<p>@Pepper03 - I think D had the exact same feelings as your daughter - visibily relieved (well, ecstatic really) that she would not be perceived as “stupid” or “not as good”. I was hoping, really, D would take away from this whole ACT experience that studying makes the difference, not one’s IQ or their track in school.</p>
<p>Now, I am a bit concerned (I’m a pessimist) that her GPA is now out of whack with her score. I’d rather have a high GPA with lower-than-expected test scores then a low GPA with higher-than-expected test scores. But maybe the CTCL schools will see an underachiever with potential, right? </p>
<p>@hoosier96, I am impressed that your daughter has such a firm grip on what she wants to do and study. My sibs were like that; I never was so directed or driven. </p>
<p>@SlackMomMD it’s very hard on everyone isn’t it? Haha so the score goes up and that brings new concerns-I totally understand that I must have spent too much time on CC! Who knows what the schools will see-what do you see? What does your daughter see? That’s the important thing in the end!</p>
<p>@Hoosier96 my girl is pretty solid on her major and needs to get an internship as part of this program she is in but I do not know how she can fit in one more thing this summer I advised her to wait until the fall sport is done and get it then-she needs 100 hours and it has to be paid-this is proving more difficult than I thought it would as her father refuses to pull any strings for her-which I get but don’t get at the same time…it’s in our field it would be easy for him to get her set up and in the end he may have to but I trust him he is usually right about this stuff.</p>
<p>@Hoosier96, yes, he already gets the first discount of 1/2 the OOS tuition because he finished his junior year with a 3.125 cum GPA and a 25 ACT. In order to get the full OOS tuition waiver, he either has to be 3.04/26, or 3.2/25. So if he got the 26, he would have been done. So now, he either has to get that up to 26, or do really well senior year to get his cum GPA up to 3.2. While this is possible, it would be difficult, and I was hoping he could relax a bit senior year rather than make it yet another stressful time with grades.</p>
<p>@slackermomMD, 4 points is AMAZING. Wow! Did you list your D’s school list? If not, do you mind sharing that?</p>
<p>Also, my son who went down from 24 to 23, actually wants to take it one more time. We gave him the option. I very much doubt he will exceed 24, but can’t blame the kid for trying. He has safeties - so he will go to college somewhere.</p>
<p>Oddly, this son has EC’s absolutely locked down, but I don’t know if these schools will really look at that. UWSP does have an optional essay you can write, which he will. For a kid that wants to be a Game Warden, he is an alumni leader this summer at a youth police academy, and is also volunteering at a wildlife animal hospital. Can’t really beat those two things for relevant ECs for his area of study. This fall will be quite nerve-wracking come application time.</p>
<p>Kmanshouse thanks; but I’m confused about complete OOS waiver. When I put D stats in it says 5,000 academic and 1/2 OOS fees waived. She is above the thrush hole you stated am I missing something?</p>
<p>The first discount is worth some exact number like $3,654, which I believe is half the OOS charge. I thought the second one was the other half $3,654, but maybe it is an even $4,000 so that you are slightly below the in-state number. I just call in OOS waiver because the amount is basically worth that much.</p>
<p>@SlackerMomMD - 4 pt upswing is fantastic and is to be congratulated!</p>
<p>@kmanshouse - my D’19 is part of NDIgnite Connection which is a online community thru ND. They very proudly recommend a program created and run by a successful startup of ND alums called ■■■■■■■■■■. It’s an online tutoring program for ACT & SAT prep. Apparently it has been well rec’d and has worked wonders for those who use it. It isn’t cheap, $699 for 6 months of access, but basically it is your own private tutor, online, with practice tests and problems, videos with explanations on each specific section as well as on each specific problem! If you think it will help either of your DC, it might be worth it to take a look… <a href=“http://www.■■■■■■■■■■.com/”>■■■■■■■■■■ | Log In. You can sign up for a free trial. </p>
<p>And no, I do not belong, nor work for the company, and am not even an alum of ND (I wish!). Just passing along some info I’ve rec’d.</p>
<p>Here’s D’s list, @kmanshouse. She wants to study either biology or environmental science. At UNC-Asheville, there is a possibility she would study Mechatronics. Her favorites were the schools on the water (SMCM, Eckerd, NCF). We haven’t visited the ones on the West Coast or Iowa. I believe there was at least one admittance in the 2013 3.0-3.3 thread for these schools.</p>
<p>St Mary’s College of Maryland
Eckerd College
New College of Florida - she likes the written narratives in lieu of grades; ironically, her grades make this a reach.
UNC-Asheville - D’s grades/scores are great for this school but NC caps OOS students to 18%
Willamette University
University of Puget Sound
Cornell College, Iowa - the OCAAT really appeals to D</p>
<p>The next two are new additions - a surprise to me. She said she wanted to add more instate schools to her list.
UMBC - they accept a wide range of applicants so I think D’s stats will be fine.<br>
UM College Park - uh, this is so not her in so many ways. It’s big, urban, sprawling, lots of students (30,000!). All the other schools are under 5,000 and some are under 2,000. Plus it may be a reach for her, grade-wise.</p>
<p>@pepper03- Hoping you’re feeling better soon- S15 had a bout with Lyme’s too. Glad to hear about the SAT score for your D, especially after a concussion year. What kind of program is your D in that requires a paid internship in high school? I’m starting to think that S is way behind the curve…</p>
<p>@illinoismom4,
"I’m starting to think that S is way behind the curve… "
No, don’t worry. My DS has been applying to a lot of unpaid internships in entertainment/marketing/game design and has not gotten any nibbles.</p>
<p>@iilinoismom4 no you are not behind I promise! She is in a certificate program offered with a local U that is in our town and it is for kids interested in business/finance. This is one requirement but trust me it is nothing “elite”! It’s to give them some real world experience it’s a nice program she has enjoyed it but my son did nothing fancy in HS (not that this is either!) </p>
<p>@pepper03 and @yohoyoho- I feel better now. I was beginning to think our school was missing something, but a local U makes sense. That’s nice that there is that opportunity. If I’m realistic though, S15 would probably never go over and above to take on something like that. I’m having a hard enough time getting him to realize that looking at internship opportunities and how each college handles/helps students with that is one aspect to take into consideration, not just if they play Division 1 sports. </p>
<p>@ illinoismom4 it’s going to be OK! My son’s major requirement for colleges is they had to be somewhere that got a lot of snow! Go figure! He eventually got a clue most of them do-we will get through this I promise. :)</p>
<p>My D when she spoke to the Dean about her intended major that she (dean) highly recommend that dear D seek out opportunities to experience the facilities before deciding on the major. </p>
<p>She relayed to her that the few that had never been in a assistant living or nursing home before their required internship didn’t fare well in the program, and since this happens in the last year of school it becomes Way to late to turn around, for them to decide it wasn’t right career.</p>
<p>Since being told that information she has had an opportunity to shadow with an administrator and it really has allowed her to see if this path she should pursue.</p>
<p>@Hoosier96, I agree with shadowing, interning, or volunteering in specialized areas. My D wants to work with in orthopedics with cognitively impaired, physically disabled children, especially those that suffered trauma causing their disabilities. She currently volunteers at the Courage Center in our area assisting with basic therapy, as well as volunteering as a dance “coach” for a non-profit organization that provides dance lessons to cognitively or physically disabled children as part of their physical therapy Tx plan. She loves it!</p>
<p>In 30 Days the Common Application Goes Live for Class of 2015.
<a href=“https://appsupport.commonapp.org/ics/support/splash.asp”>https://appsupport.commonapp.org/ics/support/splash.asp</a></p>
<p>The essay prompts did not change from last year and are as follows:
<a href=“https://appsupport.commonapp.org/link/portal/33011/33013/Article/1694/2014-15-Common-Application-Essay-Prompts”>https://appsupport.commonapp.org/link/portal/33011/33013/Article/1694/2014-15-Common-Application-Essay-Prompts</a></p>
<p>2014-15 Common Application Essay Prompts
The Common Application will retain the current set of first-year essay prompts for 2014-15, without any edits or additions. The essay length will continue to be capped at 650 words. The feedback received from member colleges and school counselors has been positive. The essay prompts will be reviewed on an annual basis to ensure that they continue to serve students and member colleges well.</p>
<p>Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.</p>
<p>Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn?</p>
<p>Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?</p>
<p>Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you?</p>
<p>Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.</p>
<p>BHM your D sounds amazing; is she going in to medicine or maybe a PT program?
D is really fascinated with therapy being researched and put into practice for Alzheimer’s clients.
I can see her doing something along this line…she also is interested in policy though for the aging. </p>
<p>@Hoosier96–That is exactly what BHG wishes to do, but she has a plan A, B, C & D. She wants to go to medical school, but if that does not happen, then plan B is Physician’s Assistant, Plan C is Physical Therapist, Ph.D, and plan D is her own dance studio/wellness center.</p>
<p>What great kids!</p>
<p>@Hoosier96 my mother has dementia and truly the people who have cared for her the last four years have been our angels-I do not know how they do it and I agree that is something that needs to be experienced as it must be very difficult work-but if she has it in her I promise you she will be a blessing to those she touches and she will be making a huge difference-this obviously is near and dear to my heart.</p>