What should rising HS seniors be doing right now?

[Anonymous]

DC is at camp and has internship. Other than that m, going on vacation and just kind of thinking about the essay.

[Anonymous]

Truth is ...

Every competent kid is either prepping for sat or write essays or summer activities this summer. Parents here pretend that their kids are enjoy the summer. Well, yes they do, they know what they need to do for college application, and they are enjoying it.

[Anonymous]

Working at a summer camp, drafting common app essay, finalizing list of schools, organizing supplemental essays, working on AP summer work, working on senior project work.

Finished testing last September and happy with her scores, has LORs lined up.

Having a great time with friends at camp.

She is in charge of the plan but I am her sounding board.

[Anonymous]

My rising senior:

- Took SAT/ACT last summer
- Asked for LOR at the end of junior year
- Made a college list at the end of junior year
- Wrote Common App and two supplemental essays for ED school (all approved by HS counselor)
- Filled out activities list and everything else on Common app
- Is playing/training for their sport
- Is spending a month at camp

Not a recruited athlete, but I think the discipline that comes from training has been super helpful to be on top of college apps

[Anonymous]

I am trying not to be a nag, but am strongly encouraging mine to work on her essay and activities list. She is mostly ignoring me, volunteering at a camp, doing a little bit of SAT prep, and trying to come up with a list. I know she’ll get it done, but she is a very laid back kid and it is making me nervous. I think thats just from spending too much time reading here, though.

[Anonymous]

Not sure I really get your question, meaning - do you legitimately have no idea what needs to be done? You know enough about ED/EA/essay topics/asking for LORs early, but don't know nothing? Sounds like you are well aware of what needs to be done b/w now and whenever kid has app deadlines. Sounds like your kid is generally on the ball and you're able to summarize what has been done, what is in the midst of being done, and what still needs to be done.

So why ask a question you already know the answer to as to what seniors should be doing now because you are well versed in the process??

[Anonymous]

Mine is working on the personal essay. It’s hard!

[Anonymous]

Posting excessively on DCUM based on the comments here the past few days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine is working on the personal essay. It’s hard!

Mine too! Very jealous of the kids who did them at school last year. Her school doesn’t work on them as assignments until senior year

[Anonymous]

Mine is thinking a lot about where he wants to go to college but his plans are changing day by day. He talks about applications but hasn’t done anything. He says he will get things together to apply to some or write some essays “soon.”

Mostly he’s working out with friends and they are going out daily, doing whatever they do and having a carefree summer. They talk a lot about cars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Daughter is a rising senior. Last summer she prepped for the ACT and took it in September.

This summer she has an 8 week internship in a lab. She has compiled all parts of the common app and ready to cut and paste when it goes live. Personal essay done and ready for college advisor to review. Most supplementals done for early action schools. Resume done. Reaching out to a VIP of her top choice school to utilize that connection. Doing volunteer work and all the usual activities she has over the summer. The idea is to get as much done now so she can focus on good grades first quarter.

How are supplementals done? Most are not out yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In terms of school and upcoming college apps?

Mine is:

-working on AP summer assignments
-taking a few practice SATs for her last sitting in August
-deciding which schools she is applying ED/EA and which ones she will do later
-sketching out a few possible essay topics, but not getting too deep because her HS does this as the first major 12th grade assignment in all English classes

Should we be doing anything else? We asked teachers for LOR at the end of Jr. year.

Mine is enjoying one his last summers before the crazy time starts….hes done with SAT, already pre-wrote 25 different essays based on last year, so only minor adjustments are needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Enjoying their summer

This. Fall and Winter are going to be intense balancing school, grades, activities and applications. Our CC told us to ensure DC had a very chill summer. Making a draft of a few essays, digesting and reflecting on college info, but also just relaxing, reading, watching movies, kicking back with friends.

No need to work a zillion hours at a menial job, or burn yourself out with research/applications this early.

It's a marathon not a sprint. Save a lot of gas in the tank for Fall and Winter and beyond. Don't have a busy summer if you can help it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My rising senior:

- Took SAT/ACT last summer
- Asked for LOR at the end of junior year
- Made a college list at the end of junior year
- Wrote Common App and two supplemental essays for ED school (all approved by HS counselor)
- Filled out activities list and everything else on Common app
- Is playing/training for their sport
- Is spending a month at camp

Not a recruited athlete, but I think the discipline that comes from training has been super helpful to be on top of college apps

What my kid is doing this summer:
-attending a summer program, volunteering, spending time with friends
-working on inputting activities into common app with counselor (I haven't seen this yet)
-working on the Common App personal statement with counselor (I just saw the draft)
-working on a brag sheet that a teacher asked him for
-already took SAT/ACT last fall
-refining college list (in theory)
-college interviews, if available
-hopefully thinking hard about which college to ED to

What I'm doing this summer:
- creating a spreadsheet to track admission requirements, dates, etc for colleges of interest
- watching for interview availability and signing him up
- making plans for final college visits this fall
- helping to research colleges to refine college list
- reminding kid to read notes from visits and college websites to prepare for interviews, practicing mock questions ahead of time with him
- trying to get him to focus on researching colleges to refine college list and to choose ED1 and ED2 schools

[Anonymous]

Relaxing and enjoying the summer break so they don't burn out in Fall and Winter term. Only doing some light essay drafting but nothing crazy.

Our CC advised DC to "do less" and "reflect more".