Stripping our emotional gears here. Our youngest son is graduating high school tomorrow, and...

Thank you, elaine. Our eldest just finished his sophomore year, and he is working...

...full time in the field he will enter upon graduation. He is making enough money to live on his own right now, and should get a significant increase in earnings upon graduation.

Cirque du Soleil has expressed interest in him, as well as Disney and other companies that work closely with the entertainment industry. He really found a great niche profession, and the most amazing mentor at college.

It's all good.

If he comes home, he can start paying OUR bills!

Michael

 
Thanks, Sally. We feel a bit better that his college is an Ivy. He needs that type of challenge...

...and the ability to grow into such amazing opportunity. He will have four of the best years of his life, by all accounts.

Knowing that makes it a bit easier for us.

Michael

 
We are already getting a taste of the recruiting process - it is insane! For the past

6 months, our son has been getting flooded with postcards and letters based upon one PSAT score and interest profile, still two years out from graduation. I know most of the places that have contacted him he would not be accepted to, but it sure is head-turning!

 
That is fantastic he has already found employment, especially in that field, it can be

pretty insular, and difficult to break in to. Good for him, and for you!

 
You've never mentioned what field he would like to go into or

maybe I missed it? Does he know what he would like to do or still open minded? I understand what you mean about keeping him challenged, we had a son like that. The happiest day of my life was when his 4th grade teacher said she wanted him to be tested for the program for (gosh, I can't think of what it was called right now,) kids that were brighter. Up until he started in that program he was just called a trouble maker. He wasn't, he was just bored and he soared after that.

 
We went through exactly the same thing with both boys. You probably already know this, but...

...here's a tip:

Colleges track contact and when it comes time to review his application, they figure a score for his "expressed interest by way of contact".

You may want to consider keeping a spreadsheet list of the colleges that send him stuff, divided up by the ones he has interest in and the ones he doesn't. Then, track your son's responses to each school he wants to apply to. Whether it is a response card mailed or an email, or a visit to the school's website, track it! That will help your son to appropriately and regularly contact the schools he wants to apply to, and know for sure they will see his "interest".


Michael

 
There are usually two essays. The longer one and a shorter one that serves the purpose...

...of telling the college "why I want to attend your University".

For the shorter one, make sure your son goes to their website and learns what THAT PARTICULAR SCHOOL is "proud of", and what its history is; what is coming in the future, etc., etc. The more he knows about the school, the better his short essay on why he wants to attend that school will sound.

Michael

 
You are so right. I was the 'trouble maker' who was actually bored.

He is entering Princeton as a Chemical/Biological Engineering major.

Smart little fart.

Michael

 
Lisa, his professor at Chapman is the head of the Technical Theater Department. He also has his own

...lighting design business. He is truly a heavy-hitter in the industry, and teaches because he loves bringing the young students up into the profession.

My son is the poster boy for "perfect fit".

He is double majoring, and will get a Business Administration degree as well. He wants to have his own company, and his professor is a great mentor!

Michael

 
Thank you. He's a very sharp kid, and a ton of fun to be around.

His brother keeps him humble, as only a sibling can.

When the Princeton-bound one found out he got accepted, he called his brother at Chapman to tell him the news.

Younger brother: "I got accepted into Princeton!"

Older brother: "Is that an Ivy?"

Michael

 
You have no idea how amazing that cartoon is. Please send me an email at:

homecook78.swap@yahoo.com

I want to share something with you.

Michael

 
Thank you very much - I did not really know specifically about the interest thing you described-

but I had already told him that he needs to make a spreadsheet to keep track of all the cards and letters he has received so far, This is going to be a huge undertaking, for sure.

I did not do this same process myself, I was a late bloomer and did all of my higher education as a working adult. Sooo, this is a huge learning curve for me as well.

I really appreciate you mentioning this to me.

 
Lisa, do you use Skype? I would be happy to share what we've learned in the last...

...two years. I'd love to talk to you anytime!

Also, some colleges even track when you log on to their website and what pages you visit. I highly recommend registering with the college websites he is interested in, and ALLOWING them to track his visits! I know it goes against the grain as far as privacy is concerned, but the colleges DO gauge 'interest' and look at his website visits.

Let me know if you would like to consult via Skype.

Michael

 
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