Back into the swing of The Admissions Process

[Anonymous]

Some schools really seem to admit the child, with very little regard for who the family is or whether the parents are likely to participate in volunteer activities or to donate money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WE are applying. Some schools don't even ask for DC to fill out a single thing. Other schools have us write more essays than DC. They are definitely looking for families and make that clear in all of their paperwork and on their website.

Younger child?

For HS kids, THEY have essays. Parents are not supposed to help.,

Middle school.
For all of the schools, we have to write more than ods. I don't know about the high school process for all of them but at one of them, parents write more than kids. We are letting ods write his own essays, unless he just does one paragraph and calls it finished.

The schools were sent his essay from the ISEE so they will already know what his writing looks like with no spell check or adult guidance.

Like one pp, a school has the kids also take a test on the shadow day. I don't really understand that because they also require the ISEE. I don't know why and it really turned me (and ds) off the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is one of the most ridiculous posts in DCUM.

No, that would be this one.

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/522452.page;jsessionid=C92C94B4EC19A8AB77C0C2FFAEB4ED41.dcum1

Yes! You win. And there's currently five pages of comments!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is one of the most ridiculous posts in DCUM.

No, that would be this one.

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/522452.page;jsessionid=C92C94B4EC19A8AB77C0C2FFAEB4ED41.dcum1

Yes! You win. And there's currently five pages of comments!

Haha so glad I clicked through. Hilarious. Well done.

I don't know why this one is ridiculous, though -- clearly it's an outlet for people to share their anxiety, and that seems a very good use of an online forum (cheaper than therapy and it's too early to drink wine).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WE are applying. Some schools don't even ask for DC to fill out a single thing. Other schools have us write more essays than DC. They are definitely looking for families and make that clear in all of their paperwork and on their website.

Younger child?

For HS kids, THEY have essays. Parents are not supposed to help.,

You really don't believe that parents don't help right? That's pretty funny! Do you turn in work without having anyone read it over at least once? Not even the CEO at my company does that. LOL

One of the schools my DC is applying to had the kids write at the shadow visit. I suspect that is their way to figure out if the kids are actually writing their own essays.

And, yes, my child IS writing her own essays. She's a great student and a decent writer. If she gets in, it will be on her merits. She will not have cheated. If she doesn't, we have a great public option. Maybe it's different if you are desperate. She is not.

Right!!! She could care less, she is applying just to fill the time. Wonder if she will also submit her college app essays without anyone reading them? Suspect after she doesn't get in to a good HS she will have to. But I'm sure she won't be desperate for tha either and your local community college is an option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WE are applying. Some schools don't even ask for DC to fill out a single thing. Other schools have us write more essays than DC. They are definitely looking for families and make that clear in all of their paperwork and on their website.

Younger child?

For HS kids, THEY have essays. Parents are not supposed to help.,

You really don't believe that parents don't help right? That's pretty funny! Do you turn in work without having anyone read it over at least once? Not even the CEO at my company does that. LOL

One of the schools my DC is applying to had the kids write at the shadow visit. I suspect that is their way to figure out if the kids are actually writing their own essays.

And, yes, my child IS writing her own essays. She's a great student and a decent writer. If she gets in, it will be on her merits. She will not have cheated. If she doesn't, we have a great public option. Maybe it's different if you are desperate. She is not.

Right!!! She could care less, she is applying just to fill the time. Wonder if she will also submit her college app essays without anyone reading them? Suspect after she doesn't get in to a good HS she will have to. But I'm sure she won't be desperate for tha either and your local community college is an option.

DH knows a board member at the school who told him they really do expect the essays to be the child's own and they can tell. He said an essay that is great and clearly in the voice of the child stands out from all of the pre-packaged essays written with the help of parents and hired consultants. We will do a once over for spelling and grammatical errors that we would point out but not fix but her words are her words (and from what I've seen so far, her words are pretty powerful). I have confidence in my child's abilities and don't feel the need to micro manage. If she wants to go to private school (this is what she wants, not our doing), then she needs to do the work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WE are applying. Some schools don't even ask for DC to fill out a single thing. Other schools have us write more essays than DC. They are definitely looking for families and make that clear in all of their paperwork and on their website.

Younger child?

For HS kids, THEY have essays. Parents are not supposed to help.,

You really don't believe that parents don't help right? That's pretty funny! Do you turn in work without having anyone read it over at least once? Not even the CEO at my company does that. LOL

One of the schools my DC is applying to had the kids write at the shadow visit. I suspect that is their way to figure out if the kids are actually writing their own essays.

And, yes, my child IS writing her own essays. She's a great student and a decent writer. If she gets in, it will be on her merits. She will not have cheated. If she doesn't, we have a great public option. Maybe it's different if you are desperate. She is not.

Right!!! She could care less, she is applying just to fill the time. Wonder if she will also submit her college app essays without anyone reading them? Suspect after she doesn't get in to a good HS she will have to. But I'm sure she won't be desperate for tha either and your local community college is an option.

DH knows a board member at the school who told him they really do expect the essays to be the child's own and they can tell. He said an essay that is great and clearly in the voice of the child stands out from all of the pre-packaged essays written with the help of parents and hired consultants. We will do a once over for spelling and grammatical errors that we would point out but not fix but her words are her words (and from what I've seen so far, her words are pretty powerful). I have confidence in my child's abilities and don't feel the need to micro manage. If she wants to go to private school (this is what she wants, not our doing), then she needs to do the work.

You realize that unless this board member is also working as an Admissions director, then they shouldn't have any access to application materials, which are in fact, confidential?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WE are applying. Some schools don't even ask for DC to fill out a single thing. Other schools have us write more essays than DC. They are definitely looking for families and make that clear in all of their paperwork and on their website.

Younger child?

For HS kids, THEY have essays. Parents are not supposed to help.,

You really don't believe that parents don't help right? That's pretty funny! Do you turn in work without having anyone read it over at least once? Not even the CEO at my company does that. LOL

One of the schools my DC is applying to had the kids write at the shadow visit. I suspect that is their way to figure out if the kids are actually writing their own essays.

And, yes, my child IS writing her own essays. She's a great student and a decent writer. If she gets in, it will be on her merits. She will not have cheated. If she doesn't, we have a great public option. Maybe it's different if you are desperate. She is not.

Right!!! She could care less, she is applying just to fill the time. Wonder if she will also submit her college app essays without anyone reading them? Suspect after she doesn't get in to a good HS she will have to. But I'm sure she won't be desperate for tha either and your local community college is an option.

DH knows a board member at the school who told him they really do expect the essays to be the child's own and they can tell. He said an essay that is great and clearly in the voice of the child stands out from all of the pre-packaged essays written with the help of parents and hired consultants. We will do a once over for spelling and grammatical errors that we would point out but not fix but her words are her words (and from what I've seen so far, her words are pretty powerful). I have confidence in my child's abilities and don't feel the need to micro manage. If she wants to go to private school (this is what she wants, not our doing), then she needs to do the work.

You realize that unless this board member is also working as an Admissions director, then they shouldn't have any access to application materials, which are in fact, confidential?

Different poster. It's fairly easy if you are experienced in reading student writing to tell if the essay is a student's own work. Some students are terrific writers but there still tends to be a distinctive age-appropriate voice (and if a student is that advanced a writer, it shows up in the teacher recommendations). The essay is also just one small piece of the application -- most important are grades, scores, teacher recommendations (as is the case for college admissions).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have a DD applying for HS. It is like pulling teeth to get her to write the essays. Would save me a lot of money if she blows it off.

Honestly, the HS apps are the worst. I couldn't have done it in 8th grade. Great prep for college, though - actually I think college will be easier as DS will (hopefully) be more mature.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WE are applying. Some schools don't even ask for DC to fill out a single thing. Other schools have us write more essays than DC. They are definitely looking for families and make that clear in all of their paperwork and on their website.

Younger child?

For HS kids, THEY have essays. Parents are not supposed to help.,

You really don't believe that parents don't help right? That's pretty funny! Do you turn in work without having anyone read it over at least once? Not even the CEO at my company does that. LOL

One of the schools my DC is applying to had the kids write at the shadow visit. I suspect that is their way to figure out if the kids are actually writing their own essays.

And, yes, my child IS writing her own essays. She's a great student and a decent writer. If she gets in, it will be on her merits. She will not have cheated. If she doesn't, we have a great public option. Maybe it's different if you are desperate. She is not.

Right!!! She could care less, she is applying just to fill the time. Wonder if she will also submit her college app essays without anyone reading them? Suspect after she doesn't get in to a good HS she will have to. But I'm sure she won't be desperate for tha either and your local community college is an option.

DH knows a board member at the school who told him they really do expect the essays to be the child's own and they can tell. He said an essay that is great and clearly in the voice of the child stands out from all of the pre-packaged essays written with the help of parents and hired consultants. We will do a once over for spelling and grammatical errors that we would point out but not fix but her words are her words (and from what I've seen so far, her words are pretty powerful). I have confidence in my child's abilities and don't feel the need to micro manage. If she wants to go to private school (this is what she wants, not our doing), then she needs to do the work.

You realize that unless this board member is also working as an Admissions director, then they shouldn't have any access to application materials, which are in fact, confidential?

Different poster. It's fairly easy if you are experienced in reading student writing to tell if the essay is a student's own work. Some students are terrific writers but there still tends to be a distinctive age-appropriate voice (and if a student is that advanced a writer, it shows up in the teacher recommendations). The essay is also just one small piece of the application -- most important are grades, scores, teacher recommendations (as is the case for college admissions).

I'm not suggesting that a parent would (or should) actually write the essays for the DC. I'm simply saying that a responsible parent who is invested will review their child's essays for simple editing purposes prior to submitting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WE are applying. Some schools don't even ask for DC to fill out a single thing. Other schools have us write more essays than DC. They are definitely looking for families and make that clear in all of their paperwork and on their website.

Younger child?

For HS kids, THEY have essays. Parents are not supposed to help.,

You really don't believe that parents don't help right? That's pretty funny! Do you turn in work without having anyone read it over at least once? Not even the CEO at my company does that. LOL

One of the schools my DC is applying to had the kids write at the shadow visit. I suspect that is their way to figure out if the kids are actually writing their own essays.

And, yes, my child IS writing her own essays. She's a great student and a decent writer. If she gets in, it will be on her merits. She will not have cheated. If she doesn't, we have a great public option. Maybe it's different if you are desperate. She is not.

Guess what? They ask kids applying for second and third grade to write, too, during their visits. Even if this was for HS, our children would not be applying without our say-so. That is called being a parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WE are applying. Some schools don't even ask for DC to fill out a single thing. Other schools have us write more essays than DC. They are definitely looking for families and make that clear in all of their paperwork and on their website.

Younger child?

For HS kids, THEY have essays. Parents are not supposed to help.,

You really don't believe that parents don't help right? That's pretty funny! Do you turn in work without having anyone read it over at least once? Not even the CEO at my company does that. LOL

One of the schools my DC is applying to had the kids write at the shadow visit. I suspect that is their way to figure out if the kids are actually writing their own essays.

And, yes, my child IS writing her own essays. She's a great student and a decent writer. If she gets in, it will be on her merits. She will not have cheated. If she doesn't, we have a great public option. Maybe it's different if you are desperate. She is not.

Guess what? They ask kids applying for second and third grade to write, too, during their visits. Even if this was for HS, our children would not be applying without our say-so. That is called being a parent.

What do you mean? Just because the child is writing her own essays do you think that means her parents aren't parenting? Are you saying you wouldn't allow your child to submit her own essays (i.e. you would have to approve them first) or that you'd write the essays? I'm confused about what you think is wrong with the post you quoted? How have the parents there fallen down in their parental duties?