<p>amanda - Did you? What years were you there? PT or FT? Did you work nearby?</p>
<p>I did my mba ft (my undergrad Oberlin had a full tuition scholarship and guess what, I was the only applicant!) grad '92, marketing (hence why I am unemployed LOL), worked at American Express (as Stern was still down by WTC)</p>
<p>Flmathmom- I am a fellow SUNYA alum- class of 82</p>
<p>@amandakayak AND flmathmom: NYU Stern '89-'91 here!</p>
<p>college4three - Hey!! Maybe we crossed paths in the computer lab?</p>
<p>^^perhaps even in class. Marketing major here too. I have to say, I kept my nose to the grindstone and didn’t make too many friends… lol?</p>
<p>Being that I was married and working nearly ft at Amex at the same time…I really didn’t make too many friends either.</p>
<p>Tears and flights: the spouse and I were in tears when we took D1 to the airport a couple summers ago as she headed to NYC, and thence to a summer abroad program. What undid me was whispering to her the blessing we’ve said to her and her sister every Friday night before Shabbat dinner since they were newborns (translated, “May God bless you and watch over you. May God shine His face toward you and show you favor. May God be favorably disposed toward you and grant you peace.”). Cue waterworks! 
I am sure that I will do the same exact thing, with the same exact reaction, when we leave her on campus next August. </p>
<p>Some Friday nights these days both D’s are out, and we have no choice but to bless the dog. :D</p>
<p>Ohiomom and Aniger- I think we should start a prom date exchange service. 
I hope all broken hearts heal soon. </p>
<p>kathiep- Congrats! And I love the idea of a separate letter to the parents. Solves the to steam or not to steam dilemma.</p>
<p>Oh Puma, I hear you on the sweating and tears thing. </p>
<p>And Slithey, that prayer makes me tear up just reading it! Its just a trigger for me. So I can imagine how it must feel to say it at a leavetaking with your child. Sniff.</p>
<p>Hankies and cookies all around.</p>
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<p>No date for D as yet but no problem - she’s still looking for dresses. She will definitely ask a guy if no one asks her.</p>
<p>Looks like puma and I are in the same boat with our seniors: D just found out today that she will definitely get a B in AP Calculus for first semester, which now ruins her chances of being Valedictorian, and she’s convinced it also ruins her chances at the (many) tippy top schools she’s applied to. I don’t think the colleges will be put off by the B, but I’m disappointed for her on the Val thing.</p>
<p>We went back and forth at the beginning of the year, whether or not she should take it. We decided that it looks better to get a B in AP Calc than to get an A in some easy class, plus she’s going to need that math background when she does pre-med in college and has to take college level calculus.</p>
<p>^I agree with you oregonian, a B in AP Calculus should not make any real difference to colleges, especially since she is ranked so high.</p>
<p>S2 made it through last semester intact in terms of the 4.0 UW/ Val race. But he has to take required phys ed this term, and attendance feeds into the grade in a rigid way. Based on upcoming college visits in April, he may lose his 4.0 over that. Wouldn’t that be a p*sser.</p>
<p>Our school keeps class rank the same after first semester of senior year. Hopefully your son’s school does the same, UT84321.</p>
<p>^ Yes, that would be a huge bummer. We’re pulling my D out of school for a week in April to visit colleges too. I’d be upset too if <em>that</em> was the deciding factor, especially in a non-academic class.</p>
<p>UT84321 - Who knows how much leeway you would be afforded, but I would hit this one head on with a conversation with the coach and GC. Many students take a few days this time of year to finalize plans. That it would make a difference in an otherwise stellar academic record is obnoxious. What if he were ill…are those excused absences? If you don’t find any wiggle room after talking to the administration this is one place I will go on record as saying I’d report my son as sick and take him. If he has a parent note there is not a darn thing the school can do about it. Some schools require a Dr.s note if the ‘illness’ exceeds three days. I’m a stickler for honestly, I really am. I just feel this is out and out wrong.</p>
<p>That’s my two cents.</p>
<p>Our HS determines Val, Sal and Top 20 around about the 5th six week grading period. We are able to monitor grades online. There are teachers who are very good about entering grades, and others enter them only immediately before report cards come out. You can tell when the deadline for seniors is, because all of the sudden, all grades are current.</p>
<p>I’ve very glad that we make a big deal about the Top 20 students. There is a special dinner to which they bring their favorite teacher as a guest, the two have a professional photograph taken together and they are framed (some teachers have many of them, others have none), they are announced one by one at the senior awards assembly, they get special medals and get to sit up front at graduation and walk first. None of my kids will ever be there, but it’s very nice to honor 20 instead of just 2. (And yes, I know that someone has to be #21. I knew him last year and he was very gracious.)</p>
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<p>Our jrs and srs get one day a semester excused for college visits. Son’s gym teacher counted him as an unexcused absence…I followed up and the guy changed it to excused and claimed he had never heard of the “once absence for college visits” rule. I always wonder how many mistakes were made before we could see grades and attendance online.</p>
<p>O’mom - I remember you debating what to do about the class. The fact that she earned a B, facing the stress that you shared early on, I think is terrific! I know it’s hard for them to see it that way. I did read an article today saying that this years admission season top schools are reporting a much heavier weight put on rigor of classes over an easier course load. You never know with those very top reach schools, but I’m with the ‘tribe’ on this one. I think she made the right decision and should be proud of her grade. Every year tip top schools reject Vals…and admit a lot of other top students. I think this is more a matter of a goal she really wanted for herself. That’s not to say it’s not important, it very much is. I don’t know how much I think it’s going to affect her admit. The thing is you’ll never know.</p>
<p>We’re still in the midst of exams here so the jury’s out. I know he’ll be glad when they are behind him.</p>
<p>Sorry all you 4.0s, but if I were Admissions Queen, I’d want to see one B on a transcript…kind of nice to know that the student has already had the “I’m not perfect” moment before she gets to college! The B would be in something that was a stretch for the student, like Calc, or even Drawing or Creative Writing.</p>