<p>Hi guys…I think I’m going to need someone to take my serving shift. I haz a sad… </p>
<p>The first half we looked like we were REALLY going to do it. The Fab Five was in the house, and all was right. Then… ugh. </p>
<p>YDS - heh heh heh heh heh. </p>
<p>Greek - That’s amazing! Such wonderful news! Have 2 shots of ouzo today!! :)</p>
<p>ETA: Megpmom- Hope S isn’t taking it too badly. When he wins his Tony, he can mention this injustice!! (ha.) Sorry to hear about niece. Hope she realizes that the debt is going to cripple her in the future! Especially as an art history major!</p>
<p>Congrats for all the decisions & hugs for those still going through the process.</p>
<p>The good: S13 took the train to DC & maneuvered the subway to A U for an overnight without us. So proud that he didn’t let his anxieties stop him! He has fought long & hard to keep them at bay.</p>
<p>The sad: He likes the school for his major, but is not comfortable with the students or the “feel”. Way to competitive & backstabbing feeling he said… I thought it was a great place for him, but it will save me TONS of $ as they offered the least aid. </p>
<p>The undecided: 1 more college visit & then hopefully a decision will be made…</p>
<p>Wonderful news Greek! Yeah! Good luck to everyone still in the throws of decisions. DD is home from NO and now we will have to wait and see. And wait. And wait. Trying to be a supportive mom, but as you can see, I’m not so good at this waiting thing. LOL!</p>
<p>Just popped in today to see all the great news. Great to see that a lot of decisions are finally happening and that kids are starting to find their way. I think it will take me days to catch up here. Seems like there is much celebrating going on here and I am missing out on some great food and spirits!!!
Big Congrats to those of you that are in the process of winding down your decisions or that have made them and are modeling sweatshirts of many colors. I got a Cornell Class of 17 T-shirt in the mail yesterday….shhh don’t tell my D because I will just sleep in it when she is gone…it cost me a $100 for that shirt and I am going to wear it!! LOL!!!</p>
<p>I’m happy to report that ldog and I have reached a truce via PM, and I no longer think I’ll be poisoned or thrown overboard.</p>
<p>megp, our school suffers the same fate at UIL. We advance and then can’t compete against other schools that have amazing sets. Of course, those sets aren’t supposed to matter, but you can’t unring that bell. A drama mom told me last year that when the curtain opened for one school, the whole audience gasped at the wonderment of their set. Not fair. Oh well. What were the other kids in region doing while your ds was taking master classes??? Harumph. We all know he’s the most talented!</p>
<p>My kids pick their own majors. I only ask that they can get a job after their done with school.</p>
<p>Interestingly enough, DDHM, game design DS is studying Japanese and studying abroad in Japan this summer. Hope it helps him with job prospects!</p>
<p>megpmom, sorry to hear about the musical. Around here, there are 3 budget categories for some of the awards (best musical, costumes, sets, lighting), so smaller and less wealthy schools have a shot at awards. I don’t think it extends to the acting categories though.</p>
<p>Woohoo Greekmana! I can’t wait to hear your son’s choice, Kelowna!</p>
<p>I’m pouring Dom Perignon all around because D13 had a great visit to Ole Miss and accepted the Stamps scholarship! She’ll be living in the residential college and participating in the international studies and public policy institutes as well as the Chinese flagship. Let me know if any of your kids will be in those programs.</p>
<p>Loved seeing how our list chose both Duke and Carolina yesterday! Congrats, Greek and Amazhon! Let your rivalry begin…just as L-Dog’s and YDS’s dies (sorry Laurendog. I was rooting for Michigan, too, as you know). </p>
<p>DDHM and MamaB, I have a brother who is gainfully employed as a video designer (head of a creative team). He manages to support wife, daughter, and the one in the oven, due out in June. He is in great demand to teach college courses, too. He usually agrees to one evening course each semester. All sorts of great perks come with this job too. So do not despair. </p>
<p>Sorry about Pitt, MommyDear. And too bad about the Tony, megpmom. At least he knows he should have won. I told my DD16 when she didn’t win at State Science Fair this year–after doing an awesome project with mass spectrometer data–that sometimes life isn’t fair (and sometimes, other projects aren’t really science, either!). I am still trying to position it as a life-learning moment!</p>
<p>Congrats, Apollo, WOW! What a wonderful scholarship and situation. </p>
<p>I also can’t wait to hear Kelowna’s DS’s choice! </p>
<p>I will join you in the corner of choosing your own major, MamaBear1234. I am encouraging DS13 to shop around and find a great major he loves rather than heading toward some pre-med choice as he keeps saying he will. I appreciated hearing the Penn Dean’s advice, DDHM. (And, not to be too personal, but since you brought it up and since we’re all imaginary, how is your bottom?) </p>
<p>Since I have verged much too close to Critter in terms of risque posts, I will end. :)</p>
<p>I’m still back on 23224-- Ldog-- you’re going to Europe??? Where? Hopefully you aren’t cruising there. I think the parent’s need a graduation present too. Enjoy!</p>
<p>I’m with LDOG on that Megpmom - your S will have his Tony in his own good time and can shove it up all their noses. </p>
<p>I’ll be needing a nice tall rum and coke before discussing majors. Frankly, I need it to numb my tongue I’ve been chewing on for months! DD13 has worked so hard on a stellar GPA and all that yada yada and what does she say her goal is? She’d like to bake cupcakes. Huh? When did you stop wanting to be a ‘green scientist’? This goes on for months…I say I will be supportive of the cupcakes if she will get a business degree first so she can run her business well. Whew, fall back plans are good. But NOW she’ll be keeping UCD on a backburner while in Germany next year during which time she now intends to explore medical school in Germany to be a radiologist. *I don’t know whether to bang my head on the wall or dance. I’ll be needing some chocolate with that drink please! Looks like I’ll be riding the SS Indecision into dry dock next year… oh dear.</p>
<p>For all the S and Ds considering game designs as a major… excellent choice. DD13 is the last of 6 (my screen name should be WEHAVEAHERD) but I digress … of all of our older kids and all their many friends the only ones that have come through the current economic turbulence without any unemployment are those in IT and Gaming jobs…</p>
<p>pouncecat2- a full year of cruising. How very exciting. You may need detox after this!</p>
<p>So I need help figuring out how long to stay at move-in. I want to make my hotel arrangements, but I’m not sure how long before and how long after move in that we should plan to be there. We will be flying in so… what do you think? Move-in is on Tuesday Aug. 20. I figure we need a day for shopping beforehand. Is flying out on the 21st too soon?</p>
<p>With a Tuesday move in I’d be inclined to fly in Sunday and out Wednesday morning. Actually DD13 would probably like to say good bye on Tuesday evening but I suspect you won’t get a convenient flight until the next day. Thus allowing for one last evening together. :-)</p>
<p>Anybody thinking about taking minimal stuff to move in, getting a look at the real set up in the assigned dorm then doing some online shopping with delivery to the kids at school about a week later?</p>
<p>A day after move-in to shop for unanticipated extras (bed risers! power strips! Command hooks!) is a real luxury. And many schools will have some events or programming for the parents, which is nice if you’re not very familiar with the campus.</p>
<p>It’s also a great time to hit some of the more popular local eateries to buy gift cards to send along to DD or DS as little gifts throughout the year! :)</p>
<p>I would plan on arriving the day before and then staying for the parent program. Schools usually have something for the parents. Pitt has one at the Peterson Center and parents usually leave after it. Some of the schools have a tentative schedule posted on their websites already so you may want to check. I know hotel rooms will be at a premium (especially the closer ones) so it would be wise to book your hotels now. And if you plan to attend family weekend, book your hotels now (if you know the dates).</p>
<p>For older DS, we drove so was able to bring everything with us. For younger DS, I believe Amazon Prime will be our best friend </p>
<p>Visiting two more schools in the next two weeks and hopefully a decision soon after!!</p>
<p>Good evening cruisers! Can I get anyone a Margarita?</p>
<p>Greek: for D1 we moved her in on a Saturday and Sunday they had a new student convocation that the parents went to. You might ask housing or the parents group (there is a parent page on FB for S2’s school that had all sorts of useful information). But I think you would be safe to go home the next day.</p>
<p>Good news! S3’s tennis team beat the #1 team in league 10-8 today so it looks like they will be co-league champions! He and his partner won all three of their sets today to put them over the edge. Woo hoo! </p>
<p>Congratulations on any new decisions and any narrowing down!!</p>
<p>EastGrad: You will be glad to hear that there was so much walking…SO MUCH WALKING!!!..around campus and to and from the train station that I was singing “Death on Two Legs” and did not gain any poundage. I am hoping DD13 will be happily singing “I want to Break Free” in August.</p>
<p>Hey, Pouncecat, don’t knock baking. I have a relative very gainfully employed decorating custom order specialty cakes. She is incredibly, incredibly talented, and people pay a lot for what she does. The problem is that it is very time consuming!</p>
<p>I have noticed that people are more willing to pay a lot for what they want, not what they need.</p>
<p>I tell my kids: Find what you love to do and do really well. Determine whether it is something people will pay you to do. If so, it can be a career. If not, it can be your hobby. :D</p>
<p>DDHM - Oh I’ve paid big bucks for some wow factor cakes so I see the potential. One concern I have is that I see our national obsession with the fanciful cakes and cupcakes as a fad. DD13 maybe late to the party. I tried to sell her on the idea of baking as a hobby…no sale. Then the ship takes a roll and she’s considering medical school… good thing she’ll be taking a gap year to sort this out. She’s got some exploring to do in Germany. Got Dramamine? I think I’m get’n seasick… :-0 ***</p>
</p>
</p>
</p>