[School Profile - Where to upload on CA?]

Every time I go to answer a question on the CA, this is the type of indecision I go through. They all feel like trick questions.

[School Profile - Where to upload on CA?]

Okay, so next CA question —

What are people doing for the rankings? I could go with “no basis” or “outstanding - top 5%” or “one of the few students that stands out over my career”.

If that last option wasn’t there, I would say outstanding without thinking twice, but the last option feels awkward because this is one of two students I have had and this is not my “career”. And yet, if I only say “outstanding” will it be clear that the last option would feel awkward for a home school parent or will it seem like I don’t think she truly stands out when I absolutely do? Argh.

[School Profile - Where to upload on CA?]

I finally had a chance to go back in and find this. The reason I missed it is that all my info rolled over from when my ds applied to colleges two years ago. So, I think when I started it this year, it automatically started me with the student section. Just an FYI for anyone who is doing this for the second time! A lot of the info was complete and I thought I had done it for my dd awhile ago and forgotten about it, but then I realized all the dates and info were wrong. My school profile from when my ds applied was even still uploaded.

[Paying for college- It breaks my heart....]

20 hours ago, frogger said:

I had never heard of the income share arrangement before.

 

I'm baffled by parents not knowing the cost. I mean there are articles, news stories, things everywhere about the student debt crisis. How hard is it to look up the Cost of Attendance. My first reaction was, "oh no, none of my children will be able to go to school.". I suppose they keep hearing that isn't the actual cost of attendance and the will easily get a full ride scholarship? It is rather opaque which I think is wrong.

 

Even my boy with a full tuition scholarship may end up with debt if he has to move off campus, buy a vehicle, etc. He works every summer squeezing in every last hour he can at his full time job and mowing lawns on weekends but he will still likely end up with a reasonable amount of debt. Without that scholarship he would end up with much more debt than you all think is reasonable per year so more than 4x the reasonable amount.

 

With no community college system in our state and the governor wanting to gut the single University system I am worried that there will be no options for the next 2 but move to another state, work a job until you qualify as resident and then go to school in your mid 20's. The last child may manage to get scholarships but there seem to be less and less of them every year.

My next 2 already are earning money but it won't make a dent in OOS tuition and room and board and fees and they aren't high stats. So we are looking at trade schools certifications and other things to make a living. I love my home but sometimes I ask myself what kind of future I gave my children by living here.

 

I obviously don't run in the same circles as many others here but dang, it seems like DH makes decent money.

 

 

I really think the bolded is the issue. I think the reality of what people are expected to pay is so astronomical compared to what they think a reasonable cost will be, they just never really understand it until they get the hard numbers from the college. Plus, there are so many promises about financial aid and meeting full need at colleges. That can be very misleading.

People on this board are much more in touch with the reality of it than many that I’ve met IRL. I was just helping a friend who has a dd who is a senior this year. She was saying she needs to get her dd moving to find scholarships. I told her she had better make sure the school will stack outside scholarships first and that she might be better off focusing on test scores and scholarships offered directly by the school. Her dd has not even taken the SAT yet and is an average student. She really thinks there are plenty of scholarships just out there for the taking. And this is a very bright, financially frugal mom.

[School Profile - Where to upload on CA?]

Thanks. I must have missed it. I’ve got a ton of paperwork I’m weeding through right now.

[School Profile - Where to upload on CA?]

I can’t remember where I uploaded this for my ds. The homeschool section would be ideal, but there is no way to upload a document there that I see. Are people just uploading it as another transcript document?

TIA!

[If you have a Celiac kid or serious allergy concerns, can you share how you researched uni/colleges?]

My ds is heading off for his second year of college next week and he has severe food allergies and has been gf since he was 3 years old. At all of the colleges we have visited, there has been some sort of accommodation for food allergies. Some have a section that serves only allergen free food (assuming your allergies are the common ones) and they cook the food separately to avoid cross contamination. Many also have gf prepackaged snacks and treats available. At my ds’ college, they have both these things and they also list the food ingredients    for whatever they are serving each day at the location it is being served. The school was also very helpful in having someone that could walk my ds through everything available to him (which my ds, of course, never actually took advantage of). When we visited ds’ school during his senior year, the dining hall staff was friendly and helpful and knew just what my son could eat. They also offered to make special food for him. That was a big plus for that school and part of the reason we were so happy with his decision to attend there.

I would start with sending out a standard email to all the schools your student is interested in to see how they handle things, but then make visits and actually eat in the dining hall of schools that he is serious about and/or accepted to. I would think there would be very few schools these days unable to accommodate allergies, but some of them do it much better than others. We ruled out one school based on our experience eating in the dining hall. My dh tried to find out if my ds could eat something and was given a 40 minute runaround. At the time, we decided if it was so difficult for my dh to get a simple answer about the food they were serving, there is no way my ds would get the info he needed. I believe their policy was to rely on their allergy-free station for all allergies and that would have been very limiting and frustrating for my son because that station served things like a plain chicken breast with applesauce and green beans. It was also called the healthy food station.

ETA: If there is a school your ds wants to attend that does not offer good options for him in the dining hall, then seek a special housing accommodation for him where he is able to have a room with a kitchen. Many colleges would have no problem with granting such an accommodation imo if you get a doctor’s note. A friend of mine recently was granted permission for her dd to live at home her first year (they usually require freshmen to live in dorms at this college) because of her severe food allergies.

 

[Transcript and summer programs]

1 hour ago, daijobu said:

 

You aren't overthinking this.  It's tough to figure out which data field (if any) a given activity should be documented.   Should it be an EC, a transcript item, a main essay topic, or a response to a supplemental question?   Or should it go into your counselor letter?  

Cal Newport advocates leaving things off your college application, especially if you think those items will dilute the strength of her more impressive accomplishments.   This is hard to do.  You can read his book, How to be a High School Superstar, and decide for yourself.  

 

1 hour ago, daijobu said:

 

So, I'm pretty sure you should include that course on her transcript, even if she doesn't need the credit.  And you should keep a copy of her college transcript--an unofficial pdf is fine for now--to upload to the Common App.  Once she's been admitted to a university, they will likely ask you for all official transcripts, so you should order this transcript for the admissions department.  

I had the same thing happen, where we accidentally on purpose signed up for a class at the CC.  It turned out to be pass/fail, and I wish it had never happened because it didn't amount to much.  But because it was a college class I needed to include the info on her transcript, and I ended up ordering an official transcript from the CC sent directly to the university.   Whatever.

I really like the story of your student saving her money to pay for this class.  It really shows initiative and love of learning and a strong work ethic.   

 

1 hour ago, daijobu said:

 

I just read this post and generally agree with her assessment.  But remember, these are general guidelines, and you need to look at your own student and think about what kind of picture you are painting of her.  Your student is the kind of kid who spends her hard-earned money on interesting educational opportunities.  That's pretty neat.  This blogger would suggest that because she paid for this experience, it isn't worth reporting.  But because she herself earned the money, and not the parents, I think this is impressive and worth reporting.  

Unless there are many other things about your student (not being sarcastic here...I imagine she's probably quite accomplished), it pales in comparison.  

Thank you very much! I am going to get the Cal Newport book and see if that gives me some more ideas. I really appreciate you empathizing with me about how complicated the process is and for your suggestions and kind words about my dd. 

[Transcript and summer programs]

2 hours ago, Corraleno said:

I find her list of "reportable" and "not reportable" activities quite puzzling. Definitely list that you babysat your little sister all summer, but don't mention that you did a selective summer college program? Summer college programs aren't impressive but "blogging" and "building a website" are? I think pay-to-play "community service" trips to exotic locales are a different story — most people would agree that colleges are not impressed by rich kids whose only volunteer work was a week spent maintaining sea turtle habitat in Costa Rica — but summer academic programs in areas relevant to the student's future degree are surely worthy of note. Plus, if those programs were genuinely meaningful to the student, then pretending they didn't happen in the hope that colleges will somehow be more impressed the student didn't do summer college programs is kind of deceptive in itself.

FWIW, my son listed his summer college program right at the top of his activities list. The program was offered by his top choice school (which he now attends), and was equivalent to a standard intro class in his major. It didn't offer credit or a grade, but it did allow him to skip that class when he enrolled as freshmen. 

I appreciate you sharing that your ds chose to put his program at the top of his list since it was held at his top choice school. That is a very interesting perspective that I honestly hadn’t considered at all. Which is why I am asking this question. 

I guess some of the recommendations do seem a bit crazy. But, I think things like physical labor and true responsibilities like babysitting are done by very few kids currently applying to college and I can see why those types of things might stand out. Blogging about something you are interested in is an independently driven and possibly highly creative activity vs having your parents pay to have you attend a summer program.

I was thinking of not including these programs because there are only 10 spots on the CA for activities and my dd has already filled them with other meaningful activities that she has been involved in. It was recently suggested that we remove a large fundraiser she organized a couple of summers ago for these programs. Until this recent suggestion, I never considered including them because I considered them something colleges would roll their eyes at (an impression I got on this board and elsewhere). She never did them in order to put them on her college app. She did them because she wanted to. And they are enrichment programs that don’t relate to her *current* desired major. The program she chose to participate in this summer was selected by her because it was a subject she had never had a chance to learn anything about. Plus, it was held at a school she is seriously interested in. 

 

[Transcript and summer programs]

3 hours ago, Farrar said:

I think you're overthinking it to some extent. There are whole books about using summer programs and activities to help show colleges that you're serious about learning and will be an asset to them. Are colleges also onto the fact that these pre-college programs tend to be a marker of privilege? Of course. But they'd much rather see an application from a student who did something over the summer than didn't do anything, even if the something is an experience you have to pay money to do. And if the summer programs she has all add up to a picture of her actual interests, then that's a good thing, even if you paid for them. The things she did are the things she did. They're not a detractor. And she didn't sit around all summer by the pool or playing video games or whatever.

I’m sure I am overthinking this. 

But, it’s not a matter of either doing a summer program at a college or doing nothing. In order to add these programs, we have to cut out other things she’s done. So, I’m just trying to figure out what the best way to approach it is. I’ve heard for years that summer college programs are worthless for admissions, so the suggestion to include them has me wondering. 

[Transcript and summer programs]

3 hours ago, katilac said:

What hurts your chances at one college will help your chances at another. You can make yourself crazy trying to figure out what "they" want and I wouldn't bother doing so for something like this. If these programs had meaning to her and helped shape her as a student, list them under extracurriculars and move on. I wouldn't list every single one, necessarily, particularly not ones from middle school. For my dds, we grouped things by topic (like Environmental or Art and Design) and one of the bullet points might be: Participated in multiple XYZ programs, including This Particular Program and That Particular Program. 

Edited to clarify that my kids did not apply to highly selective colleges, this is strictly my opinion based on observation and research. Write those documents with care, of course, but don't hide things that are important to the student and don't highlight things that aren't. 

You are so right! That’s what makes it so hard to make a decision about these things — it will be perceived differently by various schools. I honestly had written off these programs as worthless for admissions based on what I’d read on these boards in the past and was surprised when it was recommended that I include them by someone who supposedly *knows*. I’m going to mention their impact and her participation in my school profile or guidance counselor letter but leave them off of the transcript and the activities section. I think. Lol.

[Transcript and summer programs]

28 minutes ago, Farrar said:

I'm still not clear what these were.

I think the idea that "pay for play" doesn't count is a really difficult for homeschoolers to apply across the board. We often pay with no special requirements for a whole host of things, including core academic classes. And we often use summer experiences as a key way to give our kids opportunities that kids in schools have some form of already. Plus, some homeschoolers combine these sorts of mini-experiences with other work into a credit.

Putting that aside, if Generic Selective College offers a summer program... Generic Selective's Pre-College Research Seminar... you'd better believe that they'd like to see that your student did that program when they apply. So however you list it, don't leave it off entirely.

I’m just not sure. From what I’ve read, I think it can just be a signal of privilege and can hurt the student’s application at top colleges. I think if I do put the program she did this last year, I need to explain somewhere that she paid for much of it herself. 

But, yeah, I don’t want to completely omit it and signal that it was nothing to her because it was a major experience for her. Back to the drawing board . . ,

Here’s the link to the blog I mentioned and Sara’s thoughts on reporting activities. I really like this as a resource and much of her advice rings true to me. https://www.saraharberson.com/blog/to-report-or-not-to-report-the-strategy-behind-listing-your-summer-activities

[Transcript and summer programs]

5 minutes ago, regentrude said:

If those were for enrichment only and didn't translate into significant highschool credit, I would explain about those in the school profile. That way, you can highlight them, instead of burying them among oodles of academic credits on the transcript.

Thank you. That is a good idea. As I’ve been talking this through, I started to realize this is another example of my dd’s love of learning and drive that I could put in my counselor letter. But the school profile is another place that this could be highlighted and I hadn’t thought of that. 

[Transcript and summer programs]

Thank you both for your thoughts. These classes were for enrichment. She had to write essays in order to gain admission to the programs. One of the classes did give her one college credit as a P/F and I don’t know what the heck to do with that. Give her .33 of a high school credit? Lol. She definitely doesn’t need the credit.

The main reason I can see listing them is because she worked so hard to gain entry into the programs and enjoyed the classes so much. The program she did from middle school up until she aged out last year was very reasonable financially and my dh and I paid for it. The program she attended this year (for the 1 credit) was expensive but she wanted to go so badly, she paid for a large chunk of it herself from her savings from her part time job.

I’ve been reading Sara Harberson’s site and she says you don’t list pay-to-play classes taken in the activities section of the app if they don’t require much more than test scores and a teacher rec. The program this summer fits that description more because while she had to write essays, they were pretty short. The other program that she attended for a number of years was at our state flagship and involved a pretty in-depth essay that always required a lot of research. It was targeted at gifted and high-achieving students.

[2020 College decision - already?!]

Well, yay! That does sound nice. Congrats to your ds.

[Transcript and summer programs]

I’m going back to thinking we won’t list these, but I’m not sure. I keep finding conflicting advice about it.

Since she is applying to the schools where she attended these programs, I’m thinking the programs will come up in her “Why Whatever College” essays because they were amazing experiences for her. I have always thought that these types of programs aren’t worth mentioning for admissions, but I had someone in the admissions field looking over my dd’s CA and she felt I should list them.

I’d still love to hear what others have done.

[Transcript and summer programs]

What are people doing with classes their kids took at college programs over the summer? My dd has participated in competitive entry summer programs since middle school, but I’m not sure how to reflect them on her application. She put a lot of work into getting into these programs, so I’d like to put them somewhere.

I remember someone (maybe Arcadia) saying that they have a section on the transcript for “Classes Taken for Enrichment” with no grades or credit. This is the idea that appeals to me the most, but I have very little room left on my dd’s Transcript. I am thinking of making a page 2 for the transcript and just listing all the summer classes she’s taken and the colleges she’s taken them at without giving any credit.

The other option is to list the names of the summer programs in one space in the CA activities section and then write “(see course descriptions for actual classes taken)” and write out the classes there.

Anyone have any ideas for me?

[Looking for a semester long Greek 2 Class]

My dd had planned to take Greek 2 through CLRCs dual enrollment program with St Katherine’s in the spring, but they have just changed their text from Athenaze to Intensive Greek, so it sounds like that isn’t going to work. She took Greek 1 with Lukeion using Athenaze, We really want a semester class and it would be a perk if it was a dual enrollment class that might transfer. The closest university doesn’t offer Greek and neither does the cc.

[Head is spinning - need help]

I have to wonder why these schools bother saying they meet full need if they don’t. Don’t they have enough full pay student? I’m thinking if they can raise the tuition from $60,000 to $85,000 over a couple of years, they must.

[So bored with food. (Vegan and Gluten Free)]

17 hours ago, Jenny in Florida said:

 

Thanks, but the dairy thing is really an ethical choice. It just so happens that it also seems to be better for me, healthwise.

Yeah, I figured that was the case. But if you were a close friend, I’d have to say it sure sounds like a lot of self-imposed misery. Why are you doing this to yourself, friend. Surely, eating some bread with 2% or less of an egg product isn’t going to hurt anyone. And goat dairy from a HFS? I don’t think we’re talking big food here. I have dealt with many, many food restrictions because of allergies in my family and the level of restriction you are placing on yourself seems almost punishing. I am sorry you feel you must do this, but I hope you can someday give yourself permission to loosen up on these restrictions.

I have a person coming into my life who is vegan without all your additional restrictions and I am planning on reading up on it to try to understand it better. I can obviously understand not eating meat, but eggs, butter and milk from local sources isn’t so obvious to me.

[Head is spinning - need help]

16 hours ago, Matryoshka said:

On merit aid...Dd was offered something like $20K in merit aid at URoch. But that left over $40K to self-pay.  And remember, two kids in college at once, with another close on their heels. Hahahahaha.

Merit aid is only good if it lowers the cost enough to afford. And good heavens, it sounds like the price tag at that school has ballooned another $20K in just three years?  :faint: 

Yes. It actually wasn’t even on my radar that there were a lot of schools that cost as much as $60,000 until last fall. To see they are now projecting to increase to $80,000 or $85,000 in a couple of years just boggles the mind. The idea of paying $25,000 a year at one point boggled my mind. But the bar keeps moving and if they are going to “front-load” the aid while promising to keep it the same barring changes in income, that is just criminal.

i only have two children and actually am fortunate enough that we have been able to save for college and could pay a decent chunk. I can afford (just barely) our NPC numbers because our income dropped so much last year, which seems like a good thing. But actually complicates everything if I can’t actually trust those numbers. I’m finding the whole process extremely frustrating.

I guess the good thing about this thread is that I have saved myself from making a trip to Rochester. I feel horribly for you and your dd Whitestavern, but thank you for sharing your situation. You may have saved us a similar heartache.

[Head is spinning - need help]

4 hours ago, 8FillTheHeart said:

Or just call it all bogus BS and go in the other direction.  Pursue real merit and attend college at a very low cost.  We have managed to pay for all of our older 5 kids to attend college for less than a yr's tuition at many schools.  Real merit does exist.  THey just need to be willing to accept that rankings and prestige don't define their college experience or future.

True. Good reminder.

ETA: TMI

[Head is spinning - need help]

And the other thing that totally stinks about these financial aid calculations is that if you aren’t too far from being able to afford it and want to try to work a little extra to make up the difference or grandparent wants to help, forget it. Every dime given by a grandparent will just  reduce the aid by almost the entire amount given. Increasing your income also decreases the financial aid. So there really is no path for middle-class students at these schools. You’ve either got to be rich or poor.  Or be one of the very few who receives substantial merit aid. 

[So bored with food. (Vegan and Gluten Free)]

Just throwing this out there as food for thought. If part of the reason you do not want to eat dairy is because it causes stomach issues there are lactose pills for people who are dairy intolerant. Also my daughter has issues with dairy that are not lactose related and she does fine with goat cheese and she can also tolerate regular dairy a couple of times a week. She just cannot eat it every day or she starts to have problems.

 

 

[So bored with food. (Vegan and Gluten Free)]

Also, I love these bars, which are crunchy and chewy and gf and df, but they do have honey if that is an issue — salted caramel Kind bars

https://www.kindsnacks.com/nut-bars/caramel-almond-sea-salt-M17179.html