Please don’t freak out.
I think for a lot of schools, like the ones mentioned above, it’s easier to get into the competitive majors if you apply earlier.
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Every portal needs to be monitored, by the students not by you. I get that parents on here like to check the students emails and have their portal logins but really this needs to all be done by the student. I never had access to any logins just as I never had access to their High school or other emails, and definitely not to the common app. It is their job: they will have to navigate multiple websites/logins/portals for class registration, clubs, health insurance and individual classes when in college, and not miss deadlines. Barring specific learning challenges or diagnoses, your job is to support and only remind if you have to.
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Plus those schools that put surprise extra essays or “optional” videos to do, only visible in the portal…
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I hear you - and I generally follow that rule. But S24 can get tied up in his own head. He says he’s already set up one of the five. I assume my nagging will result in him setting up the remaining four this weekend.
Can you have him set aside one day over the weekend to sit with you and go down the checklist together? That way he’s doing it on his own but you can be confident the applications are actually completed.
College is expensive - I would not want to be stuck paying more because one little checklist item didn’t get completed for the school that would have been cheaper.
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Yes, I noted this - but if OP is a procrastinator (not my word…the word from @Achala …they should research the schools and programs of interest to check each school’s situation - so they can at least optimize or be efficient in where they apply - and ensure they have a proper list for their needs.
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Good point - So this is another thing for @Achala @Auntlydia to be aware of - demonstrated interest.
Some schools look to see did the student interact - a physical or online visit, is the portal set up, are emails opened, videos watched. Basically, did the student interact?
More likely this is private vs. public schools but you can find out who tracks it using the common data set for each school - Section C7.
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This is fantastic! Thank you. Wish all schools were as transparent as University of Virginia,
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Thank you. Is there “common knowledge” list of schools which fill up their class via EA or ED?
hi- do your kids share their common app essays with the guidance counselor who writes their letter of rec? I’m surprised my kid didn’t share hers and wonder if she should? She’s in a large public school FWIW. Thanks!
Are you seeking feedback? Are they offering to provide feedback?
If not, then no.
What is good to provide is a brag sheet or mini resume - which might include:
Schools they are applying to or that are of interest to the student - just because the GCs like to see, it helps give them an idea.
Most importantly - what they do outside of class - so the GC (or teachers), if they need to write anything, can note the extent of the student’s activities in ways they’ll never know.
Otherwise, many teachers / staff wouldn’t know the student beyond - they’re a solid citizen, good student, etc.
My son has an excellent GC who met with him to review his common app essay twice before he finalized it. She is also reviewing his supplements as needed. As she is a former AO and private college counselor, she has good insight about what schools like to see in an essay but I’m not sure how common that is. I’ve found the counseling in public school is variable; we’ve just gotten lucky to have landed with an excellent and experienced GC.
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@tsbna44 it’s not about feedback - that ship has sailed - but more about her GC having a better sense of her and her interests. I thought that it be might be helpful in terms of letter writing -
@Thorsmom66 - WOW, you are very fortunate! That’s a rare and wonderful background.
Yes, we’ve been very lucky! At our school the GCs have the kids fill out a “brag/info sheet” to help them with their recommendations and then meet with them in person to get a sense of who they are. Do you feel your GC has a good enough sense of your daughter to write a strong recommendation?
Yes, I figured - I would not give the common app essay which will typically not give a total sense or even partial sense of the student.
I would have a brag sheet - or mini resume.
Short, compact, easy for them to read.
But I always say to mention the schools applying. it shouldn’t matter - but it makes them feel good and gives them insight to the kids - what they’re thinking.
I agree! And I note they also have a great admissions blog, Notes from Peabody, with a lot of information attempting to demystify the process:
Not to my knowledge, but I note in most such cases the relevant schools/programs are open about this issue on their website.
So, like, Purdue says the following:
NOVEMBER 1: Early Action Application Deadline
- Students who meet the Early Action deadline will have an admission decision on January 15.
- Application deadline to be considered for Purdue’s full range of scholarships and the John Martinson Honors College.
- Priority application deadline for biomedical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, engineering (first-year), flight (professional flight technology), mechanical engineering, motorsports engineering, nursing, and veterinary nursing. Priority means we will continue accepting applications after this date only if space allows — if applying for one of these programs after November 1, check the closed programs page first.
So that’s pretty clear! If you want to apply to one of those programs at Purdue, you want to apply early.
I think there are a lot of people who are worried about colleges “secretly” filling up, and just not warning people. I am not so sure that happens at all, and definitely in a lot of cases I have looked at–like UVA, say–it does not actually appear to be the case once you really look at what they say and report.
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our hs has a brag sheet filled out by kids - we didn’t see this before it was submitted - and we fill out one too. I’m pretty sure that her GC knows where she’s applying -
I was just struck by proofreading her essays this am how they’re such a reflection of her character and values. I keep saying to my husband - let’s do this a little differently 4 years from now w. our younger kid!
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We aren’t using the school counselor for anything. She is on #5 for high school. She started filling out the form to get a recommendation from the last one and the questions were ridiculous and they upset her. I don’t know if the questions for the new counselor are different. Thankfully she isn’t required to have a recommendation for any of the schools.
She had a family friend read her essay and we both thought the feedback was very good. I think it improved the essay quite a bit.
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We also have a resume/brag sheet we need to fill out and in Addition each student has a 20 to 30 minute interview where the counsellor asks some questions as to what is important to the kid and what they are passionate about.
For us the counsellor will go over he essay but it will be hard to get multiple revisions of feedback as they are short on time. The english teacher also said they would review main essay if they were submitted few days notice.
So S was ready to submit ED and 3 EAs (I sound like a broken record) when he decided to send his sister D21 a copy of his essay to review. She comes back with many edits for him and asks him “Why is Mom so anxious when the deadline is 10 days away? You have plenty of time”. She also offers to have her boyfriend review the essay.
I want to add that he’s been working on this essay since July and was quite happy with it till now.
I love my children.
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