@rosered55 having grown up in the PNW as has S17, and lived in Chicago for 10 years (he was born there) trust me, the humidity is a far bigger issue and more difficult to adjust to. At least it was for me at that age. Ok older but close enough. At my age now? I’ll take the humidity and skip those winters. Big time. Got rid of the snow blower when I moved back home.
This kid, if he can, wants rain, mountains and trees. We shall see. At the moment he is entranced with the idea of Philly.
@eandesmom I’m a native Chicagoan so I get the humidity issue (and the cold issue @rosered55 ). As a native Angeleno, my D was not used to the humidity of August and was miserable, but she lived in one of the two dorms with no AC. By October, she was cold. She moved at the first opportunity (roommate issues and lack of AC), but she was still cold in May. So, we’re talking about a month or two of heat and humidity, but it cools down quickly.
I should also mention that another reason UPS fell down the list was that she eventually decided she wanted to go someplace nothing like home. Anywhere on the West Coast qualified as too much like home (UPS has a large number of kids from CA). After one school year, she’s decided that she’d like to return to the West Coast when she’s done with college: it’s because of the cold not the heat and humidity. And, I don’t think the winter was that bad last year except for a couple weeks in January.
@1518mom that is very much the debate for S17. He either wants mountains, rain and trees but NOT in Seattle but in the PNW or he wants as close to that weather as he can approximate…but on the other side of the country.
Funny story. I grew up in Seattle, but lived in Chicago for 10 years. Never got used to the summer humidity but did get used to the cold. Whenever I would come “home” I would absolutely be freezing while everyone else was in shorts or lighter clothing. I moved back 16 years ago. It took me a solid 2-3 years to not feel chilled to the bone most of the time.
For me, really, the hardest part of the midwest was the lack of evergreen trees.
I’ve reached several schools on his list to confirm superscore policy and in a couple of cases to see if they plan to add EA as no one has updated websites for 2017 stuff quite yet. I emailed all on 7/7. UPS and Ithaca are the only ones I’ve yet to hear back from, most were same day. I’d also emailed 2 large state schools with a few admissions/curriculum/major declaration questions and even they got back to me within 24 hours. Grr.
UPS is off the naughty list. They got back to me today on the superscore question and a semi update on EA.
Would love to know the semi update on EA at UPS. That was the one school we wished had EA when my D15 was applying. I also have an S18, and it’s definitely on his list.
I heard back from them today, multiple times actually as I had several music scholarship/audition questions (audition in Feb, hear on awards in March, then ensemble placement/2nd audition in Aug) . The response was
We will possibly be offering Early Action this year.
And then noted that site would update in August showing dates. It was hinted at when we toured but the tone of the email seemed more promising.
That’s very exciting news…if it comes to pass.
Hi there @eandesmom, it sounds like you have narrowed things down but…have you considered Michigan Tech? MTU has environmental engineering plus other majors your S seems interested in, very active jazz program, theater, etc. The OOS tuition can be offset by some pretty generous aid offered to OOS students, it’s clearly outlined on their website by GPA/ACT score. Looking at the CDS I think your S would have a shot. It’s a beautiful area, too far north to be humid! Might have terrain/water that appeals to your PNW kid.
http://www.mtu.edu/cee/undergraduate/environmental/
http://www.mtu.edu/vpa/music/jazz/
@1518 I hope so too!
@oneofthosemoms I did look at Michigan (and Montana lol) Tech. It is “too” tech in his opinion. He wants a school that has a strong liberal arts presence as well. And since he may or may not go the engineering route, a school with options is best. But that means several good, solid tech options are not in play at all.
I didn’t know they had Jazz though, that’s awesome! And unusual for a tech school, that is very cool. It would likely be affordable though, although that is way up there on the UP.
He and I were talking today, he is very excited for his upcoming class at WWU as he thinks it will really help him clarify direction. Apparently he told his APES teacher about it and she is very excited, said he should maybe teach a small unit on what he learned. Leave it to the kid to tell me that now, months later.
First draft of the common app essay is done!
Okay, sounds like he won’t be a Yooper. Glad that he’s got some great options to consider!