College continued

While this is not easy stuff it is pretty straightforward information to learn, and the classroom lectures have enough discussion to make it interesting. I'm enjoying studying about US government in an election year, and who knew microeconomics could explain so much?

Here's some advice:  do NOT skip the reading. Don't even think about it! On this kind of schedule there's no room for slacking off, because the very next day you'd be lost.

College vs High School

No worksheets, no daily grades, no attendance, no bathroom passes, no tardy slips.

Instead a syllabus and lots of reading, tests and research papers we know about far in advance. Also time for discussion, asking questions, debating opinions.

And no substitute teachers.

College classes

Reporting from my first college summer classes:  My first experience of summer school and college courses is so far a positive one. Two hours a day, five days a week with reading and homework every night makes for an intensive learning experience, but I think I like it. Even with two classes (yes, that's right, boys and girls, four hours a day in class, reading and homework every night x2) it's manageable, but the interesting thing is how much I'm learning. So this is my summer so far...

Do yourself a favor

What I wish...

Is that someone had shown us the Common Application form back in 8th grade or so, but definitely no later than the first two weeks of high school. If we had known then what we'd be faced with filling out 3 years later, a lot more of what we kept hearing about from our parents, teachers and counselors would have made more sense.

These big blank sections really get your attention: Academics. Honors. Extracurricular Activities and Work Experience.

If you are a parent reading this, it's never too early to show your child the Common App. Think of it as a reality check - what's on this form will determine how they will be viewed, evaluated and ultimately either accepted or rejected by a college, maybe their perfect college.

Think of it as the finish line, and show it to your kid before the race gets started.

School's out!

The end is in sight! No, wait, that's just the start of summer school.

Dual credit classes at nearby college, 4 hours a day, 5 days a week.

I think of it as a practice run for college.

This is way better than dual credit classes offered on my high school campus at 7:00am, which just sounds crazy.

College, so many choices

Parameters

I'm trying to come up with some minimums and maximums for college size, based on the choices a lot of the college search programs ask you for.

Do I want a college that is smaller than my high school? (Will I ever see anyone I don't already know?)

Do I want a college where the football stadium holds more people than the population of the town where I live?

Does this mean I'm a grown up now?

11 weeks.

Summer used to stretch out forever. Now I know it's only 11 weeks. Was it always that short, and I just didn't know it?