<p>@onlyonemom,</p>
<p>Great idea…I’m so extremely annoyed. She’s okay with it…nothing has ruffled her feathers through this whole process. I will check Southern’s website. </p>
<p>@staceyneil,</p>
<p>Exactly…they wait until the eve of decision day to send the email…on a Friday @ 4:55pm. If she had received it in her “inbox” in a timely manner, what could she have done at that late hour?</p>
<p>Congrats all on the wonderful news of acceptances! Update here: D found out she got into Syracuse’s Whitman School of Mgmt yesterday! Amazing! Now the hard part…waiting for word on any merit aid. This could get tough. D was over the moon about the acceptance. It was her big reach. </p>
<p>@spritle - I’ll be an empty nester too, only I’m getting a maine coon cat! 
A dog is too much work and it ties you to the house. Is your husband going anywhere that you could at least go visit?</p>
<p>Congrats to all with their admissions. Hang in there, those who have been redirected.</p>
<p>Son '14 told me that one of his former classmates from his former HS got into VT, UVA and Syracuse Friday. Then, one of my husband’s former students got into UCLA. Another got into UVA. </p>
<p>Meanwhile, my older son just got back from UVA’s law school open house. Really had a good time, but like the undergrads to be, he is still awaiting word from three more law schools. So we understand the waiting game very well.</p>
<p>@spritle - my D has narrowed her choice to two finalists, & has been using an iphone app to make her pro/con list. You can actually assign a level of importance & score for each category & it will do a bunch of math for you & pick a winner. LOL - she’s a bit of a dork this way, but having fun with it. Her categories include financial, honors program, strength of her major program, location, faculty, housing (quality & whether it is guaranteed or not), availability of an LLC in her interest, campus vibe and probably more that I can’t remember. Her two are running pretty close - not sure how she will finally decide!</p>
<p>@GertrudeMcFuzz - Never occurred to me there may be an app for comparing schools, would love to try that.</p>
<p>@Spritle - If you’re considering a dog, I agree with kc1214mom that a puppy is a tremendous amount of work and you may want to consider an older, housebroken dog. You may want to consider a senior dog from your local SPCA - pretty amazing sometimes the wonderful dogs you’ll find there (sometimes given up simply because the owner was moving and couldn’t take the dog with him/her), and they often seem so appreciative, so grateful for being rescued. My S14 and I volunteered at a local shelter a few years ago and there was a beautiful Siberian husky there. When I told someone there I couldn’t imagine anyone ever giving up that dog, they told me he belonged to a marine who was being reassigned to the Middle East. This big, tough hero brought the dog in with tears in his eyes. He hated giving his dog up, but he had no choice. He didn’t have anyone to care for him while he was gone. It is a no-kill shelter, so hopefully, he could take some comfort in that.</p>
<p>In anticipation of the empty nest, I got a cat. Didn’t think I’d have the time for a dog. Poor thing would be spending way too much time in his crate.</p>
<p>@ordinarylives - good advice to anyone ever considering getting a dog.</p>
<p>Didn’t mean to start the doggy debate. 
I was never a dog lover and was actually quite scared of dogs, and really didn’t see why people got attached. I was always bothered when it seemed like people treated their pets better than family, etc. Then after a year of pleading we got a puppy for our youngest… I was extremely reluctant, and knew i was going to be the primary caregiver. Maybe I thought we could adopt out if it didn’t work. It was a big learning experience for me but it surprised me how quickly I fell in love with this dog. He’s the one little guy who is always ecstatic to see me–even if I’ve just been gone for 10 minutes upstairs-he sees me and is over-joyed. I guess this mom of teens relishes that bit of validation-15 yo D-Need I say more?</p>
<p>Definitely consider a pet; they can bring a lot of joy and companionship. If you get a dog, puppy or otherwise, invest in the time to train – it is well worth it. A well behaved dog is a pleasure-- an untrained one, not so much.</p>
<p>We had a bummer day yesterday, sort of. D14 was rejected from UCLA (expected due to poor portfolio) and Scripps (unexpected and it was her #2 choice). Thankfully she had had the good news of UCSD acceptance and FYHP/Merit scholarship at UCSC earlier this week. Her BF came home for spring break last night, so that is cheering her up, and he is very supportive and encouraging. Then she found out a dear friend (since babyhood – they were in daycare together and have been besties ever since, in spite of living an hour apart for years) is also seriously considering UCSC. Top it all off with the public performance of the school play she’s been working on for months that went very well, and all is well here. Basically we are waiting on one more school (UCB) which is the top choice — I’m really dreading if she gets bad news on that one, all while being very grateful that she has solid options to choose from already. </p>
<p>Quiet day around here. For once no sports are on the schedule and DS drove down to UVA with a friend for an overnight (even though he didn’t apply there). They are meeting several other HS friends down there and then sleeping on the floor(s) of several alums from their school. Ostensibly they are attending the Engineering Open House but since they left at 12:30 and it’s a 2 hour drive I don’t think they’ll see much. I’m pretty sure the purpose of the trip is to hang out with some old friends. He’ll drive home tomorrow and go straight to an end of season party for the middle school basketball team he coaches.</p>
<p>I went to the Senior Parent night meeting last night to hear about prom, graduation, senior picnic, etc. A couple of weeks ago DS texted me to ask how his name should appear on his diploma, and what names he should include when his name is called out at the ceremony. It’s all becoming real! </p>
<p>DS also reported that he knows at least three people at school who are seriously considering Case Western, two of whom are guys and are good friends and potential roommates. He leaves Thursday am for an admitted student day and will stay overnight with a student, sit in on a class, meet with his recruiting coach, and see if that is ultimately where he wants to be. </p>
<p>@gertrudemcfuzz what’s the app called? We’re going to be in need of this for sure!</p>
<p>@collegesgalore - LOL, I have had several requests by PM for it also. Unfortunately, D is off at All-State Honor Choir today & won’t be back until late tonight. I’ll ask her tomorrow & post it for anyone interested!</p>
<p>Congratulations to all the acceptances - hoping for happy news for everyone going forward!</p>
<p>My S got his first redirection from Colby- he doesn’t seem to care because he now wants a school where he can do research! I know someone on here said that months ago! One of the UROC moms I think…</p>
<p>Happy news - S just got accepted to UVM honors college! He is very happy - now for the FA</p>
<p>Nephew got accepted to University of Wisconsin and is very happy! Yeah for him! </p>
<p>Good day overall …I am so glad S got deferred at Colby because it gave him an opportunity to explore other schools. He now has 6 out 7 acceptances…waiting for 4 more…plus FA packages only 2 FA received…waiting…I am not a patient person…</p>
<p>For those who want to compare packages - if you google college cost comparison worksheet - several come up …College Board has one that is easy to use.</p>
<p>Best Wishes everyone time to get ready for movie night! </p>
<p>Congratulations to everyone with new acceptances! </p>
<p>Some good and some bad news today. D was rejected by Kenyon. Statistically, she was in the top 25% based on last year’s incoming class so I was somewhat surprised. I guess the surge in apps made a difference. On a positive note, she wasn’t the least bit phased since it was her third choice. Expecting to be full pay and knowing that merit was unlikely, it was essentially off the table anyway. And, an unexpected surprise, she got more money from Sewanee today! </p>
<p>One more to go and we’re done. Then it’s decision time. D has a clear favorite, but we are holding off on a decision until all the numbers are in and she has a chance to visit all the schools.</p>
<p>DS got accepted at Colby and Auburn. Should hear from the final schools next week.</p>
<p>@gertrudemcfuzz - we’re interested in that app, too. All of DS14’s results are now in - 5 for 5! - and it’s really come down to 2. He’s wanting to major in engineering - civil, probably - and has been admitted to general engineering at Cal Poly SLO and pre-engineering at U of Washington. He contacted the CE advisor at the UW yesterday and she told him he is not a direct admit to CE, which we didn’t expect he would be, but you can always hope!! So his choice is the sure thing at Cal Poly vs. a later admit to CE at the UW. He wasn’t thinking at all about leaving WA state, but when we visited Cal Poly last week, we were both blown away by the beautiful area, enthusiastic students, kind advisor, and wonderful industry-funded labs! But he has always wanted to attend UW! So anything that will help him sort out the pros/cons is of interest to us! The good news is, both are good choices. He got a little bit of merit aid at Cal Poly, so the cost isn’t even ridiculously more than UW.</p>
<p>At this time of year, it’s better than watching a good drama, reading all the results, celebrations, anguish, all of it, on CC! Know that I’m here shedding tears of joy or sorrow right along with all of you as we get ready to send this wonderful group of kids on their way!</p>
<p>Oh, I love puppies with their curiosity and enthusiasm! Unfortunately, this just isnt the right time. I work full time and that would be unfair. The potty and obedience training dont scare me - we foster boxers and doxies and they all need training, which I am good at. We have two boxers now, a 7-yr old and a 4yr-old. They tend to keep me on my toes. 
</p>
<p>@eyemamom, yes! I will be able to visit about halfway through for a couple of weeks. It will be a trip of a lifetime, I think. It is something I am having fun planning. </p>
<p>@onlyonemom, thanks for the categories; those are some great ones that I didnt think of.</p>
<p>@gertrudemcfuzz, that app sounds fabulous! Please do share the name with the rest of us. </p>
<p>@NewHavenCTmom, Congratulations to your daughter! I’ve been thinking of you.so happy that all your hard work has paid off!</p>