<p>We are in Spain over D2’s spring break. All she wants to do is to sleep. We could have done that at home. </p>
<p>D2 is all set for her study abroad next fall. She even got a sublet where she wants to be for next spring. It is less than living on campus, with doorman and all the amenities. She is going to her school’s Rhode scholar meeting next week. Everyone in her program is invited to apply. She wants to go to law school straight from UG, so she is not sure how the program would fit into her time line. </p>
<p>Hi everyone. I don’t come here too much lately, since I am swamped with work and issues relating to estate matters of FIL. Anyway, today I couldn’t just “check in” without signing in. Is that the new norm on CC?</p>
<p>Not so sure about law school deferrals of admission these days, but I know of a student who received a Rhodes or Rhodes equivalent scholarship and got a year’s deferral to a top, top, top, over the top grad program - was able to do both (fabulous experience). Way back when I had a couple of friends who took time off to ski in Colorado before law school. I wish I had done that. Having gone straight to JD/MBA and then straight to NYC law, and then to super competitive mega law firm, I wish somewhere I had taken time for something else. I didn’t take time because I thought that I really needed to make money when I got out of school. I was without means. In retrospect, that was not the best reason to not take time off the treadmill. BTW, I loved law school- I found it very stimulating academically. Unfortunately, real world practice is something else entirely. Not to discourage anyone - I wouldn’t discourage my own kid if she wanted to go, but best to have eyes wide open.</p>
<p>D’12 is home for the short Easter break (Friday and Monday) and brought a nasty sinus infection home with her :-< a little “home cookin” should put her back on the mend! :-bd </p>
<p>My guy should have gotten a box in the mail with an Easter green post it note inside saying:</p>
<p>Found You!
E. Bunny</p>
<p>Underneath that is a chocolate medical kit, a chocolate cruise ship (representing the Mercy Ship he wants to be on this summer), and assorted other Easter traditional yummies.</p>
<p>I’ll admit to missing them at home as the EB always hid their baskets and they had to wander around trying to find them. This is the last year that the rabbit will come here to hide the last basket. It is, at least, nice having the memories.</p>
<p>I am sure he will appreciate the basket. We always had baskets for the girls when they were home.</p>
<p>We are heading up to D2’s school today to see her dance recital. D1 and her BF are coming with us to show support. We’ll have Easter brunch on Sun. Their school hotel dining room is known for great Easter brunch.</p>
<p>I think I mentioned it before…D2 is taking a course at school which includes a paid NYC summer internship at a non-profit organization (for D2,it is going to be a legal aid). They said the students may get a stipend for living expenses, but sine we lived in NYC, we just assumed she would live at home. D2 just told us the school has secured housing at a nice facility for everyone in the program, so their room an board would be completely paid for. Everyone in the program is thrilled, but I am kind of disappointed because I was hopping to have her home. She told me she would come home for dinner sometimes.</p>
<p>Hello all! How are those of you with younger kids starting college in the fall doing? Have they made their selections? I only have one, so have to live vicariously through the rest of you, haha. Son will be at a hack-a-thon over Easter so no baskets for us.</p>
<p>BarnardGirl has had some rough spots this term but things are all working out in the end. She was determined to stay in NYC this summer but was not having huge success at finding a way to do that. She now has secured a 6 week position as an RA for the same pre-college program she did at Barnard- and is thrilled. She also was offered an unpaid internship this week. She should hear about a paid one with a major publisher early this week. She can work at one of her campus jobs some over the summer and has her babysitting gig. Her regular Friday or Saturday night family is very happy she’s staying in town this summer so they can have their weekly date night. Her boyfriend graduates from the University of Michigan this month and starts his new job in NYC in May. He has secured a 4 bedroom apartment in Brooklyn with 3 others so that stress is off now. </p>
<p>Her brother has not decided on a school for fall yet. He is choosing between two. We visited one yesterday and are visiting the other one on Monday. That whole saga is posted in the Class of '14 thread but I am still hanging out on the SS Indecision. </p>
<p>Time has flown by. Tried to go back and read what’s been happening here. Sounds like everyone is mostly in good places. DS has not been home since Christmas and his little sister is now counting the days and hours until we drive out to get him!
I think he’s had a good semester, and he made some interesting class choices for next year. He decided to pick up an extra philosophy class and a photography class because he said, “I’m going to be here anyway, might as well get the most out of it!” So along with his 4 engineering classes and his piano classes he’ll be taking a history, philosophy and photography. He had to go to the Dean to get the extra credits approved and he was really excited and already looking forward to the fall.
He’s still waiting to hear from one or two intern opportunities for the summer, but he’s got a paid IT job waiting near home so that looks to be the likely route. </p>
<p>Hope everyone has been well and wishing all our kids good luck on their final exams.</p>
<p>Finals time. D1, the senior, is about to turn in her last college paper…and has a job after graduation - so hooray! D2 is crunching through the finals in her heavy course load. Hard to believe sophomore year is over. She got her security clearance for her summer internship - so we begin the search for overseas housing. A little scary. I am hoping the Embassy can at least point us in the right direction. Hope all is well and the DCs are finishing strong.</p>
<p>Same here - except mine are guys, not gals. Both finished classes yesterday. Finals for oldest start today. He graduates next Saturday and has a job lined up!!! Middle starts finals next week and will mostly be home for the summer - except for two weeks when he’ll be on a medical missions trip to the Ivory Coast. When he returns from that he should definitely know if medicine is the path he wants to follow… as they promise a ton of experiences, far more than he gets here for various legal reasons.</p>
<p>For me, youngest graduates high school May 30th, so I’m glad at least two are home for one final summer before the empty nest (and more medical “ugh” will need to start). I’m hopeful the medical stuff can wait until we drop them both off in August. On days like today I’m not so sure. Other days it seems likely. So far I’ve been able to wait out the “ugh” days.</p>
<p>I only have 3 months until the empty nest. I’ve been working on hobbies for myself - here’s what I have - more golfing, a new book club, I’m trying to get more active by walking 3 - 4 nights a week, I’m getting a new maine coon kitten i’m going to potty train - lol. I’m thinking of starting an empty nesters dinner club - where we can rotate either hosting or going out to dinner once a month for all the new empty nesters.</p>
<p>Before then my son will be home for the summer. I’m assuming right now he’s on a covert ops mission given his level of communication with us. He’s still tight with his friends from here so I assume I’ll be hosting piles of kids all summer long again. We’re finishing the basement as we speak, I probably should have waited until after they left again!</p>
<p>BarnardGirl is finishing up classes and getting ready for finals. Her BF graduates from U of Michigan tomorrow and moves to NYC on Sunday. She’ll be coming home for a week and a half in late May/early June so she’ll be here for her brother’s high school graduation. Other than that, she’s in NYC this summer. Empty nest in 4 months. Yikes.</p>
<p>My “baby” comes homes next Tuesday and will spend a few weeks at home before heading off to Rome for a month-long program through his university. After that, I’m hoping he finds some kind of employment for the remainder of the summer although it may be difficult to start a job in July. Suggestions???</p>
<p>We have gotten used to the empty nest (older son graduated college 2013) but I always look forward to having the boys home for summer. This will be the first summer that our older son isn’t home - he accepted another job this past February (his dream job) and relocated to the Windy City!</p>
<p>Yes, hard to believe the 2012ers are halfway done - my guy doesn’t like to think about that! </p>
<p>This summer will be a blur. D’12 at home and working all summer; she has her off campus housing set up for fall Semester and has got everything arranged to spend Spring 2015 Semester abroad. So proud. No prodding - just “done” and “done” Summer will be spent touring colleges for S’15.</p>
<p>I just need to vent. I am incredibly frustrated that financial aid award notices do not get sent until the first week of July. I have no idea how to budget for the next year because I don’t know how much I have to pay. I peeked at the payment plan information and one payment plan option begins May 1st. The other begins July 1st. How can I sign up for these when I don’t know how much we’re going to owe??? It bothered me last year, but with a second kid starting college in the fall, it’s even more frustrating. </p>
<p>You can start with one payment plan, then change it later when you get the FA information. Last year I used full meal plan cost in my calculation then later found out D2’s sorority didn’t provide full 3 meals, so the cost went down and I had no problem in adjusting my monthly payment.</p>
<p>We’re moving into uncharted territory with S who will be living off-campus next year. Although we know rent costs the food costs are uncertain. With his bottomless stomach, it was easier staying with the unlimited food plan and having him pay for any meals out. I think we’ll give him the equivalent amount of money as the unlimited food plan and pay for one meal a day on campus. </p>
<p>He’s off to an internship for 10 weeks this summer, so we won’t see much of him. I’m happy it has worked out, but will be sad to see so little of him.</p>
<p>Hi all, its been such a long time since I’ve visited this cc thread as well as the 2010 thread. Time has flown. Two years down…</p>
<p>Northernwoods, S’s college’s parents have an FB page where we share info. The latest discussion was about kids moving off campus and the expenses. Perhaps, your parents have an FB page, as well. DH likes to plan the budget ahead of time and it helps to know what to expect. </p>
<p>D’14 is finishing up her last 2 finals which are papers. She is also moving her things into storage and getting ready to go abroad for a brief summer internship. I’ll be meeting her there for her last week and will spend a few days with her afterwards. She’s bittersweet about this year. Academically, she did very well but athletically, she wished the season hadn’t ended so soon. She had struggled in her sport early in the season and was finally getting her groove back in time for the conference championships. </p>
<p>Next year, she will be a research fellow with plans to present her research at a statewide conference in the spring. She will be juggling quite a bit with school, research and sports. She doesn’t seem to be nervous about it but I am (though I won’t say anything). </p>
<p>@oldfort That’s good to hear. I will probably do that then. I know if I join the payment plan late, I have to pay the back payments immediately. I wonder how they handle it if I have to increase the payment plan. I suspect they’ll want the difference for the months I’ve already paid right away. </p>
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