<p>Another thing I read is that the Greek system is big at Whitman. We live behind a big sorority so get to observe their social events closely. Also, my daughter's aunt was the president of her sorority at SMU. I have no idea what a sorority would be like in the NW but do not think my daughter would enjoy participating if it is anything like in the south. In regards to the outdoorsy aspects of Whitman, I think she would like this. She likes riding her bike, skiing and rock climbing.</p>
<p>Dear Cardinal Fang,
Her dyslexia does not seem to affect her reading much. Her reading rate is slightly slower than what people that know her would guess and when she auditions, her "cold reads" are a bit choppy. By the second run, she reads it perfectly. By the fourth, it is usually memorized. It does rear its ugly head in her writing. She says she finds herself avoiding words, well within her vocabulary, if she is uncertain of their spelling. She also takes more time to organize her thoughts in writing than the average A student. If Reed, demands pages and pages of writing, I can see this being a problem. Their senior year written thesis, I think she could do. Maybe Whitman would be better. Does anyone know about Lewis and Clark? Would a smart girl be happy there?</p>
<p>
[quote]
Large group of cheerleaders with perfectly straight blond hair in the latest designs knowing what is cool in music and who did what at last night's party is not my kid.
[/quote]
No worries, Simmons is nothing like that.</p>
<p>This is a great thread, and helpful to those of us with the B+/A- students. My senior D is my 3rd child, and is preceded by 2 overachievers. Therefore, this time around, the application process will be slightly different. I want to throw a few questions out there for some advice.</p>
<p>1) She will be applying to a couple of SAT optional schools such as Holy Cross, Providence, Stonehill. Does anyone have any experience in applying to SAT optional schools when using the common app which asks you to enter the SAT scores? Do we just leave them blank?</p>
<p>2) D's AP exam scores last Spring were not the best ... 2 in AP Language and 3 in AP Chem. Are we really required to put these scores on the Common App? She got decent final scores in the classes, just didnt test well on the exams. She knows she won't get college credit, so not sure if we really need to show these scores on the App.</p>
<p>3) Of my 3 kids, she is the only one who is completely undecided on what she wants to study in college and what she wants to pursue for a career. Is it ok to say 'undecided' on the app, or does it look better to the schools to pick something that you are remotely considering, so that they think you have some ultimate educational goal.</p>
<p>Her big reach school is Villanova.
Other schools she is considering (so far) are as I mentioned, Providence, Holy Cross, Stonehill, as well as UConn. </p>
<p>While I am pretty sure an A-/B+ student with average SAT score wont be considered at Boston College, she is considering applying with the remote chance that sibling legacy status will buy her something (big sister graduated from there in May).</p>
<p>Thanks in advance for any guidance you can provide!!</p>
<p>Whatever school your daughter ends up at, readingmom, she ought to get permission to do all exams and in-class writing on a computer with spell correction. This accommodation is routinely given to dyslexic kids. She might also be entitled to extra time for her exams, if she takes longer than usual to organize her thoughts. </p>
<p>But if she does take longer than other students to do her writing, then Reed might not be the spot for her. I believe they do demand pages and pages of writing. Reed's workload is time-consuming for non-dyslexic students; for your daughter, it might be overwhelming.</p>
<p>I second the request for info on Lewis and Clark. So far, I've mostly just read that the campus has spectacular views and a tremendous location-- both good things, but not enough to convince me that it's a place my son should consider.</p>
<p>I am thinking you are very right, Cardinal Fang. In regards, to classroom modifications, she has never been formally diagnosed and I'm not sure she would ask for any extra anything. Perhaps, Lewis and Clark would be a better bet. I will look into it. I am feeling a whole lot less alone thanks all of the advice from everyone!</p>
<p>Readingmom, happy to help. My son is also dyslexic. He's looking at some of the same schools I recommended to your daughter. I've gone back and forth about Reed for him, but most of the time I think it would be too intense. He will be applying to Beloit (he's not interested in the many theater opportunities there, but your daughter might be), Macalester, Kalamazoo, Carleton and Bates, plus, possibly, Lewis and Clark and maybe another school or two.</p>
<p>Reading mom-check out Earlham, in Indiana. A friend's son with some learning disabilities went there, and he flourished, graduated. It is not necessarily known for this, but was great for them. Is a very good school, regardless, though not for those who live in an ethical vacuum. Lawrence in Appleton Wisconsin may be another place for her. Nice kids proud of being intellectually driven. My kids, in the B+ catagory, got some merit money from Lawrence, though neither ended up attending.</p>
<p>seniormom43, my S applied to Stonehill and PC 2 years ago. But we submitted his SAT scores, so I'm not sure of the answer to your Common App question - I guess I'd just leave them blank. </p>
<p>If Villa Nova and BC are reaches, then Holy Cross is probably as well. PC, UConn and Stonehill are more accessible. I don't know your D so I don't know what's a reach/match for her, but just be aware that Holy Cross has gotten really selective. If you're looking at Nova, have you also considered Fairfield and Quinnipiac? </p>
<p>S put "undecided" on his apps and it didn't seem to cause him any problems. He was offered a very nice ($18k/year) merit package at Stonehill, he was also accepted at PC (didn't apply to Holy Cross, BC or UConn). But like your older kids, he was more of an A student than a B+ student.</p>
<p>It never hurts to apply to a reach, so go ahead and apply to BC (and Holy Cross) if your D wants to go there. The worst they can do is say no!</p>
<p>Thanks Lafalum84, I agree, Holy Cross is probably in the same category as Villanova. I think BC is a notch higher than both.</p>
<p>Unfortunately D has ruled out any schools within an hour of home, so that excludes Quinnipiac and Fairfield!!</p>
<p>Where did your S end up going?</p>
<p>For undergraduate Holy Cross is ranked #35 in the US News & World Report rankings for LACs whereas Villanova does not even make the national rankings. But Villanova is ranked #1 in the North Region for Master's progams.</p>
<p>Master's</a> Universities (North) Rankings - Best Colleges - Education - US News and World Report
College</a> of the Holy Cross - Best Colleges - Education - US News and World Report</p>
<p>For what it's worth, Villanova has a beautiful campus in a nice, upscale area, 1/2 hour from Philadelphia & maybe 1 1/2 hours from NYC.</p>
<p>
[quote]
maybe 1 1/2 hours from NYC.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>If you're driving really, really fast. :) It's actually more like 2+ hours, depending on traffic.</p>
<p>Booklady--probably true! :-) I'm usually riding, not driving so don't pay the attention I probably should to timetables, etc. :-)</p>
<p>Yeah, it's 2-2 1/2 depending on traffic. I live right near Nova.</p>
<p>Readingmom, your D sounds like mine. We're looking NE at every level (reach, safety, match).
Ithaca, Goucher, several LACs in Penn, Hobart, ...</p>
<p>readingmom
I have a B+ (in HS) student at Reed who is loving it and thriving (a Jr this year). The amount of writing may depend on major and it differs from class to class. Math and Sciences have lab write ups, problem sets and more traditional tests, Social sciences and so on seem to be writing and reading/discussion based. For her they have ranged from a paper a week to 2 written exams and discussion only. From what my child has told me, some exams can be done at home and are submitted on line (students are subject to a very active honor code). Most of her papers are also done this way.
However - though my kid is a great reader - Some of the reading is very dense, and there is a lot of it.
Two things she has told me that may help: classes are small and students meet with their professors periodically for paper conferences and such. There is a lot of opportunity for discussing strengths and weaknesses.
If a student is late turning in a paper, the professor, by school policy accepts it. They are not required to return "comments" on the paper (which are given instead of a grade)</p>
<p>Also - the distinction between B+ students and A students (and also B and C students) really means very little there since students have to ask to see grades and many don't. This has been a big point of relief for us. Every semester we just get a report saying she is making adequate progress, and she works hard because she wants to be there</p>
<p>While interesting that Holy Cross is in US News and Villanova is not... I guess I don't focus too much on that. Now that I am focused on my 3rd and I know a few kids that have gone to both and have graduated and done well. Not sure how much it all matters. I think they are both good schools.</p>
<p>seniormom43, my son is at Lafayette.</p>
<p>BTW, for purposes of this thread, I happened to find this on Fairfield's website:
"Academic Profile: The majority of students maintain a B to B+ average or better in a college preparatory curriculum which includes honors and advanced placement classes. The majority of our students rank in the top 20% of their high school class." Hey - a college custom made for our B+ student thread!</p>