[Reasons to Consider a Less Selective, Less Expensive College]

 

I think that it is hard to know what is going to work, and all we can do is collect evidence and work within our own experience.  

 

Well said.

[Reasons to Consider a Less Selective, Less Expensive College]

Thanks so much for starting this thread, Derek!

[Reasons to Consider a Less Selective, Less Expensive College]

Peers can be found everywhere for undergrad. One might be better off looking at a place where one can advance one's knowledge or one's start-up as well as have intellectual peers.  It only takes a cluster of peers for happiness.

 

This may be true, but the bigger the pool of peers one has to choose from, the greater the odds of finding that cluster. Kindred spirits and true peers are not always a given in any situation. It makes sense (and cents!) to go where the odds are greatest, wherever that may be for a given student. An honors program will not offer a large enough pool of true peers for every student.

[We are done!]

 I never in a 1000 years thought that these essays would get him to this place.  I now feel so much more comfortable with sending him around the world for university -- he has grown into a man through this process. 

 

 

 

A modern day walkabout/rite of passage.

[Reasons to Consider a Less Selective, Less Expensive College]

What I really want to know is how college admissions offices recalculate the high school GPA.  My kids' school has +/- so:

97-100 = A+ = 4.33

93-96 = A = 4.0

90-92 = A- = 3.67

 

I think that in most cases, the resulting reported unweighted GPA ends up not terribly different than if the school used 90-100 = A, basically because an A+ in one class can balance out an A- in another so that the gpa could still be 4.0 in the presence of A-'s.  However, if the college recalculates so that A+ = A = 4.0 but A- = 3.67, the recalculated GPA would be lower than 4.0.

 

Since some high schools use 90-100 = A, I'm trying to imagine how a college might recalculate all applicants' GPAs any other way than that (aside from any wacky weighting schemes for honors/ap).  If anyone has knowledge of college admissions gpa recalculation, I'd love to hear about it :) (I already know UCs recalculate using 90-100=A but they are unlikely to be relevant)

 

I'm wondering how much time they spend recalculating. Do they truly recalculate every application? Seems hard to believe. Do they double-check their recalculations so as not to make a decision based on an incorrect number? So many aspects of this whole process seem unfair. No wonder if often feels like a lottery.

[Double Major: whose considering it or done it?]

 

If a student wants to major in something out of pure intellectual interest and love of the subject, that student has either got to be (A) lucky enough to be passionate about something marketable or (B) double-majoring in something practical.

 

My DH loved his history classes undergrad and his public policy classes in grad school. But those aren't the classes that employers care about. They hire him for his Electrical Engineering B.S. and his M.B.A. in finance.

 

Plan B is a strong possibility here.

[Reasons to Consider a Less Selective, Less Expensive College]

Hidden to outsiders, not necessarily to others who work there-- although that is certainly the case at times as well. 

 

I think we agree that having a developing child or teen in an environment that they can't easily escape (school, dorm, etc) that has more people drinking, smoking, and doing drugs than ones that aren't is not ideal. It's actually not ideal for anyone. An adult with a solid education at least has more options and more control.

[Reasons to Consider a Less Selective, Less Expensive College]

.

 

 Could you imagine visiting a relative while in the hospital after surgery and then seeing their doctor smoking weed on break! haha   :tongue_smilie:

 

Yes. 

[Reasons to Consider a Less Selective, Less Expensive College]

I guess it really depends where one works. I don't think graduate degrees have anything to do with it. I speak from personal experience in working with Masters and PhDs in their fields. Its more about the corporate policies, state, federal regulations, compliance, etc... Even in those corporate cultures which are more of a 'party' environment, it shouldn't impact the lives of those who work there and don't partake.

 

Shouldn't being the key word.  Unfortunately, even when there isn't a "party" environment -- think local hospital -- lives are absolutely affected, the lives of coworkers and others. I've watched professional and personal lives crumble due in part to a hidden workplace drug culture. Also, pressure can still be there, although it may present differently.

[Reasons to Consider a Less Selective, Less Expensive College]

Usually no. Summer camp tend to be restricted to one part of the campus. The campers are also herded everywhere generally and not wandering around the vast campus. Also most college students aren’t doing summer term due to internships and other reasons. SJSU for example is a lot more peaceful during summer term.

 

Right. I guess I mean on a broader scale -- the type of students the camp/school attracts, the organization of the program, the quality of instruction, etc. 

 

Most programs are run by an organization in a separate department or perhaps not even part of the school, but professors or students often participate in some way.

 

(ETA: Just a note that at some camps the students in upper grades are often given much more freedom to roam around the campus and even surrounding areas.)

[Reasons to Consider a Less Selective, Less Expensive College]

The whole idea of dorms and being forced to live with a total stranger is beyond my comprehension. (Been there, done that ---don't ever want to do it again.) So, yes dorms are a different scenario.  Also, maturity plays a role in how we react to various situations. Still, these are significant issues in many workplaces. 

[Reasons to Consider a Less Selective, Less Expensive College]

I'm curious to know how summer programs correlate to actual experiences on campus. My teen has been to several summer camps at various campuses with varying levels of selectivity and cost (both for the camps and for the colleges/universities where the camps took place). The differences have been striking. I'm aware that this is anecdotal and somewhat subjective, but I'm interested in hearing about the perceptions and experiences of others. Does a summer camp give a good reflection of college life at the school?

[Reasons to Consider a Less Selective, Less Expensive College]

Weeelllll, maybe not selling and smoking during breaks, but a big chunk of my coworkers smoked and everybody knew who did, and parties weren't drug free either.. Drug testing never seems to occur at places where everybody has at least a masters degree, or at least that has been my experience. ☹ï¸

 

Or people are smart enough to know how to (usually) avoid getting caught -- even when there is testing. Add to that lunchtime drinking (or excessive drinking in general), prescription drug abuse, etc...  Professions are not immune. These issues aren't isolated to the schoolyard or campus.

[Depression and Suicide among College Students]

Thanks for the list, Nan. Your children are fortunate to have such thoughtful, caring parents, not to mention wise.   :grouphug:

[Runners: winter gear?]

These are winter favorites:

 

https://www.skirtsports.com/product/tough-girl-skirt-long/

 

I forgot to mention that if you keep an eye on sales, Skirt Sports clothing can be purchased for the same price as clothes at Target et al.

[Creating Capsule Wardrobe]

Not exactly a capsule wardrobe, but for the most part I only have clothes in my chosen neutral and two accent colors. I've done this for years. If certain colors are most flattering, it makes sense to only wear those colors. I also limit my wardrobe to certain necklines and silhouettes for the same reason. Variety can be added with textures, styles, and accessories, as well as depth and shade of color. 

 

I've known a few people with a signature style -- they wear the same style skirt, dress, or pant/blouse everyday. Colors and textures change, but the overall silhouette remains the same. They always look put-together and polished.  (And I imagine they rarely fret about what to wear!)

[How can we help ds to be faster on the PSAT/SAT?]

:lol:

[How can we help ds to be faster on the PSAT/SAT?]

Early PSAT scores???

 

Inconceivable!! 

[Depression and Suicide among College Students]

Considering my current circumstances, I don't know what to say about this except...my heart is breaking.

 

 

:grouphug:  :grouphug:  :grouphug:

[Runners: winter gear?]

These are winter favorites:

 

https://www.skirtsports.com/product/tough-girl-skirt-long/

[2017 PSAT Scores]

 

I also had visions of the reports all having the exact same scores (like they were dummy reports - placeholders for the real thing), too. Guess we'll see in three weeks! 

 

I worried about that too! Or that scores weren't actually finalized.

[2017 PSAT Scores]

I'm way too much of a rule follower!! I had visions of those who accessed scores early having the scores disqualified or something, so I couldn't bring myself to check. Clearly some of you live on the edge... 

 

;)

[How can we help ds to be faster on the PSAT/SAT?]

Is it by location where you took the test or by location where you are checking scores? For APs some people have a friend or relative in other state check their scores so they can find out earlier. It looks like that won't work for the PSAT, correct?

[Book a Week 2017 - BW47: Happy Thanksgiving]

I finished 2 books this week:

 

Digisick.

About the relationship between digital stuff and you brain, and if there is such a thing as digi addiction.

I am not medical or biological educated so I learned a lot about brains and could recognize certain effects by myself. The book was a little bit theoritical, so I missed something about ‘how to solve your problems’

 

 

I'm having trouble locating this book. Perhaps it's listed under different titles in different countries. Do you know the author's name?

 

I read The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains recently, and I'm curious about the book you mention. 

[A Celiac Thanksgiving]

Cross-contamination is a big concern of mine, as is someone meaning well, but not truly understanding all that gluten-free entails.  I often bring my own food and try to be as nonchalant about it as possible so as not to draw attention. I don't want my food restrictions to become the focus of the holiday meal, but I also want to stay well. Bringing my own food eliminates the need to inquire about ingredients and the need to watch serving utensils, etc.