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Arch at Home

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Everything posted by Arch at Home

  1. I had a similar problem. Your student needs to designate you as their counselor. Once that happens you will receive and email and be able to create an account.
  2. My daughter would definitely be out there protesting if campus allowed it. Our experience with protests is that with regards to COVID they are one of the safer out of the house activities. Everyone masks unlike the general population.
  3. You mentioned that your son had prefer status for the August 29th SAT. That reminded me that my son did also. I never thought to follow up on that. I guess that ultimately it would not have made a difference as both sites he registered for out right cancelled.
  4. We are in the same position. Other than an almost year old ACT, DS has not been able to test. That ACT score does not match his dual enrollment record. Consequently, unless he actually gets to test and does well, he will be applying test optional at least to his reach/lottery schools. DS only has one school that recommends test scores. Earlier this week, we began to draft an email to this school pleading his case and seeing if testing was necessary. During that session, DS finally came out that he wants to continue to try to take the SAT which ended the email drafting session. Ultimately if the lack of access to testing continues and there aren't that many more options for this group of applicants, schools are going to see a lot of test optional homeschoolers.
  5. Thanks for the tip. DS should be covered with regards to outside scores/grades. He is dual enrolled and will have an Associates of Arts degree by the time he graduates from high school.
  6. I agree with Bocky. We are in Kansas City and there have been federal agents here for about a month. My kids participate in the protests regularly. Though KC are not the hot bed that Portland and Kenosha are and we have not had armed vigilantes at protests, we have found the protests to be non-violent and safe. If a protest is slated to go later than 9:00 pm, we highly recommend DC to leave as the atmosphere tends to escalate at that point. Currently most people in KC don't even know that protests continue unless they happen upon them in their normal course of business. My heart goes out to the people of Kenosha.
  7. I totally get being salty about the homeschool test requirement. Though better than it was in the past, there is definitely a bias against homeschoolers. We live in a large metropolitan area and there are a number of places which offer the SAT. It turns out that the only sites locally to cancel testing today were the two the DS applied to. Needless to say he did not apply to take the October test at one of those sites.
  8. Is anyone's DC applying test optional this year? Last night DS applied for the October SAT. This is the 4th place he has had during the pandemic. The first 3 - March and 2 for August - were cancelled as were May and June prior to him even applying. He does have an okay ACT score from November but he feels like he would do better on the SAT plus he has that much more math and maturity since then. All of his colleges have now gone test optional with the exception of one which would like to see test scores for homeschoolers but doesn't require them and one automatic merit scholarship which is a combination of test score and GPA. There is much frustration to keep applying and preping but not actually take the test. I commend DS for wanting continue to try because I would have quit applying by now.
  9. This is horrible. We will have to keep an eye on this with regards the DS's future college. The cultute at both of the girls' colleges is that many students are still trying to finalize their course lists during the first week of classes so there is no reason to buy books if you don't yet know what your are taking.
  10. To possibly add to your list of book buying tips, I learned when my kids were dual enrolled with a public school, never to buy books in advance. As you mention, there is always the possibility of a course change but even more frequent we find that after attending the first class, they have better information regarding exactly what the instructor wants. DS came home with acceptable editions and specific versions of texts books that the instructor want. In addition, we do opt for rentals as they are definitely less expensive and have no need to have to figure out what to do with the book at the end of the semester. That said we have never had any trouble with returning rentals. This method does mean that we have to turn to companies with quick turn around but luckily we have Amazon Prime and have had no problem getting the books needed in time. In addition, we use the school bookstore for all "books" that require codes. I find it too hard to figure out what online sellers are offering with regards to codes and a mistake in this area is costly.
  11. All three of my student's are online. DS's community college started with in person, went to hybrid, but was totally online by late July. He ended up dropping a physical fitness class because without the ability to lift weights if wasn't worth taking the class. DD1's college split the student body up so that the First Years and Sophmores are on campus and have a combination of online and in person classes. All are in single rooms. After all things settled, the school figured out that they had extra rooms and opened up on campus living while taking online classes to Juniors and Seniors, an opportunity DD1 couldn't resist. DD2's college had a similar approach as DD1's with the reducing the density of students by year. Consequently, DD2, a Sophmore, was slated to be on campus until a 1 1/2 weeks ago when the school announced that the entire Fall semester is going to be remote. They currently are still hoping for a Spring semester with Juniors and Seniors on campus and First Years are prioritized to take any of the remaining openings. There has been a big scramble in this student population to get apartments near campus, including DD2. As a result, we are hopeful that if DD2 does not work out an apartment situation she will be on campus in the Spring based on how things worked out with DD1. What we have learned is that being remote is actually more expensive for us. Our assessed family contribution does not cover the cost of tuition; consequently, DD2 received essentially the same financial aid package this year as she did last year and we still have to cover all of her living expenses. I totally understand this but it was a shock for DD2 who was hoping to use the savings to fund an apartment.
  12. I have a daughter at Wellesley and one at Smith. They also were admitted to Grinnell and St. Olaf. Both homeschooled through their Sophmore year and then dual enrolled at an inner-city high school and the local CC. When they graduated from high school, they also had earned their AA degrees. Their GPAs were high but not straight A and their ACTs fell right in the 25 - 75% range for their school. Neither held any leadership positions at their school nor played athletics. Both had a lot of volunteer activities. My Smith daughter was active in the local teen Shakespeare troop and had leadership roles there. Their essays both centered around participation in a key organization and how they matured while participating in that organization or what they took away from the various activities. The highly selective schools they applied to were Need Blind and financial aid was 100% Need-Based. They did cast their nets widely but did not hesitate to try for reach schools. Based on our experience, you never know when you might fill just the right slot in a school's perspective cohort.
  13. We took a look at DS' CC schedule. It turns out that he has classes back to back with in person classes in the mix so that he will not be able to do remote classes at home. Hanging out on campus doing online classes defeats the purpose of them being remote. I am going to have him contact his advisor to determine whether it is possible to find a place to do these classes. I am particularly concerned about finding a place to take tests and in particular Calculus tests. And the saga continues.
  14. I definitely understand the concern about bringing COVID in. For the visit DS had to do a pre-visit verbal COVID check and the visit was all masks, hand sanitation, and social distancing. For the small town where the college is located, this was way over and above the current standard of care but I feel comfortable with our level of protection of those in that town.
  15. DS made his first in-person college visit of this application season this week. I am not sure how many more DS will be able to make. We are watching another school that is supposed to be opening up for visits July 20th. This school did this once before but then extended the opening date due to CDC recommendations. I am not particularly optimistic with the current state of COVID affairs. I am beginning to think about doing virtual visits but he commented about how hard it was to get the vibe of the school last week with no students on campus. I can only assume that it will be even harder to do so virtually. I am so glad that DS was so willing to tag along two years ago when DD2 was looking at schools. At least he has 2 contenders and 3 fall backs that he has already visited.
  16. We finally heard from all three colleges these last two weeks. The girl's LACs are both having Firsties and Sophmores on campus in the Fall and Juniors and Seniors on campus in the Spring. DD1's school is transitioning to a term schedule with two 7 week terms with 2 classes a term each semester with the option of study abroad in the 2nd and 4th terms. In addition, her school is exploring the option of offering Juniors and Seniors off-campus housing in a hotel. If they choose the hotel option as opposed to other remote options, they will have a meal plan and access to campus. Both schools have extensive testing regimes, plans for on campus isolation and quarantine, and a combination of in person, hybrid, and online classes for those living on campus. DD2's school is requiring a 14 day "soft" quarantine prior to arrival on campus and a 1 day quarantine upon arrival while waiting for the results of her baseline COVID19 test. At this moment my DD1 will be SFH for the first term and study abroad (Vietnam) the second term...as long as her current internship can't be extended. DD2 will be on campus Fall semester. In the spring, it will be reversed...So much for being almost empty nesters. DS's has a combination of online, hybrid, and in-person classes at CC though the in-person is Physical Fitness so I am not sure if that really counts a fully in-person class. We are going to be better prepared for SFH this time around and have already had our internet provider out to upgrade our equipment. It is good to have a plan but as we all know, this subject to change at any moment.
  17. @dmmetler Congratulation on you DD's early start. DS is in the process of preparing to apply. All of his colleges are test optional. He wasn't able to take the SAT in the spring so we are anticipating scheduling one or two goes in the fall though we are still waiting to schedule based on his sport schedule. I won't be surprised if he applies to one or two schools test optional. His grades and the rigor of his course load should speak well for him. He has a list of 4 regional colleges that he still wants to visit. We are currently plotting a college visit trip to the 3 that are open to visitors. I am concerned that once students get on campus visitors won't be allowed. Best wishes to all as you navigate this year's application process.
  18. In watching my 3 students, they would appreciate a consistent location to find information. Some instructors use email, others use Blackboard or that school’s equivalent, one even communicated important info via that class’ WhatsApp group. It particularly hard at the commencement mid-semester of an online class to figure it out. Secondly, though Zoom sessions or similar may seem the easiest way to continue online a lecture- or discussion-based class, be conscious of your class makeup. The previously scheduled time may not work for those who returned home in vastly different time zones. DD1 had 3:00 am Zoom class due to being 6 time zones behind the rest of the class.
  19. Both of my DDs’ colleges are offering refunds. DD1’s is prorating the refund based on financial aid while DD2’s has not announced. That said we are still waiting to see is DD1’s study abroad program is offering a refund.
  20. My DD1 just returned last night from Spain. Spain is at CDC Level 3 Alert so person coming from there has to self quarantine for 14 days. We are going to wash hands extra and clean extra but we are not going to have her self isolate. If she has it, I assume that the rest of us will get it. We are only going to try to contain it when and if she has symptoms.
  21. Thanks for the info about rescheduling. This test was supposed to be to determine whether DS is better/prefers the SAT or the ACT. He has a conflict with the May test. I need to look at the test schedules and figure out how best to proceed.
  22. We have been watching March SAT site closings all week and everything was good for DS’s site. However, I made one last check this morning and now there is a notice that it is to be rescheduled. Did anyone else’s SAT have similar happen?
  23. Most college that are a distance from an airport have a shuttle service to the nearest major airport for holidays. With quick Internet search I found that Hendix has one also. https://www.hendrix.edu/studentaffairs/default.aspx?id=43405
  24. We have talked to Sweet Briar a couple of times over the last 4 years. The Alumnae have strongly involved in the school. It wasn’t the right school for my DDs but if your DD has a interest in it, it can work financially, and she has the drive to apply I would let her do it. I would even go so far as suggesting that she contact them regarding the possibility of a late application. As May 1 approached, more information becomes apparent and my DDs began to make meaningful decisions. I am sure that your DD will also.
  25. My DS's score was lower than his practice tests but it was his first go at it. For the most part, his score falls in the range of those schools where he is most interested in so that is good. We now have to decide whether to take the March SAT to see if the SAT is a better fit.
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