<p>The SS Indcision is nearly stocked and all staff and crew assignments have been filled. This will be a very busy cruise with dozens of port visits scheduled for kids and parents alike. The Activities Director and the bartending staff are ready and waiting to assist everyone on this voyage. We wish the best to all of you planning to board and sail with us diring this month of indecision/decision. Looking forward to the final decisions being completed by April 30th so we don’t have to restock any Champagne. </p>
<p>Good point @asleepatthewheel; I think I must be in the wrong thread, because I have to say these posts are getting to me. Unfortunately the 3.0-3.3 GPA thread is not as active with as much information, but for those of us without posts and posts of “good news” to share, this thread can be a bit much.</p>
<p>I see @GoldenWest’s point, but I think it’s just part of the deal for us and our kids. My S has to be excited and gracious with his friends who got EA offers and now other great offers. Being happy for others’ success is an important part of this process.</p>
<p>Yikes @AvonHSDad! That headline sure brought it all home! That and in a month my DD turns 18! I have a feeling it’s going to be a crazy month. I sure hope we will be able to disembark before her 18th birthday so I can get her some college gear for gifts! But somehow I’m not sure a decision will be made by then. But there’s not much more time after her birthday to decide. I’m sure the news coming later this week will not be as positive as the earlier news and then the decision process will really begin. Just waiting now to have all the information in hand before starting that process.</p>
<p>In some ways I think my DD is more excited for her friends news than her own. Maybe not but that’s what it seems. Probably because we’ve been stressing the not having a clear favorite until we see the costs and all. But she knows some friends have received news from schools they really loved so is thrilled for them.</p>
<p>As one of the few posters on this site who has a child without high stats, I can say that it can be intimidating at times to hear of the scholarships and awards many on this site are receiving. However, I still can celebrate their achievements as well as my own child’s accomplishments. Many on this site wouldn’t even consider my D’s top school and might view it as an easy safety and that’s OK. What’s most important is you and your child’s expectations and dreams. Aiming high is relative. Congrats to all whether it’s a full ride at directional state school that will keep you and your child out of debt, full pay prestige U, or something in between! </p>
<p>@GoldenWest – I hear you – it’s a really wonderful group here, thankfully, which makes it a lot more fun to cheer all the kids and families who have good news, but it is also a tad depressing at times, being on CC in general. Kids aren’t the only ones who have to go through an adjustment from being in the “top” locally to getting lost in the middle nationally. </p>
<p>And I also know that many of my local friends probably feel the same when I’m posting on FB about my D14 getting accepted here and there, as well as being selected for Campus Merit and FYHP at UCSC – many of their kids can’t even get accepted at a UC, let alone get any merit or honors courses. It’s all relative. When it comes down to it, I’m just very grateful to have such a lovely group of people here on CC to share with, learn from, and hopefully help out once in a while.</p>
<p>So, after writing my last post, an email comes through that seems to indicate D14 is a semi-finalist for the Achievement Award Program at UCB – the wording is a bit vague – she is “still under consideration” and will be notified if she moves onto the finalist round. So…maybe good news?</p>
<p>@2018dad – hard to say since the info for the initial invite said it is not indicative of admission – the program is an alumni one, so not like Regents where it meas acceptance. But I naturally take it as a promising sign, lol. Which is really nice after her rejection from Scripps last week. I guess we will know on Thursday evening, about admission that is – TAAP finalists aren’t notified until early April, and I got the impression that there was still some ongoing process after that before the actual selections are announced. </p>
<p>The crazy thing is, I’m rather ambivalent about her going to UCB – I personally prefer UCSD or UCSC for a slightly less intense college experience. But UCB is her top choice, and if she were to get the scholarship, it would mean a reduction or elimination of loans. I wonder if I will have any hair left when this is all done??</p>
<p>@momofwon D’s college list is the same way, not a single school that would be popular with the majority of the cc crowd. I tried to coax her into applying for some more selective institutions, but she didn’t want to. I asked recently, with acceptances from the big names rolling in, if she wished she would have. She shrugged, “Sometimes.” </p>
<p>What blows my mind are all the full rides. If it weren’t for the fin aid board, I’d wonder if I were the only person on cc writing checks in the fall!</p>
<p>Thank you for the above comments and I do enjoy seeing the successes of others on this board. Anything else I say about how I find some of the posts will come off as churlish, so I will leave it there. Anyway, best of luck to all. Still waiting (not very hopefully) on the last few UCs, then it is decision time.</p>
<p>I like this thread and I havent found anyone to be snarky or with inflated egos. I am happy for the high achievers we have here and I have never felt that I am less because son is applying to (mostly) state publics; I share in the accomplishments of ‘our’ kids, lol. Looking forward to that cruise… <:-P </p>
<p>@ordinarylives—didn’t want you to think you are alone; you have company in CT!</p>
<p>My parents racked up hundreds of thousands of FF points paying for younger siblings’ tuitions via charge cards. I don’t know that they even owned a charge card when I went to college.</p>
<p>Advice needed: Is it worth asking admissions for merit aid if you don’t qualify for any need based aid now or wait until some accepted students who were given aid choose to go elsewhere in late April? I know it’s a long shot, but we can’t do worse than $0. Thanks!</p>
<p>@spritle - nosy question ahead…if your son gets into UR do you think he’ll go? My son is there now and loves it. </p>
<p>I found this site because of my son who was a twice exceptional student looking for a place for like minded students. My d is way more average and looking at way different schools. </p>
<p>I think you just take the good with the bad. I’m still happy for all the kids and thrilled to know the real superstars find their schools! We need them. Just getting in the right school for the student is a big achievement whether it’s an ivy or the school around the corner that fits just right. I wouldn’t want my d at these schools where she’d drown and I’d hope the uber achievers could find their home too. </p>
<p>Well, it’s official - S2 got a “no” from Pomona today, which is actually kind of a relief, since we will not have to deal with teenage sturm und drang over the situation. We are going to the Tulane accepted students event tonite, he can talk to his rep about what he should submit to increase his chances of getting a little more grant aid, and he can now officially accept, send in his deposit and work on getting in as many more scholarship apps from now until end of the year as possible. I think he will get a few thousand, at least from local ones, and his essays are really getting better and better. Yes, scholarship essay writing does improve your writing skills! His big brother also got some very good news (that I am sworn to secrecy about) concerning a job opportunity in NOLA, so he will have family nearby, and most importantly, someone who will be able to give him advice and guidance about the school, as well as a couch and homecooked meal now and then. I think, all in all, that it is the right choice for him, but I still do not feel bad about putting him through the process! </p>
<p>I’m truly sorry if that came off as insensitive. Truth is, S14 was a slacker until the middle of 9 the grade when something clicked in. I used to tell him I would rather see him get a C while doing his best than an A- because he just didn’t feel like doing his homework. It’s very possible he’ll only get into 2 of the 6 schools where he applied and he definitely doesn’t have any full ride scholarships. I am definitely proud of his accomplishments because he finally started doing his best. Five years ago, I couldn’t get him away from video games. I was very worried about him. He was obese and ate everything in the house. He has made significant changes in his life and I never dreamed he would be where he is now. </p>
<p>@1dilecon - The Google doc to which I was referring is the one created by Crowlady where everyone can post their acceptances. For some reason, I’m not able to copy and paste the link here, but it can be found in the Parents Forum Class of 2018: List of Acceptances (H.S. Class of 2014) thread. When there are multiple posts with new admission offers, the list helps me keep up with who got into which schools. @GertrudeMcFuzz posted a link a few pages back for an app that sorts the pros/cons of each school and helps one make a decision. It sounds like that is the link you need:). </p>
<p>PS If anyone wants to add their child’s acceptances to the Google list who doesn’t have a Google account, just let me know and I will be happy to add them for you! </p>
<p>@Moonmaid - I am sorry to hear about Pomona, but how exciting that your S2 has made a decision and will be attending such a great school! </p>
<p>@ordinarylives - I tried that with my S but the school’s fees for using a credit card outweighed the benefits. I am hoping it works with D’s school. I may have to use those points for groceries the next 4 years! </p>
<p>@Agentninetynine - Congrats on Spygirl’s acceptance to Oxy! </p>
<p>@AsleepAtTheWheel - Congrats on your S’s merit scholarship offer from Brandeis!</p>
<p>@2016BarnardMom - I don’t think you came off as insensitive at all. Being a Val or Sal is a big deal and I can understand your (and your S’s) disappointment (even if I cannot imagine my D being in the top 3 of her class of 860+ - all of whom have been accepted to HYP:)). You have every right to be proud of your S! And if you can’t discuss it here, then where? Frankly, I loved the Calculus story. When do they learn that Mom knows best? </p>