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While my head is spinning with yet another child searching for the right college and getting the applications out, I couldn't help think about the seniors in Florida and other areas affected by the hurricanes. I can't imagine what they are going through; not just the applications, but their entire life. What happens with the kids in Fall sports looking to be recruited by a school, or the kids needing to attend auditions or interviews or visit a school? How about taking the SAT and ACT? Have these kids be given an extension? What happens with ED applications?

I do hope these colleges are helping out with the kids affected by the hurricanes. I can only imagine the stress their families are going through.

By Kissy (Kissy) on Friday, October 01, 2004 - 08:37 am: Edit

I feel for all those affected by the hurricane, too. Reminds me of Rowan's posts last fall, living through the fires in CA and the displacement of home and school while going through the college application process. She chronicled it beautifully.

By Backhandgrip (Backhandgrip) on Friday, October 01, 2004 - 08:46 am: Edit

Daughter is a school teacher and they lost nearly 10 days (2 weeks) for all 4 hurricanes. Her particular school district gives a generous Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday (I think considering so many have out of state relatives) and many of these days will be used for makeup.School in her area ends for the year in in mid May.

By Cangel (Cangel) on Friday, October 01, 2004 - 09:03 am: Edit

We have dear friends in Pensacola - kids spent the first week after Ivan at our house - oldest is a senior. It's bad. They think school will restart on Oct 11. The ACT was rescheduled, don't know about the SAT this weekend, they may be able to take that. Some kids who are applying ED went out of state to take the ACT on time. Many of the kids used this time to do some college visits. The big concern is how will the days be made up - they've missed about 4 weeks of school.
Another big concern is the IB kids, she's not in IB, but has a number of friends - I think they are missing one of their big due dates or exam dates.
She tried to work on an online application while she was at our house - it was frustrating, to say the least.

By Marite (Marite) on Friday, October 01, 2004 - 09:23 am: Edit

I've been wondering about FLA students, too. My S's summer roommate is from FLA and he is a senior.
Kissy, Rowan was a great voice on CC. I miss it. I hope she is happy at UCSC.

By Alongfortheride (Alongfortheride) on Friday, October 01, 2004 - 09:30 am: Edit

Hopefully, the students affected by the hurricanes will be given the same accommodations that California schools gave the students affected by the fires. I think back to the process with my son. It is a hard time under the best of circumstances.

Backhandgrip, I feel for your daughter, having not only to modify lesson plans, but also to regroup and refocus her students. I will take extraordinary effort by Florida's teachers to salvage this school year. I'm so glad that the talk I hear is of getting back in school and continuing on with studies. Evidence already of that effort.

Cangel, best of luck to your daughter and to your friends. I know the work you are doing to support her college app process and think I can imagine how many other factors are pressing in on your family. I think about all of the papers we had filed away, calendars with info and other stuff that we had to look up during the process. Even if the information was saved from the storms, sorting through it when it's not in its regular place must be difficult, and having to complete things online from a location that is not your own home has to be difficult at best. My sympathy and my admiration go to your friends' daughter for continuing on.

By Momof2005girl (Momof2005girl) on Sunday, October 03, 2004 - 08:26 pm: Edit

My daughter is a senior in South Florida. Between hurricanes Frances and Jeanne, her school has been closed 12 days. Tomorrow is her first day back since Jeanne. The school where she was scheduled to take the ACT on 9/25 was a hurricane shelter and the test has been rescheduled for 10/23, the next regular testing date. Her school has scheduled Saturday sessions to try to make-up missed AP work. Things are really a mess. She did manage to use this past week to complete applications and work on essays. She is applying ED. We don't know how the grading system for the first 9 weeks will work out. So far, they only will have to make-up 5 of the missed days.