Parents of the HS Class of 2021 (Part 1)

D21 informed me that 8 of her 11 apps are in. The only ones left are Wisconsin EA due 11/1. Michigan EA 11/15. And the Yale RD Lottery ticket is not due until January 1.

So looking good for getting the apps done in a timely fashion

@TVBingeWatcher2 It is so sad!

No dances or pep rally. The kids wear their mums and boutonnieres to school and to the football gameā€¦

In our neck of the woods the Homecoming Dance itself is the least important part of Homecoming Week lol (yes, we have a week of celebrations lol!!)ā€¦

Itā€™s all about the Homecoming Parade (my kidsā€™ school was voted best HoCo parade tradition in Texas lol) mum/garter exchangeā€¦wearing them to school, pep rally and the big GAME .Freshman and sophomores are the only ones that really are at the dance itselfā€¦upperclassmen may drop in just to say that they were there before or after a fancy dinner out somewhereā€¦But if youā€™re a band kid (like mine!), Homecoming is always smack in the middle of marching contest season!! Historically, band kids are always at a day long contest at some far location, and if we make finals (which we usually do) then that means not getting back to the school until 10-11:00 pm. This yearā€”> marching contests cancelledā€¦homecoming dance cancelled as well lol.

I know why Iā€™ve been feeling so restless latelyā€¦I figured it was just anxiety over his college apps but I realize just how much Iā€™m missing chaos that usually is fall semester and marching season. I havenā€™t had an empty October weekend in 3 yearsā€¦doesnā€™t feel natural :frowning:

S21 updates: only one more app to submit! That will get knocked out by this sunday hopefully! Transcripts have all been orderedā€¦SAT scores sent to the schools that need themā€¦FAFSA doneā€¦weā€™re near the end of the finish line folksā€¦now itā€™s just time to sit back and wait!!!

Midterms were yesterday and then today (itā€™s early release and end of the first 9 week grading period). S21 is having the BEST semester of his high school career grade wise! I donā€™t know if it was all those months of quarantine or what but he (and same for my S23 twins!) have been on fire!! I was talking to a friend who also has a senior and is an employee of the school and she said that unfortunately a lot kids who chose the virtual only option are not doing well and our kids who chose in person learning will probably see a big jump in class rank as a result. If so, iā€™ll definitely have him request for a second set of the new transcripts to be sent to all his applied schools since what we were working with was the rank & transcript from middle of junior year that was frozen when everything went to pass/fail only due to quarantine and schools shutting down.

I wonder if there will be kids changing to in person class now that the first 9 weeks are done. I am hearing the kids are finding online harder.
Good for your 3 sons tearing it up academically! @Momof3B

@TVBingeWatcher2 our marking period isnā€™t over yet but itā€™s the opposite here - word is itā€™s easier to cheat virtually so kids are switching from hybrid to 100% virtual.

@NJWrestlingmom, Yikes!!!

@NJWrestlingmom thatā€™s interesting. In our area, word is most kids arenā€™t really concerned with tests/grades/etc (burnt out, tired, early senior slump, whatever) and are more interested in the social aspect theyā€™ve been missing. So our in-person numbers are going up.

@NJWrestlingmom ā€œcheatā€ is a strong word. Group answers is a better description?

Weā€™re 2 months into year, hybrid is sailing along fine, sports have played the past 3 weeks without issue. Some sense of normalcy thus far.

Our 25% hybrid (which is 2x/week every other week, so 4 days/month in person) only started last week, and already is on pause this week due to rising cases/100,000 in the 4 school zip codes, and a broader zip code sample that includes zips where teachers/staff come from.

Because we have block schedule, 25% hybrid means a given class only meets in person 2x/month. S21 has 2 of 5 teachers teaching 100% virtually as well.

S21 is due to go in for the first time next week, but I doubt that will happen, numbers have been climbing every day this week. He was already saying he was just going to stay home anyway, sees little point to being in person when there are so many (understandable) restrictions.

I was shocked that our high school had only 38% come back for in person. The neighboring high school on the affluent west side of the district (iā€™m sure you can guess which one iā€™m talking about!) had 68% come back in personā€¦and the most covid cases as well. Iā€™ve heard that at our campus, 60 students are switching from virtual to in person for the next 9 weeks.

Is there anywhere where data is being compiled on schoolsā€™ 2020 on campus approaches? I know that NYT is compiling a map with the # of college cases.

Actually, just found this https://collegecrisis.shinyapps.io/dashboard/

@NateandAllisMom - great link!

We just got the last of Dā€™s three SAT scores in. Sheā€™s got a math score that hits just above the 50th percentile for most of her schools, but just couldnā€™t get there for EW and she says sheā€™s done. I agree. She will send scores to two of her safeties where her scores are above the 75th percentile but all other apps will be without test scores.

Our GC thinks sheā€™s fine going TO and that around 50% of our high schoolā€™s kids are making that decision so she wonā€™t be alone.

Onward to getting those EA apps out!

Thatā€™s a great tool. However, it appears some of the info may be out of date in these quickly changing C19 times.

U Dayton started out on campus but mostly all classes online. As of 2-3 weeks ago, Half to most classes are in-person or hybrid. Professors are very lenient with letting students choose to continue taking classes online, but there is the option to meet in person.

As of today, that tool continues to list U Dayton as ā€œprimarily online.ā€ With situations changing rapidly and often across the country, it has to be hard for a tool like that to remain 100% accurate.

We recently visited TAMU and tons of students not social distancing, not wearing masks inside and it seemed like business as usual on campus.

D has all applications in for EA and two acceptances already. But, and it is a big but, one of the teachers she asked for an LOTR agreed to write one but has not submitted it yet or replied to any of her follow ups or follow ups from her guidance counselor. D is not a kid who found it easy to ask for LOTRs and isnā€™t the kind of kid who formed any sort of bond with teachers. The frustration level and rising panic level does not make for a happy child or happy parents for that matter. And yes, I know there should be a plan B but she found it hard enough to figure out which teachers to ask back in the summer.

@smiles2122 Weā€™re in NM, so OOS for mines.

It sounds like my kids are the only ones going to a school thatā€™s 100% online. And, weā€™ve had no sports since March. Our stateā€™s COVID numbers are now rapidly rising, and we have a strict governor. so I donā€™t see this situation changing. What a weird senior year.

We are fully online at least through mid November and I fully expect that to be continued into the new year here in our Northern NJ school district. Our D does have limited fall sports though but with no fans present and many games cancelled but it is a lifesaver in terms of social interaction.