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amanda, one night when I couldn’t sleep, I mentally designed a board-game for us 2011/15 families. It involved photos and guessing who-was who, but just when the actual game-rules/strategy were coming into focus I drifted off…</p>
<p>ohiomom, can you hear the singing??? She came in last night, caught me in the act of blaring it from the rafters, and said, “How many times are you going to play that?” </p>
<p>I said, “Actually, when Simon & Garfunkle released Bridge Over Troubled Water in the winter of 1970, I played it seven millions nine hundred and sixty three thousand, four hundred and two times. You can ask Grandma and Grandpa. And I like this better.”</p>
<p>She said, “I think it probably hurts the cats’ ears at this volume,” headed up to her room and closed the door. </p>
<p>I played it again.</p>
<p>Emmybet- I understand completely where you are coming from on waiting til August. If my S is on a wait list for a certain school I don’t think I could let my S wait that long. Possibly July. Like you we have many auditions to go through first and then the wait. It is difficult for people to understand what theater kids go through to get into college whether they have auditions or portfolios to prepare. It is like double applying to many or most of their colleges. You need to get 2 acceptances! And so for many they are willing to wait after putting in the effort. I am by no means putting down any kids applying to college. It has gotten so competitive for everyone and it is heartbreaking for any kid not to go where they would like. I have talked to my son about getting into a theater school for a BFA is difficult and to not let it be a reflection of him. Many schools are using a “casting” approach when they select students.</p>
<p>Schokolade- I agree wholeheartedly about announcing acceptances either in public or on facebook. My son has seen kids who have had their feelings hurt and friendships dissolved over someones’ success, because in their desire to tell others their intentions have been misconstrued.</p>
<p>Momofsongbird - I LOVE that idea! I kind of have pictures in my head anyway. 
I am supposed to be doing xmas shopping and I just can’t seem to get out of the house. I am actually thinking everyone on my list can get a Mr. Beer Making kit and be done with it. My kids, yes, I know what is their heart’s desire and they oh-so-much-deserve something but…my sibling’s kids? my siblings? Ugh. Hate picking out presents for people I don’t really know anymore. Mr. Beer seems to be just about right!</p>
<p>gbs, welcome! Glad to have you here! :)</p>
<p>MOSB: I can hear it! Beautiful!!</p>
<p>amandakayak: In a scrooge-like gesture a couple of years ago, I decided that I was tired of buying, wrapping, shipping gifts for people I didn’t know all that well any more. No thank yous from a couple of nieces just sealed the deal. So, I suggested that we stop exchanging among siblings and nieces/nephews. No one complained (directly to me, that is!) and one of my SIL’s even commented that she wished that we had thought of this years ago. So, my shopping load lightened considerably now that we buy only for our own kids and parents. And for my parents, who need nothing and live in a retirement village, I cook and freeze meals to get them through the cold, winter months when they don’t want to go out. They don’t cook much for themselves any more and really appreciate the convenience of reaching in the freezer for a home cooked meal. Even less shopping for me!</p>
<p>Another tree with no decorations here! I am a basket-case, trying not to cause more stress on my already stressed-to-the-max daughter. ED decision today at 5 PM. Thanks for all the support, good luck to others waiting.
Good to see that WPI put it’s letters in the mail - I will be passing that along!</p>
<p>Well I think I can commiserate with the less than desirable ED news a little bit. I received two job rejections today via email. One I spent so much time on- 2 tests and a simulation were involved and all for a job which I’ve done before. Oh well, there went the last two weeks, back to square one.<br>
Ds on the other hand isn’t waiting for any ED news, so I’m glad we both don’t have to deal with that this week. His class didn’t do very well with TOP 20’s ED. The #1 student didn’t get into Dartmouth and several just below her didn’t either. I am glad not to be involved in the drama and there has been a lot of sadness- crying, kids not going to school monday, parents crying - eek.</p>
<p>Someone said above that they were glad some of you would “still be here with them” since their kids were still not set yet. Well…my S may know where he is going to college, but I’ll be here till the bitter end with all of you (I was lurking way before I started posting, and I need to know how all of your stories end).</p>
<p>As for the tree…mine was up a full 10 days too, but I didn’t put up the decorations, because I’m quite sure I was waiting for my son to help me! On another note…FINALS! Stress. Ack. Can’t wait till they are over.</p>
<p>D’s best friend is being tight lipped about her ED decision from Georgetown, although we suspect not good news, because BFF has been in a really foul mood since Monday at lunch…(Mom might have texted the news??) and when my daughter asked her about it today she said, she guesses she better check the mail. These music kids have been with each other for 7 years with the ups and downs of auditions, I just wish they could lean on each other through this process too. My D has always been pretty tight lipped about everything from GPA to class rank (Texas…lol) because she finds that when people know where you stand in the class, it simply puts a target on your back.</p>
<p>I have seen several new(ish) members here. Welcome to the addictive world of posting!</p>
<p>gbsnfld, so sorry you are dealing with deferral at your house. We all offer support and wishes for better news coming</p>
<p>jmlmom, nice to see you sharing your tree-issues. Our house does not have a tree at all this year! I’m reeling from my own lack of get-it-done this year. But I’ve been teaching a course that just ended this week, college apps, S1 prepping to leave for Europe soon for study abroad. I’ve got a million excuses!</p>
<p>Ristosmom–I hear you about audition/portfolio schools. They test the kids’ drive and stamina, don’t they? I sometimes secretly hope (well, not so secretly since I’m admitting it here) this cuts down a bit on too many applicants. Who but the most fervent and dedicated theatre nut would go through so much hassle?</p>
<p>To all who are receiving news today, my fingers are crossed for positive results!</p>
<p>haha…on a funny note, I made some great little candy things yesterday (square pretzels, melt a chocolate kisses and the white chocolate hugs on each one and smash it down with a red or green m & m)…about 8 dozen for my little kiddo’s teachers and I awoke to a plate of 6 pieces left. My older kids were all in carbo commas this morning. One of the young ones said his tummy hurt. They all got tough luck in trying to stay home today. And so I begin again…</p>
<p>This year, DS’s school has done really, really well with EA/ED admissions - previous two years were washouts, with many, many surprizes and mostly not for the good. </p>
<p>I would say that, of the top 20 in this class, at least 10 are one and done with EA/ED.</p>
<p>I think we need a virtual tree decorating hour. We all stop posting, grab our senior child (or children) and spend an hour putting on ornaments? </p>
<p>What time works for everyone? I think tonight needs to be the night. I am really not prepared for a rejection tomorrow night (although a “no” would answer the question: how will we pay for it if he is accepted?)</p>
<p>First, let me thank all of you for your kindness. That ED deferral is tough, especially when your kid’s stats are in the top 25% of the school, albeit one of those reaches for everybody. The black box of the decision is not retrievable and so you’re left wondering why. </p>
<p>OWM, I’d love a vacation just about now and it would be particularly fun and fascinating to do it w/ people you know are soul mates but you haven’t even met. Sounds like a bucket list kind of thing to aspire to!</p>
<p>Good luck everybody waiting for decisions today. I know how nerve-wracking the wait is for everyone involved.</p>
<p>amandak: congrats to your musical kids!</p>
<p>I haven’t even purchased our tree yet, let alone decorate it. I have so much to do around the house that in other years got done right after Thanksgiving. This year has been impossible. When I was younger I would have tried to push through with less sleep and maybe I even cared more then. But right now my family is frayed. My S came down w/ a severe sore throat, congestion yesterday and is taking his first sick day this year. My husband just returned from work early to also go to bed because he’s feeling sick.</p>
<p>I’m nursing both, making tea. The tree will have to wait.</p>
<p>Regarding the Christmas shopping: since I grew up in a family where only the children received bought presents, I’ve never had a big shopping list. Even the kids never received a lot of presents. The presents we receive is something written by the kids – a poem, a story which is read during dessert and chestnuts on Christmas day. The energy in our family gets expended on the meals. Christmas eve and day are multi-course meals, one with multiple fish, the other with a roast, respectively. For us, it’s always been about sitting around the table, eating delicious food, drinking our espresso, and having lively conversation. If you haven’t already figured it out, I’m Italian.</p>
<p>My husband is Jewish and we do the same for Hanukah. We no longer do presents for the kids but when they elementary-middle school students they would provide me w/ a wish list of books from their school book fair. They’d get a book a night and were delighted.</p>
<p>Emmybet, if my son is ultimately waitlisted by his ED school, I think he too would remain on the list through the summer. At that point, if you really still want that school, you have nothing to lose by doing so except your small deposit, and possibly a lot to gain.</p>
<p>Keeping my fingers crossed today for all of you.</p>
<p>Like GKM, I’m here for the long haul. For all of us here, I think, it’s about all of the kids we’ve come to know about on this forum, not just those who we’re raising. </p>
<p>ED/EA news still trickling in from D1’s classmates, very much a mixed bag. A friend denied at Stanford, another waiting to hear on Yale today (though not expecting good news), and two friends in at Caltech. D1 passed on her ED school essays to a friend who is applying to the same school RD.</p>
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<p>hehehehehe
:D</p>
<p>Reminds me of a morning when we woke up after a Chirstmas party at the house–to find our Sr (then about 3) under the dining room table eating all of the leftover AfterEight dinner mints!</p>
<p>Tick Tock—this evening our students will check the EA results.
Might want to stock up on some van ice cream and hot fudge…good for a celebration or consolation.</p>
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<p>Me too, and in my mind’s-eye, you all look WAY too young to have a child going to college…you’re all very slim and pretty with lovely manicures and hair highlighted JUST enough to look gorgeous, but, yeah-that’s-her-real-color! </p>
<p>Don’t you find it funny how when you’ve been “talking” with someone by phone or email for a long time (like at work), and then one day you finally meet the person and you want to say, “Hey, this isn’t what you look like!”</p>
<p>I feel so energized knowing I may be the only parent on here who actually has the Christmas tree decorated! We bought it a week and a half ago and decorated the next day-S put on the lights and D hung the ornaments! Now there is the little problem about lack of Christmas presents. :(</p>
<p>Good luck to all of you hearing results today!</p>