[Do Parents attend meetings when touring universities? and other odd questions]

I'm not sure we are meeting any chairs.  Most of them have sent us to professors to talk to.  Are those professors expecting to talk about math/research or about what the program has to offer?

 

If admissions or academic advisors don't introduce themselves by any name, should ds use last name?  Which is the fallback in the USA?

 

We are only meeting with one admissions person, I'm wondering if I should try to make some other appointments.  Being an international homeschooler who is a dual citizen is a bit confusing I would think.  I wonder if I would want an admissions person who focuses on homeschooling or internationals?  I'm thinking homeschooling because they are used to seeing odd transcripts and all the documentation, but they will not know anything about ds's qualifications like someone focusing on internationals. In addition, it is unclear if ds is applying as a homeschooler or schooler.  I'm wondering if I need a separate answer from each admissions department and that they would need to see his transcript to make a determination.  That would require a meeting.

 

My dds applied as international homeschoolers with dual citizenship, coming from six-year programs and a two-year gap between completion of the program with A-levels and APs in between -- so similar to your son. We did not have meetings with any AdCom folks, didn't really think of this as an option given the number of applications they would be receiving for the schools DDs applied to. At every informational meeting we attended, we made sure to go ask the AdCom rep about their situation and in each case they told us that they had on staff a rep who covered that particular area of the world and was therefore familiar with that particular educational system and the exams relevant to that system. I think this is true, although I am pretty sure that some of these reps have more experience than others. As for homeschooling, they claim they understand this and know what it's about -- I think that the truth of this varies by school tbh. If you can get a meeting with an AdCom rep, I'd say go for it. 

 

As for getting profs to advocate for your son, my DDs set up meetings with reps of the departments they were interested in at each school. I don't know what they discussed as DDs did this on their own. I know of one prof who offered one DD an "early read" -- that is, to review her application and then send it on to the AdCom. I know that at another school, one prof apparently gets to pick two people a year from arts supplements submitted in a particular field and then the AdCom will take this as a strong recommendation (I'm about 90 per cent sure this is an accurate representation of what happens, given what I know).  I strongly suspect that at least one of the profs DD1 met with advocated for her, as she ended up being DD's faculty advisor. 

[Finding an SAT test center if student has accommodations]

If your student has accommodations from the College Board, how difficult was it to find a testing centre that would provide the accommodations? My DS has school-based accommodations (use of laptop), which means that the school is supposed to let him test there. He attends a school that is not a testing centre but apparently it doesn't matter, all they have to do is administer the test individually to DS. School refuses to test him, so I think, from what I gathered from the CB site, I need to find him a testing centre that will agree to test him with accommodations. If your student has done this, how hard was it to find a centre to accommodate? I need to figure out a plan. Thanks.

[24 hours in London]

What sorts of things are you interested in? History, art, literary landmarks? Also, are you interested in seeing things that are typically English or would you be interested in seeing things that are non-English but good (thinking of the British Museum Hokusai exhibit for example)? 

[Interesting article on being married to a man with Asperger's]

I can relate. At a certain point in my marriage I decided my xh was either on the spectrum (or had a personality disorder of some type) or was just plain a jerk. When xh refused to consider that Asperger's may have been relevant, and when he refused to consider an article similar to the one shared that I thought summarised my feelings, I got a divorce lawyer. There was never a real chance to work it out.

[Wanted to share -- college kid's view on influence of homeschooling]

I was talking with one of my freshman DDs the other day about course selection, possible majors and so on. She's one of those who would love to major in absolutely everything, so this was an interesting conversation! Along the way she made a point that I thought I'd share. She said that homeschooling resulted in her thinking, well, if I want to take this class/study this subject/follow this interest, then I can and should find a way to make it happen. Rather than just following the path everyone follows, she's actively pursuing her interests by talking to professors and convincing them to teach her Aramaic, let her take graduate level seminars as an undergraduate, and be permitted take a junior seminar as a sophomore (not meant as a brag -- loads of kids at her school could do the same if they just asked). Her approach is simply to think it's all possible so why not give it a try and find someone to help, an approach that she says stems directly from having been homeschooled with the attitude of, hey, if you're interested, pursue it. 

Anyway, thought I'd share as a bit of homeschool success, although this won't be news to (m)any of you. This is a bonus I'd never really considered in depth before.

[Dressing the summer intern?]

Swimmermom3, would you be able to share advice/tips on housing for DC interns? My DS16 is interning for three weeks in August, and we're trying to find somewhere for hi to stay. University dorms are tricky because of his age. Any suggestions welcome!

 

As for suits, DS is wearing what he wears for school -- navy or grey suits, white or blue shirts, fun ties. Don't know if that helps or not!

[Good pens for dysgraphia?]

My ds uses a yoropen. Seems to make a difference between really awful and just plain awful.

 

[Possible move to Spain or U.K. - how do I even start researching?]

I live in London (Southwark) and work in the City. Feel free to pm me if you want any info (prefer not to disclose too much on public board); we've been here for about 5 years now, and out of the US for 13 total now, so have a bit of expat experience to go on. 

[We want to get a verbal reasoning test done, yes?]

We were in a similar situation in NL with DS, then 6. We went to a psych at one location (which I can share by pm) who did the Ravens. It was a disaster.

 

From what I know of ed psychs in NL, you have to be extremely extremely careful to get one who is good. For example, there is one who is known for giving unrealistically high scores. Also, if you are having your DS tested in English, then will it be a native speaker? Because you know how the Dutch are convinced their English is better than that of native speakers hah. Have you called the international schools to see whether they have someone to recommend? 

 

I would seriously consider having him tested in the UK if that is at all possible. We ended up with the Dutch ed psych telling us that DS was just high average and that we were pushy parents. We took DS to the US for more extensive testing and found out that he was in fact 2E. I can also ask people I know if they can recommend testers who could help, just send a pm.

 

[Shadowbox for an arrow?]

We're having plaques made for the boys, with hooks to hang the arrow from. The plaques have the boys name, pack, etc engraved on them. 

[Ask a question: 'socialised' medicine]

Do most people not have top-up insurance because the NHS coverage is good and therefore the extra is unnecessary, or is there another reason?

 

 

 

We have private medical insurance -- mine is around 30 GBP a month and a 1,000 deductible. I also have a second policy through my work that has a lower deductible and my employer pays 800 pounds a year for that. My kids also have private insurance -- it means my son did not have to wait a year to see the ENT. I think the value add varies hugely depending on where you live. Where I live, most people I know have private health. In other areas of the country, I imagine it may not add much to the coverage. For us, it makes a huge difference.

[Ask a question: 'socialised' medicine]

I'm in the UK and we had 4 A&E visits last summer, so I can speak to our experience, which has been mixed.

First visit was sick child who has bad anemia and was sent home from boarding school because she was so unwell. We couldn't get in to our GP so went to A&E and waited for four hours until an orthopedist told her to eat more. The blood tests were not for the correct tests, although we'd requested the tests we knew she needed, and so the orthopedist had nothing to go on.

 

Second visit was child with serious abdominal pains, to the point where she couldn't walk. Ambulance and around four hours in A&E. A&E doc couldn't speak English. He ridiculed our questions. Finally taken up to pre-surgery as a result of wonky blood tests, but an ultrasound was inconclusive and we were sent home. 

 

Third was child with blood spot in eye -- wanted to be sure it wasn't serious. Again, went to A&E because we cannot get to the GP on the same day unless we call at 8 a.m. Were questioned about our nationality and where we lived and whether we had a right to the NHS. A couple of hours later saw an opthamologist who said all okay. Neither impressed nor unimpressed. 

 

Fourth visit was me with really bad tachycardia and other cardiac symptoms. Waited two hours to be seen. Sat in a waiting room with really ill people, including one who was crying from pain but wasn't seen to. After I was seen and given an EEG I waited in a corrider for two more hours with drunks. The A&E messed up and didn't call my name and so it took over five hours to be seen. Apparently there is a rule that if a patient isn't seen within a specific time frame ( I believe four hours), the A&E gets fined. That night the A&E got hit with fines for at least six patients.

 

I don't think our experience has been unusual and matches what my friends have told me of their experiences.

 

In summary, some of the specialists we saw were really good. Some were horrible. Nurses and medical assistants are almost always fantastic. Admin stinks. The good is that I have never and will never see a bill for any of this (outside of my National Insurance contribution in my taxes). My son's cleft team has been amazing (although the surgeon was not trained in England, which may be why he is so awesome). We did have to wait over a year to see the ENT though. The bad is that some of the doctors are atrocious and that you really need to know your stuff and tell them what tests they need to run and what referrals you want. 

 

We live in an area with a high poverty rate that is being gentrified. The local GPs are generally awful, with a few pretty good ones thrown in. The practice is large, with around a dozen GPs. It takes around three weeks to get an appointment and you never see the same GP twice. They have 10 minutes to see patients and so don't really do exams. They are rushed and have no time. I bet they don't like never seeing the same patient twice. We've had a few dangerous experiences -- a GP who prescribed my teenage daughter a drug that the FDA has specified is not to be prescribed to adolescents because of the link to suicidal ideation, eg. If you get blood tests they may or may not let you know if the results are okay or not. My approach now is to do my own research, call the doctors in my family, and go to the GP only to tell them what I want from them. It works out okay. I have to say though that I did tell my premed kids that I would support them in any university in the world and in any course of study -- unless they chose to study medicine in the UK. 

 

Sorry so long -- maybe a bit more than you wanted to know!

 

 

I keep reading on the BBC about shortages of GPs leading to long waits to get appointments for illness and long waits in A & E departments in the NHS, also mismanagement of funds in some areas of the U.K. Is this widespread across the system or localized?

 

[College board accommodations?]

You may have seen this on the College Board site already, but apparently they have just (as of this month) introduced a streamlined approach to accommodations for students with an IEP or a 504 plan or, if in private school, a formalised plan for accommodation. Not sure this would apply in your son's case, but point it out just in case it does.

https://www.collegeboard.org/students-with-disabilities/whats-new-2015-16

 

 

 

[Is this where I get to do the "I told you so" dance? (totally just whining)]

Just throwing this out there in case this hasn't been discussed -- it is possible to go from Groep 7 to VWO/Gymnasium without Cito scores. It takes a lot of talking, support from the school and IQ scores on paper don't hurt, but it can be done. So if you get to eind groep 7 and feel stuck, that might work. 

 

Also -- is the gifted school you mentioned one of the Leonardo schools?

[JAWM/venting: commiserate with annoying get-together stories here]

Made it through Christmas morning, thank goodness. I have spent literally every single Christmas of my life with my parents (bar last year's, when they finally agreed not to show up). Not just one day, but they come for at least two weeks (thank heavens we have a small place so they need to stay at the hotel round the corner). It's not that they do anything that's so bad, just that I feel like I have to allow them come. One year they agreed not to, but then called last minute and said they knew we agreed they would not show up but they really wanted to. It has made it difficult for us to develop our own traditions as we are always trying to accommodate them. I'm so over this. I blanking hate Christmas now because of them. They are ALWAYS here. 

Then one of my children was up until 3 or 4 texting with a friend -- I have had multiple conversations about not staying up too late to text friends but DC said that this was an important conversation (which I assumed meant friend was having a hard time and needed a friendly ear, so I said fine but please don't make it too late). This DC then wandered off in the middle of present-opening and fell asleep, waking up only after everyone was done with presents. When I said (oh so calmly and gently) that I was a bit annoyed and that I felt like we had discussed texting in the middle of the night and had an agreement on this, DC got very upset about this that and everything. Turns out friend was not having a hard time but they were chatting about books or something. 

So ready to take down that darn tree and clean up and make plans for next year, when I will be going away for Christmas and not telling my parents where we are going (because they have in the past invited themselves along on vacations). 

So over this. 

[Wii U or Xbox or PS4?]

I'm thinking of one of these for a Christmas gift for DSs (15 and 10). We have a very old Wii that functions pretty well but choices are limited. Neither DS is a big gamer but I thought it might be fun for them to have something a bit more up to date than the old Wii, but I don't want them playing violent games (and DS 15 doesn't like violent games). Obviously if we get the Wii U we can keep using the Wii games, which would be nice, but that won't be the determining factor. I've done some reading online of reviews but still feel really clueless. Any suggestions would be welcome.

[Please explain "Elf on the Shelf" to me]

I like Elf on the Shelf, but I can see why people would dislike it. Our Elf, J, is very badly behaved most of the time. We are the ones who should tell Santa on him, not the other way around. He usually uses snow spray to graffiti mirrors/windows, gets into the sweets and leaves wrappers everywhere, takes a ride in the hamster's ball and so on. The worst thing he ever did was shave a DS's cactus -- DS had bought a small cactus that came with a Santa hat, eyes and fuzz that looked like a beard. J took shaving cream and a razor and shaved off the beard (well, maybe someone replaced the bearded cactus with a non-bearded cactus). DS has not forgiven J for that. I have fun with it but that's mostly because this is the sort of thing I like. No way is it presented as J is spying on us. 

[The 2017 Acceptance Thread]

My son received great news tonight - he will be heading to Williams College next fall.  

 

Congrats! My DD is in her first year there. 

[down time at super selective schools]

 I've heard that schools care about applicants displaying interest in them and that visiting is one way to do this; even if your DS isn't interested in visiting, he may want to indicate interest in his top choices, just in case. I don't know how much this matters or how true it is, but I do know that one school that rejected DD flat-out was one that she had displayed zero interest in. This was a school that she should have gotten into, considering the others that accepted her. I happened to talk to one of their Ad Coms at a college fair this fall who confirmed that the school would be inclined to reject applicants who applied last minute without showing any interest (which DD did, she was in panic mode at that point!). I personally wouldn't go too far out of my way to display some sort of interest, but if my DC were interested in a highly selective school but had no need to visit, I think I'd encourage DC to find some way to indicate their interest, whether by reaching out to a professor/department or similar. 

[down time at super selective schools]

My dd at Princeton has about 15 hours of class and 15 hours of extracurriculars a week, so homework and so on on top of that. She's one of those that keeps wanting to add more and more and more, but is limiting herself for now. She's busy but it's a good balance so far. If she were to cut down on extracurriculars, she would have more down time, but that's not what she wants. The work is manageable and not too difficult yet.

DD at Williams has around 12 hours of extracurriculars, not sure how many hours of class. Her workload is a lot heavier, probably because she's taking higher-level classes that are particularly challenging. She does manage downtime but isn't getting that much sleep. Williams seems to have a lot of support, though, with tutors and teaching assistants readily available for help. Seems that Wiliams has more of that than Princeton, but YMMV. 

I think if you choose not to do extracurriculars, or do some that don't require a great deal of commitment, that would leave plenty of downtime. 

[Ruptured ear drum]

DS has a hole in his eardrum and hearing loss due to the hole. When he swims, he uses putty, an earband and a swimming cap. If any water gets in his ear, it hurts like the dickens. The expectation is that he will have a graft to repair the eardrum at some point in a year or so and that then no longer have hearing loss. The ENT has stressed that we have to keep the ear dry and that swimming is okay provided he keeps the ear dry. Hearing loss isn't fun, DS misses words and parts of conversations and has trouble sometimes in school because of it!

[Do you know what Eton is?]

In England it's not a prep but a public school. Preps are junior schools that educate children up to Common Entrance age (seventh grade). We looked at Eton for my son as a number of boys from his prep and friends had recommended it. Great school. DS did not end up there though. 

[Warmest long underwear?]

Thank you all! I have taken notes and ordered a selection of underthings to be sent to DD with instructions to do a comparison test (omg silk is pricy! found one pair on sale but the rest will have to wait). DD was very appreciative. Good timing too as it snowed yesterday.

[Warmest long underwear?]

DD is discovering that her chosen college is in a place that gets very very cold. I have offered to send long underwear but, as I am sensible and live somewhere with moderate temperatures, have little knowledge of what would be the warmest. Any suggestions would be welcome! Thanks from me on DD's behalf. 

[JAWM - ds school problems]

Thank you. I am meeting the teacher tomorrow. She was very nice and will, if I want, have the school's ed psych (I had NO idea the school had one on staff!) observe DS. She did say that while his behaviour and organisation are not good, he is not being mean, unkind or rude, which is a relief. Fingers crossed.