<p>Son '14 still has one app to send – it will go tomorrow. Today, he has an indoor track and field event, and hopes to qualify for states in a couple of areas. If he does, he will have something to tell one of the college coaches whom he’s visiting on his trip south.</p>
<p>A couple of his friends heard from state schools the past couple of days. Most got in, which makes life at the end of the semester nicer. The interesting thing that came up during a discussion among a group of juniors and seniors the other day was money, as in how much scholarship money the seniors got. One young man said that his backup school offered nothing, which seemed to surprise that one junior. The young man is an outstanding student, but I wanted to tell them that there are a lot of outstanding students out there. That’s something the kids often do not understand. They are just comparing themselves within their school community.</p>
<p>D comes downstairs at 930 last night and asks us to listen to her scholorship essay for one of her back-up schools where she is already admitted EA. She finished the reading and listened to our comments and then found that she was well over the word limit. She went back to her room and 10 minutes later is back downstairs watching a program with us and is on her phone. I asked when the essay was due and she said midnight. I asked if she revised it and was sitting on it for few minutes before completing a final review. She said no, the word count had inadvertently included the long prompt so she deleted that and another couple of sentences and hit submit. Kids! :eek:</p>
<p>At least this process is nearing an end. :)</p>
<p>I am sort of in this 2014 crowd and will be waiting it out along with you. I have a community college son who 4 days ago sent in his transfer apps to 4 state schools. It was so exciting for him and me when he hit the send button. He was a late bloomer who has morphed into a great catch for any of the 4 schools.</p>
<p>Welcome Shacherry! DD’s apps are all in but we’re still waiting to hear from UMass-Amherst. So annoying that it’s taking this long as her EA app was in October 15th, well before their 11/1 deadline. But she’s now in the midst of studying for midterms so she’s not a happy camper! Hoping rehearsal tomorrow will go well and she’ll find some joy working with all the little kids and not be too frustrated with them. Of course, throw in auditions for her high school play next week after the last finals are done and she’s only under a little bit of stress!! She’s hoping for the lead but is thinking she’ll be cast in a different role. But it’s interesting that her main competition seems to want the other role and not the lead! It may be the case of who is cast as the male lead and how tall he is as DD is about 4 inches taller than the other girl. And she’s a sophomore who had a leading role last year. We’ll see! She’s using singing her audition song as a break from studying. DS’11 is still home and said, “Does she realize when she sings the whole house can hear?” (She’s not that loud - the house isn’t that big and her bedroom is right above the livingroom.) I like hearing her sing - it’s one thing I’m really going to miss next year so why would I want to stop it now?!</p>
<p>DS attended a reception for accepted EA applicants this evening. He is edging closer and closer. It is comforting to see him so much more relaxed than he has been in the past 12 months.</p>
<p>Well our D12 has gone back to school after a much too short winter break and S14s school starts on Tuesday. No snow days in our part of the world but the first day of school coincides with a national referendum in our host country. Things are prone to go awry so we are keeping our fingers crossed for a peaceful process.</p>
<p>It does help keep things in perspective.
Good luck to all for a successful second semester!!</p>
<p>Son '14 had a good day at his first “official” indoor track and field meet. Won the 1600 in with a personal best time and nearly qualified for the state meet. Led start to finish. Took third in the 1000, but says he should have finished second. Apparently, he had the lead in the race and thought there were three laps left. The woman who was responsible for changing the laps did not do it quicker. She was consumed with how her son’s friend was doing in the race and forgot. So Son '14 did not kick when he needed to, and it cost him the race or finishing second. His 4 by 800 relay was fourth, and he anchored the race. The only bad about the day? He got sick to his stomach twice on the ride home – fortunately he had a plastic bag with him. Then, he got sick again after coming home. So he may have picked up a bug somewhere. But even feeling crappy did not dampen his spirits. He is already talking about the next meet. </p>
<p>But right now, we need him well quickly. He and his dad are heading out in a few days for a big college trip down south. He needs to be well.</p>
<p>Hi, all. I’m back home after a week away and skimmed posts. Looks like we actually have a few on here from Northern Virginia. </p>
<p>DH mentioned on our way to the airport that we should fill out FAFSA and CSS just to see even though we are expecting to be full pay. So guess we’ll be filling those out! Oy vey. Of course he has already left on a trip to China for a week so I guess I will be the one tracking down info and talking to our accountant! </p>
<p>On another note, sure looks like we picked the right week to be in Hawaii. Dumb luck but I’ll take it.</p>
<p>Trying hard to love “the kid on the couch” this weekend. She has not clicked out of vacation mode yet, and I know there is homework to do, and honors application essays to write, and college email to respond to (interviews, etc.) My gentle reminders have been snapped at. Not looking forward to tonight, when she realizes that she didn’t get much accomplished this weekend.</p>
<p>Novamom, I was debating about filing for fafsa/profile, we are full pay too. It looked like some of the top colleges give a little bit and may be worth the effort. I am getting cold feet about spending that much money, need to snap out of that. We saved money for her college and have enough saved up. It is just that thought of spending that much money.</p>
<p>Mine, too, MImama. With the school decision made, she’s developed a full blown case of senioritis. Child, there are still details to tie up, and by the way, I still expect chores to be done. Better keep those grades up, too, as there’s a large, renewable local scholarship available based on class rank and college choice.</p>
<p>Congratulations to momread’s son on his great performance and win in the 1600 at the season’s first indoor meet!! Hope he is feeling much better and will be 100% for his college trip later this week. My D '14 and I are also headed south on Friday for University of Alabama’s Capstone Scholar’s Day. We’ve never visited, and I am really looking forward to it! </p>
<p>Welcome, shacherry! My S’14 (D’14’s twin) is also planning on spending his first two years at the local cc, before transferring to a 4-year school. I think it is definitely the best choice for him. Congratulations and best wishes to your son, and I hope mine will follow in his footsteps!</p>
<p>Congratulations to your son, 2016BarnardMom! What a great accomplishment, and what wonderful skills to have! I’d definitely want the admissions counselors taking that into consideration when they look at his application.</p>
<p>Moonmaid - Best wishes on your S2 getting his merit award to his EA school increased!</p>
<p>DH was thinking that even if all we got was the opportunity to get a student loan, DS could take it out but we would pay it back in full out of his college funds. This way DS can establish a credit record with no real downside.</p>
<p>Thanks for the heads up on the use of 529 plans vis a vis loans! It’ll be a small loan so we will make sure to pay it out of a different source.</p>
<p>Son '14 submitted his final app last night!!! Oh happy day!!!</p>
<p>And it did not cost us anything!!! SWEET!!!</p>
<p>1dilecon: Thanks for the good wishes. Enjoy your trip to Alabama. Son '14 got an invite for Capstone Scholar Day, but is not going – track and field meet takes priority. Besides, he knows the campus well as his older brother graduated from there. Loves the school, but probably will head elsewhere for college.</p>
<p>momreads - Hooray! Know your S’14 hitting that final submit button is a great feeling!</p>
<p>D’14 is not thinking she’ll end up at Alabama next year, but with such a generous offer, we’ve told her she really needs to consider it seriously. Have read so many positive reviews on CC and how many go in for a visit lacksadaisical and leave sold on the university, can’t wait to see it in person!</p>
but the first day of school coincides with a national referendum in our host country. Things are prone to go awry so we are keeping our fingers crossed for a peaceful process.</p>