Wow, I'm seriously envying those short college lists. DS currently has 13 on his list. The trouble is that a number of those are highly selective, so he also has several that are not as highly selective, and then a couple of "safety" schools. He's currently planning to apply early decision though, so it's possible he'll only end up applying to one. I'm planning to set aside a couple of hours this weekend to get the counselor stuff finalized and uploaded. I think it will make me feel better when my part is done. Then I just need to keep harassing ds...

DS knew he wanted to apply ED a while ago, but was waiting on making a final decision until he had visited one of his top choices (on paper). It was a good thing he waited because he definitely does not want to apply early there. Anyway, since his ED choice was unsure, I sent his ACT scores and SAT subject test scores to the three schools where he was considering applying early a while ago. We've decided that we should send scores to any schools on his list that have Jan 1st regular decision deadlines, in case he doesn't get into his ED school. My question is, if he will hear from the ED school Dec. 15th, is it too tight to wait until then to send scores to the schools that have Jan 15th regular decision deadlines? If he isn't accepted Dec 15, we can send the scores immediately, which gives them a month to get there. However, it is a month with a bunch of holidays. Am I trying to save a few bucks and potentially causing disaster?

I will confess to panicking about where I am in the process. OK maybe panic is an overstatement. DS is planning to apply ED to one school with a deadline of Nov 15, so the pressure is on. I really need to work on course descriptions, and I keep thinking about things to add/change to the counselor letter. Now I'm worried that the counselor letter is too long so I'm trying to remove things from it.

I'm mostly done with the counselor letter and school profile. I need to work on course descriptions, but that is mostly copying/pasting/formatting correctly. DS really needs to get it together. He's got a draft of the common app essay, and he's asked 2 teachers for recommendations. He's planning to ask for at least 1 more letter, and he needs to get going on supplemental essays. I'm worried because he's really busy right now between a heavy course load, extracurriculars, and a part-time job. We're doing one more trip next weekend to visit schools, and then hopefully he'll get everything done ASAP. Hey, I can dream, right?

My ds has had three interviews so far, all at small liberal arts colleges. He loves to talk and enjoys interviewing. The biggest stressor that we've encountered so far is that he has been slow (!!) about sending thank-you emails. Two of the three have mailed him handwritten thank you notes before he sent a thank you email. Then the thank you email seems lame. Oh well. I have a relative who does alumni interviews for Yale. Actually not sure if she's doing them this year or not, she did do them last year. One thing that she did tell ds was to be sure to be totally upfront/honest about what he's done. She interviewed a candidate who said that they started an afterschool program for xyz. When pressed for more information, the candidate revealed that she hadn't actually gone to any of the xyz events and the program was "co-founded" by something like 20 kids. Listing that as "I started this organization" looks really bad. She's also interviewed kids who seem to have no particular knowledge/interest in Yale. Like they're just applying to many highly competitive schools. I don't think she has interviewed any homeschoolers so far. She did say that she was very impressed by the academics, extracurriculars, etc. of all of the kids who she interviewed.

This is very helpful to me too, thanks everyone. I have a related question though, if you have course descriptions for both homeschool courses and outside courses, do you just put them in together? Or do you have separate sections by provider? For my ds, none of his English or history courses are homeschooled - so that's separate anyway - but he's done some math at public school and some at home. Would you put all the math course descriptions together anyway?

My ds is taking an AP class through an online public school program since the local high school doesn't offer the class. The guidance counselor at the high school was pushing him to enroll in a program that would get him a state university credit for the class - this is purely a paperwork thing, no difference in the class. It would cost $75 though, while the AP class is free (except the AP exam). The thing is though, he knows where he is applying to college, and the dual enrollment is no better (generally worse) than the AP. So we saw no reason to pay the extra money. I feel badly for students who are not as well-informed and believe the guidance counselor who tells them that it is a great idea. Most students who go to 4-year colleges from this high school go to the state U, which accepts the AP for credit.

I have to say the thread title here almost gave me a heart attack. DS has started on his common app stuff, and we're hoping he'll be mostly done by mid-October, but I think his earliest deadline (early action) is in November.

Wow, I wish we had your options. My younger ds is signing up through the public high school tomorrow for $450! Private driver's ed costs more (not sure of the exact amount). And it is required in our state, unless you are over 18.

I think it is a travesty that many high schools don't offer any physics. For students who go on to major in physics or something related, it is true that if they have a solid math background they'll be fine. However for the students who go on to major in humanities or don't go to college, high school is the time for them to be exposed to some basic scientific concepts. I feel the need to point out that the bolded is not always true. It seems likely that my ds will get credit for at least some of his AP classes at the colleges that he is applying to, but he probably won't get credit for the community college class. The high school where ds goes part-time makes it very difficult to take community college classes because their schedule rotates in a complex way. And the closest community college is a satellite campus that offers only a handful of classes. It's an hour drive (no public transit available) to get to the main campus.That would put a significant burden on the student.

Great advice, thanks!! I'll have ds talk to his counselor when school starts.

I'm not the OP, but this is helpful to me too. Thanks! I'm off to look at the Common App Compilation thread, although I'll admit to being a bit nervous about diving in there. My ds's guidance counselor at the public school offered to write the counselor letter for him, even though he is officially a homeschooled student. Now I'm glad that I decided to write the letter, since it sounds like it would have been difficult to have her as a counselor. I guess she could have written it as an additional letter of recommendation, but that's different from the counselor letter (I think).

Wow, congratulations to all of you! :hurray: This is where ds is also - has not yet submitted a single application. I am also not done with all of my work (transcript, counselor letter, etc.). I'm also slightly stressed. Actually more than slightly stressed, to be honest.

My ds is also thinking about doing a philosophy elective this year. He hates watching videos, so he won't do any online courses like coursera. This is the current resource that he's considering: http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/linguistics-and-philosophy/24-01-classics-in-western-philosophy-spring-2006/index.htm.

Just to share what we're doing, my ds has played in band and jazz band at the public high school. He'll put band as a course for credit, because the public school transcript will list it that way. He'll have jazz band as an extracurricular because it is an afterschool (non-credit) activity at the high school. That being said, I'm not sure how I would do it if our hands weren't tied by the public school.

Pleased with ds's subject test scores in world history and physics. I would say he was totally done with testing, except he's now considering applying to a school that requires the math subject test.

I agree, the wait is really long! And it has been all sittings since the new SAT, not just this one. I'm so happy to hear that the October scores will come out faster because ds may need to take yet another SAT subject test. We thought he was all done, but he's contemplating adding a school that requires the math SAT subject test. And if he applies early action, it would be helpful to have the scores ASAP!

My kids both used "The American Odyssey" in 8th grade (https://www.amazon.com/American-Odyssey-Zeitz-Holdren-keller/dp/160153034X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1468263912&sr=8-1&keywords=k12+american+odyssey). Then they took (will take for younger ds) AP US history at the public school. To be honest, I did not read the book myself so I'm just throwing it out there for you to consider. I'm not guaranteeing that it will meet your needs.

:iagree: My ds, who will be a senior in the fall, is in the same position. Very high scores, high composite, but very low essay writing. I think in light of the fact that the essay is changing *again*, that it really is not going to be a major factor. At least that is our hope!! Also, for those who are planning to take the ACT next year (or later) be very careful about all test prep materials (books, websites, etc.). Since the essay has changed so often, there are lots of books and websites that have outdated information on ACT essay prep.

My older ds is obviously atypical. He has been unable to replicate his talent search SAT score, at least in the reading. Although that is the SAT, not the ACT. Actually his scores have been going down in reading over the PSAT twice (10th and 11th grades) and SAT (11th). I really don't think his reading abilities are going down. As far as we can tell he is overthinking the questions. He took the ACT recently and was happy enough with his score that he's decided not to re-take either the SAT or ACT.

Yes, it started with the new SAT. We're also waiting for SAT subject test scores from June. I'm hoping that this is temporary and next year the scores may come out faster.

Good luck! I hope it goes well for her. DS took AP language this year too.

If your dd takes it again next year, it sounds like the writing component will be revised again. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not though!

Argh, why do they have to change so many things for the class of 2017? It seems like everything keeps changing (SAT, ACT, FAFSA, etc. etc.) Maybe ds should take the ACT again in the fall. He's not going to like that, since he thought he was done.

Thanks for the links! I hate to pay the extra $50, but that is way better than re-taking the test.