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Does anyone know what the National Merit
Semi-Finalist cut-off score for California
was for this year's seniors?

Trying to gauge current PSAT score's prospect
for next year.

By Calquest on Wednesday, January 15, 2003 - 02:22 pm: Edit

I believe it was 216.

By Thedad (Thedad) on Thursday, January 16, 2003 - 12:49 pm: Edit

Thanks, Calquest.

If it's in the same range next year, my
daughter is a lock for Semi-Finalist, which
means I can now fret about her chances of
becoming a Finalist with a clear conscience.
Worry early...get it out of the way...know what
I mean?

By Calquest on Thursday, January 16, 2003 - 06:00 pm: Edit

Oh yes, I know what you mean. Well, about "worry early..." anyway. What I don't understand is "get it out of the way." It sure is hard.

Anyway, I think it's been around that range for a few years, so your daughter is probably safe. And good luck to her! You might be interested in this little tidbit: (Tuck it away for next year) About a week ago, I called NMSF to ask if they were interested in updates, so they could consider new happenings while determining finalist status. The person was very nice and told me to fax any information. To be fair, she didn't actually say it would matter, but she did say it couldn't hurt.

Also, find out how they handle the paperwork at your daughter's school. At our school, the school secretaries type out the paperwork...the students provide the info, the essay, etc., but the actual form is typed out by the secretaries. I'm uncomfortable with it because my daughter had to sign a blank form. But I found out that if my daughter provided her information (and essay) all typed up, they would just cut and paste. That way, hopefully, she got across the information she felt was important.

Hope some of this helps. Sorry it was so long. Once ya get started....

By Thedad (Thedad) on Friday, January 17, 2003 - 02:51 am: Edit

Hey, Calquest...this is good stuff. What I've been able to read on the official National Merit site is maddeningly vague.

Could you please elaborate on the sequence and pitfalls after Semi-Finalist status is designated?

I'm a bit nervous about competence of the school getting involved. My daughter goes to pretty good public school as things go these days...it's one of those with the "two schools" phenomenon, where the white and Asian kids have good grades and scores and the black and Hispanic kids don't. What it boils down to is that if you're taking Honors and AP courses, you're getting a pretty good education.

But a lot of the school administration, counselors, etc. is geared towards the "average" student. E.g., the college counselors are almost exclusively focused on UC and Cal-State schools. Which is funny, because the school regularly puts kids into the likes of Yale, Brown, Columbia, etc.

It took my daughter's 226 NMSQT score to convince her counselor that yeah, maybe 3-4 AP's next year is an okay thing...they have a knee-jerk reaction of trying to keep it to 2.

All of this to explain why I'm in major information gathering mode...I want to know more than the counselors because I may _need_ to.

By Calquest on Friday, January 17, 2003 - 12:07 pm: Edit

Thedad: Again, I know what you mean. Admin. anywhere never gives you answers unless you specifically know what to ask for. Here's what comes off the top of my head:

First, I'd say keep those grades up. On "the other board," reports are coming in of kids not advancing to finalist stage because of their GPA's (one reported a 3.75).

Second, more for the college apps than the NMSC, if your daughter can handle 3-4 AP's, let her take them. A popular question for counselors on the college app is "Is this student taking the most challenging courseload available at your school?" (or something like that.) For competitive colleges, it's probably best to have a "Yes" to that question.

Third, although the website is uninformative, the people I've spoke to at the NMSC have been very helpful. So when you get the semi-finalist material (at 226 there is no question...even out of the country wasn't that high last year) read for dates. Then call your school's counseling office and ask them exactly what they do and when they do it.

Fourth, we found (as I previously mentioned) that "cut and paste" was an option at our school and, if I recall correctly, we used an 8 point font. Well, we had the blank form, typed up material in different fonts and held it up to the light until it fit...perhaps you're more sophisticated technologically and can do this more efficiently!

Fifth, (aren't you sorry by now that you asked???), one of my biggest questions is exactly what do we have to do, and this is what happened to my daughter: As I recall, the information package came to my daughter through the school, via her counselor. There was some reading material and a form. The form had all the usual basics, including info about parents (name, occupation, employing company, co. address) and what her intended major is. Also, "First choice college". Read the instructions about that. So often I read on this board, I believe, to list "undecided" to keep your options open until the last possible minute. (Unless, of course, she clearly has a first choice school). Then there is a tiny, pathetically tiny, section for "Activities, Awards, Leadership Positions (offices held)" Also, brief questions about her employment. Then, lastly, an "Essay about yourself." This we submitted to the school, who, along with the needed recommendations and transcript, forwarded it (hopefully) to the NMSC.

Sixth, if your daughter doesn't have a leadership position (I don't mean to imply that she doesn't, I just don't know), she can start something now...in Junior year. This way it doesn't look like she started something only for her senior year's resume.

Maybe I'd better stop and give you a chance to digest this. Hope I didn't overstay my welcome.

By txmom on Friday, January 17, 2003 - 05:23 pm: Edit

My 2c worth: We also used an 8 font for everything except the essays. We also used a lot of "-" with no spaces, i.e. "St. Council-Pres,2 yrs:" in order to squeeze in at least a few meaningful activities. Best advice we received: There was room for about a 500 word essay in 10 font. Best to start now on a good personal essay for college that can be cut down if necessary to these restrictions. There really isn't a lot of time to work on the application, so having a polished essay from summer was a GREAT timesaver. We typed our own - actually, I paid a friend because I was much too nervous to type correctly on the dark tan, heavyweight form! Good luck to you!

By Calquest on Friday, January 17, 2003 - 07:28 pm: Edit

txmom: absolutely agree with you! My daughter worked on her essays during the summer and it truly was a timesaver. By luck we found that basically two essays served for almost everything (except those very specific questions). She did one of the "personal experience that affected me" and one of "write about something important to you." Got a lot of use out of these two.

I like your quote marks to save space. We used semi-colons.

To Thedad I forgot to ask: does your daughter have a resume prepared? This, too, is a great timesaver when you need to recall things.

By Shennie (Shennie) on Friday, January 17, 2003 - 07:46 pm: Edit

Thedad - I wouldn't spend too much time worrying. Almost all semi-finalists become finalists, something like 90%. I believe that the ones that don't make it fall into 2 categories - those who don't do the paperwork and those whose SAT scores are too low. I believe they look for an SAT score of 1400 or above as a "confirming" score. So if her grades are good, her SAT is above 1400 and the paper work gets done, I would say it is pretty much a done deal.

By Thedad (Thedad) on Friday, January 17, 2003 - 08:13 pm: Edit

Thanks, All. To continue the dialogue on a few points....

Calquest, I'm keeping fingers crossed about GPA. She has a 3.96 at the moment but first-semester finals are next week and I'm keeping my fingers crossed. There are times when you see peril in every shadow: Physics has a final worth 30 percent of the grade, Pre-Calc/CalcA AP she has a solid A but the final could drag it down, ditto U.S. History AP. The good/bad news is that her school does NOT report grade plusses and minuses on transcripts...this is generally okay, in my experience an A- kills you more than a B+ helps you but it depends on how the cards are dealt.

For next year, she'll take a minimum of 3 AP's
(English, Calculus BC, Government). She plays a wind (French horn) so that she's in both Orchestra AND Band, thus taking up two slots.
French 3 will be the sixth. Leaving a dilemma for the seventh: she really wants to take the non-Honors/AP Shakespeare/Creative Writing class (in addition to English 12 AP). Anxiety would dictate that she take the Psychology AP class instead but it's a crappy class--only 29 percent passed the AP exam last year--and she would just as soon take a good Psych class or three in college.
I'm inclined to let her follow her heart and take the Shakespeare, assuming the class doesn't get filled before she registers, but I fret.

She's going to be on the borderline for the most challenging question: taking the English, the Math (except for Statistics), and the Social Sciences (except for Econ). But she doesn't have a Physical Science AP...she did the Bio/Chem/Physics sequence, mostly because Orchestra/Band take up two slots each year for junior and senior.

I LIKE the cut-and-paste option...thanks for the 8-point font suggestions, guys. I'm going to use that. I also like getting an essay ready over the summer but time may be the enemy, see below.

There will be very little problem with space for EC's, except to explain it. She takes ballet: six technique classes, three pointe classes, variations, and pas de deux every week...plus rehearsals 8 months of the year. Then two months of summer-intensive ballet programs during the summer. There are approximately four weeks a year, two in August and two in December, when she is NOT dancing. This kills the possiblity of every other EC and in the very traditionalist ballet world, there are are no "leadership" positions for students...we're just hoping that whatever Admissions officers read the file can make sense of this and accept it. No employment for the same reason. Karma.

Calquest, don't apologize for going on at length. It's welcome info and besides, it's a pleasure to talk to someone who understands what all the questions are and why they're important...not the same for all the kids trudging off to the Cal-States and UC's, even UCLA and Berkeley.

Shennie, thanks for the info. I was worried that a "confirming" score would have to be in the same general range as her PSAT equivalents. She got a 690V, 710M this year as a junior, she should improve upon that some as a senior. If you listen to her, you'd think the 690 was low...it should be 40-60 points higher than her Math.

By Calquest on Saturday, January 18, 2003 - 06:10 pm: Edit

thedad, I didn't understand this paragraph:

"She's going to be on the borderline for the most challenging question: taking the English, the Math (except for Statistics), and the Social Sciences (except for Econ). But she doesn't have a Physical Science AP...she did the Bio/Chem/Physics sequence, mostly because Orchestra/Band take up two slots each year for junior and senior."

Re Psych vs. Shakespeare, that's tough but if she wants the Shakespeare, that's probably the way to go. Her interest may assure a better grade. Of course, is Psych seen as a science? I honestly don't thing Psych at a HS level (even if it is AP) is equivalent to Psych at a college level.

Great EC on the dancing! Everything you read says they (colleges) have a preference to something studied in-depth, than to just a bunch of activities for show. A thought on this. It may be difficult to itemize her dancing activities in the little spaces on the app, so if she's done performances, etc., how about a resume (or call it whatever) specifically about dancing...or even a resume with a special section on the dancing?

By Calquest on Saturday, January 18, 2003 - 06:35 pm: Edit

thedad, a link:

Given your daughter's demonstrated interest, if she's in a GATE program in CA, do you know of this scholarship (tuck it away for next year, because I think one needs to be a senior):
http://www.cagifted.org/
On the left side, scroll to Scholarships and Grants, click on that and then go to the $1,000 intellectual and artistic passion (or something like that) scholarship.

By Thedad (Thedad) on Sunday, January 19, 2003 - 12:43 am: Edit

Calquest, thanks for the scholarship link.
As for the paragraph you didn't understand:

She will have taken 2 English AP's, Calc BC AP, and US History AP, and Government AP, along with lower-division Honors courses in English & Math.

But she will not have any AP science courses...she will have taken Bio/Chem/Physics...the hs doesn't offer Honors in those courses. She will also not have taken optional AP's in Statistics, Economics, Computer Science, and, if she takes the Shakespeare, Psych.

This makes the question of course load--Most Challenging or More Challenging Than Average--borderline from my vantage point. I really need to ask her counselor how she'd answer that question but I think I need to wait until Senior year. To some extent, the shortfall is mitigated by the two periods of Orchestra/Band junior and senior years and the fact that she lost one elective slot by taking five years of language--two of Latin, three of French. But is that sufficient mitigation or are the Admissions people going to be...you know. And the answer is: I don't know.

By Calquest on Sunday, January 19, 2003 - 06:07 pm: Edit

Thedad, why will you wait 'till Sr. year to ask the counselor about the "most challenging workload" question? I'm probably missing something here but wouldn't it be better to ask in Jr. year, "What coursework does she need to take so you can answer that question 'yes?'"

Also, has your daughter some feel for what colleges (and major) she'd like to consider? Because it sounds like she's heavily into the arts and maybe the college's HS requirements will help determine what she should take. ??

By Thedad (Thedad) on Monday, January 20, 2003 - 01:02 am: Edit

I'm going to wait because while I'm curious about the answer, it won't affect my daughter's decision. There's only one elective slot in play and it's coming down to the Shakespeare/Creative Writing course (which would give her 5 years of English, incl. 2 honors and 2 AP's) vs. the Psych AP.

I'm willing to game the system only so far...it's a means vs. ends question and I'd just as soon let my daughter make the course selection on her terms as long as she understands the ramifications.

Oddly enough, my daughter DOESN'T want to major in the any of the arts--dance, music, or otherwise. She enjoys them all very much but it isn't where she's eyeing a career. Government/Political Science, History, or even Classics/Languages appear to be more likely options.

She'll have the HS requirements soundly met all the way around. One could wish for a fourth year of science, on the AP level, but karma.

Going back to the strength-of-schedule question, I want to know how the counselor will answer it so that my daughter knows how to address it point-blank in her application, if necessary, and to get the most realistic read on what her options are likely to be.

The world will not end if she strikes out on HYSC; right now, if you told her she'd HAVE to go to Smith, she'd nod and say "Great." But if they HYSC options are there, both of us want to look at them.

Quite frankly, if she _has_ a choice between the two, I'm glad it's not my decision...two completely different profiles offering two completely different but very good kinds of experiences.

By ?? on Monday, January 20, 2003 - 01:19 am: Edit

Why is everyone stressing so much about National Merit Finalist status? I thought the scholarship was perhaps at most $2000? By the time the results arrive, it will be too late for them to actually influence your child's admission decision.

By Calmom (Calmom) on Monday, January 20, 2003 - 05:47 am: Edit

Many colleges supplement the National Merit award with much larger scholarships, and semi-finalist status will give the student an edge on admissions at a lot of colleges.

I think it's value depends somewhat on the kid. I am the parent of an NM Scholar who attended a public high school that offered only a handful of AP's and very few activities/EC opportunities, plus my son was never a joiner (more of a reader). I think the NM status really made up for a record that was light on the EC's. His grades from his high school were excellent, but the school itself wasn't very impressive - so again, that NM status really was a godsend for him. I am sure that it was practically a guaranteed ticket to admission to any of the schools which seemed to actively recruit NM semifinalists.

There are also many public colleges that offer full-ride scholarships to NM finalists.

I wouldn't stress too much or put pressure on a kid - after all, it's only a test score -- but it is a nice thing to have.

By Texmom on Monday, January 20, 2003 - 08:59 am: Edit

I'm with Calmom on this. Our high school enrollment is 298, grades 9-12 and offers no AP science classes. I hope my son's NM award will help validate his #1 out of 70 status against those who are #1 out of 500-600. Also, he will probably take one of the full tuition, fees, room & board offers at a public school and save his money for grad school at a more "prestigious" university.

By Thedad (Thedad) on Monday, January 20, 2003 - 12:28 pm: Edit

Yep. The direct dollars for an NM are pretty light compared to most college's costs. But the NM semi-finalist status is non-trivial on the application itself. Calmom has it right: it's not worth stress or pressure before hand but it's a nice thing to have fall into a kid's lap as they move around the College Admissions Monopoly board.

By Calquest on Monday, January 20, 2003 - 01:10 pm: Edit

Thedad, OK, now I get the picture. Excuse my thickness, I'm in the process of switching from coffee to tea and sometimes the brain just doesn't keep up. There's no doubt your daughter could justify the Shakes/CW course in the long run. And more writing never hurts. By the way, my daughter went to the Smith Summer program and loved it!

??: The results arrive, at the latest, in February. Depending on the collge one is interested in, there may still be time to notify a college before a decision is finalized. And even if there's only $2,000 less we, or she, has to pay, I'm all for it. ($2,000 for a couple of hours worth of work ain't bad.)

By Thedad (Thedad) on Monday, January 20, 2003 - 02:24 pm: Edit

>>> $2,000 for a couple of hours work isn't bad.

Nope.

"A few million here, a few million there, pretty soon you're talking real money." -- Sen. Everett Dirksen

I'm so staggered by the looming costs of all the schools under consideration that it's like looking at the mountain of dirty dishes after you've had a dinner party...don't look at the whole picture, just keep the blinders on and look at a little bit at a time and chip away at _that_.

I suspect we're going to be in the awful middle position of not qualifying for much needs-based aid while still not having the income/assets to pay for it all. I see big-time loans in the future...so $2,000 here, $2,000 there is a welcome bit of relief.

Hey, Calquest...did your daughter (son?) get any of those Governor's Scholarships based on STAR-9 test results? We've received one and I think will be receiving a second, at least. $1,000 a pop, or so they say.

By Thedad (Thedad) on Monday, January 20, 2003 - 02:51 pm: Edit

Btw, Calquest, could you say more about your daughter (duh...yes...you have a daughter, and I don't have the coffee/tea excuse!) and her experience at Smith?
It's one of the six we're visiting and it's funny:

Old Anal-Retentive Obesessive (that's me) sat down with the Barron's book a little over two years ago, when daughter was a freshman, and asked all the questions at front of the book about identifying colleges that might meet the students needs, desires, etc.

The initial list was something like 73...I'm pleased that we're down to 9-10! I noticed Smith on the list, of course, but expected it to drop off the list at some point. It's been like the scene in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid": "Who _are_ those guys?" They just keep hanging in and it this point I know that they're going to be a finalist...one of the top 3-4 even if daughter gets accepted everywhere.

By Calquest on Monday, January 20, 2003 - 02:56 pm: Edit

Thedad: Re Governor's Scholarships, yes, two so far. We're hoping for a third based on Jr. year tests. They get interest on those too.

Certainly you're aware that many colleges give merit aid, but I'd like to refer you to this book I found interesting (yellow cover): "Discounts and Deals at the Nation's 360 Best Colleges : The Parent Soup Financial Aid and College Guide"
by Bruce G. Hammond.

The discussion it offers of the FAFSA and CSS Profile forms was very useful. Also, there are listings of colleges under various financial criteria.

Have you explored Fastweb.com yet?

By Calquest on Monday, January 20, 2003 - 03:10 pm: Edit

Thedad: I think we're "birds of a feather." I, too, started many years ago.

Smith was the first time she went so far from home for such a (relatively) long time, four weeks. She loved the comraderie of the girls, being able to wander down to the "theater room" in her PJ's, and not having to feel like she had to wear make-up all the time (she's not into that anyway).

The roommate situation was not the most pleasant. There was no flexibility on changing roommates and my daughter and her roommate were totally incompatible. Even keeping windows open was a problem. My daughter had to use the phone in the hall and couldn't turn the lights on in the room because her roommate objected. Still no change. However, here's where I must be fair to Smith: my daughter filled out her roommate selection form identifying herself the way she'd like to be (in her dreams). Reality didn't play a big part. So, consequently, my daughter now, having lived through those four weeks, feels she can handle just about anything. A happy ending after all.

There was great freedom in the classroom, with both discussions and equipment. This freedom extended to non-class times, trips into town, etc. She felt safe, which was probably more important to me.

She said the food was the best she's ever had (and there never was a pickier soul) and the rooms were absolutely beautiful and huge. I didn't see the campus, but apparently it's gorgeous.

May I ask where else you're visiting?

By txmom on Monday, January 20, 2003 - 04:59 pm: Edit

To Shennie: I hope your son the cellist is doing great things this year. If you remember me from the Performing Arts discussion last summer (fall?), my son is in the middle of the audition process right now. All while I suffer through financial aid forms and hot flashes - What fun! If the weather and airline security don't sabotage us, we just might survive. Hope things are going well for all in your family.

By Thedad (Thedad) on Monday, January 20, 2003 - 05:42 pm: Edit

Calquest, thanks for the book recommendation and the website; I've written them down. I'm about topped out on reading Admissions stuff--Bauld's book on Essays and GETTING IN are due from Amazon any day now--so obviously it's time to start getting up to speed on Financial Aid, right?

At this point, we're visiting Harvard (no ballet classes, but it's Harvard for ghu's sake), Smith, Mount Holyoke (same Five College consortium as Smith but not as competitive, thus a "safety" school, and it has a reputation for having more, ah, alternative lifestyles...my daughter is pretty tolerant but her wiring isn't inclined in that direction and more mainstream is a plus), Yale--just added to the list, ditto the note on Harvard, but it's Yale AND it's right on the route from Smith/Mount Holyoke to NYC--Columbia, and Barnard. Columbia has cross-registration with Barnard, which offers the high-end ballet, and at least until Smith, it was the #1 choice.

Daughter is off at ballet class right now, in a snit because I made her edit a thank you note to Smith, putting in sufficient detail to convey what she liked about Smith in lieu of "It was really great!" etc. Like a kidney stone, this, too, shall pass.

My daughter was away at Taos Ski Valley for four weeks last summer for an intensive ballet camp. Experience was good for her, the independence, yada yada.

Smith does have a rep for great food and my daughter is attracted to the reports of the great classroom discussions. My daughter has now experienced roommates; her experience wasn't as negative as yours but she now understands. It's kinda like when she was younger, she wanted a younger sister. I observed that she could get a sister like so-and-so and she replied, "Who would want a sister like THAT?!" Honey, you don't have much choice.

Btw, I think my daughter has the sophomore Governor's Scholarship still coming but they process this stuff REALLY s-l-o-w. Hope the budget crisis doesn't screw this up. She hasn't taken any Golden States yet this year, I don't think.

By Calquest on Monday, January 20, 2003 - 06:50 pm: Edit

Good luck on the college visits. Sounds like you have a nice variety to look at.

On the Golden States, my daughter took one last week. (Politics). I was surprised it was so early...but not necessary, since she's already passed what she needs to get the "Diploma."

Wow, you got your daughter to "edit" and thank you note, let alone write one?! Congrats.

What the book does is give some idea of what kinds of financial aid, scholarships, etc. different schools offer in a compact form. Come to think of it, if you already have your list so finalized, each school's individual website (or office) is your best bet.

I sincerely wish you and, of course, your daughter luck. We're sitting and waiting. Fingers crossed.

By natalia on Tuesday, January 21, 2003 - 07:00 pm: Edit

She'll definitely get over having to edit the thank you note... my mom read all mine over and had me edit them, and though they're a pain to write in the first place, I think the admission office appreciated them. By the way, I'm a senior and I applied to Princeton Early Decision. I got in. I also have 2 cousins and a good friend at Yale, so if your daughter is interested or has any questions, I can forward them to my cousins/friend [my cousins are both arts people - one majored in architecture and is now at Yale Music School, the other is majoring in Music]. Or if you have any questions for that whole New England college scene, let me know, I know a lot of kids up in that area going to those schools, and I've just come out of the college process myself...

By Thedad (Thedad) on Wednesday, January 22, 2003 - 01:25 am: Edit

Thanks, Natalia. At this point, I need to slow down and just let part of the process unfold and see where we are in a few months.

Calquest, part of it was bad timing on my part. She is _really_ stressed about finals. I haven't even told her how much a modest change in class rank--affected by GPA--can influence her chances... intuitively, I think she knows this. I think she was also pissed that her initial attempt needed so much of a makeover.

Part of my philosophy of being a parent is that you're preparing them to be independent. Survival skills include being able to compose a coherent business letter or e-mail.

For a change of pace...she has her first behind-the-wheel driving lesson this weekend.

Btw, Calquest, I see you say that you're sitting and waiting. I've been telling people that a year from now, that's what we'll be doing and everything at that point is beyond our control. How does it feel that all the birds are in the air? Relief? Or more agonizing than the actual putting together of the applications. Just curious. And noting that one man's Mede is another man's Persian....

By Calquest on Wednesday, January 22, 2003 - 11:46 am: Edit

Thedad: There are a few birds still lingering on the ground; some leftover pieces regarding financial aid materials. But, the rest are flying.

For me, waiting is definitely harder. The app process was fairly smooth in that she wrote (and, yes, edited...and edited...and...) her essays during the summer, mostly. The details on the app were easy to fill in since I've kept a "resume" on her since she was in kindergarten. She's been referring to her "resume" for various things all along, so knows just where to look. As apps came, they were filed, so things are fairly organized.

Nothing, however, compares to the waiting. In and of itself it wouldn't be too hard, but we're hearing of so many really good, even straight A students who were rejected early and it almost seems daily they're, one by one, dropping off the edge. It's difficult not to panic (at least a bit).

And it's finals week here too. With it comes the realization that "Oh, these mid-year grades really DO matter!"...and, as a parent to a teen, you know you can't ever say, "I told you so."

And so another day goes by.

By Shennie (Shennie) on Wednesday, January 22, 2003 - 12:34 pm: Edit

txmom - Thanks for remembering me and inquiring about my son. He has just completed his first semester at Eastman and loves it. School is challenging which he likes and he is making improvements in his playing which really excites him. It took him awhile, but he has also found some other groups to get involved in that have nothing to do with music, which he really needs.

So where is your son going for auditions? Please feel free to email me at this name at aol. We can commiserate.

By ann on Wednesday, January 22, 2003 - 07:47 pm: Edit

To go back to your original question, the National Merit Semi-Finalist cut-off was 221 in New Jersey this year.

By Thedad (Thedad) on Wednesday, January 22, 2003 - 08:13 pm: Edit

Wow, NJ's a tough PSAT place.

Calquest, about the waiting, I keep thinking of Omar Bradley off-shore at D-Day. Not a damn thing he could do about it but wait to see what happened on the beach, listening to the reports as they came in.

I think I'm going to see if can get a crash course in Zen: I want patience and I want it NOW!

By Calquest on Wednesday, January 22, 2003 - 11:26 pm: Edit

Thedad - see this is where we differ. I wish I could think of Bradley...right now I see every admissions office as a unit of the German Army, every adcom commanded by General Rommel and all the apps diverted to an Omaha PO Box.