<p>S just got into JMU. Not a top choice, but nice having another yes.</p>
<p>Congrats to bella and mamom! Both good schools!</p>
<p>I have been lucky to have been distracted over the break by my other two kids. My oldest son is planning to leave for Europe next week to go backpacking/hosteling/couch surfing for four months. My daughter was home from her grad school and was busy being a social butterfly, going everywhere and seeing friends from everywhere. It was nice. I think young son also liked having the focus on someone else. </p>
<p>My husband is now on my list of those who must be reminded and I’ve been bugging him about the FAFSA and profile. He wants to put them off until we hear from all the schools, but I think I’m wearing him down.</p>
<p>Just want to say thanks for today’s posts. Lots of them, especially from this morning, were very meaningful and comforting to me.</p>
<p>bella, sorry to hear about your d’s challenges these days…very glad to hear about that nice acceptance.</p>
<p>Mamom: Congratulations on the JMU acceptance. A lot of kids in my area attend JMU, and they all seem very happy.</p>
<p>I also appreciated the thoughful posts from yesterday morning. I especially like Fog Fog’s Nemo reference. I’ve already been through this once before, and it’s scary to send your child out into the world on her own.</p>
<p>Hi all,</p>
<p>It’s very hard to catch up with all the news, but congratulations on all of the recent acceptances. Each acceptance feels so good, regardless of whether it’s a top choice or other.
This is such a tense time for families and I know well how it feels to teeter on the edge of full-frontal anxiety.
Not boasting at all. I feel the same way about midyear grades and I think it’s just a symptom of how much we care.
MOSB: Is everything okay? I skimmed a few pages and can’t tell what’s going on. I know you must be in the midst of a gazillion auditions, so I hope that’s not wearing on you and SB too much.</p>
<p>I love all the parenting wisdom here!</p>
<p>All applications are now in! It felt like it would never happen and D carried that around on her shoulders forever but as of 11:30 last night the last submit button was hit. D promptly went to bed sick. She had actually dragged herself out of bed to finish that last app. Her response to stress is to get sick so now we have to focus on getting and keeping her healthy to get through her auditions. And a couple honors/scholarships apps. Sigh.</p>
<p>But the best news, and what will lift some of that stress, is that she got her first acceptance. Yay for rolling admissions! Its an academic and financial safety that she would be happy to attend if all her BFA options fall through so she is pleased. It seems these kids carry that fear that no one will take them even though its irrational so its nice to have that fear allayed.</p>
<p>Congrats to all as the acceptances keep coming in! I am more than happy to join those ranks.</p>
<p>So many thoughts that run “if only…if only.” It’s all based on “if only XYZ would happen, she will be SO happy.” Yeah, I want things to happen to her: Good things! But of course it will be a mixture, and I try to push back the wishes and just go with the flow.</p>
<p>I indulged myself once again over break anticipating this semester’s grades - my D CANNOT raise her GPA (except a few hundredths of a percent). Of course a college would rather SEE an A instead of a B, but it will not make a substantive difference. And she has 3 AP and 1 Honors class, so who knows what they’ll even think? </p>
<p>Guess what? I can’t do anything about it anyway!</p>
<p>There are kids who pull it all off - high grades, ECs, awards - and some where something has to give. She’s always been the latter. I remind myself that there are always trade-offs, and that some idea of “perfection” is not the goal, even in this college admissions business. She’s going to do what she’s going to do; she’s going to learn, and she’s going to “succeed.” </p>
<p>Today she has a huge music audition (for HS, not college). And it will turn out however it turns out. On the weekend, she auditions for a play. Same thing. </p>
<p>My hope for us all is that we can find some time to have a little fun, a little relaxation. I don’t want to remember this year as a time of exhaustion and disappointment, but as a time of exploration and revelation. I recall D1’s graduation as something of a “been there, done that” feeling, really kind of jaded (even though she had a great ED acceptance and a stack of awards). I’m hoping D2’s will be more joyful. But that will mean making sure this winter and spring have good memories, things with meaning. I hope we can keep that happening.</p>
<p>college4, thanks for checking on me! All is well here; didn’t mean to alarm you with my post about this thread being “meaningful and comforting” to me yesterday. Just dealing with all the same stuff you guys are…auditions, overnight visits, waiting to hear from the last 3 schools, worried about taxes and the 2 forms that shall not be named.</p>
<p>It is a stressful time, no question. Yet we are hanging on ok. Baby steps…baby steps…</p>
<p>EmmyBet, your posts seem to “talk me off the ledge” whenever I read them, which is often late at night…a worrier’s “special time!” Thank you for that.</p>
<p>Fog, the Nemo reference is so apt. “Hold my fin…HOLD MY FIN!!!”</p>
<p>I hope that all of you and your kids have a great day, and that something small but wonderful happens to each of you today!</p>
<p>Hello all. So much news from everyone. I have been lurking, keeping up with everyone as much as possible. Nothing new here and I don’t seem to be able to put a coherent thought together so I’ve been quietly identifying with a lot.</p>
<p>I’m happy to hear about many of the new acceptances for our kids here. Choices…near the top of the list or not…are choices and make our kids feel so good! I too am feeling the angst of watching a ‘kid on the couch’. This is very out of character for Bluejr but I figure he’s burnt out and needs it. Our kids don’t have mid-terms until later this month so that’s really the last piece of the puzzle for admissions. I have to trust he’s staying on top of his grades…he always has. His dad is actually the one on his case to get the two scholarship apps done. Nice change.</p>
<p>I can totally relate to the parental introspection some seem to be feeling. I do it way too much. Too many sleepless nights. My reflection has not found fault with my children, but with me. So many ‘I should haves…’.</p>
<p>oops…LeftofPisa, forgot to say HUGE CONGRATS to your daughter!!! Wonderful news, and the first is so exciting! Fingers crossed that many more are heading her way, and I feel sure they are.</p>
<p>LeftofP - Yay for the acceptance! Poor kids get so worn down by it all. Hope that perked her up.
Thanks for all the thoughts and wisdom. She’s back to school today, not going to the funeral, that will be a heartbreaker I’m sure. She’s got practice after school, and then tonight is the first home basketball game that she is cheering at. She got voted captain this past fall, (didn’t hurt on her apps I’m sure) and she’s really been working quite hard to teach the girls the cheers and the dance steps. Midterms are next week, and she’s only got one, so she’ll have a break, and then next semester her course load drops off significantly. She’s looking forward to starting work again, she misses the spending $ big time.</p>
<p>I do have to constantly remind myself that she is very different from me, and that I need to keep some opinions to myself! I personally would never have become a cheerleader! Made fun of them actually, but we show up at every game and cheer her on!</p>
<p>The good thing about pending senioritis:
My girls and I are skiers (not so much my husband). When they were in grade school we skied a lot. It got a lot harder to get away when the busy high school years hit. The last couple of years, only college girl (D1) has been able to go with me once or twice a season-- high school girl (D2) has been too tied to school, ECs, etc. I don’t think she’s skied in three years. We planned to go right before Christmas but cancelled at the last minute because the storming was so intense.</p>
<p>So later this month I’m doing the annual 3-day weekend trip with college girl and various friends/family. I didn’t even ask D2, because she’s never been able to go. Then last night it occurred to me: She’ll be done with first-semester finals (so far looking like her best grades ever), she’s done with college apps, her spring play hasn’t started yet… so I said, “Can you miss a day of school and come with us?” She said, “Of course I can!” Second semester senioritis! There are good sides to it for kids who push themselves. I’m so glad she can come with us and have a needed ditch day. </p>
<p>These kids deserve some fun and relaxation. And so do we…</p>
<p>Congratulations on bella, LeftOfPisa, mamom !! Great to have acceptances…safety schools or not.</p>
<p>Kind of quiet out here. Feels like we suddenly have a lot of time on our hands! D enjoyed her break (no, the scholarship essays didn’t get written!) and so far is enjoying being back at school. Not too much work (she says she got ahead during the break). Midterms are at the end of the month - but so far, she says she’s expecting pretty good grades. We’ll see…</p>
<p>Some of you might remember - she organized a big fundraiser around Halloween. Raised over 5000$. The foundation that they donated the money to was very thrilled - have asked her to come to an awards banquet in a couple of weeks. She is apparently going to receive an award. She was so excited when she got the email!! She has to miss out on a game that night to go - but she’s definitely going! I loved the look on her face when she read that email - I am slowly gathering up a series of these moments to treasure - no camera, but these pictures are etched into my brain!</p>
<p>LoP - congrats to your D! and yes, I love rolling admissions. My nephew just sent an app to Penn State. It is a slight reach for him. I told my brother several times that Penn is a rolling school and to get his S to send it in asap. But, they are in that clueless group most are and don’t realize the earlier the better with rolling. And what do I know anyway?</p>
<p>arisamp - what an achievement for your D! She definietly deserves some recognition. </p>
<p>researching - this is the first year we haven’t skied between xmas and new years as a family. DD wanted to ski with friends and S want to hang at home to be with friends and only want to do day trips. hopefully we can get back to the family ski trip in a few years. How nice you got to spend some time fun time with your girls.</p>
<p>Morning, all. I’m pretty sure I posted back before Christmas that DS had gotten accepted into his second-choice school (first choice school came in back in October). School #2 is the one where the soccer coach has written him three handwritten letters, which I refer to as “the love letters.” :)</p>
<p>Yesterday in the mail, he got a 4th love letter from that coach . . . then last night, he got a phone call from coach at School #3 wanting to know when DS is coming for a campus visit, wanting him to spend the night with some of the soccer team and practice with them too. We have submitted that app, but it’s not finished (still need to send a transcript and I think there is a short essay he needs to do). We actually have known this coach for a couple of years as he is also the coach for a club team that my son has played against. This school is farther away, so we would most likely not be able to see as many games as we would with Schools #1 and #2.</p>
<p>So, on the one hand, it’s nice to have CHOICES; on the other hand, it’s TOUGH to have choices! Especially when he likes all three schools and all three coaches. His club team is playing in a college showcase the first weekend in February, so after that, I want to sit down with him and make a decision.</p>
<p>cgpm59 - Congratulations to your son. This is a sure sign of a well thought out list! I have to think that something will tip the scales at one of the schools.</p>
<p>cgpm- I think you and he have to stand back and try to be objective. Forget about the love, what will make the most sense for your S academically wrt his intended major? My S is not recruited, but from what little I have read, some of these coaches (not saying the ones your S is dealing with are) are cut throat and will drop you like a hot potato if someone they like better comes along but then they blame admissions. </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Congrats to those who have received good news in the past week. Today it struck me that the sense of stress over submitting apps is finally over. Why my son chose to drag out the last two apps for two months longer than necessary, I’ll never understand. To make matters worse his IB EE, which was supposed to be finished in July, just got handed in on Tuesday - two days ago. </p>
<p>Even tho the F & P forms still need to be finalized and scholarships dealt with, I would take this pressure over app pressure any day. It is nice to be back in school groove of classes, hw, tests, ECs, math competitions and some down time. That is…until April 1.</p>
<p>Mamom – Yes, there are many “sweet talking” coaches out there. DS played football too last year, so I’ve had a long time now to read up on recruiting in general before he “retired” from football for his senior year to focus on soccer. School #1 is a D-2 school where coach so far is offering walk-on status, and Schools #2 and #3 are both D-3 schools, so no athletic scholarships there. All three schools have his major. We need to find a date to do the tour at #3; we’ve only driven through campus one time during the summer a couple of years ago. </p>
<p>Now I’ve got to get on the FAFSA!</p>
<p>Hi All</p>
<p>Good to hear other’s news. ^ Our student was a recruited athlete. It was fun, exciting, nerve-wracking, joyful, so many things going on at one time because there are so many students vying for slots.</p>
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<p>MOSB there are so many great quotes and parenting things in that film…
“He touched the butt”… and then …
Its when you know they will find trouble and they dont realize how big that trouble can be…</p>
<p>I was having a moment this am…realizing I am not holding kiddo’s fin anymore–thats long since passed and kiddo is ready to GO Now… </p>
<p>Our student was invited Yesterday to fly clear across the country Today to meet with coaches for a “looksey” so to speak–re the national level competition opportunity this summer…</p>
<p>So yesterday
we contacted kiddo at school to tell kiddo to let the teachers know,
contacted the school principal re the absence,
booked a flight,
ran to the grocery store for a sandwich (better than in-flightsnack box/meal for purchase) and some travel sized toiletries for the plane (kiddo flew with only a carry on bag and knapsack with school books)
did all laundrey so kiddo would have clothes for the expected weather etc…</p>
<p>Was oddly quiet this am when kiddo2 was having breakfast etc and I drove kiddo2 to school. Next year will be so different.</p>