Congratulations!
Thanks, everyone.
I have thought about making a break here and starting Journal Part 2, Life After the College Decision. Let me know if that would be good or bad - maybe this thread is too long or maybe it is nice to have everything all in one place.
As part of the clean up of “Part 1”, first I would like to mention that the U Mich award that I mentioned earlier was further explained to me by S at last night’s Final Analysis Meeting as being 15K per year academic and 25K per year music (but the music part for only 2 years). I just wanted to let you know the breakdown in case anyone is tracking S’ stats and wonder how it worked out. We don’t now why the 2-year thing. It is just like UNT’s 2-year Excellence award, except the magnitude is different. I can’t think of anything else that might be misrepresented throughout the journal since I put out corrections like this as soon as I learn about them.
As far as going forward (at a certain workplace, in a certain era, I enjoyed counting how many times management would end sentences with “, going forward”), I expect there to be a lot of interesting notes. S will be using the summer in the best way he can figure out to prepare for entering college. He wants to test out of classes and make the best possible showing at lab band auditions. Then we expect to have a phase where he forgets to text us everyday and we’ll have to guess how he’s doing, and then my posts will probably dwindle accordingly.
I really appreciate the support on the Music Major forum of CC.
@GoForth I would read Part 2, eagerly, if you’re willing to share.
An alternative might be a thread like that for all rising freshman and their parents (sort of like March Madness, only for post-decision). I would definitely contribute once we have a decision.
I echo your appreciation for the members of this forum!
Congrats to your son!!!
How does it feel, @GoForth, to be DONE with the craziness??? My sincerest congratulations to your S and family on this wonderful news. I hope he will be very happy with his choice, and I hope y’all have time for a little vacation now! (I know we all need one.) As to “Then we expect to have a phase where he forgets to text us everyday and we’ll have to guess how he’s doing,” :’( that part is going to be so hard.
Life is so easy now. Actually, I am probably picking up an additional piece of contract work, so that is OK compared to a vacation - to pay for college.
Wow you go away for 24 hours and all the problems of the world have been solved. We had an office move…stressful!
So…CONGRATS!! It seems like only yesterday you were a toddler and look at you now in your college jersey! So glad your son was able to make the call and you can now relax…well at least for a weekend…
Congratulations – this is so exciting! I’m sure your son broke Michigan’s heart but, FWIW, I think he made the right choice.
Congratulations on UNT!!
This month is just full of bliss. S is filling out independent scholarships, such as Lion’s Club, American Legion, and quite a mix of others. They could help knock the edge off the first year. Orientation is scheduled. Everything is pretty cool. Another of S’ youth jazz orchestra mates is 99% sure he will be accepting UNT.
All sounds great. But check out whether independent scholarship[s (aka outside funding) is subtracted from any aid he is getting. This is more likely, I believe but am not sure, with financial aid than merit.
I second what @compmom said. Most schools require you to report third party scholarships and a lot of schools reduce aid accordingly because that’s less money you need. Or at least that’s what they think!
At my D’s UG and grad merit scholarships were not reduced by outside money. My D did not qualify for FA even though I’ve had to eat ramen for 6 years. Best to check the rules.
In my older son’s case, outside scholarships reduced the loan amount in his financial aid package.
Sometimes outside scholarships are also taxable.
S’ bass instructor (to-be) from UNT called and left a voice mail on S’ phone yesterday to welcome him and see if he had any questions. S returned a voice mail with questions - about some choices on how to prepare over the summer.
S got his dorm room assignment. He paired up with another person through the matching system they have there. It is in Bruce Hall, the hall where, during non-quiet hours, you can even practice in your room, I have been told. Or in the twelve practice modules down the hallway. Or, of course, in the music practice buildings. S plays a wedding gig tomorrow. All going well.
Bruce is good. It’s not fancy, but the cafeteria is in the building and the music building is next door. (I guess that was the dorm he stayed in when he attended bass camp there?)
We are heading over tomorrow for S’s final recital with his private teacher’s studio. Let me know if you want me to scope anything out for you!
Summer bass camp was Crumley.
This is the summer after high school and before college. So, what is going on at this time in one’s journey? S tries to have a balance of self-scheduled and unscheduled time for practice (scales, long bows, all the basics), rehearsal, tune transcribing, physical exercise, and then non-musical distractions as well. S is not pushing to find gigs and form bands locally, but is getting called upon (referred or asked to sub) at what looks like a once-a-week pace for the remainder of his summer.
The room assignments have been made, and communication with the roommate and people the roommate met at orientation are already involving plans to make recordings and jam together.
I am thinking of logistics now, such as what will fit in the car and what bank account should be set up for S.