tractor
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Post by tractor on Feb 27, 2015 16:47:30 GMT -5
My son has been accepted to two out of three colleges so far, found out today he was accepted at one with a less than 5% acceptance rate, very excited for him. Anyone else living vicariously through their kids college applications? He getting into places that wouldn't even consider me.
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cronewitch
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Post by cronewitch on Feb 27, 2015 17:07:58 GMT -5
My great nephew was accepted to his first choice college last year. He is very happy there.
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HoneyBBQ
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Post by HoneyBBQ on Feb 27, 2015 17:10:55 GMT -5
Congrats! What great news!
I only ever applied to one undergraduate and one graduate school and was accepted at both.
I'm sure when my daughter is of age I will have butterflies in my stomach...
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lynnerself
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Post by lynnerself on Feb 27, 2015 17:25:14 GMT -5
DD has applied to 5 Physical Therapy programs (now a doctorate degree). Generally less than a 10 % acceptance rate. So far she has been accepted to 3, including her 1st and 2nd choice. It won't surprise me if she gets into all of them. Unfortunately, it may cost her $100,000 before graduation. I'm not surprised, my kids were both pretty smart. However, I was admitted to Stanford (and didn't go) and both of my kids applied and were turned down. Not because I was any smarter, but because it's so much harder to get into now.
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mroped
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Post by mroped on Feb 27, 2015 17:53:11 GMT -5
Congratulations are in order then! On a personal note, I still have no idea what is the general criteria for "being accepted" into college. No matter what, I believe it should be based on a specifically tailored test depending on the applicants target.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2015 18:47:09 GMT -5
My DS1 went to Oxbridge, so I know how you feel. It's a wonderful feeling LOL!
Congratulations to your son, and to you and your DW!
I remember telling DS1, you will be able to tell by the envelope. If it's a regular envelope, and thin, it's probably a rejection letter. If it's thicker, it's probably an acceptance letter. That was 10 years ago though.
My DS2 went to the business school where I teach (but before I started teaching there). He started 8 years ago, and the acceptance / rejection letters were sent snail mail in those days. Today, the snail mail letters are sent the day the info goes online, so of course the students find out online before they get the letters.
I'm curious how it works in the US now. Do they first find out online, or do they have to wait for a real letter?
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billisonboard
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Post by billisonboard on Feb 27, 2015 18:49:26 GMT -5
... should be based on a specifically tailored test ... As an excellent test taker, I would agree. Of course that means you are stuck with a whole group of people potentially with only one skill.
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mroped
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Post by mroped on Feb 27, 2015 18:57:21 GMT -5
... should be based on a specifically tailored test ... As an excellent test taker, I would agree. Of course that means you are stuck with a whole group of people potentially with only one skill. True but at least they would be THE BEST at what they do. Right now we have to many people that flaunt their college degrees as a way of getting a job and when push comes to shove they are clueless. Mass producing something is not a guarantee that once in a blue moon you'll hit perfection or near it!
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Malarky
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Post by Malarky on Feb 27, 2015 19:06:52 GMT -5
DD is an excellent test taker. Her MCAS and SAT scores are pretty impressive.
Her actual grades in the classes she has taken, not so much.
We'e waiting on a few colleges. We'll see. She doesn't exactly "fit the profile."
I've always said she'd be an excellent adult, public school student...maybe not.
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billisonboard
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Post by billisonboard on Feb 27, 2015 19:06:58 GMT -5
As an excellent test taker, I would agree. Of course that means you are stuck with a whole group of people potentially with only one skill. True but at least they would be THE BEST at what they do. Right now we have to many people that flaunt their college degrees as a way of getting a job and when push comes to shove they are clueless. ... Actually, they would be the best at taking tests. Not many jobs for test takers.
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lynnerself
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Post by lynnerself on Feb 27, 2015 19:08:47 GMT -5
One of the things they look for in a college application is volunteer or community service. I never understood what this had to do with being a good student. Then I learned they screened candidates for with this kind of attitude because are more likely to give back to their school as alumni.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Feb 27, 2015 19:20:09 GMT -5
My DS1 went to Oxbridge, so I know how you feel. It's a wonderful feeling LOL! Congratulations to your son, and to you and your DW! I remember telling DS1, you will be able to tell by the envelope. If it's a regular envelope, and thin, it's probably a rejection letter. If it's thicker, it's probably an acceptance letter. That was 10 years ago though. My DS2 went to the business school where I teach (but before I started teaching there). He started 8 years ago, and the acceptance / rejection letters were sent snail mail in those days. Today, the snail mail letters are sent the day the info goes online, so of course the students find out online before they get the letters. I'm curious how it works in the US now. Do they first find out online, or do they have to wait for a real letter? Hopefully, notified correctly online: Carnegie Mellon mistakenly accepts 800 applicants, then rejects themCarnegie Mellon University has one of the top computer science schools in the country. Except maybe not on Monday. That's when the school's admissions office mistakenly sent out acceptance emails to 800 rejected applicants for the university's master's program in computer science. "Congratulations on your acceptance into the Master of Science program in Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon," the email said, according to CNN affiliate KDKA. "You are one of the select few, less than 9% of the more than 1200 applicants ... Welcome to Carnegie Mellon!" Hours later, the euphoria was quashed by another email saying the acceptance letters were sent by mistake. Carnegie Mellon mistakenly accepts 800 applicants, then rejects them
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2015 19:31:44 GMT -5
Tenn, unfortunately, this has happened several times. I remember reading about other instances in the US in the past. It apparently also happened at my school, last year.
My school (for better or worse) CALLED the applicants to tell them that they had been accepted by error. I found this out only last week. I teach a Finance Professor, and his daughter had been accepted, and then rejected by phone later the same day. I knew she hadn't been accepted, but he just told me about the "glitch" last week.
This sort of thing is absolutely shameful, and inexcusable, but unfortunately, I think it's more common than we think.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2015 20:40:23 GMT -5
One of the things they look for in a college application is volunteer or community service. I never understood what this had to do with being a good student. Then I learned they screened candidates for with this kind of attitude because are more likely to give back to their school as alumni. they look for well rounded kids. yeah someone may have a 4.8 GPA but if they have nothing else - sports, clubs, volunteer, etc. - they really aren't someone the colleges want.
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ken a.k.a OMK
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Post by ken a.k.a OMK on Feb 27, 2015 20:41:36 GMT -5
Our son got early acceptance to his first choice college which meant we didn't have to send applications and money to any other schools.
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busymom
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Post by busymom on Feb 27, 2015 21:57:34 GMT -5
When our oldest was applying to colleges, I'd been told to apply to several colleges, to force them to "compete". And, they did! We ended up with a better financial aid package, so it was a win-win! We got 2nd offers from 2 of the colleges, which meant less money out-of-pocket.
Congrats Tractor! And, yes, it's o.k. to live vicariously through your children.
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tractor
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Post by tractor on Feb 27, 2015 22:20:18 GMT -5
Thanks everybody, he takes after his mother, so I have little to add. Nowadays, everything is done via e-mail so I can see how the push of a wrong button can end up in mass acceptances. I was stalking the admissions process on-line and see that they had over 56,000 applications this year, accepted only 10,000 students and hope to enroll 6,000. Not sure he will go there, but it's his number one pick (Northwestern), is even harder to get into. Their decisions won't be out for a few more weeks.
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GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl
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Post by GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl on Feb 27, 2015 22:22:05 GMT -5
Right there with you, tractor. ODS is in, got a nice chunk of money for playing lacrosse that is cleverly disguised as merit money since it is a Division III school, and is waiting for the financial aid letter. His second choice just sent the financial aid letter. Wow!!! Our EFC is ridiculously, laughably, high but this school had all kinds of scholarships to give ODS. Naturally, we will be using School #2's letter to negotiate with School #1. All that said, I was feeling a little blue the other day because the search and application process is over -- ODS is a fairly even-keeled kid so there was very little drama and many hours together in the car looking at schools and talking about schools, etc. But, then, !! YDS is a junior. Time to start it up all over again. Totally different kid, so it will be a totally different process. As for living vicariously through them, I was accepted to all of my dream schools but ended up at a large state university because that was all *I* could afford. I did okay in college, but, honestly, it was way too big and impersonal for me. I am steering my kids toward smaller, more supportive schools. In that sense, and that sense only, they are living my dream.
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alabamagal
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Post by alabamagal on Feb 27, 2015 22:23:08 GMT -5
We went through 3 application in4 years.
My alma mater is the top level technical school in the state we lived in at the time. Unfortunately the only kid who I could convince to apply was my youngest. He got a deferred acceptance which meant he could transfer in after one year of good grades. Once he went to a mid level state school he was involved with a girl and had no thoughts of transferring. For the 3rd year he transferred to the main public school (my schools big football rival), which is probably better choice for his business mJor anyway
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imanangel
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Post by imanangel on Feb 28, 2015 8:26:41 GMT -5
I am a little bit. Not because he is applying to hard to get into schools, but because he is following his own path and dream. I was accepted at my first choice college, but didn't end up going because my mom didn't want me to go there. She felt 3 hours was too far away. I ended up going to the local university (my 2nd choice school) that was only 20 minutes away. I wish I would have followed my dream. I guess it all worked out for the best, but I admire him following his dream even though I am not a fan of him moving to Florida.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Feb 28, 2015 10:17:58 GMT -5
Yes! DD got into PA school. We didn't expect it until next year. Of course she quickly took the GRE and did okay on it but will not have her 2k hours but they don't care. She blew them away at her 5 hour interview! Her bio father actually said he'd match anything I put toward her school even including tuition and would pay her cell phone and car insurance if I'd pick up her health. I think she should have skin in the game so feel she should get loans for the actual tuition itself of 35k a year for 27 months. But I'm still in for 27k at a grand a month for living expenses because they're not allowed to work. They get one day off every two weeks. This puts me in a quandary about DS though as I'm a believer in treating my kids equally.
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billisonboard
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Post by billisonboard on Feb 28, 2015 10:32:33 GMT -5
... This puts me in a quandary about DS though as I'm a believer in treating my kids equally. I have posted this before but think it is appropriate as something you might consider here. Back in my special ed teaching days, I had a student who loved to "accuse" me of treating students differently. I told him "I treat all of you exactly the same; as the unique individuals you are with your own special needs and challenges." Do you equally meet the needs and challenges your children face or do you write a check of equal amounts that one uses to advance herself and the other uses for fun endeavors?
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973beachbum
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Post by 973beachbum on Feb 28, 2015 10:46:42 GMT -5
My DS1 went to Oxbridge, so I know how you feel. It's a wonderful feeling LOL! Congratulations to your son, and to you and your DW! I remember telling DS1, you will be able to tell by the envelope. If it's a regular envelope, and thin, it's probably a rejection letter. If it's thicker, it's probably an acceptance letter. That was 10 years ago though. My DS2 went to the business school where I teach (but before I started teaching there). He started 8 years ago, and the acceptance / rejection letters were sent snail mail in those days. Today, the snail mail letters are sent the day the info goes online, so of course the students find out online before they get the letters. I'm curious how it works in the US now. Do they first find out online, or do they have to wait for a real letter? We did this last year with DD and every single school sent out the letters by plain old mail. Some were big state universities and a few were small liberal arts colleges but they all sent out by snail mail. And yes her acceptances were big fat envelopes. They were all 8X11 ones with folders and fancy parchment paper congratulations letters in them plus enrollment papers of course. She was accepted at every college she applied including one school that I thought was out of her reach academically but ironically her only denial was my alma mater. I'm sure that has more to do with the economy though than actually academics. I will say we started late. We didn't even think about college until Sept of her senior year. Man I wish we had started in her junior year! The other part was I didn't realize the stress of waiting for the fin aid award letter after the acceptances. If peole have the money to bank roll it themselves it it won't be but for us even the state schools at $25K a year fin aid was definitely a important!
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billisonboard
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Post by billisonboard on Feb 28, 2015 10:55:17 GMT -5
... I will say we started late. We didn't even think about college until Sept of her senior year. Man I wish we had started in her junior year! ... It isn't a bad idea to start thinking about college when you are signing up for freshman year classes since that can determine sophomore then junior then senior classes which can determine which colleges you can get in to.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Feb 28, 2015 11:00:53 GMT -5
DS wouldn't use it frivolously but it's not fair to him. She's 26 and really hasn't been all that self supporting for the last 4 years. Not totally her fault. She was slated to join the military after college, had even gone to OCS, but there were cut backs so she worked part-time and finished her other degree. By the time the military said they'd take her, she'd moved on with life and wanted medicine. Just needed a few classes for the pre reqs but now she's been on the student track forever. DS says nothing but he had asked for an extra year of college and I said that he had to use his own money, which he had, for it. This is my issue now. DD is finally self supporting because she's living for free while working her $12 an hour job gaining hours for PA school, for the first time in years. This opening came up out of the blue basically and a year early so she was supposed to work for a year and a half to save money. Now she's saved some money but like 3k not 15k or more like she would have before this opening occurred. But when opportunity knocks, only a fool doesn't open the door. But what about DS? How do I make it up to him? Leave him more in my will? What if I use it all for my care? Do I buy him a car? Give him a down payment on a house? But then I'm in the same boat. What if I need it? DH has money but it's not mine, it's his. Unless he dies but even then, I'm sure his bio will start a fight over it until it's all gone. I can't and wont depend on him.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Feb 28, 2015 11:19:24 GMT -5
Sorry, did not mean to hijack thread.
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973beachbum
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Post by 973beachbum on Feb 28, 2015 11:32:20 GMT -5
DS wouldn't use it frivolously but it's not fair to him. She's 26 and really hasn't been all that self supporting for the last 4 years. Not totally her fault. She was slated to join the military after college, had even gone to OCS, but there were cut backs so she worked part-time and finished her other degree. By the time the military said they'd take her, she'd moved on with life and wanted medicine. Just needed a few classes for the pre reqs but now she's been on the student track forever. DS says nothing but he had asked for an extra year of college and I said that he had to use his own money, which he had, for it. This is my issue now. DD is finally self supporting because she's living for free while working her $12 an hour job gaining hours for PA school, for the first time in years. This opening came up out of the blue basically and a year early so she was supposed to work for a year and a half to save money. Now she's saved some money but like 3k not 15k or more like she would have before this opening occurred. But when opportunity knocks, only a fool doesn't open the door. But what about DS? How do I make it up to him? Leave him more in my will? What if I use it all for my care? Do I buy him a car? Give him a down payment on a house? But then I'm in the same boat. What if I need it? DH has money but it's not mine, it's his. Unless he dies but even then, I'm sure his bio will start a fight over it until it's all gone. I can't and wont depend on him. If he has the money for his college I wouldn't use mine either. I "might" hold it aside for a house down payment though. I have a few friends who had the money to put their kids through college either from 529 type savings or cash flowing from income. But after 3-5 years they either flunked out or just didn't go back. They spent between $100K and $250K on college that didn't amount to a hill of beans. It gives me a migrane just thinking about it! Most of the kids are still not really self supporting and I can't help but wonder how much closer they would be if the parents had bought a home for them with that money and let them work as a PT job instead.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Feb 28, 2015 11:40:59 GMT -5
He did at the time but he is older than she is. I hate the stories on here and even I was a victim of when the good kid is punished for the fuck up kid. Now she hasn't done anything bad or stupid so it's not the same issues but I'm the one feeling it isn't fair to DS. DS has said nothing at all.
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finnime
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Post by finnime on Mar 1, 2015 11:39:35 GMT -5
He did at the time but he is older than she is. I hate the stories on here and even I was a victim of when the good kid is punished for the fuck up kid. Now she hasn't done anything bad or stupid so it's not the same issues but I'm the one feeling it isn't fair to DS. DS has said nothing at all. Well, there are several ways you could handle this. 1. To each according to his/her needs: be prepared to support an ambition/need of DS in the future and tell him so, but otherwise, just let it go. 2. Even steven: Tell DD you are delighted, and will loan her whatever she needs, to be repaid on easy terms. Tell DS you are funding a loan pool for both DD and DS, to support immediate goals and to be repaid. 3. Closed mouth: Fund DD. Don't say anything to DS. If he asks, tell him you didn't expect this either. 4. Defer: Tell DD to find her way to the Financial Aid office. She can take out loans to make up her costs. Not your problem. Later you can repay those loans for her if you are so moved, or not. Good luck, but congratulations to your DD. Her acceptance is wonderful.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Mar 1, 2015 12:25:36 GMT -5
It is ! Absolutely. 1700 apps and 36 people get in. I've made a decision about how to handle the money.
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