<p>The news is coming in fast and furious. Just wanted to echo congrats to all of the kids (and parents) who are seeing the rewards of their work (both in and out of the classroom, and on those college applications) flow in. </p>
<p>S got his first outright re-direction from UCLA on Friday. Not a biggie to him, as he knew it was a reach, and it wasn’t a school in which he was all that interested. Got a surprise letter from Brandeis yesterday awarding him a $15K/year merit scholarship. Still awaiting one merit award (we hope) and a few decisions. Then some campus visits and re-visits and the indecision cruise for us.</p>
<p>@onlyonemom – Yesterday I went out for a run, and ran past the play structures in our neighborhood park on which my son played as a toddler. Although I know that he’s moving on to bigger and better things, and although we spend significant time yelling and screaming at each other I am bereft over the thought that he’ll be gone next year.</p>
<p>Again, this is a great thread. It’s a kick every time someone reports good news. Keep it coming.</p>
<p>@AsleepAtTheWheel - I know exactly what you mean re the impending loss. S2 is my youngest, and after going through this 2 times before, I know that going to college means the end of our day to day interaction, but it also will signify the end of my long run as a K-12 parent. It’s been wonderful, I have loved it, and I must confess that even though I know it is time and I am ready to let him go, the finality of it really hit yesterday, and I cried a little while driving to the supermarket. I have never been one of those parents who lives through my kids; like many of us here I have constantly been trying to figure out how much to support, when to push, when to pull back, etc. It is exciting for both him and for my husband and I and of course, for all of us, a little scary at the same time! He will never be my little guy again, but he will always be my son, and I’ll be there for him in whatever way I can. I never cried at a HS graduation before, but I think this time I might…</p>
<p>I was watching some orientation videos and there were a couple of shots showing parents and kids saying their goodbyes. Tears flowed and I’m not usually overly sentimental.</p>
<p>DS is on his way back from his UVA adventures. A bit of a delay since his friend lost his car keys somewhere so they had to find a locksmith to get a new key made. $175 and a few hours later, they were on their way. I’m sure this won’t be he last of his adventures on a college campus.</p>
<p>@asleepatthewheel congrats on the Brandeis scholarship - I am hoping to here from them soon about FA. Right now the best FA we have is from Muhlenberg. Well we have only heard from 2 schools about FA. I hope we know everything by Friday and not have wait through another weekend! </p>
<p>Timeline …
End of next week compare offers…College visits early to mid April, college decision by May 1, Prom on May 3, May 4 son turns 18, AP exams 2nd week in May, Senior Transition Project (STP) last two weeks in May, first week of June STP presentation…then graduation June 8 ! …gosh…I am starting to feel sad…plus I need to plan a graduation party! </p>
<p>Dropping off at college is REALLY hard. I had my moment, but I’ll also never forget hugging my son goodbye and watching him walk away, but then seeing this big old dad give a huge bear hug to his son - he was holding him so tight I just cried watching that! lol Seeing all the parents hugging their kids goodbye and crying would have been funny if I hadn’t been one of the people crying.</p>
<p>Busy day- put S11 on a plane after a quick 3 day visit. Barely saw him as he was a groomsman in a wedding. Then we went to S14’s first scholarship luncheon. They showed a brief video of each recipient. He came across so confidently- I was really proud if him. Yesterday he got a call from another organization that he was a finalist for their scholarship and at today’s luncheon he was told that they want to interview him as well. The whirlwind continues!</p>
<p>So few kids get off the wait lists that I would proceed as if it was a rejection, make all the plans for the next school and deal with changes if the unlikely actually happens.</p>
<p>So much news to read - what a week. Congrats to all with good news. For those with a few “redirections” - it is just part of it and the aches will go away with just a little time.</p>
I must concur with this statement. We went through this with S-2011 who was waitlisted at Johns Hopkins and Vanderbilt. He stayed on the list at one and said no to the second. While he expressed interest, so did another 1,000 plus kids and they only took a handful to round out their entering class and to cover summer melt. Fortunately, he had two other strong acceptances and is thriving and a very happy junior at Georgetown. To me, a waitlist position at a very selective school is like applying to an ivy - its a lottery ticket.</p>
<p>How many of your kids have all decisions in and are still debating the number 1 choice? DD show no signs of selecting her final choice from top 3. We are going back for last visits in April but I must admit I am getting weary of the indecision. Sigh. I am hoping she won’t be figuring this out at 11:59 pm on April 30th. </p>
<p>My oldest son thought about sitting on the waitlist at Duke or Harvard five years ago, but his friends convinced him that it would be a waste of time and energy. He had several outstanding offers. Why wait for someone to like you enough to give you a spot? He already had several schools that “loved” him. So he rejected the waitlist idea. I’m into the known thing, not this waiting around to see if someone wants me. To me, you go through heartbreak a second time, and no one needs to feel that way. Now he could have the same thing happen with law schools, but again, we are encouraging him to take the sure thing.</p>
<p>BTW, we may have another snow day tomorrow. It would be Day 18, and probably cancel midterms. So tired of this winter. So is Son '14. Last week’s snow left the grounds so wet that the soccer tournament he was supposed to referee was canceled. It gave him time to write a paper for AP econ and run eight miles Saturday and 14 on Sunday. </p>
<p>If there is a snow day, I’ve already informed Son '14 he has more scholarship apps to do.</p>
<p>Here’s hoping this week brings more successes than last week did for S14. He got back from state BPA yesterday and did not qualify for nationals this year. This year nationals are in Indianapolis. I pointed out that going to Disney World for nationals last year definitely trumps going to Indy. He agreed. He did say he wasn’t as disappointed about Northwestern as he thought he would be so he seems to be handling that ok. I think his biggest disappointment is the likelihood that he has fallen from Sal status because the girl who has moved up “doesn’t even want to give a speech and I already had it written in my head.” However, final grades for the trimester are not posted yet so there’s still a chance. </p>
<p>Two more reach decisions coming this week. And those grades may be posted. I know he’ll make the most of the opportunities he’s given no matter where it is and I do keep telling myself he’ll end up where he is supposed to be. I think he’ll get into one of those reaches and probably not the other one. He really would like to go to the one where he might get in but is worried his dad will not be happy about it. I reminded him that he needs to do what is right for him and his dad isn’t paying for any of it so he doesn’t get a say anyway. Darn that tour guide who said “It’s not about getting a job, but about developing yourself” when discussing his major when we toured that school. </p>
<p>Still waiting- nervously- for #1 here. Maybe today. I agree, whoever said it-S has grown up a lot this year and will be ready for next year, wherever it leads him. I am dreading delivering another one to college and dropping off. Not a fun experience. D13 calls almost every day. S, probably unlikely to do so. I need to work on the boy… chance of snow here again tomorrow. It’s like spring can’t beat winter in an epic battle of wills. </p>
<p>@lab317 - Same situation here…all decisions in, narrowed down to 3 (I think??), but no clear #1! Must sign up for ASDs…April 5, 12 and 18th. I think we will have to forego one and visit on a different day. The indecision does not bother me as I feel he is keeping his options open, but he isn’t yet processing the pros/cons of the schools (or he’s not sharing that info). I am hopeful that he will make the best decision for himself!</p>
<p>As I believe someone already mentioned, what a crazy weekend and I’m sure just as crazy week ahead! Congrats to all those with acceptances, and wishes for something even better for those with redirections.</p>
<p>@Apollo6 - Wow! Had to google “NSLIY”. How fascinating, and what an incredible adventure! Sounds like you have a fearless S15 going off essentially on his own to China for a year. “He came home fluent in Mandarin” - I am so impressed (isn’t that one of the hardest languages in the world to learn?!). He sounds destined for great things!</p>
<p>@Moonmaid - hoping your son’s request for increased grant aid from Tulane is honored. So hard when their heart is set on one school, and another is offering a deal that seems too good to pass on. Will be interesting to hear what Pomona says.</p>
<p>@ovrseasmom - I honestly feel my D’s writing skills have improved tremendously due to all the application essays she’s had to write.</p>
<p>@Agentninetynine - Congratulations on the prom dress and Spygirl’s acceptance into Oxy! So glad her BFF was accepted too! COA’s at so many schools were already exorbitant - it’s hard to understand why they’d increase them even more (we’re experiencing this at several of my D’s schools too).</p>
<p>@Overtheedge - if you don’t mind me asking, what Google doc are you referring to? I figure we can use all the help we can get once D hears back from all her schools.</p>
<p>@AsleepAtTheWheel - Congrats on your S’s merit scholarship offer from Brandeis!</p>
<p>@Minnymom - Congratulations on your S14’s scholarship award this weekend, and finalist designation in the other!</p>
<p>@2016BarnardMom - hoping for the very best for your S14 on decisions and grades this week.</p>
<p>Still waiting on decisions from 5 reaches this week. D has 2 acceptances she could see herself at already, but FA package for one of those not due to arrive until 3/31-4/1. Interesting 10 days ahead.</p>
<p>@lab317
We are in the same boat with two kids-
My S14 hadn’t visited single school yet… in the midst of all this… he is not sure about his major. so he will be visiting his top 2 during the spring break.
My D08 has gotten into all her first choices (four of them) for Graduate studies. </p>
<p>In our household, we had acceptances and rejections to deal with first. Now it is over (immense relief), and we are into the second phase. I find it equally stressful. Also, when the colleges offer local parent/admitted information events, they fill up very fast. I asked my son to take a week and narrow down his choices to two and then we can go visit them. </p>
<p>Congratulations to all who had already gotten good news, and Good Luck to those who are still waiting to hear.</p>
<p>It’s official- he’s number 3. I’m no less proud of all of his accomplishments, but I do wish he was giving a speech at graduation. There’s definitely some irony- The only class I didn’t have an A in through all of highschool was Calc so I ended up with a 3.94 instead of a 4.0. The only class my daughter didn’t get an A in all through highschool? Calc. The class that messed my son up? Calc. Notice a pattern??? I TOLD them not to take Calc…lol. Do they listen? No. </p>
<p>@2016BarnardMom – I do get that it would have been wonderful to see and hear him speak at graduation, but about 99.99% of the parents here on CC (which is already an elite self-selected group) would love to have such a close call. Congratulations on his remarkable achievements (and yours, too). Just make sure that the grandchildren defer their Calculus class until freshman year at college.</p>
chance of snow here again tomorrow. It’s like spring can’t beat winter in an epic battle of wills. </p>