<p>Northeastern and Santa Clara decisions are supposedly up, if anyone is waiting for them.</p>
<p>A lot of news for one day. D was accepted at College of Charleston. Unfortunately, D missed the priority application deadline for the Honors College. Neither of us realized that she could still apply after the priority deadline so she didn’t check the box for Honors. She may not have gotten in, but I wish she had tried. With scholarship money, CofC is really affordable. Decisions, decisions… 2 more to go.</p>
<p>@Classof2015 - did you put tuition in the divorce agreement? My friend did, but then the ex reneged, they ended up going to mediation and since he made a lot more than her the agreement got amended and he ended up paying more. I’m sorry about the bills. I own a medical business so if I may offer a little advice…call them and talk to the billing manager. Tell them about this being your ex - but you take responsibility for the kids. If you can’t pay the entire amount I know we’ll accept 50%, and we’ll also do payment plans. Did insurance cover any of the bills? If so they’ll be even more willing to negotiate. The importance is communicating.</p>
<p>@overtheedge - sounds like your d has applied to some interesting schools. My friends d also applied to Rhodes and went to visit and they all really thought the school was a gem. And of course Charleston is an absolutely charming city. </p>
<p>Eyemamom - thanks for that good advice re: bills. He racked up about $4k in expenses that was not covered by insurance (he chose to have varicose vein surgery - insurance covered most of it but our piece is $4k). In terms if tuition, yes I want to build it in to the eventual settlement. And another CCer said to specify the full cost of attendance since tuition at some schools is only half of the total bill. </p>
<p>Overtheedge - congrats to your D! S was wait listed at Rhodes and still waiting to hear from CofC (they deferred him EA).</p>
<p>Thanks for the heads up about Northeastern, @seattle_mom, I heard it here first! Told my son when he woke up but it probably didn’t register. We’ve had whole conversations in the morning that he doesn’t remember. </p>
<p>Emotional night last night - it was D’s last night in the “green dress” - the choir gown she has worn for all of her high school choir performances. She had never been given a solo before, all during high school, & last night she finally had two really amazing ones. It was worth the wait. It’s quite a feeling to sit in the audience & think - “That’s MY kid? Where’d she learn to do that?” Wow. </p>
<p>Aw, GertrudeMcFuzz, I got teary just reading your post. I’m glad she was given the solos.</p>
<p>@GertrudeMcFuzz – isn’t it the most wonderful feeling?? D14 has the most beautiful singing voice (not a surprise, her dad is a professional singer, and uncle has numerous gold/platinum records) but she is on the shy side, and is hesitant to sing in public. Her school does not have a choir program, but she does do drama, and had a singing part in last falls DTASC competition. I’m bummed that the spring performance has no singing. </p>
<p>She must be struggling a bit, knowing that the choir is now over, at least this group of kids, etc. Wistfully sad news. Hopefully she is moving on to a school where more amazing experiences await!</p>
<p>@Classof2015 - I agree, contact the billing dept and see what you can negotiate. Or get it included in the agreement that he is responsible for his own bill, and 50% of the kids. As a child of multiple divorce situations, I know how challenging it can be, but hopefully he can see past whatever childish personal issues he is having to make good decisions for the kids. Hearing about the trials you have been dealing with makes me appreciate how fortunate I am in my own marriage. Best of luck, and hang in there – sounds like you made the right choice to move on. </p>
<p>@PetraElise - she’s not quite done - there’s still the Spring Concert, but it has a Broadway theme & the kids will wear costumes for all the numbers, so no green dresses. </p>
<p>We had a little chat last night about how she will have to go back to the “bottom of the heap” next year, as will all new freshmen in whatever their activites are. She’ll have to be in the entry-level choir, etc. But she’s excited about having a bigger and better heap, so to speak. Onward & upward!</p>
<p>After an incredibly busy fall and winter term, go2girl is finally seeing the end of the tunnel. She competed in State for mock trial for the last time this past weekend and received two out of three most valuable participant awards during her rounds. They aren’t going to nationals, but as a co-captian, she feels like she had a part in their success this year. Saturday she heads to Notre Dame as a Hesburgh-Yusko finalist. There are 50 finalists and only 20 are awarded the scholarship of $25K per year plus a specialized summer experience each year. Already having Vandy’s Ingram scholarship in hand definitely takes the pressure off. She has not visited ND yet so it will be an interesting piece of the puzzle. I am relieved that we are almost done and that she can enjoy the rest of senior year.</p>
<p>On another topic, are most of your seniors who are taking AP classes taking the exams? </p>
<p>@go2mom - if you take an ap class you must take the exam at my kids school. In fact after the exam school is over for the seniors</p>
<p>D’s school has the same policy as @eyemamom’s kids. I just wrote a check last night for the final payment. I could have buy a new iPad for that amount. </p>
<p>My son is taking the AP tests for his AP classes plus one more self-study. I don’t think they have to take them at his school. In fact, a couple of the tests are AFTER the seniors are finished with school! His school requires AP students to take the course final as well as the AP. The school at which I teach requires the student to take the AP and then there is no other final in that course. Occasionally, we have students who basically doodle the entire AP test period, because they don’t care and since the score comes in after grades are posted, they have no incentive. I always wonder why they didn’t just take an easier course instead?</p>
<p>go2mom - similar to others, my son’s school requires the exam if you take the class. It’s a private school, and the school automatically signs up the student and adds the cost to the bill. </p>
<p>The class is not over as school continues through early June, but usually the projects and assignments take a more lighthearted tone. </p>
<p>DD’s school also requires everyone to take the test. I’ve got to remember to send in a check within the month. No finals but each class has a final project that they have to do. Classes are over for seniors the last week of the AP exams. Hopefully they’ll have the time to be studying for the exams and not doing the projects! Although DD said the AP Chemistry project was something to do with studying for the exam (and she had no idea what it was going to be in Math!) They’ve already started working on it in one class and in another, they have something due Friday related to choosing the project.</p>
<p>Congrats to all who are getting scholarship and admissions news! And @GertrudeMcFuzz, I can totally relate to the last moments on stage! Hasn’t happened here yet but it will soon enough. DD’s chorus dress is black - wonder what she’ll do with it afterwords!</p>
<p>My daughter is taking one AP exam and not the other.</p>
<p>S14 is taking 4 AP exams, none are required at our school, but they are encouraged to take them. Since we don’t get out until later in June, the kids have other projects after the tests and his AP Gov/Econ class will be doing a unit in Personal Finance.</p>
<p>S14’s school has IB and no AP. If they take the class but not the test, they don’t get the GPA “credit” for taking a harder class. If you take the IB exam, you get a 5.0 for an A - no exam, 4.0=A. My S will take all the exams anyway, but this doesn’t make sense to me as the exam scores are not back until mid-summer, so how well they do has no bearing on their grade.</p>
<p>S will take 2 AP tests out of his 4 AP classes. We checked course catalogues and the 2 he is not taking- AP GOVT and AP Lit won’t help him with his units in any way other than extra units. S 11 took all his AP tests and it cost money and time, nothing was gained. </p>
<p>@Quagmiro - Great that your DS’s merit aid from Philadelphia U is not affecting his need-based aid. As my D is currently busy filling out scholarship apps, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how any scholarships she may be awarded will affect her merit and financial aid. I’ve noticed how most, if not all, of her schools require her to report any scholarships she is awarded. I just hope that merit and FA from schools will only be decreased if our payment reaches below our EFC.</p>
<p>@Overtheedge - Congrats on your D’s acceptance to Rhodes and the College of Charleston! My D and I visited Rhodes in the summer. What a beautiful campus! We drove through Sewanee too - also beautiful, architecture and feel very similar to Rhodes. It’s wonderful your D seemed so at home at the Sewanee alumni reception. Sounds like her social skills will take her far and help make up for any lack of demonstrated interest.</p>
<p>@GertrudeMcFuzz - What a wonderful “Au Revoir” to the green dress with 2 solos! Glad she still has the Spring Concert, and hope you’ll have the opportunity to hear her sing even more solos at the college of her choice! </p>
<p>@PetraElise - Maybe your D14 will pursue singing in a group/choir at her school next year? As much as we will miss them, it is exciting to think of all the opportunities that will open for them!</p>
<p>@go2mom - Congrats to go2girl on the mock trials - sounds like they will really miss her next year! Boy, she is on a roll, with the Ingram Scholarship and now headed to Notre Dame!! Best wishes to her!</p>
<p>My D will be taking AP exams for 4 of her 5 AP classes (since she’s taking the AP Calc BC exam, I’m pretty sure she’s not taking the AP Calc AB exam).</p>