<p>Glad to hear the happy news, @GertrudeMcFuzz ! Good luck @momofwon , it is a long month, isn’t it. And April may be far too short for those who need time for research and visits.</p>
<p>S is getting really tired of people asking him also. We’re hoping he hears from everywhere by March 27/28. </p>
<p>Congrats to those who got good news in the past few days!</p>
<p>Stuff we bought for D that she didn’t already own: Bedding- Twin XL sheets, blanket, comforter, pillow cases, pillows, mattress cover and pad, and one of those backrest pillow/chair type things for the bed. Storage: Shoe rack, under the bed storage boxes and hangers. Desk stuff: Desk lamp, pencil/pen/paper clip, etc. holder, file organizer (in/out box type thing), pens, pencils, scissors, stapler, tape dispenser, etc. Bathroom supplies: hygiene items, shower caddy, shower shoes, bath sheets, washcloths, medications, first aid stuff. Kitchen stuff: coffee pot, mini-fridge, small set of dishes/flatware/cups, frying pan, sauce pan, colander, utensils, dish clothes/towels. Miscellaneous: sewing kit, flash light. Clothing/accessories she never owned before: rain boots, umbrella. </p>
<p>For sophomore year, she has a full kitchen in her suite and a very small meal plan so we picked up a microwave, a hand mixer, some baking sheets, and muffin pans. I also gave her my magic bullet and an old George Foreman grill. </p>
<p>To repeat what AvonHSDad said:</p>
<p>WOW! - Lots of good news posted this weekend.</p>
<p>momreads - Happy Birthday!</p>
<p>4beardolls - Congratulations on the CV Scholarship - what a great acccomplishment!</p>
<p>GertrudeMcFuzz - Congrats on the successful audition and acceptance!</p>
<p>NewHavenCTMom - Congrats on the scholarship finalist notifications and the Williams acceptance! If she got in at Williams and has a likely from Dartmouth, she should be receiving more good news in the upcoming weeks. Sounds like we will be seeing you onboard in April.</p>
<p>It sounds like we will be using all of the champagne already loaded onto the SS Indecision for celebratory toasts! </p>
<p>So fun going through the thread and seeing all this good news.</p>
<p>go2girl’s friend was over and didn’t realize that his ACT February score was up. Used my computer and we all celebrated and screamed at his 34 composite score. Such relief in his eyes! So thrilled for him and happy that we were there to share in his good news. It’s just as nice even when it’s not your own kid!</p>
<p>Thanks for all the birthday wishes.</p>
<p>Congrats to the admits and scholarships. That’s awesome.</p>
<p>NewHavenCTMom, I had a former student win the Ron Brown. She used it when she went to Stanford.</p>
<p>As for shopping for the dorm, Son '14 is not big on shopping, so that’s my job. He has the twin XL sheets and a comforter that I bought all on clearance. I’ll been purchasing clothing for him since it’s been on clearance – change of season thing. He told me that he should receive some clothing from the track/cross country program, so he’ll have practice attire as well as warmups and perhaps shoes (that would be wonderful since he goes through a pair of trainers every three or so months and they run $100 to $130 a pair). He asked for a couple of posters just to brighten up the room (he will have his own bedroom in a four-person suite) and a small TV. Because he’ll have a kitchenette, we’ll get some dishes, glasses, utensils and a toaster. He does not need to coffee maker because he does not drink coffee. He will also need a laptop, some towels and other assorted items. But he certainly will not fill the truck and the backseat of our largest car like his older brother did.</p>
<p>With BarnardGirl, we filled the back of an SUV and a car top carrier. Still needing room, we folded down one third of the backseat to fit everything in. BarnardGirl and her brother got to sit very close during the 10 hour drive to NYC…LOL. We ended up bringing home three things- a floor lamp which wouldn’t fit in the room (seriously, no space for a floor lamp!), this little shelf unit she planned to use a night stand that wouldn’t fit in the room, and a wastebasket because she was provided with one, even though everything we got said she should bring one. I forgot one other thing she took with her for cleaning- she has a stick vacuum that she absolutely loves and said everybody borrows all the time.</p>
<p>Hello everyone,</p>
<p>If she is headed up to Williams or Dartmouth, she will need some extra heavy duty, super duper winter clothes. She has a Northface fleece and UGG boots that she wears here, but it’s some kind of cold up farther north. We will be fine with the other items. I just have to shop alone. She is a basket filler when we are shopping together.</p>
<p>We had a great experience today at the UC Santa Barbara Chancellor’s Reception. All students were asked to stand up then were welcomed as accepted students. A warm and humorous speech by the chancellor came next followed by panel Q&A. Nice way to keep the school on admitted. students’ radar as other acceptances come in .</p>
<p>@GertrudeMcFuzz, congratulations to you daughter!!</p>
<p>@Minnymom, glad you had a good time at the reception. Do you think it swayed the decision one way or another?</p>
<p>@2016BarnardMom - pretty much reads like our list, except D has a shower caddy and related items still serviceable from camp, and I anticipate fewer kitchen items. I need to add a fan. All of D’s college choices with exception of in-state safety will also require significant additions of winter clothes to wardrobe. I guess I’d better get started…</p>
<p>@GertrudeMcFuzz and @Minnymom - I am so happy that you have had great days and great news!</p>
<p>I have to admit that I hate to shop, but I had fun shopping on this beautiful, sunny Sunday for a new dress for D to wear to an admitted students spring party next week. The party
Is being hosted by local alumni and the University President will be in attendance, as well as a renowned English professor. We are excited. </p>
<p>Wow,such wonderful updates! </p>
<p>Congrats to NewhavenCtMom for all your d’s terrific possibilities. sounds like it may end up being hard to decide.
Congrats to GertrudeMcfuzz! What a great feeling when it all comes together.
Congrats to 4beardolls on the CV scholarship! Awesome! </p>
<p>What a very exciting time. And thanks again AvonHSdad for the party preparations!</p>
<p>Congratulations 4beardolls. That’s wonderful news.</p>
<p>Good (?) news here this weekend. S accepted to Rensselaer. First acceptance from the more selective schools to which he applied. We are a bit disappointed by the price tag. S was a Rensselaer medalist, so we thought that would help, but it only reduced the need based portion of the financial aid. So, same bottom line whether he won the medal or not. The next most expensive school is at least matching the merit and is half the cost. I feel a chat drawing near.</p>
<p>Just placed a rush order for another 200 cases of bubbly. It should arrive a week before sailing so we will have ample Champagne for celebrations all throughout the cruise during the month of April.</p>
<p>Just 19 days until March 28th and 22 days until March 31st. Can the kids (and parents) hang in there for another 3 weeks???</p>
<p>My God, count me in. I’m ready for the suspense to end! Somehow I think DD will be cruising on that indecision boat right up till the deadline. My D is much more sanguine than I am…she’ll be fine. I may not :)</p>
<p>We have spring break next week and I’m hoping most of the news arrives while we’re gone. We desperately need some sunshine and a break from stalking the mailman! </p>
<p>Wow…took a little time off from the site…almost 100 posts to go through. Congrats to everyone on the new acceptances - there are such amazing students in our group! </p>
<p>On our end, son had his 18th birthday and now I feel officially old. He also seems to have had a case of senioritis, but may be coming out of it a bit now. Apparently death threats work on him. 
Still have two schools to hear from, but I dont think acceptances will sway him from his one true love. </p>
<p>The weather around here has been gorgeous…I am so ready to go out and start digging in the flower beds. Planning on school color annuals for color. </p>
<p>Congratulations 4beardolls and newHavenCTmom, those are awesome scholarships. Congratulations to everyone who is inching towards the final decision. Lot of good news!</p>
<p>D has heard from a couple more schools but not great scholarships. We knew going in how much it would cost, but looks like the cost has gone up by ~5K from last year, so now COA is around 60-65K excluding the travel which will be another 4-5K. We are full pay and have saved up for her. Still it is not going to be enough. If any parents of juniors reading this thread, make sure to get those scholarship essays done early. Wish she took the application process as seriously as she takes Robotics. She will probably go to local state university if she doesn’t get a few scholarships. </p>
<p>On the positive note, her Robotics team did very well, D got special recognition by the team and mentors for her work during the tournament.</p>
<p>@Spritle I’m right there with you! Parent of an 18 year old who seems to move every day towards a firm decision. He got a yes from RPI this weekend and the lukewarm reaction tells us that more acceptances (we are waiting for 3) may not make a difference. I worry (of course, I always worry) that he still hasn’t put much effort into considering the pros and cons of each school.</p>
<p>@chrysanthMum Congrats on the robotics! If she can dedicate herself to an activity like that I’m sure she’ll do fine wherever she goes. </p>
<p>Wow! So much news. Congrats to everybody! GertrudeMcFuzz - so happy for you and D! Collegetime18 - we are right there with you!</p>
<p>DS’s final quarter of high school starts today. Amazing.</p>
<p>Here’s a question for you guys: S is going out of town for an academic competition next weekend, just when we are expecting some school decisions. He wants me to login to his portals and give him results by phone. I prefer to wait until he comes home and let him do it and all be together as a family for support or celebration. My H doesn’t care. What do you guys think? Any experience? Thanks!</p>
<p>@collegetime18, that has happened to us several times as DS has been traveling quiet a bit lately.
Our preference is also for DS to login with us there as support and share the moment. When that was not possible, we gave DS the password and he will log in with us staying on the phone listening to him reading the letter. Only one time he was not able to log in at the airport, he asked us to log in with him on the phone listening to us reading the letter. We did it this way because DS simply can not wait for another minute for the update from the school.
:)] </p>