So, we visited a couple of the schools Spencer is considering for college next year. His major is only offered in a handful of schools, and only a couple in New England, so his options were seriously limited. He wants to go into computer/digital forensics – a fairly new and up-and-coming field.
We checked out Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont. Nice little school with some fascinating features. It’s the oldest private military school in the country and the founder founded the ROTC. It opened to civilians a long time ago and has been functioning ever since with an interesting mix of the two. Civilians and Cadets are in the same classes and play on the same sports teams, etc., but they live separately and the Cadets follow a rigid and restricted schedule. The down side was that the town of Northfield, Vermont, has absolutely NOTHING in it. Nowhere for students to work, no bus station, nothing.
Then we went up to Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont. What an amazing school in a beautiful little city with so much to offer that it’s almost hard to believe. It’s the perfect school atmosphere for Spencer and there was absolutely nothing about it that we didn’t love. So, Spencer decided to apply for early decision. That means that if he gets in, it is binding – provided we are able to make the financial commitment.
And so, the process began. I think when I went to college, I filled out an application that was a few pages long and gave them a copy of my high school transcripts (or did they get my SAT/ACT scores and transcripts themselves? I don’t remember doing anything to get them to the college) and that was it.
Not so today. Two of the schools where he is applying take the Common Application, the other two have their own online applications. The applications are completed, his essay has been written, checked, edited, double-checked and re-edited. He has to finish his resume and he has to write an essay for the Champlain supplement to the application. We have to wait for his second set of SAT scores so that both sets can be submitted. The requests for transcripts have been submitted to the guidance office and his letters of recommendation have been provided. I’ve filled out the financial aid application for his early decision school and I am awaiting the go ahead to hit the submit button on it. Each application requires different documentation and I think we’ve got it all lined up. There are application fees which must be paid to the schools (some waive the fee) and SAT scores must be transmitted from a separate website in conjunction with submitting the online applications. Since the deadline for early decision at Champlain is November 15th, we’re just going to get them all done at the same time. My goal is by November 1.
Fortunately, Spencer’s guidance counselor is absolutely amazing. She is available every minute to every senior and their lunatic parents to offer advice, support, guidance, answers, therapy, encouragement, documentation, suggestions . . . hell, she has been the greatest event coordinator I’ve ever known. If she ever wants to get out of her current career – she could be a party planner or wedding coordinator for the stars or the elite!
The timing of all of this and the coordination of everything is akin to NASA planning the launch of a shuttle. I’m not sure I did as much planning and coordinating to bring Spencer into my home as it is taking for him to leave it!
Evolution Happens . . . 