yr is challenging him. Since grades began slipping restricted time spent gaming. Praying he will get a message and preparing him to embark on identifying 10 schools to begin to visit between now and Fall 2013. I was thrilled to learn about early decision/early action option. I believe it will enable his admission if gpa does not. Thanks to all those who have done this before and sharing their insight!</p>
<p>Welcome eggerskf. You can get either a BS or a BA in Comp Sci at UVa so your son will have to decide if he wants to study in SEAS (engineering) or CLAS (arts & sciences). It will make a difference in how he applies. They now offer an EA option however as it’s not binding there is no bump (ie it’s not an easier admit). In fact it may be slightly harder as students that apply early tend to be the most qualified. The biggest benefit is certainly finding out the decision earlier to relieve some stress during Sr. year. Their current decision date is 1/31 so an EA admit does not come soon enough to relieve your student from submitting other applications however. My older son is a student at UVa SEAS so if you have any questions I’d be glad to answer what I can. Feel free to PM me</p>
<p>If you are instate another excellent option is going to be VT (also on the top of my older son’s list when he applied). They offer ED which is binding. Your son would only use this option if he decides that VT is his first choice, however VT’s ED is an easier admit than RD. It is something to consider depending on his transcript at the time and where in the state you live. VT admits are very regional, with NoVa, Richmond, and the Tidewater areas being most competitive.</p>
<p>UVa and VT are both schools S3 will be considering so I’m glad for the company. We are in the process of expanding that list and will be visiting a few over spring break. I love the college visits and look forward to seeing it through his eyes which will most certainly be different then his older brothers.</p>
<p>Blueiguana thanks so much! Esp the insight on UVa EA. Congrat’s. As a top school in the country, be proud your son is at UVa. Yes, VT is probably going to be one of the schools on his # list. We are in NOVA in the mix of the competition Have fun scouting the schools :)</p>
<p>I’ve seen the abbreviation SEAS several times on the forum – what does it mean? </p>
<p>Welcome eggerskf. It’s nice that you have once son happily at college. Just starting the process for our first child. Thank heavens they are three grades apart!</p>
<p>Have another question for parents who have been through this before: Was junior or senior year tougher for your child? D has been forecasting for next year and subsequently for her senior year. She is looking at two fairly challenging years. I hope H and I survive!</p>
<p>I think this is very personal, however my older son found Jr year to be an absolute bear. Sr year was a cake walk in comparison. Classes were not easier, however SATs, etc were behind him. He was done with apps by Thanksgiving. This was a huge help and a mom-imposed goal that he would be done “by the time I smelled turkey”. </p>
<p>Even the stress of waiting for the last decision was not as bad as spring of Jr year. By spring they are stressed about AP classes and getting ready for AP tests, ECs are in full swing, SAT/ACT testing, SAT subject tests, finals, proms, state standardized testing, finalizing summer programs/jobs/internships. Spring break might leave time to visit some prospective schools. We were able to swing this and it was a welcome break and had a blast!!</p>
<p>By Sr year he finally felt he had a little more control and the craziness was behind him. The academics were still demanding, but the other demands were gone. By talking to many of my friends, their kids felt the same way.</p>
<p>Again, it all depends on what your student finds stressful. If they are the type that will agonize waiting for results, and they thrive with lots of things going on, then Sr. year might be hard(er) by comparison. This is just what my older son experienced. Hopefully some of my other 2011/15 parents will chime in here and share their thoughts as well.</p>
<p>I’ll echo blueiguana’s thoughts. Junior year is, well, horrible! DS had a big jump in the number and difficulty of AP classes, SATs, SAT subject tests, ACTs, pressure to start choosing colleges to apply to, and all of the regular school stuff. Plus, they know that it’s the transcript at the end of junior year that most colleges will be looking at. I also think that for Juniors, the finish line seems very far away and that can make everything seem overwhelming. By senior year, they can see where it ends. They’re another year older and more mature too. Having college apps done by Thanksgiving and some acceptances already in by then helps too. </p>
<p>DD14 just turned in class choices for next year and we limited her to 3 APs. They’re in her strength areas, so we’re hoping to avoid some of the stress her brother went through as a junior.</p>
<p>I am with BI in the 2011/2015 class with a son. Our D is HS '14. I concur that the Jr year was more stressful and academically difficult. Sr year was busy but once the apps were concluded it became more of a coasting and waiting game. Our S’s only big mistake was not completing his apps by turkey time and by not taking advantage of any EA or ED opportunities. He did have two state flagship honors admissions before the holidays so he knew he was going somewhere.</p>
<p>Jr year was defintely worse for my son. He’s skating through senior year now. He’s used to AP’s, a year more mature, already accepted to his college and now it’s the countdown til graduation. He’s not concerned with keeping absolutely top grades, but still doing fine. We also imposed the all apps in by Thanksgiving and I can’t tell you how much less stress there was because of that. Like the gc says - the deadline is not the due date, it’s the last day to submit. It gave us plenty of time to make sure all the documentation was received. We had him do one app a week. </p>
<p>DD has had a major turnaround in school. She’s looking at straight A’s this quarter, last 2 quarters were just a roller coaster. We had “the” discussion - college would be off the table and she would not be allowed back to this school with those grades. We now just have to hope that one bad semester isn’t the end of the world and is early enough to show improvement at a new school.</p>
<p>She’s joining the sailing team and I’m thrilled. After breaking her elbow she couldn’t play field hockey and she has been afraid to get back on her horse after that fall, and had to drop the drumbs as well. (she’s been driving ME crazy because she’s normally so active) She finally seems herself and accepting of the school transfer.</p>
<p>Apollo6: Thanks for the information about Ole Miss and its summer programs. This summer, however, is a no go, because S14 will attend a couple of cross country/track and field camps to prepare for the fall. The sport (and physical fitness) is his main passion, so we’re all for it. Perhaps next summer, although he has seen another summer program at another southern school that really interests him. </p>
<p>Meanwhile, S14 got to celebrate last week. Got all A’s on his report card. Husband decided that we needed to do dinner out (then I celebrated!).</p>
<p>As for the worst year, not sure. Oldest son had four APs as a junior, and he did not seem to have any trouble juggling his academics and all the other things he did. Took six APs as a senior. Again, little trouble with the balancing act. One big advantage that he had that most of his friends didn’t was that we started the college search early. He had friends who did all their visits as seniors, along with testing, APs, working, etc. He left just two for his senior year. He also completed all his testing as a junior. I am encouraging S14 to try to do some of the things his older brother did to ease the stress of a busy senior year. That’s why we visited a couple of colleges his freshman year. We’ll see a couple more this summer. He can take the SAT II in world history in June if he wants. He also will spend his spring working as a youth soccer referee, something he really enjoys.</p>
<p>There can be a lot of pressure junior year. The gpa looms. Kids a vying for leadership positions in EC’s. There are many APs, SATs, SAT IIs, ACTs. Many dreams slam into reality. Parents need to consider the psychological impact if they manifest their own disapointments in the wrong way. Junior year is THE year that parenst need to love the kid on the couch.</p>
He did apply for a less selective program as a back up. If all else fails he will be getting a good old fashioned job. All three are perfectly good options to keep him busy this summer.</p>
Have fun scouting the schools :)</p>