<p>Ama–6:15 in which time zone?? :D</p>
<p>Sorry for b Walker. Tough road for her major. Hang in there!</p>
<p>Walker - Congratulations to DDa! Sorry for DDb. Good luck at the meet tonight!</p>
<p>Congrats to all for acceptances! Such talented kids on this thread!</p>
<p>Sorry Walker for DDb. Always so hard to watch our kids be disappointed, but I have no doubt something else amazing is coming for your darling one.</p>
<p>Finally getting to celebrate the holidays with BOTH my kids now that DD is home from college. Best news is that she is on the deans list at her university. One proud mom here!! :)</p>
<p>Keli…we have retirement concerns too…we explained up front how much we could pay and how much S could get in stafford loans…we also made it clear that we would not consign for any additional loans…we chose schools to apply to where S would have a good chance at merit to make up the difference (or more so he wouldn’t have to take out loans. He did apply to some schools that might end up being unaffordable…due to some unusual circumstances, we don’t know how the aid will play out…S is fully aware upfront that acceptance is only the first hurdle. I think you should talk numbers with him before you get any further along…good luck!</p>
<p>No school closings here, but there have been weird rumors of shootings at locals schools, so our school sent out a message about it.</p>
<p>I was out driving today and realized I need to teach my son how to drive in snow…it was such a mild winter last year, and he wasn’t driving the year before (which was a terrible, long winter.)</p>
<p>S got another $5k/year offer from semi-local U…makes it about $4k/year out of pocket…still think it will stay last on the list.</p>
<p>Back from running errands with S2. Surprisingly, there was no line for renewing his passport. At a friend’s suggestion we went to the county clerk’s office instead of the post office and it was a breeze. The clerks were even nice!! Then a little Christmas shopping (he bought something for his sister and got an idea for dad). We had a nice college talk over lunch at Chik-fil-A (his favorite). He has decided that he only wants to audition at Juilliard (despite having 3 additional apps/prescreens out at other colleges). If he doesn’t pass the prescreen for J or fails the audition - then he is perfectly happy at Westminster (already accepted, nice merit aid). Also, even if he gets accepted at J and the money doesn’t work out - he’s perfectly happy at Westminster.</p>
<p>I’m just so glad that he’s finally started thinking about what he really wants. Prior to this, I think he was just going through the motions - not really considering what he liked/disliked about a college. Critical thinking, imagine that! (He’s even started saying, "Next year, when I’m at Westminster… - so cute!)</p>
<p>D13 accepted at Elon with $$ - her first choice - woohoo!</p>
<p>D just got an early Christmas surprise! She just found out that she is being invited back to her #1 choice school TCU for a very competitive Chancellor’s scholarship that will cover her full OOS tuition! We also got the good news that she can indeed be part of the Honors College and an NCAA Div 1 Athlete.</p>
<p>Since my last check in earlier today, I have gotten a call-back from that phone interview I mentioned yesterday. They want an in-person look at me after the first of the year. Nice to know I made it to the next round!</p>
<p>Also, DS got an invite to a half-day interview in January at Alabama for the Blount Initiative, which he is real excited about. I’ll probably hop over to the Alabama thread and find out more about what to expect.</p>
<p>Walker–congrats on DD13a getting accepted to Transylvania University today and good luck on the William T. Young (full tuition and stipend). Hate that for DD13b and her intended major. Maybe she’s allowed in the basement for just one? ;)</p>
<p>MTNest and Mommydearest–thanks guys for your insight. Yep, we’ve talked some rough figures, but so much is in the air right now with me being basically underemployed and earnestly looking for full-time work and DS taking a Gap Year. So much could happen in the next several months to change our financial picture.</p>
<p>I only have a moderate idea what kind of financial aid we would qualify for, based on the net price calculators out there, but I’m nervous. If I am able to secure employment, we could probably cash flow quite a bit and he might need to consider a small loan and/or work to supplement. We just won’t be co-signing for any loans. </p>
<p>We do have that one financial safety tucked away, the one that is a full ride, and he knows that may have to be the one even though it is clearly not top pick. Just makes me nervous seeing him get so excited about any one school, even though I told him to make sure he could see himself at any of them since it will all boil down to finances next spring.</p>
<p>Hop aboard the USS Waiting for the FAFSA.</p>
<p>momofboston and critter–Congrats! Must’ve cross posted.</p>
<p>Congratulations momofboston and crittermom.</p>
<p>Walker also congrats on Transylvania - I tried to get S to apply there. Our GC says it is a real gem that a lot of people overlook.</p>
<p>Congrats on all the recent acceptances and scholarships. Sorry for the deferrals :(</p>
<p>I survived the drive picking S up at school without too many snow issues.</p>
<p>kelijake, congrats on your S getting all A’s. My S never did in high school, but he has for 2 out of 4 quarters of college so far! I think it is because he is studying what he loves (hoping it’s not that his college is easier than high school!) My D’s were always driven to get A’s, S not so much. I had to remind oldest D that she should not worry about a few B’s in college, so she didn’t spend too much time studying and not enough on fun/activities.</p>
<p>Glad you made it home safe and sound mamabear. Did you drive today? I just drove home a mile and it was pretty bad. I could do without the whole white Christmas thing.</p>
<p>S’s rescheduled Vandy interview is in 20 minutes. I am way more nervous than he. I hope it goes well.</p>
<p>Yep, drove Pittsburgh to Rochester & back! D is coming home on the Megabus from DC, I see they cancelled service to Cleveland and Toledo today, but she is enroute.</p>
<p>Good luck to your S galaxy!</p>
<p>MTnest - sounds like your S is very level-headed. Good for him!</p>
<p>Walker, congrats! We looked at Transylvania briefly - I don’t even remember now why it fell off the radar. It’s definitely hard when the ups and downs come at the same time. Good luck tonight.a</p>
<p>Congrats southerncalimom’s DD!</p>
<p>Sounds like a great day megpmom.</p>
<p>Congrats, momofboston!</p>
<p>That’s great, crittermom, good luck!</p>
<p>Good for you, kelijake1987.</p>
<p>Congrats on Elon and scholarships and more. Didn’t quite get all the shopping done, but only a couple more things are left. We took a break and went to see Lincoln today. Absolutely fabulous.</p>
<p>Congratulations Walker for A. sorry for B. I am optimistic, though. I bet by April, B will be sitting pretty!
Good news KeliJake! that standing if front of a mirror does wonders!!</p>
<p>social drama is returning…winter break, parties…DD not invited, but girls talking right in front of her about their plans…it is soooo painful to watch/hear this. But, when it comes to calling her/texting her about the latest homework…they are all over her!</p>
<p>And the congratulations keep coming!! Wonderful news to everyone here…There are just too many to list… Now that we have survived the Apocalypse What will become of us In September 2013? Will we just go on or do we head on over to a new thread. I saw a new thread on "Do any of you actually know people like people on CC? " What is that all about??? Are Parents and kids on CC something I should know about? Why is the poster asking the question if they are on CC? Maybe I have been hanging out in the basement too long or is this just confusing? Could somebody please explain what People like people on CC are???</p>
<p>Walker, congratulations on your DD’13a’s acceptance, it’s too bad about DD’13b’s rejection. This whole audition thing is hard on those of us with our fingers crossed for her, I can’t imagine how difficult it must be for you all. I know she’ll do well.</p>
<p>Momofboston, congratulations on the acceptance to Elon!</p>
<p>Crittermom, that’s good news on the scholarship!</p>
<p>Kelijake, on to round #2. You have to keep us updated, good luck!</p>
<p>Good luck also to Galaxy’s S on the Vandy interview!</p>
<p>Crittermom, I think that thread is about the kids who post their stats in the “Chance me” threads and all seem to be first in a class of 7,000 with 17 SAT II scores of 800 who have founded four or five national non-profit organizations in their spare time. Obviously, I exaggerate. But I think the thread you mentioned is by students who are feeling a little bit “less-than” and wanted to find some peers who are also less-than-perfect. I just browsed when I first spotted it, so it could have changed since then!</p>
<p>Also, I’ve noticed that when people drop in from other years, they often seem to comment on what a close, supportive thread this is… so I guess maybe I got lucky that this is where I landed, with all of you :).</p>