<p>Ugh - I want to scream! DD was supposed to have an interview this morning with an alum from a school that is one of her top choices. And where we’re really hoping she’ll manage to receive one of their few merit awards. After waiting for 15 minutes, she texted me that the woman wasn’t there. She didn’t have a cell phone to contact, only an email. I suggested she draft an email wondering if she’d had the day/time wrong and see if she could try to reschedule. After half an hour she sent it and left. When she got home she found out the email she’d originally sent (about 2 weeks ago) had never gone through!! So the woman probably thought she’d dropped off the face of the earth after not hearing back from her. I’m so upset my stomach is in knots but trying not to overreact. I suggested she send another email explaining that she only found out her original reply never sent and indicating she was still really interested in meeting if at all possible. DD is usually so on top of things despite all she’s juggling. And now this!! Just because her phone needed her password again to send the email? And she didn’t know it wasn’t working because she was receiving email without any problem. OK - rant over. Hopefully she’ll be able to reschedule later today or sometime this week.</p>
<p>@akmom124, I know it’s stressful, but she’ll be fine. Our S1’s experience with interviews was all over the board. Several had to be rescheduled and most Alum’s were generally ok with it. Sometimes they were doing the rescheduling. One, from a DC school, was communicating with S1 and they both realized that she was in DC and he was 4.5 hours away! For most schools the alumni interview is a very small part of the admissions decision. If your DD explains the circumstances and reaffirms her strong interest in the school, I think she’ll be ok. Good Luck!</p>
<p>@akmom124, I so feel for you. 
It’s stressful to think that any little things (like e-mail sent by phone not going through) could trip up our kids’ college admission process. Your DS should do damage control and get back onto the interview schedule. But keep in mind that the alum interview is treated as optional by many schools and hopefully by this school. Some alum interviewers on cc had shared that their “evaluations” really made little to no difference to the eventual admission decisions.</p>
<p>@4beardolls We are also still waiting for many decisions. However, in the three yeses we’ve heard from there are two strong in-state contenders. UMBC just gave him a $15K merit scholarship which combined with the likely scholarship from his dad’s work means that he would have a full-ride.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the stress continues. Next weekend we visit three New England schools, one of which is currently S’s first choice even though he hasn’t visited yet or been admitted. Have to submit a Living-Learning Program preference form (with short answers) for the UMCP Scholars Program by the end of the week, even though he’s not currently enthusiastic. Completing senior year is not going to be a cake walk with all his AP classes. Worried about how midyear reports are going to be received (they aren’t great). Wondering if he’s really ready for college.</p>
<p>@5boys Can you share how you requested a gap year?</p>
<p>@akmom124 I feel your frustration! I’m sure it will all work out. </p>
<p>@akmom
There are so many many details in this process - it is scary. I’m sure everyone has missed something along the way. We got at least one scholarship app in late, realizing a day too late that we had missed a piece. I’m still not sure if that will take D out of the running. Best of luck - hope it all works out!</p>
<p>@2016Barnardmom: That is fantastic! Congrats to you and your children. A celebration is definitely in order. What exactly will you do? Create software, monitor programs? Sounds like a fascinating field.</p>
<p>@go2mom: Too bad you can’t go, but sounds as if you’re getting your own mini-vacation :)</p>
<p>@eyemamom -can I hire you to do D’s 4 year plan? I am still working on Fafsa and Profile… boy do I feel behind the curve!</p>
<p>@AvonHSDad thank you for the clarification on the SS Indecision. I’m still a newbie learning the ropes :)</p>
<p>I think orange is a fabulous color!</p>
<p>@crowlady - There’s no magic in requesting a gap year, and each school may well have different policies/procedures. I just emailed expatSon’s admissions rep (or the admissions office) and asked, “What’s the school policy? How much notice is required? Will the student be able to keep any merit/scholarship award?” Studies suggest results tend to be better for a student taking a gap year, and I’ve not heard of any school saying ‘No’ (tho’ I don’t doubt that they exist).</p>
<p>overthehedge - I’m not doing the fafsa so I figure I need to do something else to do. My hallmark is my obsessive attention to detail. You can imagine how fun it is to work for me - lol </p>
<p>Crowlay, I heard that as long as the kids are getting mostly As and a few Bs, midyear grades shouldn’t negatively impact. D has Bs. I worry about that too. Is your S14 the first one? </p>
<p>go2mom, Congratulations and all the best to your D!!! All the hard-work pays off. </p>
<p>barnardmom, Congratulations!!! The digital forensics sound really interesting. I don’t work in the IT field but am intereted in computers in general and read up a lot. With so much of interconnected world these days, it is important for all of us to figure out what’s going on in/out of our “devices” similar to how we pay attention to what’s going in our homes. </p>
<p>novamom, DH isn’t interested in any of this, but I liked the idea of submitting FAFSA to get the loans. I called several colleges around and first year submission of FAFSA/Profile isn’t needed for later years if aid is needed later on except WPI. I was told that we can file FAFSA anytime for the loans and no need to submit by deadline, will wait until we know where she is going and then submit FAFSA. </p>
<p>Yes… what ECanuck said above. Most all schools will let you defer a year… the studies on the success in college with gap year kids( higher grad rates, etc.) is pretty substantial, so colleges really like it. They just want to know that you have some sort of plan and are not just sitting home watching HBO and playing video games:). I am a big advocate for gap years… especially for boys that are somewhat slower to mature than girls. My DS12 hiked the Pacific Coast Trail, took an EMT/Wilderness class for a month and became certified, which then set him up for an amazing job as an EMT at a National Park, and he is now an EMT at his college getting paid. The gap year was absolutely instrumental in his success. It is really nice to have a year off to explore some of their interests that they might not have had time for in HS because of all their AP classes, EC’s, etc. </p>
<p>As far as merit aid, my S’s college held his scholarships for the year. We had to reapply for need based, but you have to do that every year anyway. His package was identical to the one they estimated the year he was accepted. You do have to pay the initial enrollment deposit before you request a deferral. We already paid Kenyon’s deposit since he was accepted ED.</p>
<p>@chrysanthMum “as long as the kids are getting mostly As and a few Bs” Alas, this has almost never been true for my kids and definitely not my S14 who has dropped to C’s this year. Just briefly discussed the idea of a gap year with him. I think he’s been aiming for college so long he can’t imagine doing anything else. Good to know how it works, though, @5boys.</p>
<p>So happy to hear all the good news! A gap year seems to make so much sense for these kids that have worked so hard. I can’t talk go2girl into it! She’s so excited about starting college life! @barnardmom - what an accomplishment! And kudos to you for choosing a career path where there will actually be jobs! </p>
<p>@lindz126 - go2girl is interviewing for Vanderbilt’s Ingram Scholars program. It’s community service based, similar to Notre Dame’s Hesburgh Yusko Scholars program, Duke’s Robertson Scholarship and UNC’s Morehead-Cain. Besides a 20 hr./mth commitment to community service on campus, they are also required to manage a summer service project. A fantastic opportunity for the right kid (and I’m hoping they see that go2girl is that kid!) You can read more at <a href=“Ingram Scholarship Program | Vanderbilt University”>http://www.vanderbilt.edu/ingram/</a> </p>
<p>Eyemom, this IS in fact the only place where people won’t think you are crazy. DS had me plan a schedule where he could dual major in textile engineering and chemistry if he decides to go to Philadelphia U.</p>
<p>@akmom - so sorry to hear about D’s interview mishap. As others have mentioned, some damage control will hopefully remedy the situation. There are so many things to keep up with in addition to regular school work and activities, it is the uncommon student who doesn’t have one mishap. My D had common app issues and submitted an app with the additional info section missing and didn’t realize it until weeks later. At least it wasn’t the interviewer waiting on your D at the meeting site:).</p>
<p>@5boys I have read many of your posts and your boys sound absolutely amazing! My D applied RD to Kenyon so we are still waiting on that decision. </p>
<p>I’ve kind of been working in the field for a while now. I was working as a systems admin in health care and HIPAA brought a strong security focus to my daily work. That’s when I decided to pursue this degree. I started after the kids were teenagers and more self sufficient, which made it easier. After the first five courses, I passed a certification exam, obtained a coveted security certification and then got a job that was just focused on auditing security for IT systems. Now I’m working in an information security department on security policies. There are a lot of opportunities for advancement within my department. I toy with the idea of teaching as an adjunct at a community college. I have a couple friends at one nearby who could probably get me in. I want to take some time off to recuperate first though! It’s been tougher to stay motivated now that I’m working in the field. </p>
<p>A friend gave me a gift card for letting her brother stay here for several days while he was between apartments so maybe I’ll use that and the kids and I will go out for a nice dinner when I finish. D will be home on spring break the weekend I finish up. </p>
<p>Congrats to all with acceptances, scholarships, decisions…</p>
<p>Gap year is something I might look into for S’14. He’s also a young senior and would probably benefit from a another year before college, but I don’t know what he would do for that gap year!!</p>
<p>Congrats to 2016BarnardMom on her upcoming Masters Degree. It sounds like you picked the right field at the right time. That’s excellent planning! Celebrate with a nice dinner or perhaps a bit of R & R time on a short trip where all you have to worry about is how you will relax each day!</p>
<p>I loved reading all the news here – so many congratulations are in order! My K2 is getting a portfolio together – a physical portfolio, so gleaning work from countless digital files – for an interview for a competitive photo program at a state U, and for a honors program at an LAC. It’s not that the schools are secrets(!) It’s that both offer wonderful options for her and I feel as if my mentioning either, either in front of K2 or elsewhere, will jinx something. I hope to be where you are, @eyemamom, by mid-March – a decision made and planning begun. Cross your fingers, everyone! We are all going to get there!</p>