<p>2018dad, I’d suggest giving USC a few days to sort things out before inundating them with extra copies of things. Yes, it’s odd that a CA supplement didn’t show up (or get acknowledged) at the same time as the main app, but if it looks like it’s happening to a lot of people, I’d assume that they know about it and are working on it, and will reach out to her if they want her to do something extra like upload it manually.</p>
<p>It’s definitely easier and less stressful the second time around. And saying goodbye is definitely hard, but as others have said, this is what we dreamed of for them when they were babies. So along with the bitter-sweetness of saying goodbye is the pride and happiness for them going off on their next big adventure.</p>
<p>@mathmomvt Thanks for clarifying! I’m sure it would probably be fine if I waited to send scores but we’ll only have a week before we start traveling for the holidays. I nearly had a heart attack when I realized we almost forgot to send confirming scores to National Merit. Plus I’m just trying to keep myself busy (and procrastinating my own work!).</p>
<p>Relaying this in the hopes it will save everyone some angst:</p>
<p>I got home, went through the mail (S was out with his friends), saw a thin envelope from one of his schools. His first piece of mail. My heart sank. It was in a windowed envelope (like a bill) so I tipped and I tilted and I squeezed – could not get anything other than his name.</p>
<p>H said “hold it up to the light” and I did but the words were backwards. I turned it around (all the while thinking: why don’t I have a steamer? Like in Communist bloc countries?)</p>
<p>And I saw the words “reviewed your application” and “seventh semester grades” and “send additional ACT scores”.</p>
<p>So they want more info. Phew!</p>
<p>Here’s the rim shot – he already sent his latest ACT scores and grades.</p>
<p>I just read on another forum about someone who is applying to 26 schools! I can’t imagine the juggling act to get all the pieces submitted to that many schools, even with the Common App. I would also think they would start to blend together and you might not even get excited to get mail from any of them.</p>
<p>Thanks Glido for your post - I’ll keep trying to remember your words thru all this craziness! DD’14 is our second time around but this time seems so much more stressful than last time. DS’11 wasn’t the student that DD’14 is (although he could have been with her effort). But he was looking at large schools and is very happy at our large flagship where he ended up. But DD’14 doesn’t have any interest in the flagship or any other large school and her list of schools is much different from his. She’s worked so hard in school, has earned the respect of her teachers, administration and fellow students and hopefully will land somewhere wonderful for her. My concern is that her test scores do not match her GPA, grades or rank. I’m definitely more nervous and worried about her whole process than I was for him. Especially since the schools she seems really interested in will require a significant amount of merit aid to enable her to attend! But hopefully the admissions process will all come out okay for her! I just think I’ll be on pins and needles until April 1st!</p>
<p>On the other hand, DD’14 had the day off from school today and (with a lot of pushing) managed to get a scholarship application completed and dropped off as it was due today! Hopefully part of Sunday can be spent on another application since we’re going on vacation for a week over Christmas and she has three due by the end of the year! She’s done the essay’s for one so just needs to tweak them and submit. The other two are such reaches that I’m not worried whether she gets them done or not - her chances aren’t very high given her test scores and I don’t really think they’re a good fit but if she wants to spend her time applying, that’s her choice.</p>
<p>Her schedule goes into high gear now - she’s directing a musical this winter and we have auditions this weekend. While she’s really excited about it all, she’s dreading the audition process because she’s going to have to cut half of the little kids who audition because so many are auditioning. She’s been involved with community theatre since first grade and choreographed a show last year, so being involved in the process from the other side is a great experience, but right now it’s really stressful! Hopefully once she casts the show she can then enjoy the rest of the process.</p>
<p>Greetings!! First time poster here! Both myself and my wife have never gone through this college process, and I am very worried for my son. He is a hard worker who does truly try his best in the classroom. This is what I like about him. If he studies hard, and the best he can get is a B, then I am very proud of him. However, lately he has been acting depressed and we talked about college, and he is not very confident that he will be accepted to his schools. As a father, and him being my only child, it breaks my heart to see him depressed, especially with Christmas coming around. Neither myself nor my wife went to college, and I want to make sure he goes and has the time of his life. I want him to enjoy what I never experienced. His stats are not stellar:</p>
<p>3.5 GPA (MAJOR upward trend; struggled freshman year, but climbed up; currently has a 4.3 gpa this semester!
1500 SAT Score (Will retake on 12/713 - Crossing my fingers that he will do better)
22 ACT</p>
<p>However, he is heavily involved and has lots of community service and extracurricular activities. He is also a first college generation, if it helps.</p>
<p>So far, he has applied to:
Creighton University
Loyola Marymount University
Gonzaga University
Marquette University
Saint Mary’s College of California - Guidance Counselor said he will get in with no problem
Santa Clara University
University of Miami
University of San Francisco - Guidance Counselor said he will get in with no problem
Loyola Chicago University
UC Merced
UC Riverside</p>
<p>Most of the schools above are early action schools. We are hoping this many schools like Loyola Marymount, Santa Clara, and Gonzaga have much higher acceptance rates for early action than regular, hopefully he will get lucky and get into one of those schools.</p>
<p>I really hope a rejection letter/email will not ruin his Christmas. Good luck to all of you and your children!</p>
<p>Welcome SanDiegoSWAT! I mostly lurk on this thread, but this is a nice supportive group of parents.
Your son sounds like a terrific young man and you have much to be proud of.
First generation college is indeed considered a plus with adcoms, and this can only help form what I understand. Meaningful ECs are also a plus.
I am on my second round through this and will echo what many have already said: "it does all work out in the end ", it’s just that “you don’t know that until you know that”:)!!
It is really wise that you have many EA schools so God willing there will be an acceptance prior to Christmas. Not familiar with the schools on your list, but hopefully you consulted with school GC to make sure there are some “safety” schools on your son’s list. Every applicant, no matter what , in my opinion should have a few of those.
When you write “depressed”, just wanted to make sure you did not mean clinical depression as such …this is a difficult and very stressful time for many Seniors and I think as parents we have to make sure that they are coping with all of the stresses thrown at them. I really feel for them: I remember my Senior year being fun and feeling absolutely no pressure as I applied to 1 college and not worrying for a minute tat if I was rejected I would simply attend the small local university. It’s a shame it is no longer that simple.
Keep us posted, best wishes</p>
<p>Welcome, SanDiegoSwat! Seems to me that your son will get into at least a few on that list. Don’t let the rejections get you down: pretty much everyone gets at least some rejections, and all it takes is one acceptance. I think he has a very good shot at Merced, for instance. </p>
<p>In our house, we are being very careful to talk up the local junior college as an option. It’s possible our son just won’t emotionally be ready to go away, and we want him to see the cc route as a positive decision, should it come down to that.</p>
<p>Back on line this weekend as the home computer wouldn’t restart following our Thanksgiving week holiday. Turns out the hard drive was going. Its all replaced and all data was saved including the college app spreadsheets! :eek: I limped by last week on a small netbook and my iPad.</p>
<p>There is an updated countdown listing - not that anyone needs the added stress. :D</p>
<p>Countdowns - just so that everyone is aware of the remaining time until: </p>
<p>December 15th/20th ED/EA decisions 8 to 13 days until decision day. It’s getting close!
December 31/January 1 RD application deadlines 24/25 days to the deadline. Less than a month! :eek:
March 14th - Pi Day (MIT) - 97 days to wait
March 30/31 RD decision day 113/114 days to wait (the waiting is painful!!)
April 1 - SS Indecision sets sail for a month - 115 days
April 30 - SS Indecision journey is over (hopefully!) - 144 days
May 1 - National admissions commitment and deposit due date and have a double margarita day to celebrate!!</p>
<p>Welcome SDSwat - we are in the SD area as well. Best of luck to your son - he sounds terrific and one or more of those schools will be thrilled to have him.</p>
<p>We have (at least) a trio of SC applicants. 2018Dad and 4beardolls- my DS14 has all green dashboard and welcome email. I haven’t checked his portal yet. DS11 is a junior at SC- Viterbi MechE. If you have questions, please ask!
DS14 has one more app to do- he is procrastinating on the writing supplements - sick of writing. I have to get him in gear!
His physics teacher finally collected 3 homework assignments last week. Hope it corrects his skewed grade- the term is almost done!</p>
<p>Welcome, SDSWAT! Good luck with the acceptances!</p>
<p>Thanks, Avondad, for the update! We’re anxious for 12/14 @ 12:14! ;)</p>
<p>DS put off a couple of honors apps that are due 12/8. If you remember, I mentioned he would be out for 2 days for snow (ice!). Well, now we are without power (and Internet for his computer)! Guess he’ll have to go to the library or a friend’s house to get that finished…</p>
<p>Mine too, and it’s his first choice! It got saved for last because he’s not doing ED (we need to compare financial offers) so it has the latest deadline, but it’s creeping up, especially if he wants to get his English teacher to look over his supplemental essays (rather than have to fight with Mom or Dad over them…) He has one of the three drafted.</p>
<p>I haven’t posted in a while, but I have been reading as much as possible and trying to keep up with everyone, new posters as well as those that went through this process with me with S2 in hs2011.</p>
<p>S3 got some awaited good news last night. He’d understandably kept it under the radar that he’d applied ED, so I didn’t share that either. It’s hard to get questions if you don’t get in. Last night he was accepted ED to William & Mary’s class of 2018. He is beyond thrilled, more then we knew. I think he didn’t want to show how much he wanted it in case it didn’t work out. Also beyond being excited I know he’s thrilled not to have to do anymore honors applications (his other applications were all complete in Nov). He’ll simply withdrawal acceptances/applications, writing a few notes of thanks where he had personal contact with reps.</p>
<p>Going on with the business of being a Sr, with APs, ECs, and a pt job, is quite enough. I know he is looking forward to spending the rest of the year focusing on just those things, having admissions behind him.</p>
<p>Thanks for letting me share my son’s good news. I look forward to hearing the same for your kids in the coming weeks and months. :)</p>
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