<p>@AvonHSDad SS Indecision couldn’t have a better Captain!</p>
<p>Congratulations to those who got the acceptances they hoped for-sorry to those who didn’t. Three years ago I was in the same boat with the disappointed ones-it was a pretty awful night but by Monday my son was looking forward to all the wonderful schools and opportunities he had not the ones he didn’t. Try as best you can not to take it personally-that was the hardest part for me! </p>
<p>You all seem to have wonderful children you love and want to help launch as the Captain would say! There really are so many great schools out there and because of the work your children have done all these years and because of how you as parents have guided them to the best of your ability they are all going to end up right where they are supposed to be-I didn’t believe it three years ago the morning after but I have no doubt about it now-every child on here is a winner and will succeed wherever the SS Indecision takes them!</p>
<p>Hi all-I’d love to personalize my congrats and condolences to everyone but that would mean I would have to go back and take notes and right now I’m sort of mentally drained. Rest assured, I’ve read them and whooped for joy with you or sent you a virtual hug. It will all work out in the end and any decisions are really not that personal. They don’t really know these kids. How many kids can actually portray their beautiful light and “goodness” in 650 words? Mine can’t. And I know they are amazing and I know yours are, too! I’ve really enjoyed reading about all of them. They give me hope for the future!</p>
<p>There was some good news yesterday and also the first rejections and WL. Disappointing from the perspective of ALL OF THAT WORK but…Not a big deal. Again, just seems sort of random. What I thought was probably the weakest supplement got a positive response, stronger ones got the negatives. Oh well.</p>
<p>All of this is tempered by thinking of Apollo. </p>
<p>RIght now I just regret every time I think I might have been less than relaxed about this process in front of my kid.
I really wish we didn’t have a couple of more schools to hear from. I just want it to be over. We have many good choices right now and even though his heart isn’t set on any of the remaining schools (they are all long shots), I would rather spare him the denials and move on. It is time to make some decisions and inside I am realizing that this means he actually is going to leave me to go to college. Salty tears and Peppery hugs to all.</p>
<p>Pepper03, your words are so kind. Thank you. Someone just told me, it’s not the school that makes someone special, it’s the person inside and what they do w their talents. Last night I witnessed my 3 girls shine as brightly as I have ever seen. They were the leads in our hs production of Anything Goes and the singing, acting, and tapping had my mouth open in awe (and I have seen 100s of shows). My kids have performed for 12 years and this was the culmination of a zillion training hours. What a joyous night for our family. We can’t afford Dartmouth, but no one can take away that incredible shine that comes from within our D’s. All of our
CC kids have a light and it’s their time to shine. </p>
<p>It’s too bad we can’t do trades… lol. @onlyonemom - We’ll trade you one Oberlin for a Michigan. Michigan traditionally releases all of their decisions on Fridays every step of the way so I suspect you’ll have that answer today. </p>
<p>Game plan at this point: Have S14 do what he needs to do to accept Waitlist positions that he chooses to accept and then forget about those and make a decision between Kzoo and Michigan. </p>
<p>Interestingly, Kzoo’s acceptance/deposit form has a line that says “Accepted waitlist position at my number one choice school ________and will attend there if accepted” (name of school) . Is that unusual? I don’t remember seeing that option when my D was doing this. </p>
<p>3tallblonds: Sorry to hear about the Dartmouth FA. We experienced the same thing five years ago when our older son got into Richmond and Wash U. Yes, he got decent FA, but still, we could not afford it (we teach for a living). The loans would have been near the six-figure mark by the end he completed undergrad, and we still had Son '14 to go. </p>
<p>So the older son took a National Merit offer to Alabama. Now, while he had an awesome experience there, to a certain extent, he feels as if he sort of settled for his backup. Well, it depends on how you look at it. He got an awesome education, went to the BCS championship, earned two degrees and had two minors, studied abroad, traveled all over, did research, etc. If that’s settling … With his law school apps, he would love to go to Harvard or Stanford. Again, that may not happen.</p>
<p>College is what you make of it, I reminded him. </p>
<p>Congrats and condolences to all - what an exciting day! DH is a high school teacher, and is getting communications from his students as well (they are on Spring Break right now, so all info coming via email and facebook). One of his students who struggled with mental health issues during Jr. year & came to him as a confidante in this struggle just got into Berkeley and is over the moon. Our D will hear from her final school USC today, then we will happily board the USS Indecision. Please have a couple of fruity colorful beverages with umbrellas in them watiing for DH and I (full strength) and a Shirley Temple for D at the gangplank. See you all on deck!</p>
<p>Such wonderful news from so many, along with some heartbreak. Congratulations to EVERYONE, as it looks like there are great opportunities out there. After weighing all the pros and cons, I hope you all ENJOY the choices that are made by May 1. Gut-feelings are so important, and only you and your DSs and DDs know what is best for your family. Such wonderful, wonderful young people will really do well ANYWHERE they can be happy.</p>
<p>I remember when D04 was choosing between a very highly thought of school and a state school. She had received the top scholarship from each (along with WL and “redirections” from HYP) The more prestigious school still would cost quite a bit - though with the scholarship was affordable, certainly - while the state school was offering her the world. Literally. She eventually took the state’s offer. It included room and board, an extra stipend for her semester abroad, and LOTS of opportunities for research and ECs, since she was really a big fish in a small pond. Quite a few people thought, with her stats, she could “do better!” Well, the state school accepted all her DE credits so she graduated with two full degrees, the school sent her around the country to present research, she achieved top-level positions and experience in the ECs, had enough pocket money to spend a summer backpacking in Europe after her semester abroad, all with incurring NO DEBT. Upon graduation, she applied to a Rotary program and several law schools. She again received some nice scholarships to top-ten programs, but a complete full-tuition offer from a decent, but lower ranked law school. She also ended up with a grant for the Rotary program which sent her to Africa for a year to study international law. The lower-ranked law school was HAPPY to allow her to take a break between 1L and 2L to complete the Rotary program, something the other schools were not guaranteeing. So, again, she took the program that allowed her the most opportunity and the ability to graduate without debt. I can say that IN NO WAY has she been hampered by taking the opportunities that were the best fit for her, despite criticism from others who thought she should “aim higher.” (<em>AND we got a fabulous son-in-law that she would never have met had she attended a different school! BONUS</em>) </p>
<p>There was some heartache when those “skinny” envelopes came and a nail-biting decision right up until April 30 to make on the offers on the table. It can certainly be a stomach-churning month! The process for S14 was much easier - he knew what he wanted, there were no reaches and he is WAY more laid-back. So there is no excitement in the house this month, but no drama or trauma, either. </p>
<p>I am happy to report in a couple of days to work the bar and serve the drinks - as long as I get to join in every toast as a decision is reached! Best wishes to you all! :-h </p>
There is no reason your S can’t be on more than one waitlist. I say your GC is wrong. If he is fortunate enough to get admitted from a waitlist, he will simply notify the other waitlisted school(s)l and ask to be removed from their waitlist(s). It’s that simple. B-) </p>
<p>My half a century old brain can’t keep up with all the news of the last 24 hours so let me just say–congrats to all of you who have the acceptances you were hoping for and I hope that a good night’s sleep as erase the sting of the redirections. Go2girl has remained the pragmatist and will choose a school that gives her a solid scholarship opportunity over her acceptance at dreamy Penn. Looks like we will be on the SS Indecision for awhile as she probably won’t have all the news until the end of April. That’s okay, I’m lathered in sunscreen and ready for my first mai tai. Who’s ready to meet me on the LIdo deck?</p>
An acceptance market place. Sounds like another profit center for College Board. It could become quite profitable to be able to trade or sell acceptance rights on the secondary market. It would certainly change the dynamics of the admissions process! Maybe all that is needed is to trade names and student ID numbers! Although DW has muttered something about trading kids a few times over the years…</p>
<p>
That is usually what happens. You have to deposit to be assured a spot. If you don’t respond and deposit by May 1st, you have effectively said no, I am not going to attend and your spot is gone for the year. The only way to get it bask is to take a gap year and reapply in the next cycle. (This is true for all of the selective schools. There may be a few schools with space available in May but it is generally a fairly short list of the less popular and lesser well known schools who are still looking to fill freshman class spaces. Often by then the FA allotment for the year is fairly well gone as well.)</p>
<p>As I read all of the past days’ notes with all the ups and downs I am most struck by incredible love that you all have for your children. Our children have grown up knowing that they were loved (not a given in today’s world), and the confidence and moral fiber borne out of that love will serve them for the rest of their lives.</p>
<p>@momreads – This thought struck me as I read your note about how comfortable your son is with his college choice. It speaks volumes that he has the maturity and confidence to not only make a wise decision, but to also not let peer pressure and culture divert him from following his passion. Running is in many ways a lonely sport, and every day of training is a personal battle. I bet he’s quite a kid.</p>
<p>@3tallblonds – I can’t imagine how much joy you must have had sitting there watching the girls belt out a tune, tapdance (not exactly in the repertoire of your average high school kid), and carry themselves with some much poise and (again) confidence last night. It makes me smile just to think about it. It actually worked out to be perfect timing that it coincided with decision day. . . That all said, your engineering/business background is perfect for the systematic approach you three will need analyzing all the pro’s and con’s of your girls’ choices. You must keep us posted.</p>
<p>For us, yesterday’s news pushed us out several miles farther onto the sea of indecision. My son called me at work and said, “Dad, bad news. I got into Emory.” We didn’t think that Emory would be an option. He’s proud, but humbled. He knows that he’s fortunate to be given this opportunity. But it makes our prior choice algorithms useless. Also messes up our schedule (and previous bought flight tickets) for admitted student visits. Oh well, we’re happy to have the problem.</p>
<p>Again, thanks to all of you for all the notes, updates, and heartfelt emotion on this thread. . . And of course still thinking of Apollo. </p>
<p>I just love this group! I haven’t been here long, but really feel so fortunate to be amidst so many supportive people. </p>
<p>Am joining SS Indecision, but with a great attitude. D14 seems ready to tackle the task of evaluating her options with an open mind and positive approach. (She knows someone amazing from last year’s senior class who got rejected at the few schools applied to, in spite of amazing stats – so she’s really grateful that her application process was more well thought out, and that she is in position to choose from several great options). </p>
<p>She was not terribly enthused about all the plans I made for accepted student days, as her heart was set on UCB and she thought it was a waste of time. This morning is a whole new ballgame, and she is enthusiastically contemplating the trips now, and maybe a bit appreciative that mom is so involved and thinking ahead. I had even filed the application for housing at UCSD when it opened (no deposit or commitment, but they assign housing based on date you file that application) and now she’s thrilled that I did it. </p>
<p>Her options at UCSC now look pretty good, lol, and her boyfriend confirmed that there is still an affordable shuttle between UCB and UCSC so they could plan weekend get-togethers (and one of his best friends is at UCSC, so he can crash in his friend’s dorm room). Add in the FYHP, Campus Merit Scholarship, and the possibility that her good friend may also attend, and UCSC just moved to the top of the list. </p>
<p>I can’t even tell you how happy I am that things are looking so good, and that she is able to find the fun and anticipation of this life event. I wish the same for everyone here, and their S’s And D’s – as others have said, we have some incredible kids and families in this group, and I’m looking forward to hearing how happy they are with the final choices!</p>
<p>@PetraElise
UCSD and UCSC are both great schools. UCSD is just few miles from us and it’s an excellent school. The campus is nice and walking distance from the beach. It’s located in one of the nicest (and very affluent) neighborhood in California (La Jolla). </p>
<p>Congratulations to so many of you with good news! And for those with not-so-good news, I hope it will all turn out well after the initial sting of rejection passes. S14 has had a good last week, but also some disappointments. Rice captured his imagination several years ago when he read about their nanotech program. Although he knew how slim his chance was, he was hoping, but was waitlisted. Then, rejection from Harvard, although it didn’t seem to faze him. But when I asked if he had checked on another reach, Yale, he said he’d check later. “One rejection a day is enough, mom.” On the brighter side, he was told to write a speech for valedictorian, but the principal stopped short of telling him he was actually valedictorian. Why?? Oh well. He also found out he’s on prom court and was NOT expecting that. A school he likes that might have been out of reach financially sent him an email awarding a departmental scholarship for an extra 11,000 per year.Wow - that was nice!! So it might be more of a possibility. All in all, not bad.
Along with what many have already voiced, my great hope is that all of our kids are keeping things in perspective and reach out if they are having difficulty coping. </p>
<p>I am truly happy about the good news that most received and thinking about the others who got not so good news.
The college applications, waiting and then rejections seems to be a never ending tiring process.</p>
<p>I for one is glad that we don’t have any more news to come. Now we have to sit down with the kids and help them select the colleges that make sense. In my D’s case, she may not able to go to her top choice as it is financially not possible. Perhaps a rejection would have been easier as that would make the decision easier.</p>
<p>My son may [I am hopeful] UCB cal over UCSD. If that happens this weekend, we can move to the next phase. That is to start applying for housing and deciding on what to take etc. </p>
<p>@SoWest – What wonderful news on the scholarship! That’s got to make him feel loved after the other sad news. And possible Val and prom court as well!! Nice!</p>
<p>@2018Dad – she is looking forward to the Triton Day next weekend. She only applied to UCSD because I told her to, lol. She loves SD, and it’s a great school that fits her in a lot of ways, so since she was already doing the app for UCLA and UCB, she didn’t mind adding in the other two campuses I suggested. Now, of course, she’s pretty happy she did. I think her ego is happy to have been accepted as well, since it is a highly regarded school. I’m sure she is going to love it, and then she’ll be in a quandary as to which school to choose!</p>
<p>@2018Dad - sounds like we might be neighbors! I, too, will throw a good word in for UCSD. Modern campus on some of the most beautiful real estate in the world & home to the world-class La Jolla Playhouse, which frequently sends its productions on to Broadway. Also adjacent to (really the heart of) one of the largest concentrations of Biotech/High tech companies in the world. Hope you like fish tacos!</p>
Michigan traditionally releases all of their decisions on Fridays every step of the way so I suspect you’ll have that answer today. </p>