<p>carolyn - "They also have an excellent art ed. certification program; she's only just starting to understand that if she goes out of state for school, she'll need to get that certification in a graduate program after college."</p>
<p>are you sure? a number of states provide certification reciprocity for teachers trained in other states. (or is it a matter of the other schools she's applied to not offering certif?)</p>
<p>re: naughty teenagers (not that I have any!) The best method for dealing with bad attitude that I've discovered is taking away IM privileges. I also take away the cell phone if the first option doesn't fix the problem. Thank goodness for electronics!</p>
<p>I didn't learn the email trick until a couple weeks ago. We changed the email address on one school's website to one that I have access to and the first thing I see is an email from a college about 'we sent you a priority application link a couple weeks ago and see that you haven't used it'. So now I wonder if any others came in. I'm assuming that this is an indication that the school feels that there is a good chance that they want him. Is there any way to find out if perhaps any other school sent a similar offer and he missed it? </p>
<p>Also, when you talk about phone calls from the schools, is that to get additional info or interviews? Should we be expecting that, e.g. is it common?</p>
<p>p.s. I struggle with all the same issues as above. Filling out the online forms isn't hard, but put a request for an essay in front of him and all progress stops dead...</p>
<p>it a matter of the other schools she's applied to not offering certif?>></p>
<p>Some of the schools do offer secondary education certification, but none offer art education certification, or, for that matter, art education course work. So, from what I can tell from looking at the Calif. regulations, to teach in a Calif. public school she'd at least need to do more course work specifically in art education in order to be certified specifically as an art ed teacher. </p>
<p>Additionally, several teachers here in California have recently told us that even if she gets certified in another state, she'd have to take the subject area test(s) to get certified here in California. No such requirement if its an approved in-state certification program apparently. While the tests don't look terribly hard (one question on the sample test had daughter in tears: Which of the following is a vital ingredient when making a collage? a. fabric b. paper c. glue) it's another hoop to worry about jumping through.</p>
<p>If anyone has any further information, I'm all ears. She's not sure if that's the route she'll go, but having the option would be a plus.</p>
<p>Also, when you talk about phone calls from the schools, is that to get additional info or interviews? Should we be expecting that, e.g. is it common?</p>
<br>
<blockquote> </blockquote>
<br>
<p>My daughter has received several phone calls from colleges trying to give her the hard sell about applying. Usually, it's a student offering to answer her questions. Those seem to come whether you want them or not.</p>
<p>At two schools on my daughter's list, we either can't visit or she didn't interview when we did visit. She emailed the admissions rep for our area at each of the schools and asked if she could do a phone interview with them. Both were very ammenable to the idea, and D. said they seem to be just like any other interview. </p>
<p>The phone interview she did last night seemed to go particularly well. She'd already applied there a few weeks ago and her school recommendation, transcript and test scores are already in as well. So, the admissions rep said she had her file before her while she asked D. questions. D. said she felt like the rep was giving her a bit of a hard sell on the school, which I hope is a good sign as it is one of D's top choices.</p>
<p>Whoa! Big step up to Varsity ball. Much bigger opponents. Moms should bring a friend to clutch. Says me.</p>
<p>Carolyn, it's a good sign when they're selling you, whether hard or not, when it's a school of high interest. We tired to be a bit poker faced, interested in return but not jumping up and down with jubilation. I foresaw--and D grokked--that some anticipated FinAid negotiations might go better if they didn't think we were fully committed.</p>
<p>TheDad, that's an interesting perspective. All the wisdom you read is to tell a school how much you want to be at that school. But I guess the 'tide turns' once you are accepted, if you are a desirable candidate. </p>
<p>We'll have to remember that, should we be so fortunate to be in that position. Thanks.</p>
<p>cheers, thanks for such a kind note. Don't want to hijack Carolyn's thread so will just say, the thing that works here has to do with car keys. Even those with learner's permits who have to drive with annoying parents still covet those keys-- and they (the keys) do disappear when things get too out of hand. </p>
<p>With respect to phone calls from schools--my goodness, have things changed in two years or what? Son got recruiting calls but no calls from admissions or students. I would be interested to know whether these calls are targeted at students they particularly want. It is hard to imagine that adcoms would have the time or resources to do blanket calling of applicants so it sure sounds to me like they are targeted.</p>
<p>This Title reminded me of this very insightful thread after last year's decisions.</p>
<p>Help. I need to do a little catching up here. Carolyn, I am confused. Did your d. just have her wisdom teeth removed, or did they come out at the time of the jaw surgery a few months ago? If it is a recent surgery, yet another one so soon after her summer experience, that might help explain her moods and college-choice flip-flops. Pain and pain meds can do a number on our logical thinking :) This, too shall pass. And s. is back on the football field? Whew. I'm tired just listening to all you have to juggle!</p>
<p>Cheers-
Cellphone withdrawl? Funny how our kids feel incomplete without their connections to the world. My s. got the xbox controllers taken from him tonight for reasons not worth getting into here. I think I hear a faint humming of Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" coming from his room. No, wait, it's coming from me.</p>
<p>apple17-
What's the email trick? I think I am missing something here...sigh.. so hard to keep up.</p>
<p>Carolyn, you know we are all plugging for you, your d. and your s. hang in there.</p>
<p>Apple, it was a pretty straightforward hand of poker, all after the admissions dust had settled. D had her choices pretty well ranked, ratified by visiting her #1 and #2 choices for overnights. (Side story: I picked her up at Wellesley and it had been a gray, steadily raining morning. We were driving west towards Smith in Northampton when we burst out into blue skies and sunshine. I thought, "A sign! A sign!" but bit my lip harder than I ever have. A real Frank Capra moment, though. Turns out that D had had the same unexpressed thoughts.)</p>
<p>All three schools (Barnard was #3) are natural "competitors" with each other. But FAFSA's and Profile's notwithstanding, there was a not inconsiderable variance at the FinAid office. D cemented her decision on Smith on the first morning there--one of those tears of happiness, another Frank Capra moment--and I had an appointment with FinAid that afternoon, having previously e-mailed them discussion points and followed up (by their request) by FAXing copies of the competing FinAid offers. It was very brisk and politely businesslike...I had been prepared for something like an IRS audit...and the general line was "Gee, D would really like to come here but there's a spread in the FinAid offers that isn't great to contemplate." No table pounding, no threads, implicit or otherwise. A week later, we received the result of the review and they had come up with enough to beat the previous best FinAid offer by about $200/year...about $3K above their initial offer. Deposit and commitment went in the mail that day.</p>
<p>TheDad, Were all the offers based on what your FAFSA / Profile indicated as 'need', or did the schools come through with more based upon 'merit'? </p>
<p>(I hate to say this, but it seems almost like when we used to negotiate for automobiles. My husband would always encourage me to not show how interested I was in any particular one, so he could negotiate without the dealer knowing how much I really wanted that particular car)</p>
<p>Thanks for the insight.</p>
<p>jym626,</p>
<p>The 'email trick' as I call it, is figuring out a way for us (obsessed) parents to monitor the communication from the schools. Sometimes our (more carefree?) kids don't pay attention to potentially significant emails, like 'here's a priority application you can fill out'.</p>
<p>TheDad, I like your poker analogy. I think we played "chicken" at 90 mph. We asked for re-consideration on the financial aid which was a little more difficult because my D was waitlisted for her second choice. We did not get a response to the letter and phone calls. A better offer finally came but at 4pm on the last day for acceptances.</p>
<p>Jym, She had her wisdom teeth out last year and the surgery over the summer. However, based on the complications she's experiencing right now, the surgeon is calling for more surgery. Understandably, she wants nothing to do with more surgery, but it's clear she can't go on as she is right now. We're hoping PT and a few other options will help.</p>
<p>Carolyn,</p>
<p>Feel free to PM me if you want to chat about it, particularly if problem is TMJ related.</p>
<p>audiophile, DMD</p>
<p>Regarding "playing the game" when it comes to financial aid and merit money negotiations, TheDad is RIGHT on target, as usual. </p>
<p>After reading and researching the enrollment mangement tactics and strategies that are being used, I'm more convinced than ever that at some schools (not all), one has to be very careful to walk a tightrope concerning demonstrating interest if you want to have wiggle room to negotiate on financial aid and attract the best merit money. </p>
<p>You certainly have to let schools know you have a strong, demonstrated interest before the admissions decision is in hand, yet you (and your child) must also be ready to consider all offers on the table when decisions and financial aid is in. At some schools (not all), gushing too much about it being your only choice may lessen your chances of getting the best financial aid/merit scholarship package possible. </p>
<p>In short, If they know they have you firmly wrapped up, they also know they don't need to offer you much of an incentive to come.</p>
<p>The balance point between the showing interest and letting them know you've already been caught, probably varies from school to school based on selectivity and what your child has to offer, but it is something to keep in the back of your mind.</p>
<p>Normal opening about 38-45mm (2.5 fingers) for adult female so it sounds like she's very restricted. PT therapy can help if all else OK. Is she wearing a splint or orthotic in addition to braces? That can help a lot. I have heard of orthotic done on one arch while moving teeth on other arch and then vice-versa. Was initial surgery just orthognathic or TMJ also?</p>
<p>Audio, whoops, thought I'd PM'd you. There's no need for everyone else to read these boring details, so I'm going to edit, and then PM you.</p>