<p>Hi! Long time lurker here with a scholarship question. We realized last night that one of the scholarship essay deadlines is 1/1 and not 1/15! Do I still have DD '13 write it and mail it late? Do we email it to admissions? It looks like it is supposed to be mailed in…</p>
<p>Happy New Year everybody! Took a long walk in the sun this morning. This is when living in FL is worth it (it sure isn’t August).</p>
<p>I am hitting the puff as I read so that all can see the green.</p>
<p>S’13 had some friends over last night. Cubans, rice & beans and a variety of chips/dips. Two of the boys have been friends with S’13 since K. I think/hope those friendships will last his whole life. I’ll miss those guys next year (so will S’18 who was happy as a clam hanging out with big brother and friends).</p>
<p>Applied for the FAFSA pin. Not really clear what the advantage of submitting early would be given all but a few of the schools S’13 applied to meet 100% need. I have been reading the discussion and see the points made about getting in line first, but are those schools 100% need schools? I noted somebody (I forgot to open a second screen so can’t look back - sorry) is waiting until closer to March 1 to submit as the school doesn’t look at when FAFSA was submitted to make decisions. Is that a policy of the school and posted on the website?</p>
<p>Oh - and SteveMA - sorry to hear about your DD and I hope it was just some bad seafood. I’m sure the docs (and you) will make the right decisions for her.</p>
<p>Trying to find last years tax return to estimate my taxes paid and then I will hit send on the FASFA</p>
<p>Thanks for the green box love! I’m tapping as much as I can, but now have to wait 24 hours to tap more :/</p>
<p>I’m trying to use my taps for those of us who are at just one box (like me!) and on up from there.</p>
<p>Steve - Hope they reschedule soon!</p>
<p>One resolution is to be more organized…didn’t think about savings bonds for the FAFSA, etc… Btw, if we know our EFC is very high, is it even necessary to update when we actually file our taxes if we select “will file”? Someone said that when we file taxes it can magically be updated…but only if we e-file, right?</p>
<p>Ok feeling like an idiot. Applied for FAFSA pins for DH and DS and used the same pin for both, thinking it will be easier to remember. NOW, I read on the FA info sent from UChicago that says parent and student cannot share same pin. So I go on to change one and they haven’t been processed yet. I would be less embarrassed if I didn’t use to run an FA dept for a small private :o</p>
<p>veradvc - I would email it in and then also mail it tomorrow. If the deadline is 1/1 and not 12/31, they know there’s no mail that day.</p>
<p>dadotwoboys - our state (IL) has grant money that is given out based on FAFSA. That’s why we need to file early. There may be other situations like that for you.</p>
<p>momma - I didn’t know they couldn’t be the same, either - thanks for posting that here!</p>
<p>I went ahead and did the FAFSA…as expected, ridiculous EFC which generates that S might qualify for stafford loan. I think if you have a low EFC and qualify for seog or work study ( things that run out), you should apply early…otherwise, no point other than getting it out of the way…feel free to correct me if I’m wrong. S has schools that require css profile and fafsa by feb 1…I wanted to do taxes first, oh well.</p>
<p>Eta…S is officially registered for selective service too!</p>
<p>Happy New Year!! We had a really nice family dinner last night, before all the kids went their separate ways (and came home all in one piece!). No one argued or made snarky comments (which is the norm)…and everyone noticed “it was a nice dinner”…I think they are all growing up!! 
I, too, am feeling lonely with my one green box…I go to a few other “places” but maybe not the “right ones?” or not frequently enough?
my New Year Resolution is to get another green box, give some puffs to all other, and lose weight, get organized, and feel less stressed…Ha!</p>
<p>^^^Okay. I spread a little greenery around here.</p>
<p>Veradvc I’d go on and mail it. There’s no postal service today so they will likely be ok with the 1/2 date stamp. I doubt anyone is so onerous they won’t forgive one day.
God, I have it bad here. Researching other forums with an eye to my junior S now. I hope I can love the 2014 board as much as this one.
Debating when the 2017 HS board will appear. Just kill me now…
Note the Christmas ornaments are still merrily in place, mocking me. Or, clueless about their fate which is to return to their boxes today. I know H will be cranky if I start dragging the boxes out before step-s returns from his new years adventure and packs since he lives in the basement when he is here. Meanwhile small S wants his P90X put in place down there today.
Yet here I am happily on CC.</p>
<p>89wahoo - we have a 2017 DD here, so send me a PM when you see the 2017 HS board starts up!</p>
<p>omg!! green box love SO appreciated!! For those of us with one box (or any number, I guess)…if you try to tap your own scale it will tell you the number of “loves” you have, and you all are being so generous to me! My count has doubled since this morning :D</p>
<p>Went to dinner with friends (large group) and think I started a panic. Several have HS juniors who have not even thought about college plans yet, spent some time educating them that they really don’t have over a year to decide…really more like 9 months. Might see some new peeps on here! </p>
<p>Heading out to my traditional New years day movie with girlfriends, no make-up allowed, sweat pants or pajamas, chick flick, butter on popcorn last hoo-rah…</p>
<p>Then back to the grind. My house looks like Christmas, New years and a dorm room threw up in here!</p>
<p>You guys had me cracking up with all of your ‘puff’ discussion last night! LOL Glad to see everyone is still spreading the puff love. </p>
<p>Dad - Lived in FL for 9 years. These are some of the best days to be there! And you are right, certainly NOT August. </p>
<p>Book of Mormon - Saw it over Presidents Weekend last Feb. with DH and Step-D. I sat right next to Step-D (whom was 17 at the time,) but it is definitely NOT for anyone younger! DH told me later that he was very glad HE wasn’t sitting next to her during some of it. That being said, I think I have said in here before that this play is MIND BLOWING. Absolutely wonderful. We were fortunate enough to see it with the original cast and I can’t say I’ve seen anything better - ever. Really, really good. </p>
<p>Les Mis - Well, all the “Les Mis” fans are going to boo me for this but I HATE Les Mis. First time I saw it was last fall at the Kennedy Center. Being a lover of musicals, and a french-speaker I figured I was the ideal candidate to love it. When a friend asked me to go, I happily said Yes. Biggest mistake. Les Mis is NOT a traditional musical. Unlike “My Fair Lady” or “Hairspray” or “The Producers” (some of my faves,) there is no conversation in Les Mis. It is all SING TALKING. I hate SING TALKING. I kept waiting for the ‘conversation part’ of the play to come about but it never came. Haven’t been to Les Mis? Well here’s how it goes: </p>
<p>Person 1 : Hell-o (sung) Jean - Val - Jean (sung) How - Are - You ? (sung)
Jean: I…(sung) Ammmmm (sung) Veerrryyyy (sung) Baaadddd (sung.) </p>
<p>banging.my.head.slowly…longest night of my life…</p>
<p>I have two green boxes!!! You like me, you really like me! Thank you, thank you!</p>
<p>SteveMa - Virtual hugs. </p>
<p>Not taking any decorations down until after Three Kings Day.</p>
<p>DS is freaking about an app due today and tomorrow.</p>
<p>I am freaking about the FAFSA and Profile. We did the PIN applications. We can’t locate 2 important tax forms. Since many of DS schools have a 2/1 due date, we can’t wait for the 1099 and W-2 to be mailed. Uggh. I thought we were organized.</p>
<p>Good morning! Happy New Year!!! Since we were in bed by 9PM I woke up feeling fabulous. Not always the case on New Years Day! </p>
<p>The kids survived New Years Eve. DS went to a Great Gatsby themed party about 5 miles away at a very cute friend-girls house. I let him stay out until 1:30 AM to the dismay of my older two. I don’t know if I am getting more lenient with the third one, or if I am more lenient because I actually trust him more than the other two. College boy had a quiet night with some friends and was home by 1am. College girl is in Las Vegas, which I am not thrilled about, but I heard from her this morning and all is well. </p>
<p>Looking forward to a lot of changes in the coming year. I am a planner, so the not-knowing is the hardest part for me. I took all the decorations down on Sunday, but will leave the outdoor decorations up until the 3 Kings. I should probably work on the FAFSA, but I just DON’T WANT TO!!! </p>
<p>I clicked on a bunch of puffs/scales. So I hope you guys all get a lot of green boxes!</p>
<p>Moonpie, great description. Went to the basement thinking if step-s isn’t back yet, too bad. Shook my head in horror. That boy, at 25, is marginally tidier than he was at 17 but only marginally. I couldn’t find space to pull boxes out of the Christmas closet. A dorm room has indeed thrown up.
Steve… Thinking about you. Guessing you are banging your head like Lauren!
Our2. What say we start a thread for the 17s? There must be much people with young ones should be considering? Or am I nuts? God knows two to play with here is plenty. I wish EA for D would come out- favorably. Then I can enjoy her senior year and she can too. I can truly make S14 miserable once she is done!! :)</p>
<p>Quick question 'rents! I am a male, and so I will have to register for SS… on the Fafsa, I have the option of having it automatically register me, I assume; should I go ahead and do it here, or should I register on my own at the SS website? Which one is simpler and will actually get the job done? (I turn 18 in 2 weeks)</p>
<p>Automatically register–save you a trip to the post office or filling out the online form, especially since you are basically 18 already. On the FAFSA site you just check a box.</p>