<p>We are in the thick of college apps in our home. DS14 needs to complete his Common App before Dec.1 and is racing the clock… serious writer’s block. I really wanted this to be done by now. DS11 comes home tonight and I want to relax and enjoy having him home. He also needs our time because he is bringing paperwork to look over before he accepts a summer internship. Exciting stuff awaits our kiddos, but man it takes work!</p>
<p>So,here is a question. DS11 is taking one of his UC personal statement topics and shifting it a bit to fit one of the Common App prompts. I think his topic development is good, but it is short- just under 500 words. Common app allows up to 650. If he says what needs to be said in 500 words, will it be percieved as too short?</p>
<p>Fogfog, I am sorry for your heavy burden. My thought are with you. </p>
<p>2018dad, I can’t speak for others, but I am feeling that the dice have been cast (for the most part) and I am now in holding mode. Not gonna lie, I don’t like this waiting part very much.</p>
<p>I think it’s sort of the quiet before the storm…literally (snow’s a coming round these parts) and figuratively (just a couple weeks till EA/ED come home to roost).</p>
<p>Recently found myself reading posts from class of 2013 near decision dates in December and late March…found them motivating to absolutely celebrate EVERY admit and not be unappreciative for a well-liked safety admit. Even though there are several reaches on the list, including ivy and ivy-like, to be realistic that rejections are likely whatever the stats…there were a lot of very despondent kids and parents reading the posts and I, for one, am going to try my best to have DS understand that they’re all shots in the dark after the EA schools release…</p>
<p>We are also trying to keep him focused on his other options, the ED school admissions are so random, one never knows. But I’m so afraid,his disappointment will be so hard for the rest of us to see. Really getting anxious and trying not to show it.</p>
<p>2016BarnardMom - Congratulations to your son and his friends on their huge accomplishment! Seems wonderful and very fitting that having started together as Tiger Cubs, they will be recognized together in this huge accomplishment. No doubt it will be very emotional, but what a blessing as a parent to see the wonderful young men they’ve become.</p>
<p>Minnymom - no idea how Admin Counselors will perceive a shorter essay, however, sure makes sense to me. Why stretch an essay out when the message comes across in fewer words. Seems those reading would concentrate more on the content, and appreciate it not being wordy.</p>
<p>vandyeyes - I’m with you on “I, for one, am going to try my best to have DS understand that they’re all shots in the dark.” That’s so true, and it seems better for all involved to be mentally prepared for that, and just thankful for the ones that do work out.</p>
<p>Hi, I’m finding a lot of resonance on this thread! My son has 3 apps in so far, one of them ED. It’s a reach, one of the others is a safety and one is a near reach (does that make sense?). Only a couple more stray pieces left to confirm. In a few weeks I’m expecting we’ll need to gear up for another round (unless we are lucky with ED). Not looking forward to more essays (several more are on the list, though now I wonder if that’s going to be a deciding factor on where not to apply). Grades this year are already suffering. Next month is really going to be tough!</p>
<p>I’m frustrated … and weepy. I was so happy when DS got ALL of his apps in by 11/1. Now it’s like he has just dropped the ball. In his mind, he’s finished. There are LOR that need to be checked on, scholarships to apply for, honors college to apply for, test scores to be sent. I got online the other night and sent test scores to 2 or 3 schools because I knew they needed them, not because DS asked me to. Sigh … I e-mailed the one teacher where the LOR was missing from an EA school. He just replied today to tell me that it was mailed, didn’t know what happened to it, but he mailed it again. If he would have read the e-mail, it needed to be Fax’d ASAP! Then he goes on to tell me that DS did not ask him to do LOR for the common app schools, just listed him on the Common App. He is doing them, but didn’t sound too happy about it. Hmmm, wonder what that LOR is going to look like. I remember having the discussion with DS prior to him listing the teachers on the Common App. He didn’t do it the first pass through because he wanted to make sure the teachers agreed to do it. So, now to have a discussion with DS to see if he ever made it by that teacher’s class before listing him.</p>
<p>I am so ready for all this to be over!! Not ready for him to leave, but ready for this mountain of paperwork and requests to go away.</p>
<p>2016BarnardMom, congratulations to your son! How cool it will be to have a joint Eagle COH!!! </p>
<p>My DS is awaiting the Eagle application to clear council. He may have his Board of Review in December (I hope) or maybe January if they get too backlogged.</p>
<p>Congrats to BarnardMom’s son! It seems nice that the boys who started out together will be together for this big step!</p>
<p>Lots of news here! DS11 came home today! He was planning on coming home tomorrow but was able to leave early and now I don’t have to worry about him driving home in heavy rain tomorrow. And his 21st birthday is this weekend so it will be fun to have him home for that also!</p>
<p>DD14 received her first scholarship! (Actually the money won’t arrive until 2nd semester next year.) We went to the dinner Sunday night where it was awarded. It’s a nice one - not huge but it does renew for three years at half the amount as long as we submit her grades (3.0 or above) and continued registration each year. Just shows that applying for those little, local scholarships is worth it. The requirement for this one - participate in the Thanksgiving Game for three years, either as a player, cheerleader, av, or band (her). They gave two awards out to her school and I think she and the football player winner were the only ones to apply! She did write a good essay for it and it was good practice for her. And she was very qualified for it so I’m assuming she would have received it even if there were more applicants. Although I was sort of hoping one of her best friends would apply because I feel she really will need the money more than DD but she got the application deadline mixed up and missed it!</p>
<p>One question for those more experienced - I want her to write a thank you note for the scholarship. Does she do it now after it was awarded or after she receives the money? Seems to me more appropriate that she thank them now for awarding her the scholarship. Thought?</p>
<p>beadymom, this week, I also found DS’s processes have several loose ends. None of them is his fault but no matter. He is the one holding the bag. We got them one by one taken care of - until something else crop up. You will need to try to help your DS to get everything in as soon as possible as schools are starting to read their EA applications.</p>
<p>Hey Class of 2014 Parents…Haven’t posted in a long time. It is strange, I was so addicted to Class of 2012 group for my DS. Who is in his bedroom home for TG, with his best buddy from HS. Nice to have him home, and settled in just like he never left. I haven’t seen him since 8/10/13! Almost a second semester sophomore. Time flies!</p>
<p>My DD class of 2014, has 2 apps in. Both EA. One is her fit school, and if she gets in, she is also recruited to play soccer for them. I am superstitious, so I will post once we hear. Hoping and praying for merrit $$. D3 so no athletic money. The other is our state school, which, again for superstitious reasons I made her apply.</p>
<p>It has been a very different stress level the second time around. Hang in there everyone. The kids end up all in decent places in the end…</p>
<p>fogfog - I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your father. Stay strong with the good memories of him. Our thoughts and virtual support are with you. Congrats on the new position. I am sure you will do well. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.</p>
<p>fogfog and I exchanged PMs – so sorry for your loss – I’ll be thinking of you this Thanksgiving. The first holiday when you’ve lost someone is always tough.</p>
<p>Update on D (Emory Class of 2015 as if) – she is officially withdrawing, and guess what! They won’t let her return in the Spring! Some weird Emory rule. Nor will they let her come back and take 2 or 3 classes. Must be tied to their USNWR ranking. I hate this school.</p>
<p>This is the kind of thing (R I G I D) that you don’t know until you’re in it. Like finding a great fare on an airline, then you realize you have to get out and push the plane down the tarmac.</p>
<p>Hi ElkYes - I agree, I felt like everything was a bit more frazzled and intense the last time around. </p>
<p>Classof2015 - I’m sorry to hear it isn’t working out with your d’s school. It makes me realize it never ends with kids. Hopefully she can regroup, take time to refocus and move on with her head held high.</p>
<p>As for us - I just had my d had a crying meltdown on me while we were at the kitchen table. She spent k - 9 at a private school that for many valid reasons we chose to have her leave to attend a different school. Today she ran into some old friends at Starbucks and it made her have serious pangs and regrets for leaving. She’s forgetting the bad stuff, which is good I suppose, but she’s still upstairs upset as she cleans her room for company tomorrow. I wonder what’s really going on, she runs into kids all the time, and truthfully we didn’t move - if they were that great friends, they’d still be friends. But now isn’t the time to bring that up. It was a teeny school, in some ways wonderful, in others entirely too stifling. But she’s never made that kind of deep connection at her new school, how could she after 2 years vs a lifetime at the other place. I have a feeling this college stuff is bubbling up on her and the realization she’s going away.</p>
<p>To borrow a movie title, get out your handkerchiefs. D had a total teary meltdown right before going to college. It’s like it suddenly hits them. Us too.</p>
<p>Hi everyone, I am new to this tread but not new to CC or to college applications. Last year I was with the Class of 2013 ( class of 2017) parents. We not only went trough the application process together, we waited for results together and eventually we met the ones that end up in the same school. My daughter is applying to UMiami ED (my son is in UMiami now). Results will be coming out soon and I am very nervous. My son applied EA so I was less worried because we had many options. Wishing you all a happy TG.</p>
<p>S1 had a total meltdown prior to his leaving also. </p>
<p>DS14 is being… exceptionally clingy. Like, needing hugs all the time. Draped all over me every time I sit down. I mean, I like hugs and all - and he is a naturally affectionate kid - but this is over the top.</p>
<p>This has been going on ever since he hit the “submit” button for his apps. I think we don’t realize the stress they are under.</p>
<p>Hi ELKyes - good to see you again. Have to agree that the 2nd time around is much less stressful (for parents). Part of the reason is that K2 is just a different kid, but for the parents, there are fewer unknowns.</p>
<p>My D is the same way calla1. She has started to get acceptances and she is both relieved and I think scared to death too. Suddenly very clingy and nostalgic. Much better than the grumpy monster she was while she was completing her apps. Last one went in today!</p>
I was so happy when DS got ALL of his apps in by 11/1. Now it’s like he has just dropped the ball. In his mind, he’s finished. There are LOR that need to be checked on, scholarships to apply for, honors college to apply for, test scores to be sent. I got online the other night and sent test scores to 2 or 3 schools because I knew they needed them, not because DS asked me to. Sigh … I e-mailed the one teacher where the LOR was missing from an EA school. He just replied today to tell me that it was mailed, didn’t know what happened to it, but he mailed it again. If he would have read the e-mail, it needed to be Fax’d ASAP! Then he goes on to tell me that DS did not ask him to do LOR for the common app schools, just listed him on the Common App. He is doing them, but didn’t sound too happy about it. Hmmm, wonder what that LOR is going to look like. I remember having the discussion with DS prior to him listing the teachers on the Common App. He didn’t do it the first pass through because he wanted to make sure the teachers agreed to do it. So, now to have a discussion with DS to see if he ever made it by that teacher’s class before listing him.</p>