<p>Great news for the kids of madbean and MOSB - congrats to all!</p>
<p>Wow - I take the weekend off and the good news comes pouring in! Big congrats to madbean and son and mosb and songbird! What great recognition for your talented kids and all their dedication and hard work. Love to hear it.</p>
<p>D ran her last big school production over the weekend. She was very emotional afterwards and said she would miss both the activity and the great friends she’s made doing it “more than words can ever say”. I got a little choked up myself. She has really blossomed in her role - not an activity I would ever have expected her to plunge into so deeply at the beginning of high school, but one which has reaped immense dividends. I am very proud that she put her passion ahead of perceived “status” (even though I admittedly expressed my doubts about that choice early on) and I know that this experience has helped her gain a level of confidence and maturity that will carry over into the next phase of her journey.</p>
<p>Hurray to songbird!</p>
<p>Kudos to madbean’s S and songbird! that is great, great news.
I’ve been away and come back to see that there is so much to celebrate. Amazing about the National Merit Finalists…what an impressive group. Our kids make such an effort, day after day, and it’s so nice for them to receive validation for their hard work.</p>
<p>Kelowna started a thread for HS1215/College2019 … I’m hoping more people come aboard!</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1086324-parents-hs-class-2015-college-class-2019-a.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1086324-parents-hs-class-2015-college-class-2019-a.html</a></p>
<p>MOSB - As for seeing Songbird one day on the Grammy’s…could you pls make sure she doesn’t “incubate” or wear meat or whatever. I can only imagine what will be a statement when she hits it big…we thought Madonna was pushing the envelope, but with Gaga…how do you top that one? </p>
<p>My 9 yo went to her first Miranda Cosgrove concert (via another parent) and she said “And I have a sore throat, awww tonight it is going to be worse because I’ll be screaming (at the concert)” to which her sister said “But you don’t even like Miranda Cosgrove!” She rolled her eyes, “Yes, but I like screaming!”</p>
<p>Mihcal1 - I have a 2015 but I have to get 2011 setup and 2013 going before I even think about 2015!</p>
<p>Happy Valentines to the CCer families and all of the teens on the couches,
teens we love so much!</p>
<p>Thanks, Amanda, for the good laugh. (“Yes, but I like screaming!”)</p>
<p>I’m feeling sad at the moment because my high-stat and lovable daughter was accepted at a college but not invited to join the honors program. It might not be logical, but this makes me less interested in having her attend that college.</p>
<p>Mihcal1, I have a 2015er (D2) as well, but until we get through the stress with D1, D2’s college aspirations will have to wait. She’s a completely different kid. Not nearly the Type A personality of her big sister. She’s more of the laissez-faire “let’s have fun!” type. It’ll be interesting…</p>
<p>Popping in really quickly - congratulations to madbean S and songbird! Fabulous news!!</p>
<p>Schokolade - I understand your disappointment. The honors program can make a big difference at a lot of places (especially larger universities) and it can be an entirely different experience. Sometimes there are options for applying for the honors program after the first semester or year, but that may not make the choice feel much more appealing at this point.</p>
<p>
I got chills down my spine when I read this. I am so happy for you both!!! Please give your daughter my heartiest congratulations!!!</p>
<p>madbean - WOW! Congratulations to your son!! Job well done!</p>
<p>MOSB, so glad to hear about the music scholarship! I’m sure that receiving the news via telephone did nothing to diminish the excitement. Congratulations to your D!</p>
<p>
I thought I was the only one facing this…my son is 6’2" and they do “stand out” (sorry couldn’t resist) in the waiting room. Our pediatrician also sees them after 18 and we love him so we’ll keep going. I didn’t realize that peds docs did this until my son’s peds cardiac doc said he would keep my son until sometime after 21, if needed. It’s not needed.</p>
<p>This is a very busy board and as a relatively new poster I have noted a lot of good news and unfortunately, some sad news as well. There are also a lot of comments about the wating until March 31st that most everyone is suffering thorugh but I haven’t seen any kind of a countdown.</p>
<p>I have been on similar forums for family and cruise travel and we often had a weekly and then daily countdown to keep everyone going and in good spirrits while we waited for our day. If no one objects I am going to start the weekly (and sometimes more often) countdown today.</p>
<p>First of all, Happy Valentine’s Day to all!</p>
<p>Only 6 weeks and 3 days until Announcement Day (March 31st)!</p>
<p>A huge congratulations to madbean’s S and MOSB’s D on their happy weekend news. So, so, so nice for these young people and their families to have validation of their talents!</p>
<p>Schokolade, I loved how your D’s attributes include being highly loveable. Some admissions people out there will reciprocate, fer sure. </p>
<p>Asked Class of 2015 D2 when she’d like to start looking at colleges, just the casual in-the-neighborhood look-sees. She says not until D1 is off to college. Like dignified1’s D2, my D2 is also unlike D1, so it’ll be a different type of journey for her.</p>
<p>I like the countdown. I’ve been finding time telescopes lately, and it’s hard to remember that we have more time (to get things done!) and less time (to worry!) than I fear. It’s nice to be reminded by all of you wonderful people that things will be fine, and especially that it will be OVER soon, and we can move on to the next phase.</p>
<p>Schokolade - Sorry she did not get exactly what she’d hoped for, but congrats on the acceptance anyway! FWIW, both the honors programs we are familiar with allow current students to transfer in after a semester. </p>
<p>D is soooo sick of scholarship apps and interviews right now. Her first semester was far more challenging than this semester so I thought she’d be happier now. But, she does not like the classes, not with her favorite friends, etc. Hopefully, she feels better after letting off some steam. I was glad to be a sounding board, but now I feel terrible on her behalf! And if one more adult she encounters (friends’ parents, church acquaintances, neighbors, etc.) asks her about her college plans, she just might explode. </p>
<p>S1 is 2015/2019 (many of us will be together for several more years). So glad to be up the learning curve after D1; he will benefit. I am going to stay off that 2015/2019 board until he is a sophomore, though. I need a break (and some good wine).</p>
<p>AvonHSDad – I am also on a cruise forum. We’re going to Alaska in June for first family cruise to celebrate DS Class of 2011 graduation. :)</p>
<p>Okay, now to business . . . can I get a basic definition for these forms of aid? We’re still waiting to hear from School #2’s financial aid office, but School #1 is offering some grant money (yea!), some “Direct loan subsidized” and “Direct loan unsubsidized” as well as an anticipated TEG grant (Texas Equilization Grant, which is offered to offset the cost of attending a private school, although the Texas legislature is in session right now and some cuts or changes may be coming to TEG . . . should know for sure in May).</p>
<p>I have heard people talk about Parent Plus loans, Stafford loans, and Direct loans (subsidized and unsubsidized). Are some of these different names for the same thing? </p>
<p>I feel like I need a glossary!</p>
<p>mnmomof2, I hear you about the sounding board. My second-semester D is dumping constantly about a lame theology class. One of her many complaints is that it’s a joke class (it was very good when taught by another teacher, but this teacher is inexperienced), and I just assumed she’d be grateful to have an easy A since she has an otherwise challenging load, including 3 APs. But I think she just needs to complain a lot about it… so I listen… and try not to scream, “Be grateful for the easy class!” And it is good that she wants to have something of substance, I guess.</p>