<p>ldinct: I’m with you; this new law is ridiculous for seniors…can you PM me where you live in NJ (if I guessed correctly?)…I wanna know where they are giving tickets and cracking down so my daughter stays away…</p>
<p>I have a good curfew story for you though; Thursday night were the regional hockey finals; game was supposed to start at 8:15 which would have gotten the kids out at around 10:30 to drive home…game was delayed (previous game went into overtime)…started at 9:15; kids didn’t leave until 11:30…and the police were ALL there…and this is a school sponsored event? what would have happened if the kids got ticketed??</p>
<p>Bad, bad decision by the NJ lawmakers on this one…</p>
<p>My current 2 teens have early spring birthdays which works fine, curfew (NJ) is 11 pm - and that has been a great stick - “it’s the law” is pretty sweet in my book. Problem will be with the next two who have late summer birthdays - maybe the law will be revised in the next 4 yrs? I think 11pm for the first yr works during the week most times (hockey excluded!)- but on weekends, it should be higher if just to deal with reality of 9pm movies - teens don’t want to go to the 7 pm which is more full of little kids/parents but it’s the driving teens that get stuck on those earlier ones due to the law. My ds even had to leave a few movies early just to get home in time!</p>
<p>And thanks everyone with the collective scholarship sympathies! Another disappointed kid posted their stats and they were astronomically superb so c’est lavie right? I’m a big believer in karma and fate so we will see where the cards fall. Just wish I could see those cards right now!!! Patience is not my strong suit.</p>
<p>I’m fine with the 11 pm driving curfew. Since it’s the same for all the kids, they’re all on the same page. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of someone actually being ticketed for violating that law though. There was a bit of controversy last year after the prom. The location they picked was a ski resort forty minutes away. The prom ended officially at 10:30 which means that any under 18 year old would be violating curfew if they waited until the end. Limo’s and parent driven cars were the answer to most kids, but I’m sure many just took their chances.</p>
<p>If you write your legislators and the Governor (Christie in NJ right?) maybe they’ll alter the law before too long. The assumption is that for every letter they get – not counting email – there’s 10-20 people who feel the same but haven’t written. I could see how this might work a hardship for people with kids with summer jobs (how would a busboy or a dishwasher or even a kid working at a theater manage to do their job as expected and still get home by 11 pm? If nothing else, maybe they’d do an exception for kids with jobs. </p>
<p>On the good news front: My D just got offered merit money at the only private college on her list. Bad news: they want an answer within 14 days. Is that usual?</p>
<p>amanda: interesting idea; maybe they should have made it 11 during the week and 12 on the weekends…definitely could have lived with that…</p>
<p>I guess if most of your kids friends live within a few minutes, it’s not a biggie;</p>
<p>for those of them who go to schools where their classmates could live 30 minutes away…not good…</p>
<p>and then there is the movie issue…netflix has become very handy along with my basement; they start a movie at 8:30 and are out of here by 10:30…</p>
<p>Novelisto: according to NACAC guidelines, compliant schools can not demand an answer from a student until May 1st unless it’s a binding ED program…if you need the link, let me know…the guidelines are on their website…</p>
<p>there were posts about a certain Southern school who pulled this last year; depends on who wants to “call” the school on the error of their ways…</p>
<p>I like the driving curfews in general. MN has 11 pm on weeknights and midnight on weekends. Our D has a fall b’day and won’t be 18 until she is WHO KNOWS WHERE at college. I need to check to see if there is an exemption for work. I know there is one for school events (including school sports). D’s sport has early morning practice all summer long, so she is usually happily asleep by 11, but this summer she needs to earn some $$, so driving late for a job may be a necessity. </p>
<p>I am the only parent I know that insists on keeping curfew. I too like the “stick,” but I dread the Twilight and Harry Potter openings because I am the lone parent doing the pickup as I watch hundreds of teens leave at 3 a.m. D thinks I am ridiculous, but I am trying to be consistent. If I won’t let her drive past midnight for a party, I can’t let her drive past midnight to save me some sleep. </p>
<p>D working on NHS senior project all weekend. I am excited for her (and proud - she picked a charity that has great personal meaning to me). Trying to enjoy each day while at the same time being so eager for the information that comes in just about one more month!</p>
<p>haha; I am def the only parent who insists on curfew and my daughter has reminded me of that often; I have told her that this is a perfect excuse for someone else to drive…if they want to stay out later, let them get the ticket…</p>
<p>we have volunteered to pick her up if there is a need to “stay out later”…that was not welcomed…</p>
<p>thank goodness most of her friends have winter and spring bdays…</p>
<p>We are in CT. They are ticketing here $100+fine & mandatory 30 day suspension from the dmv, plus $175 license reinstatement fee. They are making lots of $$ since most of the parents aren’t insisting on it. Since S goes to a prep school, friends houses are all 20-30 mins away, so he feels bad asking the older seniors for a ride home constantly.
Work gets a reprieve, so S can drive home from his busboy job @2:30 am as a new driver at 16 but can’t drive home from the movies @11:30 as a 17 year old senior who has had his license for more than a year. It is frustrating.</p>
<p>I can’t keep up with all of the details so congrats to everyone with good $ news, auditions and admits and condolences to the negative responses for admits, $ and auditions.</p>
<p>Credit cards and bank accounts - We opened a joint checking account with him when he was 16 as he won a paid summer internship at a local medical institution that required an account for direct deposit of his pay. He got a debit card with that and has used it responsibily. My concern is he will misplace the card and there are very limited protections with a debit card over a credit card. His checking account will remain linked to ours so we can transfer funds to him and/or reimburse him when he uses his funds for something we would normally pay for. This has worked out well so far in high school.</p>
<p>Now that he is 18 we got him added to our AMEX account (primarily so he could use his own card at Costco for gas). When he leaves this fall he will most likely get a MC or Visa in his name with a modest limit that will be for school items and emergencies. If he is flying to school, he may get a card on our MC account that will provide miles and free baggage fees. We will wait and see.</p>
<p>NOTE - It is much better for the kids to have a credit card vs a debit card in the case of loss, misuse or fraud. You have more legal rights and much better protection with a credit card.</p>
<p>Surprise good news in the mail today. S was admitted to the Honors program at Miami. No word yet on any additional $. That information is due in March. He is now quite happy and comfortable if his reach schools all say no thanks. 33 days and counting.</p>
<p>Connecticut changed it’s curfew from 12 to 11 last year for all drivers under 18. I’ll let you in a secret: many teenagers don’t follow it. The only way you can get caught breaking curfew is if you’re pulled over for a different violation. You may want to ask your children if their friends drive after midnight.</p>
<p>Novelisto, We’ve had the same experience as kinderny but a couple have hinted that dorm selection is better if you accept the offer and put down the deposit. We’re waiting for all the packages.</p>
<p>SS -yes none of his friends are following the curfew, the only problem is- there are so many things you can get stopped for - your taillight is out, you have a flat tire on the side of the road, what are you doing here? etc</p>
<p>Congrats on the merit offers. S received several and they also did not want confirmation until May 1.</p>
<p>Thanks, y’all. I’m working off what she has told me. I’ll see the paperwork for myself on the 3rd. I’m very pleased with this offer…but we have one more school that won’t report until May 1. I don’t like being rushed.</p>
<p>I guess we’re in the minority loving the 11 PM curfew and enforcing it. If there’s a special occasion, he or his friends can spend the night. Otherwise, I thank the state of CT for eliminating any reason for curfew arguments with my son!</p>