My oldest, D20 has about a 3.1. She has ADHD and EF issues. This year will be her first with a weighted class, AP Environmental Science, which she’s passionate about. I’m crossing fingers (and searching for a tutor already!)
PSAT score was 1050, I believe, so I’m hoping that can be raised. I’m planning on her retaking the PSAT and doing SAT/ACT in spring, likely twice each.
She’s hoping to study Wildlife Biology, which there isn’t a lot of programs for. Her list is narrowed down to about 7 schools, 3 of which we went to see in NY State over spring. None are extremely competitive, so she’s being very realistic. It’s going to be an exiting year between SAT, ACT, her AP class, and some more school visits.
Round 2.
Just dropped off S18. I need more time to recover but It is S20 time now. Not sure he likes all the attention on him and it has only been 2 weeks.
S20 is smart as a whip but his grades sure don’t show it. He knows what is on the line this year and I hope that seeing his brother go through the process will help. He has been on one official tour. S18 was easy he knew what he wanted, big SEC type school with a great program. S20 has no clue what he wants in a school or a major. On top of that it needs to be in a certain price range.
I am back! Moved D18 to her school, picked up puppy on the way home, said goodbye to the Cape for the summer and moved back home. All caught up on this thread and the three others I follow ~ started reading the Parents of 2019 that is like this as I figured it would be helpful as well.
Spending this weekend doing some catch up around the house…we were down the Cape last weekend…and starting Sunday I will officially begin the College Search for and hopefully with D20! I am ready for the challenge.
Have to agree with the sentiment I read here…looking forward to going through this with a less stressed kid, though I am nervous about what our options will be especially with merit and a tad nervous she is too less stressed and therefore will need some extra motivation, but overall I am embracing it as a new experience and plan to give her the 110% I gave her sister.
welcome back @MinnieFan !
we just got back from mini-vacation. Went to NY to hike. But of course I had to squeeze in college tours LOL.
posting our experience (posted this too in another thread):
Ithaca College - tour started off great. Beautiful campus, lovely town. Tour guide was friendly, funny and tried to answer everybody’s questions. Most buildings are very modern. Visitor center had coffee/tea/water and comfy chairs. During the tour, as we were approaching the dorms, somebody shouted at our tour group - something about touring the campus as lame. We kind of ignored it. But then, as we were walking away from the dorms, another one shouted a profanity about newbies, then laughter from a group. I could see S20 was upset and so were people from the group. Tour guide didn’t address it, just waited for the shouting to stop and then kept on talking. Love to love this school. They’re SAT/ACT optional too. Too bad. Not applying.
Binghamton University - Beautiful campus. Friendly students. Walkable. Some buildings are new and modern - visitor center, Business. Some are old, concrete - library, tech. Fantastic tour guides -as we were waiting for the tour/info session to start, the tour guides went around and talked to the families. Really nice. Big emphasis on sports activities and outdoor activities. Greek life -17%. Love that each residential area/dorm has dining close by. Binghamton is pretty rural. Surprised S20 likes it.
S20 has around a 3.4/3.5ish UW, but he is very interested in engineering and those grades just won’t cut it for our state’s primary engineering school. He’s okay traveling for college, but we’ll need merit. He’s lopsided though, and not in the good way. OK grades. Great test scores. His school has had him take the PSAT each year since 7th, so he’s comfortable and we actually encouraged him take the SAT this past June before he forgets all the math and he did well, so now the pressure is off there. Major social anxiety. Won’t talk to teachers or do presentations. He had a science teacher he adored, but that teacher changed schools, so I have no idea who he’ll ask for recommendations. We are in NC.
We toured a handful of schools to expose him to different types and he is definitely leaning to more industrial-feeling schools. Now we need to focus on our state’s directionals. And make sure he keeps his grades at least steady.
@SweetSoulMusic Mississippi State University uses weighted GPA for scholarships and they offer pretty good merit aid. It’s located in Starkville which is rural. Its my understanding they have a good engineering program. The daughter of one of college friends is there majoring in biomedical engineering. My son loves it there but he is not an engineering major.
S20 was invited to apply for NHS and he’s actually going to do it-he claims-his weighted GPA is a 3.4 but unweighted is a 2.9. He’s kicking himself for his grades last year but it couldn’t have been helped. He’s now mentally healthy and grown a ton from the experience. Now, to prove himself this year and Senior year (I think he’s going to need to wait to apply with his first half of senior year grades in).
My D22 is taking Algebra 2 this year and he’s had to help her with some of her homework, so I’m hoping this will help him with any math he may have forgotten. He also does Khan Academy some but I’m trying not to stress him out. He already told me to back off the college talk because it stresses him out. He did let me put the Scholars program info session for our community college on the calendar-although that will be his safety (once he brings his GPA up to a 3.2). He wants to go to a “real” college but I think he’s afraid to get his hopes up in case his grades don’t come up. So, I’ll wait until after his first semester to ask if he wants to visit any schools and sign him up for the SAT.
I did not see this thread and posted this elsewhere…but am reposting here so that I can join this thread…I stole this from Class of 2019 thread and made it my own as my B/G twins just started Junior Year and I am now in the throws of SATs/ACTs and beginning “true” college search for my “polar opposite” twins!
We are currently in Va - NOVA to be exact…in highly competitive FFX County school (where high percentage of students take all APs/Honors for all years and have 4.2+ GPAs) – this makes it very hard for the “average” kid, especially when college admissions tend to compare applications of students from same schools.
Below is my spin on previous threads…
Topic 1: SAT/ACT Testing Dates
Based on their readiness and availability for prep classes I’ve decided to have them take their first SAT in the Spring - March 9 test date for us and retake in May. D20 may do better on the ACT but that is not pushed as hard at their school so I may just have her take the ACT this fall or next summer in June or July. That leaves the fall of senior year open to retake ACT and/or SAT.
Topic 2: SAT Subject Testing – Yes/No?
How important is the SAT Subject Testing? I did some research and it appears as though it depends on where you apply - not all colleges require or even recommend this. Seems it is mainly Ivys and upper tier schools that really want this - which is not where we are looking.
Topic 3: SAT/ACT Prep Classes & Workbooks
I am checking on “in person/classroom style” prep classes (in person would work better especially for my D20) – have narrowed it down to either Georgetown Learning Center or Princeton Review – based on budget and class schedules. Any thoughts or other recommendations? I also plan on getting some Workbooks for them to begin review/study now…any recommendations?
The above are my current most pressing topics but am copying and pasting below topics from previous threads as they are just around the corner for me.
Topic 4: School Visits & Casting WIDE nets
So - when do we start truly visiting colleges? Should I plan on using Winter/Spring Break of Junior year for college visits? Should these be formal (registered through the school and making contact with the school) visits?
Thoughts on Va. in-state schools? With current stats for D20…George Mason, Radford, UMW, Longwood are more likely matches…but hoping her GPA improves and fingers crossed for SAT score being decent to get into Christopher Newport, Va Tech or James Madison. We are open to OOS but she doesn’t want to go too far – with her current stats UK or UWV are more likely matches. Thoughts on OOS schools. She is interested in Early Childhood Education…and also Marketing.
Topic 5: Fit & LOVING ALL OUR SCHOOLS
D20 is my bright, responsible and “A” student…if grading were based on effort. But she has her challenges – currently on an IEP with ADHD/Inattentive Type + General Anxiety and working memory/EF issues. So we are being realistic yet still remaining open to some “reach” schools because well, you just don’t know…she just got a PT job working retail at the local mall and has regular babysitting gigs. She also earned the coveted Girl Scout Gold Award this past summer! I want her to “reach” for where she wants to really go, but also have some realistic options/safeties and we’ve even discussed and she is open to Community College for the Guaranteed Admissions route should she still really want to go to her “reach” school if she does not get in.
S20 is looking to have turned himself around and focusing more on school - currently taking Honors and 1 AP class with a focus on Computer Science (AP Computer Science Principles and Cyber:CompTech2 A+). If he continues to apply himself he will hopefully be closer to the 3.4-3.8 GPA…but only time will tell.
Topic 6:Possible Financial/Merit aid
We will not qualify for much if any FA (having twins at same time…our EFC comes to about $25K per kid). As for merit aid, I thought we’d never qualify either based on stats, but after reading threads on CC I see that we might just qualify at some schools - yeah! That being said – our budget is $25K (tuition/room & board) or less per kid with student loans being required if over that. Therefore we have been sticking primarily to all in-state public schools (Virginia) – but I’ve heard from friends that there are some OOS schools where you could actually end up paying only about $25K so I’ll be looking at a few OOS options as well maybe.
Topic 7: Books to assist our quest of the perfect school for our children.
Topic 8: Requesting LOR’s before school gets out
And…finally…as we get close to and into senior year:
Topic 9: Applications (EA vs. ED vs. RD), to disclose or not disclose LD, essay prompts, etc.
Topic 10: Auditions (music, dance, theatre) (does not apply to my but left it in the thread for others)
Topic 11: Senior year visits & overnights
Topic 12: The Waiting Game of acceptances
Topic 13: Reviewing award letters
Topic 14: Committing and sending in that check!
Today one of the reps visiting the school was from a school that D20 loved when we toured for her sister D18. D18 is a better student than D20 but she applied and was waitlisted ( believe the major she was applying to and her low scores factored in). D18 did come off the waitlist but by then she was already all set on where she was going. D20’s reaction when D18 was waitlisted was “if she didn’t get in I will never get in” even though her sister immediately told her once she read the waitlist letter not to think that.
So today the school had the rep there and the vibe I was getting from D20 was the college visits were for seniors. Last week at Open House I stopped in guidance and spoke with her counselor and she told me while the focus was seniors the juniors were welcome. Told that to my daughter. Reminded her yesterday I wanted her to go. Tonight when I asked she told me she did not go because during announcements they said it was for seniors. When I reminded her that we had cleared it she threw out 1. not wanting to be embarrassed because it was seniors on the announcement I countered you can not let embarrassment factor in to your future, 2. they would be at the school college fair tomorrow I countered they were not on the list which is why I paved the way for her to go and asked her to go today, 3. that she does not want to go to that school, I countered it is all she talked about until her sister was waitlisted and 4. this was her decision to which I countered ultimately it is her decision but I have input to the process as we will be paying and can not afford 70K a year so I have put a lot of time, energy and research in helping her along the way so she has the most options.
All this was said with many more words than outlined above. I am so dreading this college journey with D20 because she thinks she knows so much more than she does and spends so much energy shutting me out to prove it. I know this kid and I am open to looking with her in her criteria but she has to stop being so into how she looks to kids that do not matter in the grand scheme of her life ( which is why she barely has any ECs, why she received a C in math last year because she does not want to look stupid asking questions etc.). She is at the bottom end of her class age wise and I really wish she was a year behind.
Told her I am involved, I am the one planning and paying to take her half away across the country and using my vacation time to do it, paying for most of her college etc so while she can steer the course and make the final decision when I have a suggestion she needs to consider and when I have a request she needs to honor it. I will keep them minimal but they need to be honored.
Last week I had a talk with her as we were starting and thought we were in a good place, now I am not so sure. She just wants to be in college not do what it takes to get there…her words.
Have to keep reminding myself she is a 16 year old who does not understand why when we go to visit her sister at parents weekend we are having my mom come to stay with her…she truly does not understand why she ( who can not even drive yet) can not stay by herself or have a friend spend the weekend.
D18 was type A high anxiety, stress about grades if not all A+, too many ECs to get on the Common App while D20 is don’t dare stick your neck out someone might notice you, don’t need adults except to chauffeur, and if a college does not like my lack of ECs that is not the place for me ( will say she is trying much more with the grades though). Really think we should have had the third child…maybe as they say third time is a charm for perfect balance…feel like I have been thrown to the other end of the room and not sure how to proceed.
@MinnieFan Vent away. Being afraid of what others think of you is a big part of being a teenager. As is thinking you know everything. Until now my D20 has been a little ambivalent about this whole college process, but she is just starting to show some interest. A lot of us are in the same boat.
@MinnieFan – nothing wrong with venting…it keeps us sane! My D20 is also afraid of being embarrassed and continues to tell me the same thing…college visits at school are for seniors. She has attended some of the college fairs though and I do talk to her and my S20 (her twin brother) about researching colleges and starting to plan college visits. Sometimes they both balk at my seemingly continuous talk about colleges and how none of their friends’ parents are talking about college all the time. So I did back off and drop the subject for a bit. This helped.
Also – I told them to do their own research…which led my D20 to come up with the most obscure colleges!! LOL…one called Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, NC – she knows she would do better at smaller schools and I told her that she could look OOS (we are in VA). Lees-McRae has a women’s dorm that allows pets – D20 said she could take her cat with her! Her other obscure pick was in Colorado which I found interesting since she has been adamant that she wants to stay close to home.
I say put the ball in her court…tell her to start researching colleges and that you will research too (I have been researching based on knowing my own D20 and her stats). Make it fun – tell her to find the most obscure ones - i.e., ones with dorms that allow pets (or something that interests here).
I would love for all the folks here to share anything they learn about dorms that allow pets.
Rutgers and UDel both have groups of students who raise puppies who will be guide dogs and I think Lafayette has a dorm for kids raising service dogs. Not pets but still interesting.
@MACmiracle Amherst allows service animals and animals in training as well as assistance animals. Also, Washington & Jefferson allows pets; I believe it’s in special housing, like a Living Learning Community.
@MinnieFan I can sympathize as my second (ds20) is very similar (also young and also questioning why he can’t stay home when we head to parents’ weekend!). I do a lot of deep breathing and biting of my tongue and try to remember he will get there though the road may be bumpy.
As we are in the middle of apps for D19 I got an e-mail from the HS today about S22 and a practice PSAT being taken at the school on 10/10. No rest for the weary.
Hi there! My S20 much closer to this group with 3.6, then the other and hoping to join. Super bright kid but with ADHD that certainly does not help. We r in CA and as he is definitely computer science bound - big passion since childhood. So getting into a decent program with internship potential, without first going through junior college may be tough. We r looking at the west coast publics and privates and will be visiting schools in the spring and winter break. D17 goes to Nursing school in Univ of Portland and loves it. If someone is looking at west coast nursing, would be glad to advise. Good luck to all.
My D20 is also afraid of being embarrassed and continues to tell me the same thing…college visits at school are for seniors. She has attended some of the college fairs though and I do talk to her and my S20 (her twin brother) about researching colleges and starting to plan college visits. Sometimes they both balk at my seemingly continuous talk about colleges and how none of their friends’ parents are talking about college all the time. So I did back off and drop the subject for a bit. This helped.