<p>Another one here with a kid who graduated HS in 2005. I actually started with CC in 2003. If I had only known then what I know now, I would have been a lot more relaxed about the whole process. But I think my son found the perfect place for him and has had an incredible college career. He graduates in June.</p>
<p>ejr1: Amherst, eh? Incredible (I had forgotten which school she had selected). Sounds like she has had great success as well. But what is really incredible is trying to figure out where the last four years have gone.</p>
<p>Thanks for the update on our former CC friend. Harvard Law, Stanford Law and others? Wow. I remember when the big push was to get into Duke and how happy she was when that happened. Major, major congrats to her son and her whole family.</p>
<p>I don’t post as much on CC any more, just because we’re so much farther along in the path of life. But I treasure all of the posters from those past years, several of whom became friends… at least, internet friends. It has been great fun to watch the kids as they go from high school years to college years and then on to grad school or “real life.”</p>
<p>Thanks, audio, for starting this thread so we can have a little “mini-reunion.”</p>
<p>I’m the mom of 3 2005 graduates:) One child is disabled so, he is on a different path. My other two are doing exactly what they planned to since high school. My son is going on to Grad School in Vocal Performance…my daughter was hired by a big NYC hospital, just last week. She plans to work there for 1 yr before applying to Grad School ( for her major she needs a minimum of 1 yr in a related field). She’s very excited…has always been independent and self driven…well, both of them have. </p>
<p>Its exciting to know they are achieving their dreams…I’m a bit wistful, missing my little ones, lol. </p>
<p>Why does meno-pause start right at the same time our kids are heading off on their own? Everything makes me cry if I think about it too long, lol!!</p>
<p>Mom of college junior (and hs senior). D1, college junior, changed her major (and minor) many times. Though I wish she’d stayed with the Business degree she is now firmly ensconced in Neuroscience with a Religion minor. She is currently studying abroad in India (who of thunk it?) She talks about Teach for America and Peace Corps after graduation. She hasn’t even begun to think of the GRE or post grad which she will definitely need. So change will still occur…</p>
<p>My son will enter college next year and I just can’t believe how fast time has gone by. I appreciated what all of you got to say about your wonderful children. It is just like a roller coaster for me when I think about the college process. I am sure the waiting period will be a tremendous challenge for me. When I saw all these people who have done so much in their high school life and still managed to be a top student, a top scorer on standardized test, I began to feel scared about where my son will end up in. I really hear some of your advice but I don’t know where to begin.</p>
<p>quest4success…I wish you luck! I felt the exact same way when my kids were still in HS. Somehow, they just end up in the right place!! You have to believe that…There are some State Schools that are exceptional…some privates that really aren’t worth the money. From our experience it is all about where your child fits in best…and its time for you to start letting him make the choices…naturally you guide him/her, but if they are taking loans then they should have the say more or less. We paid for our kids first 4 yrs…but, now they’re on their own…I think this coming year will be a huge shock for them…lol. But there comes a time when we must let them grow up (as hard as that’s been for me) People keep telling me that…and I listen…I think they are right.</p>
<p>D is busy with her English honors thesis in this last part of her senior year. She’ll go to U. Michigan for law school in the fall. Her final a cappella concert is this weekend. </p>
<p>It seems just a short time ago we were going through the “final concert” “final show” “final awards ceremony” with her in high school. Now we’re doing it again. </p>
<p>And S is a college freshman, so I’ll be hanging around for a while.</p>
<p>Great thread. Love reading the success stories! Harvard and Stanford law school, my oh my – how does one choose? I’m so glad you shared that great news!</p>
<p>My 2004 high school graduate received his college degree last spring, and has had a job for almost a year now. I’m happy he is employed! My 2007 grad is a sophomore in college, and she plans to spend a year abroad next year. My 2000 high school grad (didn’t know anything about CC back then) also got his degree this spring (some take a little longer . . .) Time flies.</p>
<p>I still have one in high school and one in elementary, so will probably will be back at some point, but for now, it has been nice taking a break from college application excitement/anxiety.</p>
<p>My 2003 high school graduate ( I found this site a bit too late to be of help to him!) is now in his second year of a Ph.D. program at UChicago. He is one of a very few in his cohort who went directly from college to grad school. With 20/20 hindsight, it was a great idea, given the current economy. He won’t be out for another 3-4 years, and hopefully things will have turned around by then.</p>
<p>I have two high school juniors, so will be here for quite a while. Thanks for the update on our Kansas friend, B. Good to know her good news!</p>
<p>My oldest is a junior , but I’ve been hearing from him that his senior friends with business or finance degrees are having a tough time finding jobs right now (no kidding!). On the other end, I’ve heard a few kids and parents make reference to the fact that they have changed their thinking and will now only apply to top grad schools , seeing how much trouble even high ranked grads of less than top schools are having in the job market. The other thing that seems different is that many kids are willing to take low pay or even no pay at first, just to get some experience in a field. </p>
<p>BTW, it’s great to see so many old names on this thread and to know that their kids are doing well. I’m also happy to hear that wonderful news about Harvard and Stanford Law and the legal community’s future asset - wow!</p>
<p>Wonderful to hear the great news about our CC grads. Congrats to all their justifiably proud parents! I’ve missed berurah and her generous, caring posts - how thrilled she must be about her son’s success. </p>
<p>My 2005 alum will graduate next month after 4 rewarding years at Vanderbilt. We both found much wise advice on CC when she was deciding, and she could not be happier about her Vandy experience and the opportunities that came her way there. She’ll be doing Teach for America for the next two years in the DC metro region (this mother’s fingers have been crossed for months that the economy doesn’t throw a wrench into those plans). Brag alert - she was beyond happy to learn recently that she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. We’re expecting one set of grandparents and both sisters to join us at graduation. How can it be 2009 already?</p>
<p>Somehow it’s comforting to see all of your “old” screen names. . .Glad to hear update on “B”</p>
<p>My S#1 finished HS in 2006 and is a junior at a “Great Books” LAC (no majors there). I’ve been asking (nagging?) about his plans. He said what he’d really like to do is win the lottery and spend the rest of his life in college. . .(So I guess that means he should prep for the GRE?) D#1 is a HS senior who just made her college decision. And there are 5 more coming along, so I could be on CC a long time–my youngest starts kindergarten in 2010.</p>
<p>S1 has had four good years-- lots of hard work, but also fun times with amazing friends. He is headed to grad school at the school he had to “give up” (having to choose between two great options) four years ago!</p>
<p>S1 graduated h.s in 2005. He will graduate fr. our big state u. in May (full-ride, no debt…yah!). He has kept the same major and post-grad ambitions since the first day.<br>
It has been a combination of hard work and dedication mixed with great crazy times with his best friends. He will look back on his college adventures with great fondness for the rest of his life.<br>
He has worked his way into a pretty selective program. He will prob. be in training for close to two more years.</p>
<p>On May 8th he will commission as an Ensign in the U.S.Navy, next stop USN Dive Sch.</p>
<p>Son is a senior, graduating on May 3rd. I came on CC back in 2004/5 when he was a hs senior! I can’t believe it’s been that long!!!</p>
<p>He went to UF due to the NMF scholarship they offered (the Guido Deal - that he couldn’t refuse ;)) He has ended up loving it there. He changed his major after freshman year from a Pre-Med track to a double Economics/ English major. He met a beautiful Florida girl and he’s marrying her on June 20th!! WOW!</p>
<p>He recently found a job in banking through the UF Career Center and he will be moving with his lovely new bride to Jacksonville in early July to start his career.</p>
<p>All in all, an extremely successful 4 years! Thanks to CC for much guidance over the years!! (have 2 younger sons, one in college, one a junior in hs, so I’ll be around for a few more years) :)</p>
<p>Congratulations to all the cc seniors!! It’s so interesting to see the different paths life is taking them.</p>
<p>atomom, just as you have one graduating from college, you’ll have a little one starting k. How sweet that must be. I’m the youngest of a family of five, although the age span in my family is just a couple years more than yours. Youngest is a great spot in a big family.</p>
<p>My S graduated last summer, and began a CS/finance job. It was a terrible fit, but with a Cinderella ending. He returned to work as a research tech at a lab at his UG college, shifting fields to one that he truly enjoys. By now, he is doing his own experiments, is a TA, takes courses, and has plans for grad school in future. I think this is what he was always meant to do.</p>
<p>bookworm - that is great to hear. Some people stick with an un-enjoyable job forever and never have the nerve to do a complete turn-around. I’m glad your son was able to do that.</p>
<p>S completed completed CMU '06 in dual majors ME and HCI. He got a MS-CS from Toronto in Dec 2007. He spent 2008 in Microsoft Research internships (thankyou Bill and Melinda) in India, Seattle, Germany and visited points inbetween . This month he’s traveling, delivering his reports on the projects and visiting friends from his colleges and internships. When he returns from this trip, we will discover if his new position will turn into a paying position; Robotics-Biomed. </p>
<p>This avatar, as itstoomuch and thisoldman, will probably die as son turns a new chapter but perhaps still university related. Who knows, maybe a reincarnation?</p>
<p>@audiophile. Implants need to cost THAT much?</p>