<p>Next week is Spring Break. Unfortunately too early to visit any schools, too early to study for IB/AP exams, so ??? I feel like taking my husband and son to the airport on Friday and saying pick a place. Only priviso…no cell phones or computers allowed. Like the good old days at Club Med. Seven days of whatever…no college talk, no responsibilities, just FUN!</p>
<p>We spent a really nice evening with old friends last night. There is something so comforting about kicking your shoes off, having wine, letting the kids scatter off, and laugh with friends you’ve known for 10+ years. We both have kids headed to college so we shared some of that angst, but it was a short conversation. Too many other things to talk about. One of the sweetest parts of the night was stopping when we heard Bluejr playing guitar upstairs with their daughter singing in a beautiful soulful voice. Unlike when they were five and put on skits, we didn’t ask them to come preform, but we sat in silence and enjoyed from where we were. Their laughing and quiet conversation, knowing these two AP laden kids could relax, was good to hear as parents. </p>
<p>I’m hanging right there with many of you who are waiting on a 4/1 decision. He looks good on paper, this should not be a reach, but the school could fill it’s class three times over without dropping it’s admit stats. The decision will come down to something we’ll never know…essay? LOR? EC? He’ll get as fair a shot as any other applicant. That’s all you can ask, really. He did everything he could so admit or not, he’ll have no regrets.</p>
<p>FLMathMom- I think that is a GRAND idea!!! our spring break is in early April. D is headed to Costa Rica with a friend to visit some friends down there (kids she met on a exchange last year and who also came here this past fall) and DH and I are headed to Austin to visit my dh’s surrogate mom and dad! boy it would be nice if the decision was made before then…</p>
<p>Regarding S’s two deferrals: looking at naviance data for his school, he was in the upper 10% wrt to SAT scores for both. One school he was in the upper 25% wrt to GPA, but right at that 75% line. At second school he was at the 50% for GPA. I really think the schools looked at the high SAT and relatively low GPA and said nope. His grades got worse midyear so I would be real surprised at this point if either accepted him. Actually, I would throw up my hands and not get why they changed their minds when the data looks worse.</p>
<p>FLmathmom- That’s exactly what we are doing. The first few days of spring break will be spent at a cabin in the desert with no cell reception and no wifi. Not even TV. I am really looking forward to it. We all might implode from the lack of connectivity but it should be blissful. </p>
<p>Blue, that evening sounds lovely.</p>
<p>Re: “match” schools, yea, I was surprised when the GC said that a match just meant you had a 50% chance of getting in- you statistically match the profile but so do a bunch of other people, good luck. </p>
<p>Snoozn, I’m glad I’m not the only one who has done that. Fortunately D is blissfully unaware so I just stew in my own stress juice.</p>
<p>She really isn’t talking much about it and definitely does not seem anxious. Although she did tell me she and a friend are hoping they get into their top choices in the same city. I hope so too! In the meantime there is plenty of good stuff to keep her busy and happy. And pretty soon we will all be off the grid and maybe some of the chatter in the back of my head will slow down.</p>
<p>All good wishes for a good week for everybody!</p>
<p>blue: i like your attitude of no regrets.</p>
<p>FlMM and leftofpisa: wish i could join you guys. my kids are not on the same vacation schedule. fortunately or unfortunately, my senior has the last two weeks of March off, so he’ll be home during Decision-day. at least march 30/31 is toward the end of his vacation so that if he hears disappointing news, most of his vacation won’t be affected. won’t need to face school, teachers and friends w/ his college news until he gets back the following week.</p>
<p>will need to take off school days for revisits. he’s not happy about missing school but I will insist that he visits his final few top choices – whatever they may be once all the letters are in – because, after all, this is a very important, costly decision. i want him to make it eyes wide open.</p>
<p>Hi all,</p>
<p>What a busy posting Sunday! We have been taking a slight breather from worry and stress. I think I just maxed out on how much I could pre-calculate. When S2 said he did not want to plan school visits right now, I relaxed!! And in the up/down coaster of my emotions, I seem to be settling down with the idea it will all-work-out-fine no matter the specifics. :)</p>
<p>Re: Match school disappointment. Ouch on everyone’s behalf. No deferral or rejection should ever happen (unrealistic?? oh heck!) But perhaps the words some GCs use–reach-match-safety are too misleading. After all, what does “reach” mean? Just reach a little higher, try a little harder and you should get your wish? And match implies you fit! You’ll get in. And safety? I’m sorry, but who in their right minds loves the notion of attending a school about which the best you can say is it’s a safe bet they’ll accept you (if you have a pulse). Just kidding- but…?</p>
<p>At my kids’ school the GCs ask the kids divide their list in 4 categories (perhaps too many, but…) that address the odds of acceptance rather than one’s aspirations:
Realistic Challenge
50/50
Likely
Highly likely</p>
<p>Does a word change protect kids from the sting when denied at their favorite long shot universities? Probably not. But they tend to regard schools on the list under 50/50 as iffy, too. Managed expectations I guess. </p>
<p>Ray of sunshine: We noticed when S1 went through this process (2008) that one decision really had no impact on any others. Each school may read the file differently. And the overwhelming results are that kids do love where they land. And thrive. And cannot imagine attending anywhere else. This is what I try to remember as we hold onto our hats for the next few weeks. Since $$ will figure into our family’s decision too, I comfort myself with this belief. </p>
<p>It may feel harsh to see a favorite fall off the list due to affordability concerns, or the dumb adcoms deferring or denying our perfectly wonderful kids. But (cue mantra music)–they can only attend one school. And most kids LOVE the school they end up at.</p>
<p>So good luck to all.</p>
<p>OneGirlsMom, we are definitely kindred spirits going through the same thing. Pass the wine!</p>
<p>FLMathMom, I love your spring break idea. I wish we could do that. We won’t be going anywhere for spring break at the end of this month because D has a huge charity project she’s working on, and it culminates on April 1st. I know her spring break will be very busy tending to that.</p>
<p>RenMom, we’re planning to take a few days off school, maybe more, to visit colleges in mid-April. You are right that visits and revisits are so important in this huge, expensive decision.</p>
<p>RenMom, nice to know I’m not the only tech-dinosaur around. I have a birthday coming up and on my wish list is Facebook for Dummies! </p>
<p>Holliesue, I just have audio of sb’s audition pieces, not video, but maybe I can upload that with a photo. It’s very nice of you to ask! I still have to ask her permission, and I’m planning my timing carefully. With one audition left to go, I think she might think it would jinx it to do this now, so I’m going to wait until the last one’s done.</p>
<p>OWM, you are an inspiration to me! With all you have going on with your mom’s condition, her upcoming trip, sick little grandson…I just love the image of you and your son waltzing around the house preparing for the ball! We will want to hear ALL about it.</p>
<p>LofP, I’m rooting for your D to get wonderful news this week! I love her attitude.</p>
<p>I envy those of you with Spring Break coming up. At our Catholic school, it is Easter Break, and because Easter is so late this year, we have 7 more weeks to go! Isn’t that wild? Then the seniors come back for 2 weeks, take finals, and graduate. Not great timing, especially because the kids need a break so badly now.</p>
<p>Oh, blue, thanks for sharing that beautiful story about spending time with your old friends last night and bluejr playing his guitar while their daughter sang. That makes me a little weepy.</p>
<p>Wow everyone’s been so busy posting! I just don’t get in here as much as would like and often just read to try to catch up on what all of you are up to.
Anxiety around here more related to finaid pkgs. Just need to VIEW something on FAFSA and the site is not cooperating–argh.</p>
<p>Those brownies sound just right for tonight…perhaps in a bowl topped with a scoop of coffee ice cream, some chocolate syrup and whipped cream. Can you tell I am craving the sugar tonight?!</p>
<p>Too tired to post in detail, but our grandson took a serious turn for the worse and ended up in the hospital this afternoon. The diagnosis is RSV–a really yucky virus. The series of texts from my son and daughter-in-law that I got during the waltz lessons will be part of the family archives for a longtime. Came home from learning to waltz, cancelled my 7 p.m. flight to Indy and drove 60 miles to the wonderful children’s hospital. </p>
<p>So proud of the young parents for trusting their instincts and taking him to the urgent care center. (He went from there to the hospital by ambulance.) Hopefully with a few more breathing treatments, he can come home Monday afternoon. Everyone really needs a good night’ s sleep, including me.</p>
<p>Just a normal day: waltzing, baby in hospital, and two nearly identical messages on the answering machine from my mom about her taxes. 1-2-3, 4-5-6, turn-2-3, 4-5-6. Waltzing and rocking the baby in my sleep.</p>
<p>owm-I’m thinking of you and your grandson, wishing him a very speedy recovery. And good wishes for a good night’s sleep for all, especially for your son and daughter-in-law.</p>
<p>OWM - Get well wishes for that little boy.</p>
<p>OWM - sending prayers for your grandson and the rest of you.</p>
<p>OWM-my prayers throughout the day will be for your grandson and that he is discharged today.</p>
<p>OWM, hope the little one is home safely soon. If the stars align and we meet next month in Boston, the first beverages are on me.</p>
<p>OWN- hope your grandson is doing better!!!</p>
<p>Big snowstorm here over night. (Funny thing is that it was in the 50’s on Saturday!). Roads closed until at least mid day. Schools closed. Can’t go into work, so I am enjoying a nice relaxing morning while my dh plows us out!!!</p>
<p>OWM: Hope the little guy is home and feeling better soon!!</p>
<p>OWM: I hope that your grandson is better and can home today. </p>
<p>Our spring break isn’t until the third week in April. In the fall, my daughter and her best friends pitched the idea of a mother-daughter island trip to the moms. We’re going to Jamaica for 5 days. I can’t wait.</p>
<p>I know that this will be a long month for those of you waiting for results. I was really stressed in December, waiting for ED results. I’m rooting for all of your kids. I’m sure that they will all have some good choices.</p>