<p>@mysonsdad I love US history. We are lucky to live in Virginia, surrounded by historical sites. We visited Philly last fall but it was during the sequester so we didn’t get to see the historical sites there :(. Boston would be wonderful to visit also. </p>
<p>I am also aware of time going by…but, in my S’s case, I am also fearful that we don’t have enough time to get him mature enough for what is about to hit him! He has such a grandiose sense of himself, that even though his grades at this moment show him to be lucky if he gets into one of our good state school options (and the Guidance counselor is not so optimistic about that) he thinks he has a shot at any of the schools his older sister’s applied to…and those were small LAC’s in the top 10’s and 20’s… I am not actually looking forward to any of this planning, because he is just not really “ready” for this…you know what I mean?</p>
<p>Have you chatted with him about a gap year, drmom? </p>
<p>mysonsdad: Yes, I’m counting it down. Bittersweet. </p>
<p>When we went to college fair UofChicago representative spoke with my son. His dream school is the Milton Freidman institute on economics which is part of UofC.<br>
After that talk he walked away from the table and said “scratch that school—to much work to get into and anyway I have already read all of his works (Freidman) and watch all of the interviews conducted by him and to him”. :>
See what I’m up against, the kid is sometime just too smart and so immature for his age ugggggg.
This is a kid who can discuss economic policy, world and US with the best of them. He doesn’t just throw out thoughts he actually defends his thoughts with theory and examples, but I can’t get him to do his assigned homework.<br>
Yes, I do believe college will be a better fit than high school but the one hurdle that keeps coming up… He needs to be accepted first.</p>
<p>dyiu13: I’ve just been thinking of a GAP year myself. I am beginning to wonder if that might not be the best thing for him. I would want him to do something really good though…not just stay home, take extra classes…and play video games…</p>
<p>@drmom123, do you think that college is a way off thought? I think sometimes as parents we forget that a year is a short time for us but it’s a far off time for some teens and children.<br>
My son just doesn’t get that their is no do over in life. He is a sweet, but very impatient with other kids his age–he does not see the urgercies that they see about “getting into a college”. I guess I need to keep reminding myself to love the kid on the couch.
I really do believe there is maturity growth between the summer of their sophomore and junior year. I’m experiencing it with my junior.
I no longer need to manage her daily schedule.
I stop nagging because it made the matter worse and I felt terrible all the time. I told dear son that it was up to him to make his path, we would give the support to him but I was no longer dragging him down a path. No nagging now it’s up to him----</p>
<p>Hoosier96: I like your comment; I think that my S is somewhere in the middle. Because he has to siblings already in college, he is very aware that College is on the distant horizon…but, he just doesnt want to be like them…he has actually said that. BUT, the funny thing is, he wants to go to a “better” college then they are at! I have to say, he does not have the grades at this time…to even consider 2 tiers below…IMO…but, yes, I have begun to say some of the same things you have said above to your kid. Maybe not as clearly. AND, I am still nagging…which I agree, it is not helpful.</p>
<p>Even if a kid gets admitted into a college, he can request a deferred enrollment and take a gap year. It’s nice to have the admissions in the pocket. But, sometimes the gap year is so profound, applying to college after it (or during it) can return “better” results. I believe that young people who complete a thoughtfully chosen gap year then come to their college education with better-formed questions to which their education can help provide answers. A good thing for a scholar. 
</p>
<p>BTW, Washington, DC, is a great place to poke around for a year-long internship for gap year in whatever interest area the student has. Cool place to be before heading off to college. Hoosier mom: This might be a fab opportunity for your kiddo!</p>
<p>Hoosiermom “Too much work to get into” ugh, sounds like my kid. I think I have mentioned on here before that he wants to be valedictorian, but has no interest in studying for the SAT. </p>
<p>this whole process is going to be interesting…</p>
<p>Ain’t that the truth…
I have one '15 then I follow up with this one. I sure hope I get a star on my crown in heaven for this!!!</p>
<p>First post here, so intro:</p>
<p>Self-employed (translation: financial aid yes please), Southern US, two sophomores, a boy and a girl. Both are fairly bright and motivated, though S is far more competitive than D. He’s thinking Ivy, she’s thinking state flagship. No legacies (nowhere that it would matter anyway), buildings named after relatives, URMs, or blackmail photos to add to the mix. Possibly Questbridge.</p>
<p>@petrichor11 Welcome! </p>
<p>I have a daughter who is a freshman in college, sophomore son and a 7th grade daughter. </p>
<p>Welcome all newcomers!
Okay, so my question of the day: my S is having the “darndest” time in his Language class. Very inconsistent grades. He does and no matter how he tries (yes, he may not be trying as hard as he does in his science class) he just cannot get higher than a B. He wants to drop it next year. His guidance counselor says that he can’t. That taking three years of a language is what you need for college. I think he is afraid of getting a C on his transcript. any thougths? I think I want to tell him just keep the B and work on getting B+ and A’s in the other classes?</p>
<p>Dr123 most schools in the selective to more selective suggest 2+ years; then all the others require 2 years consequently of the same language. I would encourage him to keep a B and really nail down another class with a higher grade–GPA really is the standard in this crazy admission game, that and test scores.
I would look at some of the colleges he is interested in and see their language requirements.</p>
<p>sooooo being a typical 15 year old boy…he thinks he’s greater than anyone out there…so, while he doesn’t want to look at Ivies…He’s thinking those little top LAC’s look pretty reasonable to him…HA! In his dreams! Not that I don’t think he is smart enough…but, his grades and study skills leave much (or most) to be desired…I don’t want to burst his bubble…you never know if he is going to just “blossom” in his Junior year…and, he knows the schools are difficult to get into…so, I figure it is “the carrot”…I’m just afraid he’ll have to settle for a radish…or a turnip…but in either case…he has to not fail his language class!! :)</p>
<p>I like the idea of telling him to keep up a B and go for the higher grades in the other courses</p>
<p>Hey, joining in with the parents of 2016 kids. I have a son graduating this year and am just beginning to start the process with my sophomore daughter. I have found CC invaluable for this experience. </p>
<p>welcome Anne1389</p>