<p>Au contraire. Chicago and MIT blogs two years ago both encouraged EA deferrals to send updates or an additional essay to demonstrate continued interest/additional awards. Caltech only wanted to know about additional awards.</p>
<p>Hmom5,
S2’s main CA essay is pretty outspoken. It’s who he is.</p>
<p>CD, I know about sending in additional docs/essays, but are you allowed to update an existing essay?</p>
<p>Not every non-acceptance is a deferral, it could an out right rejection. You may not update an existing essay. What my daughter’s school did for deferral was to send in another complete updated packet - another teacher’s recommendation, essay from student why the school is still the first choice, updated transcript, possibly a new recommendation from the counselor, additional awards.</p>
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<p>Does everybody take seven courses these days, or is that just certain schools and advanced students? That seems like a lot. My kid takes six, I think when I was in school I took six and that included one period of sports practice or PE.</p>
<p>Sorry, that’s six classes plus a research project that counts as a course grade. I, too, think seven classes would be a little excessive, although there are quite a few kids who take that many. I don’t know how they have time for anything, honestly.</p>
<p>^^^Still pretty impressive. And I bet that research takes up a lot of time, but it’s a “labor of love.”</p>
<p>I’d hate to be in school these days.</p>
<p>For most, I suspect it’s a labor of desperation, as they can’t graduate without it. (It’s a math-and-science magnet school.) For my son, I think it’s a little of both.</p>
<p>It’s no different than when we were in school - math, science, english, history, language, elective or another language. What’s hard is when they are all honors, they require extra research paper or lab. What’s different now is many ECs take as much work as another course.</p>
<p>Back in the 70s I still seem to remember only taking 5 academic courses and PE of some sort. And I took science, math, language, English, etc. all four years. And I think taking two math classes or two science classes at the same time (like kids taking Calc and Stats at the same time) was almost unheard of. And I think I still finished up most of my grad requirements by junior year, so I was taking several classes at CC senior year.</p>
<p>Actually, I dont remember doing much homework in school.</p>
<p>At S1’s school, he took eight courses. Standard load, though sometimes kids took a study hall. At S2’s school the load is seven (and this semester, all AP/IB). He has a conflict second semester for a course he’s been trying to take for two years, so he asked for a study hall instead so he could do a self-study AP in a related area. No dice.</p>
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<p>Ain’t that the truth! My son’s in Model UN, and it really is like another class. Kinda crazy.</p>
<p>With my S1, we decided against applying EA because the added pressure to do a really fabulous job on the app seemed like too much stress at a very difficult time with retest of SAT, five APs and 2 electives, and the intense work he put in on his essays. Also, the only schools on his list that offered EA were LONG shots, so getting impressive grades first semester senior year figured to be more helpful to his GPA if they would consider him at all. </p>
<p>Just to reassure CPC and others who are wondering, it is really important not to rush the application. If the time will be spent by racking up a few more honors, awards, bonding with teachers, getting the lead in a school play, doing research or community service that really rocks, and really making the essay as strong as it can be–it will make your kid that much more acceptance worthy. I doubt for the T20 type schools that a great SAT but marginal GPA applicant with a so-so application will somehow squeak in just due to EA.</p>
<p>I’m now of the opinion that seniors aspiring to T20’s should take just enough classes to graduate with the “most demanding” designation. These classes should be in honors and AP’s whenever possible. They also need to significantly curtail their list of EC’s and only continue with their top 1 or 2. No need to go after quantity if the quality is there. In fact, they need to set aside as much time as possible for standardized tests, college visits and college apps.</p>
<p>Mantori, you might want to double check your school’s policy on submitting senior grades. Although only semester grades appear on our kids’ transcripts, for senior year, our school submits first and second quarter grades.</p>
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<p>That’s great. I’m kind of surprised everyone isn’t focused on the essays now instead of repeating the same things over and over on this thread.</p>
<p>My kids all started their essays during the summer and none was finished until the last possible day! For these kids with glitches, IMO there should now be single minded focus on making the essays truly stand out.</p>
<p>hmom5, I agree with you :). Essays are the only college app work my son has been working on besides interview preparation in the last couple weeks. Yes, we are still refining them.</p>
<p>On the topic of essays, do you know how long is your child’s common app long essay? My DS1’s is over 900 words, and unless some authority tells him that he needs to cut it down, he is one review away from wrapping it up.</p>
<p>PCP, from what I’ve heard/experienced, 250 words is the minimum, and 1000 words seems to be some sort of unofficial wall. Given that one of your son’s major strengths is his writing ability, I’d guess that 900 words will be fine. My theory is, given that there are thousands of apps to be read and reviewed, it’s best to get in, say what you have to say intriguingly but succinctly and get out. Personally I’d rather leave the reader wanting a little more than feeling they had to slog through too much.</p>
<p>Or to put it more eloquently and succinctly…</p>
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<p>Thanks vinceh.</p>
<p>On the topic of brevity, Hemingway wins hands down with -</p>
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<p>Most succinct summary of World War II:</p>
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