<p>@Mrspepper—
“THe reality of having to decide in 4 weeks makes me really anxious.”</p>
<p>I agree with you completely (well, my son applied ED so that is all behind us), but this whole application process has become such a stress-filled endless multiyear slog! We all heard from colleges via the US Mail on April 15th or thereabouts and deposit checks were due May 1st or April 30th. Wait Lists were used and I recall having to choose your WL cut-off date. So very different….</p>
<p>@onlyonemom—Re: prom. Do not give up hope. I doubted my son would attend his Jr Prom, but he did. I think the one or two boys who were dating girls arranged it so that the unmatched girls each ended up with a free boy. I am also guessing that the girls had far more involvement in this process than the oblivious boys. It was sweet and I am glad he and his group of friend attended.</p>
<p>@momreads I really hope your S gets better and is able to fully compete. </p>
<p>@1dilecon Congratulations to D14 on her personal best time and qualification for States. That is a great accomplishment! </p>
<p>@jrmama and 4beardolls I am also with you as you may have surmised from my middle of the night, can’t sleep because I am worrying, post! I’m trying to minimize the “love” for the 1st choice, but schools don’t make it easy do they? I think the old way (as CT1417 pointed out) may have been better. There was a lot of stress not knowing anything until after April 1st and one had to make quick decisions. On the other hand, it didn’t seem like an endless process and it was easier not to get emotionally attached to a school that might ultimately prove unaffordable. It is difficult for a student to have an acceptance and small merit in hand, receive continuing communications from the school, be invited to accepted students and merit scholarship events and then have to decline because aid isn’t there or other offers make more sense financially. </p>
<p>@mrspepper that does sound stressful. Of the 15, how many has your S visited? Perhaps take them two at a time, starting with the schools he has visited, and try to narrow the choices. If I get into A and B which would I choose? At least it may give him a hierarchy to help prioritize visits after the decisions are received. It sounds like you are doing everything you can to help alleviate the pressure. I wish I had some great advice but I haven’t been in your shoes with an undecided kid. I have the opposite problem with my D - too much love for one school. Good luck! </p>
<p>Congratulations Calla and Cakeisgreat on the writing awards! Best of luck on the audition GertrudeMcF. </p>
<p>Is anyone else getting tired of being asked, “So, has ___ decided where he/she is going to college?” How many times do I have to say, he will decide in April. :(</p>
<p>@gertrudemcfuzz … I went to westminster college a few years back to enjoy a bell choir performance. It was so beautiful! The students were very talented. The area was pretty as well. Keep us posted!</p>
<p>@glido - my D is getting very tired of it. Personally, I kind of like to discuss it with anyone who is interested! </p>
<p>Thanks for the good wishes everyone - amazingly, WCC offered to let her audition live while we are there, saving us another trip east or having to submit a DVD audition. Very impressed!!</p>
<p>The cat did die on Sunday, poor thing had a heart attack in the lobby before even being seen. We’ve all been sad, and d is particularly upset. It’s weird without her being around, she had a big personality. The cat bit hubby badly on his finger which required a trip to the er for an iv antibiotic and tetanus shot. Granted d does look young for her age, she’s small and she had no makeup and her hair in a braid, and her college sweatshirt. We were talking about animals aging - one of the people says to her - when you’re 13 or 14 … I forget the rest. lol </p>
<p>I’m sorry about your cat, eyemamom. Glad though that your D was still at home with you through this rather than having to experience this while away at college.</p>
<p>eyemamom, Sorry about your kitty, it is not easy losing a pet. </p>
<p>glido, thanks to you all, now I say with a smile - she applied to several schools and we will know by May 1st. But it is getting tiring though. </p>
<p>Condolences, @eyemamom. What a stressful time! </p>
<p>We had an eventful weekend touring two of the colleges we have yet to hear from, dodging snow storms and somehow getting most of the homework done in rental cars and airports. I thought it would solidify S’s number one choice (Hampshire, an alternative LAC out in rural western Mass.) but instead it seems to have catapulted Northeastern (mid-sized urban university) into contention. Got taken to lunch by an assistant dean, thought all was going well, then got home to find out that all the “priority” students got notified of their “yes” decisions last week and we have not yet heard. </p>
<p>I was worried that my S is attracted only by his most recently visited school. He acknowledges that he barely remembers the ones we visited last year and can’t keep them straight in his mind. So he wisely said he needs to go back and research them before deciding how to rank them. </p>
<p>Unfortunately, he’s struggling to keep up in his classes this year and I am not sure when he’ll find the time to do the research and the soul searching.</p>
<p>@eyemamom - so sorry about the loss of your beloved cat.</p>
<p>@Gertrude - good luck to your D on her audition! Glad to hear that you won’t have to make an extra trip.</p>
<p>@crowlady - I hope S receives his acceptance from Northeastern soon!</p>
<p>I feel like I got a new lease on life today. It is finally sunny and warm! The cold and gray coupled with the stress of the college application process was starting to wear on me. Just haven’t felt particularly motivated (I think the dust bunnies under the sofas are almost the size of my dog). D has been in a funk too, but she seemed rejuvenated this morning as well. Amazing what a little sunshine can do. </p>
<p>@Gertrude - That is so great that your D was offered an audition during your visit. Good luck!</p>
<p>@eyemamom - So very sorry to hear about your cat. I like my pets more than most peeps…</p>
<p>@crowlady - I thought S may have been the same; he never really had a bad thing to say about any school we visited. Which I took to mean that he would be happy almost anywhere. </p>
<p>We went to an admitted student day this weekend. It seemed to confirm to son that it is indeed his favorite. He loved it. I dont see the appeal, but I am not the one who matters here. I am just happy he is going to college and it’s a bonus that he has found a place where he thinks he will prosper. </p>
<p>So jealous, Spritle. I wish Spygirl would pick a favorite.
And while I’m on the topic of wishful thinking, I’d really be happy if these schools could let us know earlier than April 1. It’s hard to plan a budget when one isn’t sure what the expenses will be.</p>
<p>Thanks for the well wishes all. I miss that cat, and it takes people who love animals to know how you can miss a pet’s presence. Even the other animals seem out of sorts. One cat keeps meowing and it sounds for all the world like he’s crying.</p>
<p>@spritle - so a decision is made! Woohoo! We ended up not needing to go that day but it was a top contender.</p>
<p>D can hardly bear to be in school until the end of May. Tired of the boyfriend, tired of the friends, bored of the rules and regulations, sick of wearing a uniform…she has now discovered pinterest and is “decorating” her dorm and pinning up various outfits for her college look. She has been in private school with uniforms her entire life so she’s understandably excited about wearing normal clothes everyday next year.</p>
<p>@eyemamom…hugs to you and you’re family. I love my kitty.</p>
<p>D really had a great visit at Quinnipiac as a student for the day. sheis waiting on a few more acceptances but I think it might be the one! of course finances will play into the final decision but so far most of the colleges in the running are around the same price. 1 or 2 are cheaper and one or two more expensive.</p>