<p>Thank you all so much for your commiseration and kind, thoughtful, honest words. You probably can’t guess how much it means to me. AMTC-- you are right, she has one great choice, in fact she might have chosen it over many of the others. And I think it will be a wonderful spot for her in most ways.</p>
<p>And MizzBee, you could be describing D when you speak of your friend who’s had a hard audition process. She is so dedicated, has shown so much initiative, devoted herself to learning every aspect of theater over the years, while always keeping her grades up etc. And she’s been wonderful on stage. But on stage, most of the work is dialogue, working with other actors to create honest relationships and scenes. She once told me that if she ever got a tattoo, it would just be the word “ensemble” because that’s what theatre is all about. In the audition process you are judged solely on monologues, delivered into the air. The decision makers usually don’t even see your essays or recommendations! </p>
<p>So it has been a punishing season, for someone whose heart and mind are absolutely in the right place, and whose ego is a bit shaky. But she only has one more to hear from and then she can go on to the conservatory education she has wanted forever. And for me, I’ve been very lucky to have such smart pals through this journey. Thank you.</p>
<p>I will be thinking of college trip ideas at work today. Chicago will be easy, but Indiana has more limited travel opportunities, unless you want to experience down-home festivals near the more selective colleges.</p>
<p><em>nod</em>. The MT world is SO outrageously competitive. I think it’s perhaps especially bad for our kids’ generation, because you’ve got so many little ones drawn in to the performing scene by the success of things like American Idol, High School Musical, So You Think You Can Dance, Glee, etc. It’s become a very popular activity, in a way it was not for my generation.</p>
<p>I’ve done some theater myself and it was really brought home for me the last few years how insanely difficult it is to make a career on Broadway by watching the experience of a young woman who was in a show with me a few years back. She is literally the most talented performer I’ve ever actually met–true triple threat with a beautiful voice, incredible dance skills and the acting chops to do straight stuff convincingly. She headed to NYC, and I thought if anyone can make it she can. After a couple years of struggle, she’s pursuing other interests (which, thankfully, she has after getting a UG degree from Berkeley). It’s just tough out there–like trying to become a pro athlete, really.</p>
<p>A CC Mom did write a book about admissions - plenty of mentions of CC as well. For those who have not heard of it, it’s called “The Neurotic Parent’s Guide to College Admissions” and it is probably the funniest take on the process I’ve ever read. Of course, it’s funnier now that we’re thru it, but funny nonetheless.</p>
<p>I am not thrilled with D’s choices at hand and certainly not as torn as I was felt when S got into so many really great schools. But at the end of the day, she’s done exactly what she’s wanted to do, applied where she wanted to and had a mixed bag of results. In at three, wait listed at one and formally rejected by two. We have not yet heard back from the third because their portal system just never worked for her, despite our trying to get it figured out back in February. HAd it been high on her list, we would have perhaps tried harder, but it’s for Tulane, my H’s alma mater. We’ve given very little money to them over the years and my H just thinks B would get eaten alive by the debutants and southern belle thing. I tried to tell him that somethings change in 30 years, and his response was… I haven’t even mentioned Bourbon street! So… his feeling was always that D would not be best served at such a big school with such a southern population. Apparently in 1980 he had a roommate that still was convinced there needed to be separate water fountains! Unreal to me… but I am a northern girl born, raised and the closest I’ve come to living in the south was 8 months in Sarasota Fl following my divorce from my first husband!</p>
<p>MizzBee - You can stop off in Huntingburg to see the field where “A League of Their Own” was filmed. Unfortunately, no good eats that I’m aware of. Then just 2 hours or so east you could stop at the Louiville Slugger Museum.</p>
<p>p.s. HAPPY OPENING DAY OF BASEBALL SEASON - the post football sports doldrums are officially over! (We are not mad for March madness at our house)</p>
<p>weatherga- the very thing that popped into my mind for the trip to IN was the covered Bridge festival and a short trip through Turkey Run State park. Truthfully you could cover Rose Hulman, Indiana State Univeristy, St. Mary’s-of-the-Wood, DePauw, Wabash and Purdue with that trip. Eat at the Beef House in Covington and that should be covered. IU in Bloomington could be handled in the fall with a trip to lood at the leaves (brown County IN). Hanover has a riverboat and Ohio River…yes, I see this shaping up. Anyone in SB area that can contribute for Notre Dame?</p>
<p>saintfan-I would also say Happy Baseball Season, but I am a Cubs fan, so I am by definition never happy during baseball season.
DH is not mad for March either. </p>
<p>Modadunn- your description of Tulane is so very different than what I expect, I am glad we are visiting next month. I still don’t expect DS to end up there, buthe is worried taht he will be out of place with all the East Coast kids! He didn’t want to go to school in the East Coast and now he is worried that he will be trapped in a school with New York and Boston accents everywhere.</p>
<p>CMU contratulations to cortana431 and Northernwoods’ S! Cortana, that’s not the end of the road you’re seeing. It’s just a “T” where you’ll need to decide in which direction you want to continue your travels. Know what you meant, though.</p>
<p>saintfan – “Miss Technicality,” hmmm … My INTJ S is sometimes known as “the irony police.” One of his pet peeves is incorrect use of the word “ironic.” If one of us wants to use it, we have to run the situation by him first for approval. He also can’t stand “literally” (and I’ll have to admit I’m with him on that one). “I’m literally drowning in paperwork!” “You look like you’re breathing OK to me.”</p>
<p>mspearl – It would be easy for me to attempt to be cute and suggest that God still has some connections at that formerly Episcopal college and that he used them to let your D know that yes, she really is that good, but I think it’s a little more complicated than that. We all have opinions but you know her better than any of us and I have faith that you’ll help her get to the decision that’s right for her.</p>
<p>lisabees – What’s your H’s instrument? Oberlin is a great place for jazz.</p>
<p>The3bears – Welcome!</p>
<p>ELKyes – Congratulations on being done!</p>
<p>jerseygirl14 – The admissions game has gotten nuts. No question. </p>
<p>Gwen Fairfax – Your post reminds me that I should thank S for sparing us the audition process. It takes a really special kid to make it in the arts world. It must be hard to watch, but this process will no doubt make her stronger. I’m hoping for the best for her.</p>
<p>Re: “Skin in the game,” I’ve discussed loans with S and if he wants to go to a more expensive school, he’ll be on-hook for the subsidized Staffords. He’s debt averse, so this will help him make a good decision (i.e., it’ll really have to be “worth it”).</p>
<p>We are in the Midwest (born and raised) and my sister and her husband were transferred to Hartford, CT a couple years ago. She advised my DD to “stay out of the NE!” for her college search" Of course DD still HAD to apply to 1 Ivy for “Ivies sake”</p>
<p>Let me qualify - we are HUGE Midwest “snobs” so, its more our problem than anyone’s from the NE</p>
<p>I’m so excited for everyone, especially those who are choosing a school!</p>
<p>I’m really nervous for financial aid packages. I STILL haven’t received my Smith acceptance + FA packet, hopefully it will come today. </p>
<p>Brown has a financial aid policy where parent contribution is eliminated for families making under 80k, and under 100k, loans are eliminated. So I should have no loans and no parent contribution. But, what would be my “EFC” then, and where do they think the money will all come from? Me? </p>
<p>Curious to see what my package will look like, hopefully it will come for next Tuesday. </p>
<p>If no loans are included in my package, can I request an unsub loan, or no?</p>
<p>PS- JHU decisions are tomorrow, emails start going out AFTER 6 pm.
I know glido is also waiting for that.</p>
<p>So I called the honors college at the state school S applied to today because S had never heard about a scholarship from them. They sent out either a yes or a no a couple weeks ago to all who applied for a scholarship through the honors college. Apparently he fell through the cracks. His application (multiple essays and two letters of rec) hadn’t been reviewed. All the money is doled out by now. They’re checking into it, but i don’t have any hope of them finding more money for a kid whose file they misplaced. Only about a quarter of honors kids get $$, and it ranges from $1,000-$6,000, so I am consoling myself by thinking he probably wouldn’t have gotten a ton (if any) even if he hadn’t gotten lost. </p>
<p>But still. I’m feeling disappointed and frustrated.</p>
<p>Oh, PN, that is horrible! I know how much work went into those (which is why DS didn’t bother). Hopefully some mor money will pop up, since many students apply and receive the merit aid and still go elsewhere. I would keep on the Honors College/FA office in hopes of getting something.</p>
<p>Ugh, PN! That is just awful. I sure hope they can figure out a way to do something. </p>
<p>CPU, I think that means you’re going to be looking at a package with Stafford, workstudy, and lots of grant aid. Sure hope so!</p>
<p>For the Indiana trip: DS and I have 2 recommendations from our travels last summer. 1) there’s a great antiques mall in downtown Bloomington. 2) stop at a Culver’s for a “butterburger” (?!?) and frozen custard. I’d never heard of this chain and am really glad they don’t have them where we live.</p>
<p>In Bloomington - Farm restaurant. Gourmet dining on local foods. Charming restaurant on the town square. yum. </p>
<p>Thanks for the shared frustration for the honors $$ screw up. I like giterdone’s idea. The max of $6,000 per year. And heck, maybe another couple thousand for emotional suffering? </p>
<p>I’ll admit - I’m feeling a little beat up about it. You all know how hard it is to keep on top of everything and meet all the deadlines. And then to just picture his file…what? </p>
<p>Falling behind someone’s desk? </p>
<p>Falling out of the window? </p>
<p>Having some application reader use it as toilet paper? </p>
<p>Having someone think, “oh cool, this is the best application yet. Let’s select it for the prestigious honor of placing it into our time capsule, not to be opened for 100 years when the scholarship committee of 2112 can read through it to see what high school kids were doing back in our day?”</p>
<p>I just don’t have any hope they’ll come up with money at this point, no matter how sorry they are that they missed it or how great they think he is.</p>
We all have opinions but you know her better than any of us and I have faith that you’ll help her get to the decision that’s right for her.</p>
so, its more our problem than anyone’s from the NE</p>