<p>^^^^Very cool, fogfog! And it sounds like you handled it well. I’d be running around like the proverbial chicken!</p>
<p>“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming…that’s what we do, we swim, swim, swim”</p>
<p>haha</p>
<p>cgpm59 - Didn’t mean to imply you don’t know the system. But I have read stories about so many kids misled by coaches. It will be fun to see where your S lands. </p>
<p>fog - exciting news! You are definitely not holding his fin anymore!</p>
<p>I keep thinking about how independent my S is and how much fun I am having watching him grow up this year. Then we have to rein him in because of something like smoking. oh well, a few false starts.</p>
<p>Good luck with your son’s choice, cgpm. Can I add another sad story to your thought process?</p>
<p>My brother was a tremendous soccer player in HS. He was offered a scholarship that he turned down, because it was to be a “feeder” to a superstar player at a top university, and he didn’t want to be in someone’s shadow. He went to the school where he loved the coach and was sure he’d be happy. School-wise it was fine, but really his choice was all about playing.</p>
<p>He had a great freshman year as a starter, and all was great. But his soccer coach was the asst coach for another sport, and THAT sport’s coach got recruited to go to a bigger school. So off the soccer coach went, too. </p>
<p>There was terrible friction with the new coach, and by sophomore year my brother was benched and had a terrible season. By junior year he had left the team. He still played - in a community league in the town, which was fun but not what he’d signed up for.</p>
<p>He liked the college OK, but I’m not sure he had ever asked himself how much he’d like it without soccer. I know there was definitely a big fizzle when the sport didn’t work out.</p>
<p>I’m sure you’ve thought of this scenario, or what if he gets hurt, etc. But 30 years later my brother told me he should have taken the soccer scholarship at the better university and not been all about the sport. In the long run he would have had a better soccer experience, as well as everything else.</p>
<p>Hey, Emmy. Yes, coaches leaving is always an issue. I notice you are in Wisconsin. The big “coaching” story down here – in Austin, Texas – is whether the Univ of Wisconsin offensive coordinator Paul Chryst will come to UT. Lots and lots of UT football coaching changes in the last few weeks. So, yes, that is definitely a consideration too. In our case, the “better” university academically is the one where he’s gotten all the love letters. We’ll see where he ends up. I’d like for him to make a decision so I can go buy him a T-shirt and me a bumper sticker! :)</p>
<p>I know someone here can help me, so I don’t get swallowed up over on the financial aid forum.</p>
<p>Why is it that both the parents and the student need a PIN for FAFSA? DS didn’t earn enough money last year to pay any taxes and has less than $1,500 in checking or savings. </p>
<p>We obviously DID pay taxes last year and have more money stashed around.</p>
<p>So, do we log in with DS’ PIN to do his financial part of it and then log in with our PIN to do our part?</p>
<p>I’m glad you’re feeling like there’s a good fit all around - I hope your son decides soon.</p>
<p>Don’t count on me for FAFSA advice … I hand all that stuff to H. Yuck.</p>
<p>D is off to her music audition. There’s a lot wrapped up in this, and it’s an absolute crapshoot judging-wise. I’ll assume cyber support is flowing toward her … she needs everything she can get these days.</p>
<p>Assume away, EmmyBet…though I’m sure she’ll get through on talent, training and grit.</p>
<p>Thank you. I’m glad you mentioned grit. That’s definitely been in play with this one. I’ll let you all know how it goes. We’ll employ the “cry for one day” approach to a rejection, for sure. And she knows there’s always something else around the corner.</p>
<p>Emmybet: I hope your daughter’s audition goes well.</p>
<p>Cgpm: Congrats your son’s acceptances and interest from coaches. It sounds like he has great choices and you’re well informed about issues that come up with student athletes. It
It’s great that he will have the opportunity to play his sport in college. </p>
<p>Fogfog: I’m in awe of how quickly you pulled things together for your son’s trip. It sounds very exciting for him.</p>
<p>Things are very calm at my house. My older daughter has recovered from mono and wil return to college on Sunday. My 2011 daughter is very happy to have her college decision set. I’m proud of how hard she’s still working in school, but the pressure is off.</p>
<p>cgpm - you each need a pin for the signature page, one for kid, one for parent (either one), you don’t need the pin to fill in the pages. My ds would be lost, and forget something, and frankly, I don’t trust him to fill it in correctly. Afterall, on the common app he listed me as “housewife” which I didn’t appreciate (I got it p.c. before apps were submitted).</p>
<p>cgpm~ you need two pins because those will be your log-in every year when you apply for FA</p>
<p>Parents (just one) get one and each student does too.
They may not be making some money right now but they eventually will.
Also, Fafsa needs to know how much in kiddo savings etc…</p>
<p>Regarding sport in college and recruiting…I could not agree more with Emmybet story.
Our philosophy as always been "Would you want to be here if you were not being recruited "
S2 turned down several schools just because he could not see himself there without the sport…It is a choice you make early on in the process.
Good Luck to you!
:D</p>
<p>My way of doing the FAFSA and the pins= I ask kids for a pin and that is all. I write it down and have it in my book of pins. Both of my kids knew less than nothing about how to fill out the form. I know my d has no idea how much money she made (pet sitting and babysitting). I will be able to get a very good estimate from my bank (and her bank too though she seems to have lost the ability to look up her account and I still can). I know it is below tax levels and even below Social security reporting levels. </p>
<p>COngrats to all recent acceptances and also to all those finished with apps. We are like many and are done with apps but need to do one scholarship app and at least three honors apps and then I have to send the midterm report. Yes, I do that since I am not only the mom, but also the teacher and the guidance counselor. I</p>
<p>Happy dance here - just finished and submitted the FAFSA (using estimates of course). IMO if you can do a rough draft of your taxes it isn’t bad at all. Tomorrow…the Profile.</p>
<p>Hey, the cyber support worked! And so did grit!</p>
<p>My D auditioned tonight for a very special honor at our HS. Students audition to play in a spring concert, performing a movement from a concerto (or an aria) with the orchestra accompanying them. The judges are brought in from outside, don’t know the kids, and can choose anywhere from 0-4 (yes, they’ll choose none if no one plays well enough).</p>
<p>My D was chosen, along with a violinist and a violist, to be a soloist. In March she’ll play her beautiful tenor saxophone concerto with a full orchestra accompaniment! We are so happy for her, and she is so excited.</p>
<p>She said she thinks the main reason why she was chosen is because she loves her saxophone and her concerto so much that the judges could feel it!</p>
<p>This is a really big moment for us. I’m so glad I can share it with you all. Thank you!</p>
<p>Emmybet, Congrats to your D!</p>
<p>DH did the FAFSA last night and when he was all done filling it out called up to me for my credit card. I was like ***??? He went to FAFSA.com instead of .org. I would have felt sorry for him except he obviously didn’t listen to what I told him. He had to fill the whole thing in again. The only good thing was that it’s not nearly as much work as the Profile.</p>
<p>Congratulations to your daughter, Emmybet! What a wonderful honor. It sounds like she has a nice combination of talent and passion.</p>
<p>EmmyBet – Yay! Make sure that your camera a) has fully charged batteries and b) the volume is on. Then tell my DH how you did it…yep, he forgot to make sure the volume is on so we have lovely footage of my D just opening and closing her mouth. For the second time (!).</p>
<p>Thank you! That’s a shame about the video - so sorry to hear it.</p>
<p>I think we’ll probably just take stills, but we’ll see. There are a couple of nice other facets to this - D1 was also in this concert, on marimba her senior year, so it’s a “family” thing that they’ll both be happy about. Also the soloists’ names go on a plaque in the auditorium lobby, so now my D2 knows she’ll be there. Only the highest music awards are put up.</p>
<p>My D has learned so much about passion the past few years, and she’ll certainly learn more in the years to come. That’s definitely what’s the most special about this achievement. She made a promise to herself to put the effort into this instrument, and she would have been proud either way. But now she gets an extra treat of being in the concert.</p>
<p>EmmyBet!! Yayayayayay! That is great! </p>
<p>And wow cgpm and fogfog, heady stuff for your kids. Love hearing all the different ways these kids are leaving their marks.</p>
<p>momjr, I’m glad your D is feeling better. I had mono my sophomore year in college and it was a drag.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the congrats. I’m happy that she feels good about this acceptance and can see herself there even if its a safety. We’re waiting to hear if she gets into the Honors program which will make it even more tempting.</p>