Parents of the HS Class of 2017 - 3.0 to 3.4 GPA

Parents Forum
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@93pilots I asked that question about admitted students days vs. a regular day. We decided on a admit day. I think there are pros and cons. The biggest con is the program is really designed for the student who has been admitted and will highlight different things. Regular tours might not spend as much time on dorms and they are probably mostly filled with juniors who are just starting their search.

On the other hand an admitted student day could be very overwhelming. For my older D she couldn’t make admitted student day, and I was able to arrange for a student to put her up in the dorms by other student. This is much better IMO but it’s not an option for my son.

@snoozn && @CoyoteMom My son has had some emotional ups & downs in H.S. Being able to find a place where he finds his tribe is very critical to his happiness and overall sucess. Problem is this is very hard to predict. Have to make a leap of faith at some point.

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@CoyoteMom Good to hear you have all the acceptances in. Sounds like he got into more schools than he thought. It’s good to have choices but I understand how hard it is to whittle them down.

About Wheaton College. When I was in really young we lived in Wheaton, IL. SO I was very surprised to find out there were two Wheaton Colleges. The one is IL is a very religious schools so I find it confusing.

I did have a good friends who’s son chose Wheaton, MA. I’m not going to go into it here (since not my kid, not my story to tell) but it didn’t end up working out for him. I don’t think that’s on the school though, sounds like the kid in question might not have been ready to move so far from home.

@techmom99 Great to hear about the diversity weekend. I’m lost at which school that was. What it one of the other SUNNY schools? Are you saying he’d go back to the same school in April for an overnight? If it were me I would put him on a plane with the other kid. Good way to see if he’s ready to be that far away & handle the commute on his own.

I flew my D12 out to the east coast on her won to do an overnight on her spring break. Just to make sure it was 100% the school she wanted and that she could handling being on her own. (She went to Lesley U. in Boston) After going to university on the other coast, I still have to hold my D hand at 22 for some things she isn’t super independent kid. But she did the trip on her own and fell in love with the school. Traveled back & forth to school on her own most of the time. It really helped mature her in a way that wouldn’t have happened if she stayed close to home.

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@snoozn @curiositycat333 @CoyoteMom , our focus is finding that tribe too. Interestingly, it may be how/why TacoSon goes full circle and ends up at the very first small, state school we visited 18 months ago. What I loved about that visit was the focus on building relationships via the freshman seminar, extending to the floor of the dorm the kids live on. My introverted kid is going to need that kind of forced proximity just to make the connections, let alone find a merry band of t-shirted video gamers!

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@curiositycat333 - Yes, it is the other SUNY. I had neglected to list it on our FAFSA and when I tried to add it, I had problems. At the local accepted students reception a few weeks ago, I spoke with the FA director, who said FAFSA was having issues and to keep trying. Yesterday, techson17 spoke with the man at lunch and I just got off the phone with him. I tried to add the school again today and think I succeeded. The man said to email son’s school ID number and he would check and send him a package. He also said that techson17 seemed very excited about having been accepted to the program! As long as son wants to go to the overnight, I will send him with the other kid. I think he will be fine without me - he spent 2 summers at sleepaway camp for 6 weeks each with no problems at ages 12 and 13. He has just never flown before.

A friend of H’s went to Lesley and loved it. We looked at it for D09, but ultimately she opted for a SUNY, though not the one that techson17 is looking at.

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In the days of cell phones, it is really not hard to have a 17 year old fly solo. Make sure the flight is non-stop. You (parent) can get a gate pass to take him all the way through security if you think it is necessary. As you do, make sure he knows how to read the monitors and check his flights and gates for changes for when he comes back. There are airport maps online that you could show him before he leaves so he’d know how the gates are labeled, which airlines use which concourses, etc.

Give him one piece of advice - ASK! I have a child who isn’t very good at figuring things out from monitors and gate maps, etc. She is told to ASK whenever she has a question. She needs to make sure her cell is charged because she needs to call me if she gets lost. She’s pretty good at it now. She started by only going on non-stops, then learned to change planes, and now can pretty much navigate. She’s doing a semester abroad in London and is in Paris today, so has figured out some things.

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@techmom99 that sounds like a very good weekend and a great option. So is it down to Purchase versus Fredonia?

I think it’s good for kids to fly solo. S17 hasn’t done it yet but has traveled quite a bit and I think will be ok. Doens’t mean I won’t be nervous the first time it happens. Teaching them to ASK (I totally agree with @twoinanddone ) is key. We had an issue a couple of years ago with SD14 who missed a flight home. While she had “flown” by herself many a time, it was the first time not having an adult drive her there. As a result she simply didn’t allow enough time and got there too late to check her bag.

Which meant instead of watching her older brothers college graduation…I was in the lobby of the arena trying to help her figure out back up plans. Which is not easy from a small regional airport that only flies out a few times a week!

Which is key #2. Teach them how to figure that stuff out on their own. I am confident that 2 of our 4 kids could do it, honestly not sure that SD14 could do it even now.

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@eandesmom - No, it’s basically between Fredonia and LIU-Post. He never finished the pre-interview stuff for Purchase so it’s off the table unless he decides that the wants to go into the non-auditioned performance BA that he was accepted into, but he doesn’t want to act. He is actually 18, had his birthday earlier this month, so he’s legally an adult. H is terrified of flying, way pre-dating 9/11. In our 35 years together, H has never flown, and so my kids’ options have been limited. The older kids have all flown alone, the 3 oldest have been either on Birthright and/or somewhere in Europe and the 4th has been to Florida, although with me. I never realized techson17 had never flown until recently, although he did go up in a private plane once when he was about 6. One good thing about techson17 having done all of this tech work and of being the youngest, is that he isn’t afraid to ask…

As for figuring things out, I think techson17 is probably better equipped than my oldest son, who will be 27 soon.

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@techmom99 sounds like he will be just fine! I’m so happy he will get to visit and it won’t cost you an arm and a leg this way.

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@eandesmom -

Yes, I am happy, too. If he opts to go there, I will visit at orientation over the summer. The big issue will be moving him up because H has refused to participate. He has said he will go once, for graduation. Of course, he said that for D’s school as well and wound up visiting 5 or 6 times total over her 4 years there. Fortunately, I have older children who can help out. I can rent a vehicle and have my two oldest drive up since they are over 25. I can have things pre-ordered in the local Walmart or BBB. I just really think that going away would be so good for him.

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@curiositycat333 I totally understand your dilemma of affordable instate vs more expensive OOS, and wondering if it’s all “worth it.” Although in our case, S17 is the only extrovert in the family and is intrigued by the big college experience that he could get OOS. And I admit that I didn’t go to MSU for the big college experience, but it definitely grew on me, and I ended up loving it. But his instate option is good, too, so he keeps going back & forth–Albany then MSU, MSU then Albany. Only 1 more month until we’ll know for sure. And both options are really good, so I’m thankful for that.

@snoozn Good luck on the merit review!

@CoyoteMom Awesome news on the decisions! And I also love the index cards. Good luck on the upcoming visits–exciting times!

@93pilots I actually like the accepted student days, but I also try to tailor them to my kid–add in a class visit (if one isn’t offered in the program), or something specific to their desired major or program.

@tacocat333 How cool on the parent call!

@techmom99 Congrats on techson acceptance into theatre tech program but I’m lol about “no praise.” That sounds so much like something that my S17 would say!

@eandesmom I am also hoping the 3rd semester finishes strong–it’s a bit scary right now, but he’s still making up things from missing for Model UN, etc. It’s such a busy time of year. While I miss him playing his spring sport which he gave up this year, I think he’d be totally overwhelmed if he had 2 hours of practice every evening on top of everything else going on.

About flying alone… When we did S17 initial visit to MSU, we worked in the visit during a time I was going to MI for some training for work. So, we did his visit, and he had a solo flight home while I stayed in MI for my training. Because of construction, we got turned around on the highways around DTW, and by the time we got to the airport, I had to drop him at the curb to make sure he had time to get through security and make his flight. I parked the car, and by the time I got inside, he was completely checked in and through security–he has flown with us a lot, but it was good to see that he handled it all on his own. Then he did need to change planes, and his 1st flight landed late, and he had to sprint through the connecting airport to make his flight home, but he made it. And the age of cell phones definitely helps–he did text about being nervous when his 1st flight landed late, but then also texted that he made the 2nd flight, although he didn’t get a chance to get any dinner (and that he was thankful for the oreos and cheez its in his backpack :stuck_out_tongue: )

More news here–S was awarded $2500/year Provost scholarship from Buffalo, who he now claims is “stalking” him B-), and he wants them to just go away–he’s done with them. They send him something new in the mail about twice a week now, but I guess we should go ahead and decline them…

The more exciting news is acceptance to the MSU Honors College with an additional $7000/year in merit $! At least I think so… The acceptance to the Honors College mentions the $15,000 Honors College National scholarship which replaces the $8000 University Scholars Award that he previously had, and the one-time Study Abroad scholarship, but it didn’t say anything about his $3000 Legacy scholarship. I’m pretty sure he should be able to keep the legacy $, too, but I’ll have him check when we visit next week…

So, this makes the decision even harder again. SIGH… (but a happy sigh, because he has great options!)

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@MSU88CHEng -

Albany is a great choice. One of techson17’s closest friends has committed there. My friend, whose son is a freshman in the honors program, really loves it there. As for Buffalo stalking your son, that is so funny. Techson17 is being “stalked” by schools he never even applied to…

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@snoozn Loved the index cards. We were the opposite here. I had NO access to any portals at all. My daughter has been the first to know and if I happened to be around, I got to look over her shoulder.

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Many college students (me, my daughter) go to college on a plane with a few suitcases full of clothing. No TVs, no mini-fridge, no 2000 boxes of things from high school. No minivan packed to the roof pulling a trailer. My other daughter went to school with 6 duffels of (mostly) clothing and bedding. Brought it all home at the end of the year and it never went back. Now she’s down to 1-2 duffels and maybe a box of books, one set of sheets and towels, no knick-knacks. She’s on study abroad this semester and at first didn’t want to take a checked bag at all, but in the end took one and a very small carry on.

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@MSU88CHEng WOW! That’s potentially some very big $$. Can’t wait to see how it shakes out for you, definitely makes things more complicated.

@techmom99 if S17 goes out of state it will definitely be 2 checked bags on a plane (ok maybe 3 if needed as I’ll only check one for me. We’ll buy bedding there and rent a fridge as needed.

For our OOS college junior we did the same thing. We’ve had to buy a bed down there but will sell it when she graduates. She did have to store a mattress topper and bedding and a few other things over the summer between freshman and sophomore year (we rented storage that she shared with several others) but since then has moved into a house that she’s at all summer (or at least we pay for lol). But if he’s in on campus housing, that’s not an issue.

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On stalking… Wells has been stalking DS and continues to do so, even though he has expressed NO interest in applying. (Yes, they’re still taking applications and “will return an admission decision within just one week.”) But our favorite letter came last week: “When I think of prospective students who could be a great addition to Wells College next fall, I keep coming back to you!” He’s saving it just for laughs. I feel a little sad for them though, because if they’re so desperate for applicants they must be struggling, and that doesn’t bode well for the village of Aurora which has fond memories for me.

On a fun note: Yesterday we found out that DS also got the Provost Scholarship at Buffalo, which will be helpful. He probably has acceptance decisions ready at the Binghamton and Stony Brook sites, but hasn’t checked them yet. So I can relate to you, @CoyoteMom.

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@mdcmom , I have fond memories of a visit to Wells. My dad and I toured the Finger Lakes colleges back when hair was big and dreams were bigger. I didn’t end up applying but appreciated how warm and friendly it was. Congrats on Buffalo $!

@MSU88CHEng , big money! Very exciting stuff.

I had portal access, plus work from home so was always here when the mail came. TacoSon received a couple of first notifications by snail mail, not email or portal. He gave his blessing to me checking and informing him.

Speaking of TacoSon, he’s still playing catchup from missing 2 1/2 days last week due to band trip, plus the travel schedule messing with his sleep. It didn’t help that he worked 8-hour days both Saturday and Sunday. If it’s between him taking a day now to catch up on work vs. a day in May to play, I’d rather he take the day now, so Monday will a mental health day here. (The deal is his mental health day cannot impact MY mental health – meaning he gets up immediately after everyone else clears out and goes right to work, no messing around.)

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@techmom99 I live pretty close to LIU-Post if you have any questions about the area. Where are you coming from?

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@93pilots my D’s best friend got the same admit to American. Without merit $$ it was too rich for our blood, so I feel your pain. D’s friend was also put off a bit by the mentorship program–so does that mean you’re paying for a semester of school without getting any credits? Or is the cost reduced? I would worry that spring enrollment would make it hard to integrate–some schools seem to have this worked out a bit (like Northeastern)–it could be that American does, too. I wouldn’t have thought that my D’s friend would need “mentoring”–her stats are comparable to my D’s and she’s got better ECs, and my D was admitted for the fall (ED). Stats not good enough for merit, but not bad enough to require mentoring.

@snoozn, sorry about the WLs–but your D has some amazing choices and it’s great that so many are doable financially! Fingers crossed on the RIT merit appeal!

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@klinska and @93pilots, coming out of lurking here, I read a thread here somewhere in the last few days (hope I’m reporting this correctly) that the students that American invited for their mentorship/spring admittance were actually considered more qualified than the fall admits (weirdly.) Had something to do with protecting yield (assuming these students might go elsewhere) and the idea that they also have the independence and readiness to do an internship (the mentorship part.) Evidently, from this thread, anyway, the mentorship was not a matter of preparing the students for college, but for giving them a taste of professional experience outside of the classroom. Hope I’m not misrepresenting the situation…it just stuck in my head, since it’s so odd. Maybe if you do a search here on CC you will find the thread.

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@klinska as best we can tell it means you are paying for a semester of school that won’t count anywhere other than American. But we aren’t sure either. The other thing is that there are 150 spots for the three “Mentorship” options and they seem to have offered this to way more kids than that so they were encouraging people to sign up sooner than May 1. Also I think if you do the Washington internship you are supposed to come to town early and find it yourself from a list they give you. If you don’t do one of their programs you can just be a spring admit. I share your concerns about difficulty integrating into the class.

@inthegarden thanks for delurking and the reference, I found the threads. Lots of speculation on there about yield protection! I am not sure about the “qualifications” point (it seems to be one person’s opinion and though they may be right there’s no way to know for sure). Definitely odd though and I can see why it stuck in your head!!! Reading through that thread is like going through the looking glass…seems like if my S had had better stats, he’d have been waitlisted. Not how I would have thought about it before today.

The good news about all this was that, as we sat down to try and winnow down the list yesterday, it was easy for him to take American out of consideration and not look back.