<p>Congrats to all who earned/deserve/want them
Hugs and well wishes to those who need them!</p>
<p>Last day of school here is 6/14. I’ll be happy when it’s over. I think my son is wishing there was an additional month left. He’s been doing well with completeing his past due homewrok assignments but he also has to keep current AND work on his quarterly projects. He stayed in his comfort zone this quarter in that he has chosen to write stories for all of his projects, even for physics and precalculus. I can’t wait to see how those turn out. </p>
<p>I’m anxiously awaiting his SAT results. I think they’re supposed to be relased 5/24. I have a meeting with his GC the next day to really look at his list of schools. Now that 3 classes have graduated from his school, I’m hoping she can give some insight into things. Naviance is only so helpful. </p>
<p>He’s been getting a lot of emails saying he’s a special VIP applicant and to be on the lookout for the early special VIP application with no application fee. None are from schools that have made the list as it stands now but I’m thinking he might make use of a couple of them. </p>
<p>As much as S’13 says he understands the financial issue, and as much as he says he will go wherever he gets the most money - I think he secretly has his heart set on Julliard. He’s got as good a chance as anyone to be accepted, but it is very unlikely that they would give enough aid to make it work. They only give need-based aid (because obviously, everyone accepted is talented). Voice teacher says they might give a little more because S has an unusual voice type, but I’m not counting on it. Hoping he falls in love with his #2 choice when he goes to camp there this summer.</p>
<p>Major Chemical Explosion this morning. And late for AP Test again (by minutes)-- though I think the major Chem explosion should be a good excuse. 1 of our volunteer fire/police died of a heart attack (he had a pre-existing condition). No other casualties, but lots of dizziness, nausea, headaches. And lots of worry the company won’t rebuild and the job losses.</p>
<p>Our public school was closed, but my kids go to school out of state. My parents were freaking out that I sent them to school since school has no A/C and we were told under no circumstances to open windows - however, the invisible state barrier protects the air and NJ was not given any restrictions. I had more calls this morning from Dad then I’ve had in my entire life. I finally convinced him that my kids are indeed at least as safe then locked up at home. The dog on the other hand…I’m worried about her.</p>
<p>Last day of school for us is June 7th. Finals are the 4-6th.</p>
<p>Finances – my kid hears what we say, but he doesn’t really get it.</p>
<p>Hi Everyone, well D’13 finished her DE classes and started her summer Eng 101 which at it’s completion will make her officially a senior! Tomorrow is her only AP exam, WH (remember she started the yr as a Soph), she is stressed but I think she will do fine. School is over June 5th.</p>
<p>Ah the College finance talk, it is a hard conversation for many parents to have. When we were overseas I sub. taught at the US Schools on base and I can’t tell you the number of seniors that would say to me Mrs XXXX how can I find more money for school? I applied and I was accepted and now my parents say they can’t afford it. It always made me very sad. For D we did the Florida Prepaid when she was a baby, then a few years back the military allowed the transfer of the GI Bill which allows D a a lot of options. We as a family have made a lot of sacrifices over the past 19yrs and H has definitely seen reduced income while in the serving the Air Force but honestly the value and peace of mind the GI Bill gives us makes every move and every deployment worth it!!</p>
<p>D announced today that she wants to apply to Harvard, she doesn’t plan on attending but would love an acceptance letter…I wonder if she would really be able to turn it down?</p>
<p>Word from AP Language test taker is that it was “easy!” Considering that the English teacher is fantastic and that D wants to major in English, I wouldn’t have expected much more.</p>
<p>nellieh: we also told our D a $$ that’s a little less than we can probably pull off. Trouble is that DH is used to the full ride that D1 has and he hasn’t seen me run the #'s. He & I need to have a chat because if the magic Ivy fairy decides to bestow an acceptance onto our D, then I want us both to know what we’ll say, KWIM?</p>
<p>APLAC: The daughter units called after the test and DDb13 said it was “boring” but she definitely got a 3 or better. DDa13 said she beasted it and probably got a 5. That little sh&* is probably right. They said there were two easy and two hard reading passages and that the essays were easy.</p>
<p>The Benjamins: Sigh. DDa13 has a full ride to any in-state public school because of GSP. That scholar designation also helps at the two in-state LACs that she is interested in. I doubt Vandy (her reach) will care about it though! Both kids can attend UofL tuition free as well because DH is on faculty there. Do either one want to go there? Nooooo… For DD13b I understand because they really don’t have her major. She would go there if they did; she likes the campus. We have had the money talk. I’m willing to pay for room and board if they can get 90% of tuition from merit and other scholarships at an OOS or LAC school. That’s it. I keep hammering home that we want to help them with grad/med school, but we can’t if they do not get their undergrad degree in a frugal manner. They get it. I think.</p>
<p>Fetal Curl 2013: I think we will have to break the party into Part One and Part Deux. The vitual cocktail hour Part One will commence on May 25th at 4:58 pm EST until we fall into a stupor :). Part Deux will begin on June 22nd at 4:52 pm EST. Please mark your calendars! And you left coasters can start your evening early since you are three hours behind Cheers!</p>
<p>Longhaul - OMG! horrible story. Hope the dog is indeed ok!!! </p>
<p>Today was Step-D’s last day of finals. School is OUT! ( do I win for earliest end of year?) ha ha </p>
<p>I’m down in Florida right now because I volunteered to put together the Teacher Appreciation Luncheon this year. Going to do errands with Step-D tomorrow, H flies in tomorrow night and then Luncheon on Friday. This party will probably my ‘last act’ as a Parent Volunteer at the school (given that I don’t even live in this state any longer! lol) but it was a fun experience for me (the volunteering I mean) and I’m glad that I could still contribute in this way despite having moved away last year. Hope the teachers and other staff have a ball at the lunch </p>
<p>I have read the conversations about whom is a Dad and whom is not and I have to admit I am confused. I’ve gone for weeks thinking that “Steve” and “Rob” are guys, but I no longer think they are. I’m fairly sure “dad” in Florida is a dad, but I’m not sure about that any longer either! ha ha </p>
<p>I want to clarify something with “Steve” that I read a few pages back because I can’t believe it. Your D might not want to play her sport in college, I’m gathering, so you told her she would have to quit the team and find a job? Is that really true? You wouldn’t want her just to play for fun or for the physical fitness aspect? Perhaps I’m not understanding what you wrote, but that’s the impression I got and I was taken aback!!</p>
<p>I’d like to say that I understand the FA and other related stuff that you guys are so knowledgeable about, but I just don’t so I’ll be quiet. ha I do admire how well versed you all are about the $$ aspect of things. I simply don’t have the first clue beyond the basics.</p>
<p>Lauren, you are not alone. We have lots of in-state options and are keeping the kids’ focus on those schools. Fortunately none of them seems to want to flee as far away as possible so this is working all right. There are some out of state schools in the mix but fortunately the kids seem to understand those are unlikely to happen (well, and one is Chapel Hill, which is just generally unlikely to happen regardless of the $ aspect).
Wish school was out here. We have until mid-June.</p>
<p>Well, Jr has updated is Top 5 again…UGH!!!
Stanford/Harvard (this will depend on how his recruiting trips go over the summer)
Penn (this one is new to the list)
Duke
USC</p>
<p>He informed me that I will probably need to make a trip to the “Hills” to negotiate an early withdrawal from MY inheritance…He also reminded of me of the time I said that I would eat “rice and beans for 4 years” if he got into his top choice. Pretty sure this was said on a Sunday afternoon after a few rum drinks. Me and my big mouth
Needless to say, D14 is rapidly turning into the “favorite child” in the house.</p>
<p>dadotwo - Thanks for clearing that up! ha ha </p>
<p>89Wahoo - Yes, you do have tons of options. Having just moved to your neck of the woods last year, all of my neighbors’ kids are at the various state schools and they are all doing wonderfully well. Of COURSE Step-D does not want to go to any of these schools since they are all “TOO CLOSE” to her father and I. sigh. Well, I take that back. She LOVED our trip to Blacksburg, but we found out ~after~ we visited that they don’t have her major. sigh… There is one school quite close to us that I think she will apply to, but I think it’s not close to the top of her list since it’s not far at all from where we live. double sigh </p>
<p>MDMOM1314 - You are hilarious. At least you weren’t drinking Sunday Brunch Mimosas! Who knows what you would have promised him then! ;)</p>
<p>Lauren: I swear…that kid will be the death of me…</p>
<p>Sr class graduates on the 26th and each family is allowed 6 tickets ONLY!!! WTH!!! I’m not saying that I need enough tickets for a small village, but at least a few grandparents. I mean…come on man!!!</p>
<p>Lauren – Your financial situation will be more complex than some of ours since it is your step-daughter. My niece’s was complex due to her non-custodial parent who is often MIA, her step-dad and step-sis in college and the schools she applied. Some wanted just her Mom’s info, others included the step-dad and took into consideration step-sis in college, some didn’t take step-sis into consideration…All I learned from it, FAFSA is best if you have NCP issues and little in assets.</p>
<p>2 younger kids home from school. Dog is fine. House still smells. No injuries directly related to the explosion. Firehouse draped in black for the great volunteer who suffered a heart attack. Still should stay indoors, but many folks are sitting outside the firehouse. Just thankful it all happened overnight with less employees at work.</p>
<p>I need to go post in the FA area. My employee tuition benefit is “portable” and I’ve been talking to that department to make sure I understand how that works. But I have no idea (and neither does my department) how other schools FA departments look at it. I am very grateful for the benefit, especially since I become eligible in roughly a year, but I have no experience with it and keep hearing varying explanations of how helpful it truly is. </p>
<p>Lauren: I think you are the “winner” of first one done. Congratulations to your rising senior When does she go back?</p>
<p>Longhaul: hope your dog is OK! ETA: Glad to hear that all is (relatively) well.</p>
<p>tx5athome, it sounds like your S3 will be extremely busy next year!</p>
<p>SteveMA, I like the sound of the ‘assignment’. Although D13 was a spectator last summer/fall when S12 was busy writing his essays, etc., I don’t think she realizes all the work that he did. Well, I guess she’ll understand soon…</p>
<p>About the FA issues, when S12 was applying last fall Time Magazine came out with an article about UG debt and I got him to read it – he was appalled. I think I’ll see if I kept the magazine so that D13 can have a look.</p>
<p>Ama308, around here even the trades can be a bit dicey, it’s either feast or famine. </p>
<p>Longhaul, when will you be able to air out the house? It sounds pretty scary! I’m glad the dog is okay!</p>
