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Arch at Home

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  1. In the second round of notifications, DS was accepted to St. Olaf and Denison and wait listed at Grinnell and the University of Richmond. Out of 9 applications, he was only out-right rejected at Bowdoin which was a definite long shot but bittersweet as it was the only school that out right said that he could run if accepted.

    In the end, DS has made his decision to attend Drake University in Des Moines over St. Olaf. The Politics program with 4 majors is better than any we looked at with many, many internship, campaign volunteer opportunities, and hopefully working the Iowa Caucuses. DS also prefers the urban, capitol city location of Drake to the small town where St. Olaf is located.

    For the parent's point of view, Drake has advantages also. DS has several food allergies. Because of several pre-Pandemic visits with my DDs, I am confident that his allergies will be well accommodated at Drake. Drake is more expensive than St Olaf but over 4 years this difference should be a wash. Drake's tuition promise and DS's scholarship make his future tuition costs known. This is particularly an issue for us as in 2 years as our need will drop significantly when DD2 graduates. At other schools, we would have seen a significant increase in costs but at Drake he will only loose a small grant.

    We are all glad to have a decision. I am so glad the DS will be on campus next year. It has been a long year for DS as he has been attending CC virtually for over a year. This kid will thrive on a college campus among same age peers.

    • Like 20
  2. Both of my DD did Summer in the City at Barnard College. The 4 week program was partially financed by Joyce Ivy Scholarships. Summer in the City was definitely summer camp for rich kids but the Joyce Ivy Scholarship, a scholarship program to acquaint midwestern girls and their families with the possibility of attending college on the coasts, helped diversify the program economically. The program was a great opportunity for my girls to try out living that far from home in an urban setting, get a taste of advocating for themselves with regards to diet (they are both gluten intolerant), and the classwork somewhere between what was required in most classes in CC and their current colleges. An added bonus was that they were able to attend a large number of Broadway and Off-Broadway shows for cheap. I believe that it is too late this year to apply for the Joyce Ivy Scholarship but I recommend it for those who qualify.

    • Like 2
  3. On 2/5/2021 at 10:03 AM, MEmama said:

    Yes, absolutely don’t rule out private colleges because of cost concerns. Every school has an estimated net price calculator on their site (I think that’s what it’s called) which tend to give a fairly accurate-ish estimates of the price you’ll actually pay based on income, assets etc vs. the sticker price. Very often private colleges offer far more in aid than state schools (and out of state state schools tend to offer very little). 

    The price difference after financial aid between private and public and even out of state public schools depends a lot on where you live and the schools being applied to. For my students, the in state public schools in no way could be match by the private schools unless DC got a full ride. Depending on many varying factors depending on the school, it is possible to get in state tuition for an out of state school. 

    • Like 2
  4. 1 hour ago, MEmama said:

    EA (early acceptance) is similar but non binding. The advantages to applying early include knowing sooner, higher chance of acceptance, and the opportunity to continue to apply to other schools. If an EA applicant is deferred, they have time to strengthen their status while waiting for RD decisions. 

    The problem with EA is that the number of schools with an EA option is significantly less than those with ED options. Of the 20-some schools my 3 DC have applied to, none had EA options though a couple required an early application for scholarship consideration.  

    • Like 1
  5. My DD went through her school for study abroad. She was able to pick up an internship through her program while abroad. The internship was not officially connected to the study abroad but she was connected by the program. 
     

    At this point, DD graduates in May and is looking into fellowships, internships, and jobs, both domestic and abroad. Of course, there are the well known programs like Fulbright but she has also gotten leads from her advisor and alumnae of her college. We have no idea where she will land but it is exciting to watch her explore her options.

    • Like 1
  6. 12 hours ago, Innisfree said:Third question: a year was great. I wouldn't have wanted to come home sooner, and would have prolonged it if that were possible.

    I have no idea about the first two as DD went through here school. But I definitely agree with Innisfree, the longer the better. Initially DD did a Winter session program which just gave her a taste for her country. The following year she was well into a year long program when she was forced to come home early. The year long program allowed her to commit to the school and the country, get involved with the locals, and take longer trips because she was not restricted to weekends. 

  7. brehon, as she in only in 10th grade, I am hopeful that she will be able to shadow prior to needing to apply.

    I don’t know where you live. Missouri and Kansas have a reciprocity agreement which allows Missouri students to attend either KU or K-State to study architecture paying in state tuition. In addition, I believe there is a similar arrangement in the KC metropolitan area for attendance at JCCC. 

    • Thanks 1
  8. Math seems like a good fit if she is not interested in engineering. The problem solving skill honed in math can be applied in many ways. Unfortunately most major/career lists look at pure math applications and my sense that your DD could end up applying her math skills in a non-traditionally math way. 
     

    I personally was thinking about cost estimating, construction management, sales, political campaign statistics, and data analytics. I read a couple of years ago that some companies hire math major to be computer programmers and teach them how to program because it is easier to teach the programming than the math. 
     

    I definitely understand the uncertainty which arises in a parent when their DC is interested in a major without a clear career path. My oldest DD is an English major. It was been interesting watching her explore career options. She is currently in her last semester and is headed for a career in producing podcasts. Go figure. 

    • Like 2
  9. Unless there is a reason you or her want her to graduate this year, I recommend she spend another year at CC. As long as you don’t graduate her from high school until after she has finished her CC classes, she will be considered a freshman when she starts 4-year college. 
    As for her ability to manage at a 4-year college, she sounds like she will do just fine. She seems to have time management worked out in a way that works for her. A roommate might help but even my most introverted DC was able to find friends and get involved in a couple of activities. 
    I wish her luck in this decision making process. 

    • Like 3
  10. My kids have never gotten much more than a sticker and a small pennant upon acceptance. That said, college visits have garnered much more...t-shirts, water bottle, stress balls, and sweets. Universities by a particular religious order are popular for visits by my kids because of their t-shirts.

    • Like 2
  11. I am an architect in a mid-sized architectural firm in a major Midwest city. My firm hires graduates from a variety of schools. We do a variety of work including historic preservation. Finding a school with a focus on historic preservation, if one exists, would make the projects while in school more interesting but a person is in no way hindered in getting a job with a focus in that specialty if they don't have that focus. Firms expect to train their new hires in that firms particular specialty and typically an expressed interest backed up with some type of exploration in that area of interest is sufficient.

    Most architectural schools have multiple degrees. It is important to determine which degrees are NAAB-accredited. These in our area range from 5-year undergraduate degrees or 2 1/2 year master degrees. Some schools only have one accredited degree. Make sure that the accredited degree program meets your student's goals.

    In looking at our local programs, I would also look at the size of the program. We have an extremely small program in the area. As Architectural school is based on a studio structure, it is important to have a school of sufficient size to offer a variety of studio critics or instructors.

    Finally architecture is dependent on the economy with some market sectors being more volatile than others. In addition, architects are the lowest paid of the professional degrees.

    That said, I would not discourage anyone from going into architecture if that is what their passion is. My brother is a mechanical engineer in a major manufacturing corporation. He has had significantly more layoffs than I or any architect I know have had. In addition, architects earnings put them solidly in the middle to upper middle class, Architecture is a unique profession with its combination of art and science and is incredibly rewarding.

    I wish your DD the best of luck.

    • Like 7
    • Thanks 1
  12. DS has been has been accepted to all 5 of the rolling admissions schools he applied to: Rockhurst University, Quincy University, St. Louis University, Marquette University, and Drake University. He has 4 more schools to go but their announcements aren't until Marchish; one of which he still has to complete the supplemental essay. He definitely has felt the burden of supplemental essays, so much that he did not apply for any institutional scholarships. This last essay is the equivalent of a Common App essay; in fact, his common app essay would have worked for it. That said he grinds forward on it.

    Just a note, he decided to apply test optional to 3 of the 4 remaining schools. His test scores did not make the respective school's range but he will graduate in May with an Associate degree and a High School diploma. and has equivalent grades and resume to his sisters It will be interesting to see if he is able to score an acceptance in any of these selective LA schools.

    All in all I am personally am grateful that he already has been accepted to one of his top choices. As it is he is our third student to be accepted to this school, we have a sense as to what the FA package will be. Further acceptances will just make the decision making process interest.

    Congratulations to everyone for their acceptances.

    • Like 16
  13. A school which doesn’t fit the traditional engineering school profile is Smith College. Smith is a women’s college in western Massachusetts. They have a small accredited engineering program. Financial aid is 100% need-based. DD2 is currently attending Smith. Her financial aid package at Smith is really good, not UAH, but better than any of the other small to mid-sized schools she applied to with the exception of our in-state school. My DD was a good student but not tiptop. 

    • Like 1
  14. 55 minutes ago, MamaSprout said:

    Is this typical of CSS profile schools? Dd has three reach schools on her list that are do-able using those school's online estimates, but if those are not correct, I'm reluctant to let her apply. Those three all use CSS profile. 

    She has two safeties and three target schools that are all in-state and/ or fasfa.

    Our experience is that CSS did not adversely impact our FA packages. My students are good students but only qualify for automatic merit and do not earn competitive scholarships. We found that financially the best packages came from in state state schools (Note: Our state schools are extremely competitively priced and this not the case in all states.) This was then followed by 100% meets needs schools which were all CSS schools. The least financially competitively priced packages were non-100% meets need schools which were a combination of CSS and FASFA schools. 
    What I learned through 2 application cycles is that there are a lot of variables which impact packages and reactions to those packages include location, types of schools applied to, caliber of student, and family financial aid expectations/needs. I personally would not rule out the CSS schools merely because of the additional information required. 

    • Like 2
  15. Both of my DDs were undecided when they started college. The beauty of liberal arts colleges is that they don't have to know what they want to major in; in fact, being undecided encourages the student to explore different paths of study prior to settling down on one which typically occurs sometime during their Sophomore year. Being undecided does make the college decision-making process a little different because the focus is not on the major. That said, graduating with a degree from a liberal arts college indicates that the student has had a diverse education, has been encouraged to think both deeply and broadly, and has extensive experience expressing themselves orally and in writing. These skills translate into good paying jobs though the path is not as obvious.

    If I was in the OP's shoes and a 4-year degree is desired, I would l would encourage exploration of schools in your denomination to determine whether they are a good fit. If one or more stands out, trust the liberal arts process. I am amazed at the people my DDs are becoming.

  16. In addition to above, I include the results or running each school's cost calculator, their ACT/SAT 25 - 75% range, diversity numbers if that is important to the student, whether schools is test optional (though this might change next year), and depending on the types of schools being considered whether the schools nd/or financial aid in 100% need-based, and/or admissions is need blind, 

  17. My DD1's school came out that they were also delaying the entire semester by a week and it would now be starting on February 8. Juniors and Seniors plus a list of others are invited to be on campus. Instruction will be remote, hybrid, and in-person with the upperclassmen having at 50% of their classes hybrid/in-person. They are retaining 7-week, 2 class-term arrangement with a one week on-campus break between terms. 

    The President, who is a public health MD, attributed the delay due to winter COVID predictions. We are still waiting for arrival schedule. We are in a COVID red state and I could see DD1 reporting 2 weeks ahead to quaratine.

  18. DD1 just completed her third week of classes. There has not been a case of COVID on campus with the exception for the one identified on intake. DD1 is really enjoying herself. Her favorite org, On Tap (a tap dancing group), has figured out how to conduct socially distanced rehersals. She was hesitant to be on campus for fear that social life would be greatly limited. However, for this student the group size limitation is to her advantage as she tends to get lost in large ones. She is studying, making trips into town for ice cream, and hanging out watching TV in socially distanced masked groups. Fingers crossed that thing keep going well for her.

    • Like 6
  19. Your DD only needs to submit the school's application. If she is applying to multiple schools, it might be easier to fill out the Common App because almost all of the info she will only need to fill out once.

    • Like 1
  20. I am grateful that this is my third go around at the college application process and that DS toured a number of colleges when his sisters where going through this process. We also planned college visits in March and April which did not happen. This summer we visited a couple of schools within driving distance. Those were hard visits because campuses were empty, cafeterias weren't serving, classes weren't happening, and we were not allowed access to buildings which we would have normally seen the insides of.

    DS is forging ahead. He has signed up for a 4th time for the SAT; we shall see if he gets to take it this time. He is writing a new Comman Ap essay as experiences this summer supersede those shared in the previous essay. There are a couple more essays to write and he needs to start making interview appointments.

    I noticed yesterday that his top school is offering in person tours again so we may try to visit it in late fall. Other than that visit, we are going to wait until acceptances come in and see if visits are possible at those schools still on the table. I don't want to even think about the possibility of having to decide on a college without one last visit. I commend those that were able to do so last spring.

    • Like 4
  21. 22 hours ago, Sebastian (a lady) said:

     

    I would still send the email. I would make it more general though. Not ask if they will waive the requirement in his specific case, but ask if they are waiving the requirement for homeschoolers to provide tests in light of the lack of access to tests.

    Colleges aren't done with their decision making yet. There was just a court decision in California that ruled they could not use test scores at all in the current environment, because test optional use discriminated against students who needed accommodations and could not test. https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/01/us/university-of-california-sat-act-trnd/index.html?fbclid=IwAR3K89ct1O0MBBci3BaNKH4dxhlo9BKwCH_zpgqSc7famHe76aYIT6mDg8w

    Viewing this requirement from an accessibility stand point is very interesting and something I have thought about. I agree that even considering test scores is discrimatory in this Pandemic. There is not equal access to testing across the US due to the way with which COVID-19 has hit locations and not others. I can only imagine the frustration for the disabled with even fewer opportunities. There is some concern in the back of my mind as to whether preferential treatment will be given to those with test scores but at this point going in with no scores is better than going in with scores for my son.

    @Sebastian (a Lady), do you think that it would be ok for me to write the email particularly as it is from a general standpoint. Getting such an  email out of my DS would not be worth it but I would like to enlighten this school with regards to the lack of access.

    Thank you for you sharing.

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