Knowing many that went to Mines I wouldn’t call it dreary, at least not in their opinion, just intense.
It wasn’t right for SD on the competitive and social scale (and her concerns about male/female ratio) but the biggest issue was they really didn’t have the major she wanted. She liked it enough to apply!!. It’s an amazing school and if somehow S19 wanted to go there we would totally support it.
@snoozn congratulations to your D!!! How exciting!!!
But yikes at the same time!!
@curiositycat333 - well, you could charge her rent to live with you…
We are on a different path than most here - recruited athlete. 3 d1 offers and a d2 offer on the table. That said, our top choice is a d3 school. The timing is going to be tricky.
@oldbrookie First place I don’t know much about recruited athletes, so correctly me if I’m wrong. But I though what make a school a D3 was they weren’t allowed to offer scholarships. And therefore they didn’t really recruit athletes.
While it is true that D3 schools do not offer athletic scholarships, that’s not what makes them D3. Schools petition the NCAA to play in certain divisions based on what’s the best level of competition for the school, the number of varsity teams it wants to support, other teams in the area.
D3’s certainly recruit, and people often use the athletic hook to get into the schools - Williams, Amherst, Bates, Gettysburg. My daughter was recruited by a lot of D3 schools who wanted her for her athletic ability and her grades. At most D3’s, she would have received merit aid, but at those that only offer need based aid, she couldn’t apply. Some mid sized schools are D3 while some rather small schools are D1.
The OP and several others don’t seem to care as much about the D1 sports as they do about the marching bands, which tend to go with D1 football schools.
@curiositycat333, neither of my D’s looked at Colorado College, though I’ve heard about the one-class-at-a-time thing. My kids’ K-8 principal’s daughter went there and she (the mother) thought very highly of it.
I wouldn’t say that your D’s lack of motivation is a serious issue this soon after graduation. Big transitions can be more stressful on some people than others. At least your D has graduated! My oldest is going into her 6th year of college (yes, undergrad). There are a number of contributing factors and she wishes now she’d done things differently. Perhaps when your D’s summer job ends she will start to pick up steam and move on to what’s next.
@twoinanddone and @eandesmom, well I would give your guys information about Mines way more credence than my second-hand info mostly from those who didn’t stay. Once my D saw it didn’t have her concentration area we didn’t give it any more thought. If they had, I would have done more research and certainly we would have visited. It would probably still be too intense for her even if it’s not fiercely competitive. I’m just glad we have CSU as an in-state option that seems it would fit her well enough for a large university (which she doesn’t want at all). Anyway, I’ll file away all those positives about Mines in case anyone asks me in the future!
I will make my admittedly biased claim that Boulder > Fort Colllins > Golden. Nothing wrong with Golden, but I think the other two are better college towns. As always, YMMV…
@eandesmom, yes, yikes! Even though we knew they’d get engaged eventually, I’d actually never thought about it in terms of “planning a wedding.” D11 has been sending me google docs with titles like “guest list” and “venues” and most terrifying of all, “budget.” #-o
@twoinanddone Yup that’s us. Don’t care about the sports. We care more about the marching band. I’m surprised but DS states this is important to him.
Thanks for the clarification about D3 sports. I honestly respect a school that has D3 sports I just didn’t realize they weren’t all walk-on. I imagine they do have more walk-on spots available? I do have a nephew who does care a lot about sports (and is quite good) but who has decided not to go the recruiting route because it’s more important to him to have a school which has the right major.
@snoozn
BUDGET. YIKES!!!
Super cute though that she already has google docs going on this. I’m kind of sad. I love to plan things like this and I really won’t ever get to as SD’s mom will be the one doing it all I am sure and the rest, well they are boys! Not that we are looking at it anytime soon…not one of our kids has ever even had a serious boyfriend/girlfriend!
@curiositycat333 I wouldn’t be too worried yet. Our S11 has yet to find his career path and is living at his mom’s. We definitely see signs of it moving forward, perhaps not in the way we would like (too entrepreneurial for my taste as a first foray) but it took several months for that to kind of settle into a plan and has become a real one that we are seeing measurable progress against are confident it will move forward though (making any money at it is another story mind you). I tend to agree that I’d require her to work (at something, anything) once the summer job ends and maybe set a grace period until she has to start paying rent.
Question to mirror discussion on main 2017 board. Are your kids taking any SAT Subject tests? How many? Do many of the schools they are applying to care? What I’ve noticed is mostly the top private schools who still want them, or maybe for specific departments.
I had S17 take the SAT Math II Subject test last year. But didn’t bothered with any other since none of his schools he is looking at even care. Some Engineering Depts. might want to look at the Math test.
None here. None of his schools require it (SAT II’s) and I don’t see it being to my S’s advantage to do so. Many won’t even look at them if you send them so I’d make sure it will even get read. Not one of our children has taken them. It is possible S19 will but I will let him drive that bus!
If you have a weak math score in the ACT or SAT then I could see it helping in engineering for direct admit but if isn’t direct admit I’m not sure it would be weighted much. Not sure though and imagine it varies by school.
None here. I’d rather see her put the effort into her GPA.
I haven’t posted in a while, even tho I’ve been lurking on this thread & the other Class of '17 thread. I enjoy the banter of the posters on the other thread, but their kids seem so much smarter & accomplished compared to my “average” B+ child. Re-intro … we’re in VA & S’17 will ONLY consider U’s w/marching bands & has NO idea about a major.
S’17 finally has his June GPA, ACT & SAT scores, so he has a clearer picture of where to apply. I wish I could say the ACT & SAT scores make up for his lower GPA, but no such luck. It looks like he will have 2 “safeties” on his list (1 IS & 1 OOS), but to be honest, I’m not pleased with either choice. He has many U’s where he falls within the 50% range, but what truly makes a U a “match”? 2 U’s are “reaches” (1 IS &1 OOS) & 1 will probably be taken off the list. Like many, he won’t qualify for need-based aid, his stats only qualify him for merit-based aid @ 1 OOS U, and we’re looking at full pay at the remainder. CC is always an option, but we don’t think that is the best route for our video/computer playing child.
I’m anxious for the CApp to open on 8/1 so he can get this process going. S’17 will be in marching band camp starting 8/8 until school starts on 8/29. Has your child started their CApp essay? We hired a college consultant to assist with the essay & she’s pleased with the 2 drafts he’s provided to her so far. Some of the U’s also have “optional” personal statements, which he hasn’t started.
I’m annoyed w/GC & Naviance – she finally updated S’17s GPA & updated the Class of '16 data, but I don’t expect ACT & SAT scores to be uploaded anytime soon. S’17 asked 2 teachers for LofR, but those requests have disappeared from Naviance because the system is being “enhanced”.
I know some despise ED, but S’17 wants to apply ED to his top choice in-state U, so he needs to complete everything before 11/15. BTW … he had to schedule an “optional” interview for that U & thought it went well. ^^None of his U’s require SAT subject tests.
We only had one school on our list that was going to require them–UDel–but I think we’re going to just pass this up.
SAT scores are in–she did a lot better the second time around. Her math score is still under the average for many of the schools on our list, but for all but a few she’s safely within the middle 50%, which is definitely better than where we were yesterday. We’re going to review our list with this new information and see if we can’t get a true 2-reach-3/4-match-2/3-safety list together that she can buy into. Don’t know if she’ll take the SAT again–if she could get her math score up even just another 20 points, I feel like it would give us more breathing room, but if she decides she’s done, I’m OK with that.
Had S17 take the Math Subject test when we didn’t really think much about where he was going to apply. It was the end of his pre-calc year so it was the right time. Don’t think it will end up as useful for anything. Oh well.
@brindlegreyhound We have the same feeling about the SAT. I’m sure with enough prep he could get better it’s already very good. Although week on the essay part. But I’d rather he put his effort into his GPA.
@MomStudent2017 welcome back!!!
I actually think you are in decent shape if he has done 2 drafts of the common app essay, it is more than many/most! We have a similar Naviance situation, I’m not even going in there till mid/end of August, hopefully they actually let us know when the enhancement is done. It just means for us, I don’t see a single app going in prior to school starting. They require all LOR’s and Transcript requests to go through there.
This is how I am personally defining reaches/matches and safeties but YMMV. LOL!
Safety = Stats at 75th percentile or above AND/OR admission rates over 75% AND/OR 100% admittance per Naviance at S’s stats. If Stats are below the 75th % then it has to have both the admission and admittance pieces there.
Financial Safety = all of the above plus we can afford it. LOL!
Match = Stats in the 25th-75th percentile (middle 50 range) and acceptance rates 60% + high naviance acceptance rates at S’s stats. This one is odd as really there are only 2 match schools that even have Naviance data and those are at 100%
Honestly I don’t know that we have any true reaches aside from the fact that the lower the acceptance rate goes, the less of a match a school may be. Some of the matches may really be low reaches but without the Naviance info it’s hard to say. While we’ve looked at some reach schools since we are in the merit hunt, none have come through as showing enough merit to make sense to stay on the list. If S decides to apply to our flagship it would be a reach school but a financial safety. So far he is saying no.
Then again, I wouldn’t say our list is final.
ED for an instate U that is a financial safety sounds like a fine plan to me. Many despise it for the financial limitations it creates but that wouldn’t be the case for instate. So far there is isn’t one school that S would want to apply ED to (which is good given the financial considerations). There are 7-8 though that have EA or early priority dates and depending on which remain on the list, I want all in by then as that’s his best chance at merit money.
My S has one draft of his essay done and that is it.
@klinska congrats on the improved SAT score. It really is amazing what a little bit of movement can do.
@curiositycat333 and @brindlegreyhound I really wanted to be done with tests by now. Stupid fractured wrist! I just finished coordinating the test prep schedule for one last go at the ACT. 1-2 points would make a huge difference in a lot of ways. This is where I like schools that superscore! As it’s literally 3 days after school starts, other than summer homework (not yet started) I don’t see it having a negative impact. He will be done after that regardless of the results, I want fall spent on the gpa as there is an outside chance of him bumping to to a 3.5 and that will make a big merit difference at some of the schools even if it doesn’t impact admissions based on the timeline. It’s a reach though for that to happen but it isn’t impossible.
@snoozn ** Questions about Boulder ** Looked at their website more and I now have questions. You may not know these and we might have to ask an admin person. Good questions for S17 to ask when they come talk at our school in the fall. (I’m sure they will visit)
Do you have to be admitted to a major. Can you apply undeclared? I thought I saw a minimum 3.5 GPA to get into engineering but they have re-organized their web-site and I no longer see it.
If you apply in a major and don’t get into that major (say Engineering) can you still get into the university. Do they allow an alternative choice? How easy is it to switch majors.
2b) Edited to add… Their EA program, is it more competitive to get into EA? Advantage to apply early particularly for some programs?
Do all freshman live on campus? Is there any campus housing for upperclassman. Do students even want to live on campus after first year. How expensive is it to live off campus.
I assume there are outdoor clubs & activities. Are there organized trips? Are they popular or expensive?
How easy is to get around town without a car. Local transportation available? Are there good transportations options to/from Denver airport?
I think that’s enough. I have more questions about the band & music program but I think we can find the answers online.
@eandesmom … thanks! I didn’t research any U’s w/acceptance rates below 50%, so the current list consists of U’s w/acceptance rates between 60-85% – hopefully these matches are true matches. My biggest problem has been locating U’s with his middle 50% stats that also have grad & retention rates above the national averages. I’m concerned about placing him in U’s with low grad & retention rates mainly because he needs to be surrounded by students who can motivate him. Even tho he may struggle to maintain A’s & B’s in certain subjects, he gets annoyed by students who don’t even try. And, even tho S’17 ended Jr Yr w/a less than stellar GPA, we’re fully aware of why – 3 years of C’s in a (required) Spanish class tanked his GPA!
AP courses – are your children completing required summer assignments? S’17 has to read & annotate 4 books for AP Lit. He also has to read/interpret the US Constitution & complete a study guide w/vocab words for 2 AP Gov’t tests the 1st week of school. Between a week @ the beach w/his grandparents, 2 weeks as a camp counselor, and 3 weeks of band camp, it doesn’t leave a lot of time to complete these assignments & enjoy summer BREAK.
S17 doesn’t get back from camp for another week. He will then be working on his AP Physics homework. He won’t be taking AP in the humanities. No summer homework in AP Comp Science, plus he has mom in his back pocket. (I’m typing this but I should be programming in Java. 
but I’m procrastinating yet again. ) We cut him back from all honors to only honors in math/science after a bad freshman year. I believe he could do ANY AP class out there but particularly at his school he can’t take them all at once. Too much stress, too much homework makes a very unhappy kid.
Oh and I inadvertently took DS to his first college tour at what turns out to be a reach for him. I didn’t realize till we got there for the tour how competitive it is these days. He still wants to apply and I’m like OH well every kid should have at least one reach school.