<p>I’ve said it before, but what keeps me going is the now-lost (and forgotten poster’s) beautiful words last year that ultimately these kids will go to COLLEGE next year. That is pure excitement in itself. There is always the incredibly weird situation where a kid truly gets in nowhere, or perhaps circumstances reveal that s/he shouldn’t go or simply needs something different, but pretty much all of these kids will have a wonderful COLLEGE to go to - with dorms, and classes, and professors, and friends, and activities, and all that goes with it, for better or for worse. They’ll get that opportunity to grow and learn about themselves and the world.</p>
<p>BI - I think you have a great take on it. This is a remarkable story, with a million characters, events, emotions and plot twists. It’s all a part of the human story - this “college admissions” chapter. </p>
<p>I do think that’s what my D actually understands. And I think that’s why she’s cast such a big net, because she wanted her story to be long and very interesting!</p>
<p>Folks, there’s a '11 mom who has posted under a new screen name that she has just been diagnosed with advanced cancer that is one of the “really bad” ones. She is posting on her other thread as sunriseast. She’s having surgery and she’s one of us, so everyone send prayers and postivie thoughts her way, okay?</p>
<p>Snow day here today. S2 has decided that he will commit the day to working on apps – yippee! Maybe he will wrap up a couple – that would sure feel good.</p>
<p>I have to confess that I’m feeling anxious…and I’m not normally an anxious person. Despite S2’s procrastination, I know that he will get everything done… eventually. That’s not what I’m anxious about. I think the news from his friends regarding ED acceptances has him a little edgy. The fact that he has only one EA school that he will hear from in January makes the wait long for him. But I think what I’m really anxious about is that the more I look at his list of schools, the more I think he could end up at his safety (financial). He’s really a great kid (unbiased mom opinion here) – great stats, some really solid ECs, an impressive summer internship and good leadership experience. A couple of the schools on his list are reach for everyone schools, so he’s likely to miss the mark there. The rest are good matches or safety schools. BUT, he’s really going to be relying on merit aid to be able to attend most of the schools. I have been preaching love thy financial safety, but must admit that I’m having a bit of trouble loving it myself. I like it – I really do – in fact, I’m an alum. He would be fine there, but most of the other schools on his list offer some really unique opportunities that the safety do not. I feel a bit hypocritical when I repeat to him my “love thy safety” mantra, when I’m not exactly lovin’ it. </p>
<p>I find myself worrying that he won’t get in the reaches, that the matches and/or safeties won’t offer him merit $, and that he’ll end up at the financial safety. I know it will work out in the end. I’m glad I can share this here, because my husband feels no stress at all over the process, and I’m really trying hard not to let my son see that I am anxious.</p>
<p>Thanks for letting me vent. Okay, I feel better now. Off to shovel some snow!</p>
<p>Best of luck to all those who are finding out on ED or EA today (we should know very shortly…(!) My son is supposed to text me when he finds out (he’s going to look during lunch). Agg.</p>
<p>missypie - thanks for the heads up. Will make sure to send positive energy her way.</p>
<p>GKM - good luck on the EA/ED results. D got an email from her EA school saying results will be sent via email on 15th evening. She’s in a concert that night - I’m going to be there as well, resisting temptation to peek H is not going to be around and is perfectly willing to look - but D doesn’t want anyone else to look first!! Aargh - it’s going to be a trying time…</p>
<p>So sorry to hear of rejections and deferrals. Your heart just has to hurt for these kids. I hope the pain passes quickly. Its great to hear your daughter is moving forward OMom. For those still waiting to hear, hope you get great news this week!</p>
<p>And fog, I am sorry for the loss of your sweet bird. It sounds like a very special, if painful, experience.</p>
<p>Madbean, that rethinking the list thing would make be crazy and I have been bracing myself for it with all the ED/EA notices coming in but D is either content with her list or too busy to go there. Glad your son was able to reassess and come out feeling good about his list. Dark chocolate and Dramamine indeed!</p>
<p>Ohiomom, I feel you on that anxiety. And it’s a good thing we can release it here because we can’t vent it to our kids and even my husband’s eyes glaze over after a bit. Just breathe and it will pass.</p>
<p>As for here, its now crunch time with deadlines looming. Deep breath. My D is on the same path as EmmyBet’s D so once these applications are all in, Round 2 starts with 8 auditions (plus 2 more for talent $). And that means she will have plenty of rejections to deal with. I think she is the optimist to EmmyBet’s D’s pessimist and will be surprised by her rejections but she will have to get through this her own way. She has chosen to remove all academic reaches from her list since the auditioned programs are so reachy in themselves (even if they are academic safeties!). So she will get some solid acceptances as well. Hoping she hits on her matches as well as her safeties but who knows? If some come through with merit aid, even better.</p>
<p>Ohiomom: I’m sorry you’re feeling so anxious. You have valid concerns. It can be hard to “love thy safety” when other options look more appealing. I have observed that most kids who have to “settle” for a school based on financial concerns end us very happy where they land. I think it’s better to settle for a lesser choice than to graduate with crippling debt. At this point it’s out of your control and you’ll have to see what choices your son has in the spring. Try not to worry too much, but feel free to come here and vent to us.</p>
<p>EmmyBet, LeftofPisa - loved that post, thanks for linking it. My D’s first acceptance came today, I saw the envelope in the mail and left the mailbox full for her to discover it! This was her safety school, but we were having our doubts about her getting in. If she didn’t get in to her safety, what if she doesn’t get in to any school at all!? Is it too late to start applying to other schools?</p>
<p>But no, she no longer has to worry about that, and she said to me what many have said here: I’m really going to college next year, it’s real! I can tell she’s been on edge the last few days with decision time coming up and I’m glad she has an acceptance in hand. She applied to 6 schools, 1 safety, 3 matches, and 2 reaches, all part of the SUNY system. She does have a favorite, but would be more than happy to go to any of the schools she applied to. She is so happy today! Wish I could keep her this way. With the holidays coming up, 2 of her close friends had received bad news about their parents cancer prognosis, and another girlfriend lost her father last week. She has had many ups and downs during her high school years, a serious car accident 1 1/2 years ago where her friend had his arm torn off and reattached and she came out with 100+ stitches and scars and surgeries, but also with a desire to pursue medicine. We already knew we had a lot to be thankful for, but the accident really drove it home. My heart goes out to all who are dealing with trouble in their lives right now, but I’m also taking a few moments to jump for joy for my lovely, wonderful daughter.</p>
<p>Bella…Congrats to your daughter and her “I’m going to college moment” It is such a neat time.</p>
<p>Missy…I have posted and read that thread in regard to the cancer. Big prayers from Texas on that one.</p>
<p>To all the ED/EA R & D’s. Let your littles vent it out so they can move on. Did not experience this with D but did with S a few years ago and am hearing the “urrggghh” of a son that is trying to transfer to another university. Hard times…but those always yield to happiness…it is just a bumpy road.</p>
<p>Bella: Congratulations to you and your daughter. My daughter felt the same way about the first acceptance. It’s a huge relief. I’m sorry she’s had to deal with so much pain. It’s great that you are both enjoying this moment.</p>
<p>Ohiomom, I can totally relate. My son will be quite dependent upon the merit $$ gods and so… I’m also anxious. momjr. said it all above. I repeat this to myself, but sometimes… I’m just not sure what fate will deal this wonderful boy.</p>
<p>EmmyBet and LeftofPisa, I also share your concerns since S2 is applying to many specialty programs that require in-person portfolios/interviews (like auditions). So his list must include academic safeties, financial safeties, non-audition matches, and merit-scholarship hopefuls. One of his choices has a 5% admissions rate (!!!) and a one-out-of-a-zillion possibility for merit $$. Who are we kidding?? All this angst and not an ivy among them. So S2, too, has a lot of schools on the list and we expect to hear many no’s and perhaps a wonderful yes to a school that may end up not-affordable.</p>
<p>I am usually pretty centered about the process (second and last son on this road) but I still must remind myself it will all work out very well in the end. Somehow.</p>
<p>Secret confession: I have to let you all know that I sometimes visit a Tarot Card site on the web (free of course) and ask questions regarding where S2 will get in. I’m not kidding. Of course it is a randomly generated tarot draw, but I don’t care. I used this site when S1 was applying and it was eerily correct in many many predictions–especially telling where he would not be admitted. I know. It’s time to refill the chocolate jar.</p>
<p>Also wanted to say how much compassion I feel for those with kids who are getting deferrals or rejections this early in the game. It can be hard for them to realize the quirky nature of EA/ED. mommylaw, I am so sorry your D got difficult news from Tulane. They have been deferring a ton of super kids this past week. </p>
<p>Bella, congratulations to your D. So glad you and she can feel such relief.</p>
<p>Our son received his acceptance packet in the mail today from Purdue. While we are less enamored with the school than we had been (more on that in a minute), we got laugh and a smile about one of the items inside. It’s a door hanger–like you would have in a hotel room. One side says:
DO NOT DISTURB.
I will be back.
This room is not a:
Guest room, sewing room, home gym, scrapbooking room, office or junk room.
This is a Boilermaker bedroom.</p>
<p>The other side says:
Occupied by a Boilermaker on Break
In Town For: R&R, TLC, Home-Cooked Meals, Gas Money, Laundry Service, A Fully Stocked Fridge, Control of the Remote and A Break From Studying.</p>
<p>Pretty cute idea.</p>
<p>When we visited Purdue in April, we were told that our son qualified for a automatic waiver of out-of-state tuition based on his ACT and GPA/class rank. Turns out, Purdue changed that policy this summer and now it is a holistic, competitive process. (I’m sure it’s driven by state budgets.) It may have been publicized in Indiana, but we never heard about it. Nor did we check the website before applying; we just used the information we received on the visit. So, we won’t know about merit aid until sometime between Jan 15 and Feb 15. It was his choice #3 and on the list because it would be comparable in price to Mizzou (our state flagship with the largest nuclear research reactor on a college campus.) </p>
<p>Probably a good lesson for classes below us to check the literature they get junior year against the website in senior year.</p>
H is not going to be around and is perfectly willing to look - but D doesn’t want anyone else to look first!! Aargh - it’s going to be a trying time…</p>