<p>Alumother,
I believe your kids attend(ed) a private high school which probably has a good guidance dept. keyed into college applications. At large public high schools, students are often required to submit applications to guidance several weeks before deadlines to ensure that they are sent out in time (and you feel lucky if everything does get sent out without problems). At our high school, students were also told that things must be in by Thanksgiving to meet the deadlines which were about a month later.</p>
<p>My S's have done their safeties and are mostly ready (but haven't sent off) their match's. Twin1 is completely dragging his feet on his essay for #1 school and Twin2 has all the Service Academy materials in and done. He's still thinking about his other schools. Wants Trinity (CT) to offer him a free app., a free ride, a free visit, etc. "Dear S, the world is still spinning in its normal fashion, AND THAT AIN'T HAPPENING." He'll get it done in a week or two.</p>
<p>Also, Dad2, I don't see anything on your list about GC recommendation, transcripts or test scores (SAT, ACT). These can all go in to the schools while D is working on her essays. Our HS had a 3 week turnaround time on transcripts, and I agree that the recommendations are better when they're written earlier.</p>
<p>It's my understanding you can file for a FAFSA pin on Oct. 1. Don't forget both you and your child each need one. BTW, don't lose it, once you get one (you'll need it until you don't need to fill out FAFSA anymore.) I requested ours be sent via snail mail, because I had trouble obtaining it online. It will also come in handy for federal loans, since you can esign those, too. </p>
<p>I'd also reading up on FAFSA and making a list of the info you'll need (comes in handy when you're practically in a coma come Jan 1!)</p>
<p>Just to give you an idea, at this point last year, DD had completed her essays and had submitted her rolling admissions apps. Since she was not applying ED or EA anywhere, she waiting to work on the regular admissions apps until late Oct./early November (the first one being due Jan. 1.) By submitting those in dribs and drabs, instead of one marathon app session, it didn't seem like such a chore. Her last regular app was due Feb. 15 and she had that submitted Jan. 1.</p>
<p>Yes, S does go to a private school, three college counselors for 115 seniors. He has met with his counselor three times so far. She is wonderful and very supportive to the nervous mother in picture, i.e. me. I have written my letter to the counselor about my son that they ask for to help with their recommendations. He has a final list. Next step is to give the final list to his teachers for their recommendations. The deadline is 4 weeks before the applications are due. S will apply to one EA school November 1. The school handles transcripts, we handle test scores, we also send in the applications - they don't.</p>
<p>But the application itself? Um, S has filled in some text fields in the Common App online:). And his summer homework involved writing one essay for his AP English class, which the teacher just looked and handed back - no editing. I haven't seen it. S tells me it's "hella deep."</p>
<p>S is a last minute kind of guy. He thinks about things for a long time, silently, but actual action comes late in the cycle. Given that the nicknames for one of my sisters and me are Plannerina I and Plannerina II, I have learned to interact with Aluson in a loving, supportive, mildly nagging (:)) way, but not to expect him to plan. Or get anything done ahead of time.</p>
<p>So I was reading this thread and thinking, "Oh s***, do I have to up the nagging quotient?"</p>
<p>I guess this is why I spend the $$$ on the private high school, to enable procrastination. JK. I think.</p>
<p>I am a Plannerina (great term by the way) and S is also a last minute kinda guy.
What I did, so I wouldnt have to nag as much was make a giant visual reminder for him...a large posterboard (of the science fair fold out kind) with tasks/dates/deadlines etc on it, with room for checkmarks.It was embarrassing, I put it where he would see it when entering and exiting the house.It did help.He was thrilled when the process was over and we put it away.</p>
<p>I was just getting ready to buy the posterboard!!!</p>
<p>Seriously, that way the reminders are there, and I don't have to say anything.</p>
<p>Thank the BIL for the term.</p>
<p>We had a chart also - only thing I was allowed to help with - keeping track of things. You are all so lucky. My son (and my DD 2 yrs ago) wrote essays and finished apps at the very last second, often submitting just as midnight on the deadline approached. It drove me crazy.</p>
<p>Son was at Gov School most of the summer so didn't begin essays. We also spent a couple weeks OOS visiting with my sick father. With 6 APs, President of a couple ECs and weekend college courses and volunteering, he was simply too busy to do much else. Kids today have it tougher than I did in HS. Luckily he wanted to apply early to Yale so that got him moving. He even flew back alone from my dad's funeral for his overnight visit/campus interview and to get his app done and submitted. If he didn't do the EA, I think he would have waited until Dec. I'm amazed at how much your kids have accomplished already. Our HS only has their "college prep" meeting with students and parents in Nov - crazy, that's after ED/EA deadlines.</p>
<p>We put our chart on a dry-erase board, which made it easy to completely eradicate all trace of the school that deigned to reject S last year, and to quickly add others into the mix when they suddenly presented opportunities like "apply for free" or "get two recommendations in by Jan. 1 and be considered for massive scholarships" late in the cycle.</p>
<p>S sent in his first app. yesterday to the rolling admit sch. he hopes to attend. It is a state sch. but he is a very average student with low average test scores. They say he will hear by Dec. 15 but I hope it will be sooner. If he is not accepted, he will need to start making plans for Comm. College.<br>
He may send in an app. to one other state sch. but is really not as interested in attending that one. The chances of acceptance there may be lower anyway. </p>
<p>I am amazed that most of you get such attention from your guidance office.<br>
My S1 (college jr) never saw a GC during his app. process (GC didn't even know who he was when I stopped in the office one day to get something signed for S1) and S2 will not either. We have to request transcripts from the GC office which S's went by and picked up. We are responsible for mailing them in after completing the online app. at home. GC has nothing to do with it if you are applying to state schools. It may be different for privates. I don't have any knowledge there.<br>
I think we have 6-8 GC's for a high sch. of over 3000.</p>
<p>Look on the college websites to check for their scholarships and their due dates. You may also receive more mail from those schools with offers to honors programs, scholarship programs, refundable housing deposits, and invitations for visits. If you have applied to a handful of colleges, it's easy for stuff to get overlooked. Keep a master calendar and save every paper (except junk mail) in a binder. Print out a copy of your online applications. One college lost my sons application last year, even though we had the confirmation. If it weren't for the confirmation, he would have been SOL because they insisted he must have never sent it. Fortunately, he had a backup copy of the application so he mailed it in later, but it was after the scholarship decisions had been made.</p>
<p>What are you missing? Don't forget to sit back and say "wow!" to your daughter. That's an enormous accomplishment, getting so far so early in the game.</p>
<p>Did we miss any thing? </p>
<p>Don't forget to say wow in general. They are maturing so fast. This senior year for some kids, not all, is like ....well I don't know exactly what it is like LOL but from fall to spring of senior year they mature 5 years in 8 months. Don't miss any of it.</p>
<p>This a great time for bonding with your kid. Y'all are a team and they get to be the captain. I have had several moments in my life as a parent that I consider pivotal in my relationship with my D. Many of them came during this time. I really loved it, even the parts I hated. (Her essay writing process mostly.)</p>
<p>The excitement, the awakening, the recognizing, even the apprehension and trepidation. It was a great play and I had a small part and a front row seat for the rest of it. </p>
<p>Do your best job as a parent right now. Give it as much as you have. It can be a time you look back on fondly. Watching them set out on their "long explore".</p>
<p>Curm -- AMEN. I am having a great time with DS through this process. He had several major deadlines this week and we were up til 1 am getting the i's dotted and the t's crossed, laughing and joking. "I'm punchy!" "Well, I'm exhausted!" "You're lucky you have me for a mother!" "Yes. I know. You don't know how profoundly I know that." (I almost lost it right there.) What made it not so stressful is that the time he spent getting ahead of the game during the summer is now paying off in spades.</p>
<p>But -- NMSF packet, transcript requests (30-day turnaround), recommendation forms, GC forms/questionnaires are submitted. SAT score reports are ordered. Envelopes for applications are labeled and ready for stuffing. Every page has a name and SSN on it. Common App data is almost all entered. Part 1 at two schools is submitted. Haven't seen an essay, though he says he's working on them (and was during the summer).</p>
<p>In the meantime, some REALLY exciting stuff has been offered to him, and he will have the opportunity to take advantage of these things without going bonkers. He is enjoying the fruits of all his hard work.</p>
<p>Dad II -- Check the websites at the colleges -- one of DS's EA schools wants the Profile (using last year's numbers/estimates) by mid-November.</p>
<p>Organization -- I bought a big wipe-off calendar and hung it in the computer room. Started out using four different colors of markers, but that has degenerated. Who cares!</p>
<p>(Her essay writing process mostly.)</p>
<p>thanks curmudgeon. D's written a pretty good one, but not really worthy, and she knows it. I run every day and have written her essay in my mind, many different ways. I've shared none of them with her, because, of course, it must come from her own little head, but I do wish the voices would stop.</p>
<p>Three college counselors for 115 seniors -- wow, alumother.<br>
We have 2.5 counselors (who do more than the college application thing) for almost 800 seniors. Crazy, no?<br>
Actually, D. is pretty frustrated right now. We got everything done as early as possible for the reason cited above -- to get things to GC before the rush, be one of the first to get a rec, etc. She has had her request in to see this GC for over three weeks now and hasn't been able to get in.</p>
<p>Yeah. We are lucky on the counselors.</p>
<p>Am I enjoying this and cherishing these moments with my son? Honestly? No more than other things. I actually find myself thinking that this is my last big push as a mother. But I don't see much of my son. So any time I get extended contact with him, I'm happy.</p>
<p>After this, they lead, they drive the car, they choose the direction. I only offer suggestions and support.</p>
<p>This is what I have found with my daughter in college. If she asks, "Mom, I am thinking of majoring in Religion, what do you think?" I can tell her I think Neuroscience is better:). But to me it is no longer mine to direct.</p>
<p>To me this is the last time, I think, that I am unwilling to let the chips fall where they may. In other words, the last time that I provide the main structure to a process.</p>
<p>But who knows.</p>
<p>Alumother I am predicting that your son will either go to Stanford or Princeton.</p>
<p><a href="Her%20essay%20writing%20process%20mostly.">quote</a></p>
<p>thanks curmudgeon. D's written a pretty good one, but not really worthy, and she knows it. I run every day and have written her essay in my mind, many different ways. I've shared none of them with her, because, of course, it must come from her own little head, but I do wish the voices would stop.
[/quote]
Gosh, it was horrible. Essay time. The crying, the gnashing of teeth, the sleepless nights, the snappy sarcastic retorts ....and my D had some troubles of her own, too. But, you know what? She became a better writer. Damn near killed me, but she became a better writer. She became a better writer, and for that - it was worth it. (I feel the need to repeat to myself why it was worthwhile - well, for one , she did become a better writer! ;))</p>
<p>Edit: BTW, it would have been sooo much easier to write it myself and goodness, don't you know it was tempting? .....but I didn't. I think it would have crippled her if I had. So if anyone is where I was on the temptation scale - don't do it. It's the easy way but it will cost your kid big in the long run. JMO.</p>
<p>For you cur, the temptation to write it, I can only imagine:). I can't imagine however, that one person exists who can play basketball, and the tuba, and wants to be a doctor, AND writes like a minor cowboy angel....</p>
<p>Simba, it's way too early for the pool. Please, have mercy on this poor soul. At this point I don't even know that my dear child will actually apply anywhere :p.That reminds me. I believe there was a pool on my D. I must send out some odd kind of vibe, huh?</p>