<p>@Overtheedge I’m sorry, I missed some discussion while I’ve been in hospital. What ever happened about the 504? That would alleviate the situation with the teacher who wants her to take medical withdraw (which seems like really selfish request to the teachers part, doesn’t it?) Medical waiver not to take the test sounds like a great plan. I hope that comes through!</p>
<p>I have been out of the loop, so I apologize for missing a lot of news! My DS made his choice to attend UVM (our state flagship) with a full tuition NM Scholarship. He’ll be studying Mechanical Engineering and he’ll be in the Honors College. I know @onlyonemom’s son will be there as well. Do we have a thread where everyone is listing where their kid decides to go, once they’ve decided? I’d love to catch up but can’t keep on top of this thread anymore! I’ll be happy to serve drinks on the cruise for those still deciding, though!</p>
<p>@staceyneil – hope you are on the mend very soon – don’t over do it because that can really set you back. Also, I’m curious…did you find the extra-long twin sheets at Ikea, or does MHC not use the long mattresses in their dorms? </p>
<p>Thanks, @PetraElise. I am trying harder to be less active now. It’s so hard though, to ask someone else to do something simple like unload the washing machine or refill my water pitcher!
MHC uses regular-length twin sheets, so we just lucked out with that.</p>
<p>@staceyneil prayers and hugs and hopefully no more emergency room visits!</p>
<p>thinking about dorm room stuff… does anyone have a good brand of backpack that we could buy D for college? I’m not sure where to look for something that will last, look stylish, and fit her laptop computer. any ideas?</p>
<p>We like Jansport Odyssey for a large backpack that will fit a 16" laptop plus everything else. I don’t know about stylish, but they are practical and have a lifetime guarantee (my oldest used one all through HS, had some damage to the straps and bottom, and the replaced it with a brand new one which he has been using 3 years now with no noticeable wear). They used to have super-comfy straps, but they aren’t as nice anymore, but still quite decent.</p>
<p>Love the dorm stuff info – will check IKEA now for sure. Was planning to give him my old college crookneck desk lamp, but maybe a new, focused one is better. Anyone find a great deal on extra twin sheets yet?</p>
<p>@staceyneil - oh no! Emergency room doesn’t sound good. This is a difficult time of the year to be down. It sounds like your D is handling your illness well and is excited about MHC. I pray you get better soon! </p>
<p>Getting nowhere on the 504. The bureaucracy isn’t inclined to move quickly near year end. I really wish D was back in private school - one phone call and everything would be good. I’m kicking myself for letting her go back to this monstrosity of a HS - even though the academics are great. It’s no wonder she wants to go to a small LAC. But one way or another, we’ll get it worked out.</p>
<p>@mathmomvt - Woohoo! Congrats on the UVM decision!</p>
<p>@staceyneil Thoughts and prayers are going out to you. Please do take it easy! You will heal so much faster 
</p>
<p>@Overtheedge It really doesn’t matter how they do on the AP exams. I’d let that be the least of her concerns. Keeping your D in my prayers as well. </p>
<p>If anybody watches the Today show, as part of the band trip that S is leaving for shortly, they are going to Rockefeller Center to try to get on the show Friday morning! I have to set the DVR. </p>
<p>Both my boys really like (and use…going on year 3) their North face backpacks…</p>
<p>@mathmomvt People are indicating their decision is the Google doc where we listed our acceptances: <a href=“https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZxUwgbCqcCpq4L_2L4lAhqcKQAN0AyGHDAjf1rDX9rI/edit”>https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZxUwgbCqcCpq4L_2L4lAhqcKQAN0AyGHDAjf1rDX9rI/edit</a>
The red italics show the decisions – about 60 so far.
If you want, I can add you. I’m asking most people to add themselves but I don’t mind – I’m being a data geek on this one and it is really fascinating to see the options and the final choices.</p>
<p>@staceyneil Oh no! Best wishes for a speedy recovery!</p>
<p>We’ve previously gotten XL sheets at Target. I guess we might get another set. I’m glad to hear that we aren’t the ones just trying to get through the end of the semester before we start our shopping. Still trying to finalize housing application and scholarship payment paperwork. Tomorrow we have to initiate the background check for S14’s summer internship. And figure out how to set up a 504 plan for college. It never ends.</p>
<p>I think our last day of school for seniors is May 23, with graduation May 28. I’m also not worrying too much about the AP exams. No idea about finals. My S16 will be in school till June 21; he’s got his first AP in May and takes an SAT II in early June. Time to start thinking about his college search!</p>
<p>@staceyneil – if you can just let yourself be pampered, you will get better so much faster. Often times, if you over do it, you won’t feel it for 24-48 hours after the activity. I worked for a OB/gyn for many years, as well as a neurosurgeon, and I promise, the fastest road to recovery is just laying low at the beginning. Keep us updated!</p>
<p>@Overtheedge --If the only concern the school has is for their reputation related to test scores, then I agree, your D should just go and take a nap! That her welfare is less important than their reputation appalls me. That is just crazy. </p>
<p>@crowlady thanks for the pointer – I added my S’s info</p>
<p>@staceyneil – get well soon!</p>
<p>We got my older son’s XL sheets at Overstock.com and they were really nice (and reasonable)! He doesn’t need them in his current apartment, so if they’re still in decent condition, we might just hand them down. I’m sure my S doesn’t care about linens as long as he has some. 
We have a mini-fridge from S1 also that we always intended to hand down, figuring correctly that S1 would be in an apartment with a real fridge by now.</p>
<p>I just saw that UVM doesn’t allow Command Strip hooks in the dorms. I wonder why? </p>
<p>My youngest son will be HS class of 2019 so we have time before we have to worry about college for him. But his Bar Mitzvah is next month, so we’re pretty busy here preparing for that!</p>
<p>I have a North Face pack for my laptop, but it has less overall capacity than the Jansport. </p>
<p>The North Face Heckler is the backpack that my older son has used for all four years of HS. Younger son is only in first year, but I imagine it will last him four years also. Heckler offered the largest storage capacity, or perhaps it was the combination of lowest weight and largest storage.</p>
<p>The North Face website includes weight and capacity details for each of their packs. Description states that this one holds laptop of up to 15 inches.<br>
<a href=“http://www.thenorthface.com/catalog/sc-gear/heckler_3.html”>http://www.thenorthface.com/catalog/sc-gear/heckler_3.html</a></p>
<p>If any of you live within distance of the Woodbury Commons Outlet, the NF store sometimes carries this model.</p>
<p>DS’12 is about as far away as possible. Flew out with one small duffle and that was it. Once we were there he went on a pre-O trip and I went to Wal-mart, Target and BB&B. We also have Amazon prime which we have used A LOT!. It is super easy to order anything and it gets there the next day. He ordered laundry det yesterday. I would say his favorite must have is his 3" memory foam mattress pad. He LOVES it!!! Don’t stress about forgetting things… You can always ship stuff. </p>
<p>DS’14 has to take 4 AP’s but is exempt from finals if they have a B+ or higher… No studying for AP’s as his HS is very rigorous and no one studies for them and all get 4’s and5’s. So his last day of HS is May 16th, graduation May 30th. He doesn’t have to show up to college till August 23, 2015:). </p>
<p>Ya’ll have been very busy in my absence - I just read 350+ posts! It’s been a crazy few weeks, but we have the final ASD out of the way. Spygirl went early and did an overnight, which was an utter disaster (more on that tomorrow) but after a few days in the sun and fun of California, she has made a DECISION! </p>
<p>It took many days and various Pro/Con lists but Spygirl has chosen Occidental as her port of call. They came through with more money, so even though tuition will still be more costly than Gonzaga it’s doable for us and she feels that she made the right choice based on their academics, internship opportunities and their cuisine. :)</p>
<p>Finally! It’s official! My daughter will be a Cornellian. We just paid the enrollment deposit. I already spent couple of hundred bucks worth of Cornell gears.</p>
<p>I’ll stay on the boat for a while as a crew. Drinks, anyone?</p>
<p>@2018dad—CONGRATS!</p>
<p>OK–on the Cornell gear……you are not going to like this, so I wonder if you can cancel your order….but the Campus Store has 20% off everything tomorrow & Friday–Customer Appreciation Sale. Fine print says that sale does not apply to prior purchases. </p>
<p>I don’t think I have spent a couple of hundred dollars on Cornell gear in 30 years!</p>
<p>In case your D hasn’t requested her free tee shirt yet, here is the link :<a href=“http://admissions.store.cornell.edu/Live.aspx”>http://admissions.store.cornell.edu/Live.aspx</a></p>
<p>It is very red and was shoved into the back of my son’s closet four months ago, so I sense it will never be worn. He is a gray, navy or white tee shirt guy.</p>
<p>@Overtheedge I am with @PetraElise - I can’t believe they want a student to repeat an entire course because they worry about how her performance on the AP will reflect upon them! ~X( Will she get an acceptable report card grade? If there is no concern about her grade and credit for her transcript, I would DEFINITELY stay in the class and take the AP if they insist. And put my head down, or doodle on the essay question pages. How stupid! I sure hope they allow the medical waiver of the AP exam - that seems win-win.
What kind of a teacher doesn’t want to work with a student/family who is clearly facing serious health issues? I have a student on long-term absence and I have adjusted the work required to make it both do-able for the student and meaningful in measuring the level of achievement in the course. No sense in weighing an ill student down! </p>
<p>@CT1417
Wait, where did you see the 20% off tomorrow? I can’t cancel my order anymore. </p>
<p>Also you asked about Cornell Days yesterday.</p>
<p>Cornell Days was OK. It could be better. The sessions were very informative and my daughter enjoyed attending the classes and the library tour. I particularly liked the Parent Panel forum. Our main gripe was the timing, during prelim week. My daughter’s host was not able to spend much time with my daughter because she had a study group for her test the following day. Good thing that my daughter found some pre-frosh friends and they and their hosts went and picked my daughter up. In the end she had a wonderfull time at the dorms. She didn’t go back to her host’s room until 1 AM. Her initial reaction to Cornell students was they are “snobby”, but that was changed after she attended some classes and was able to talk and got to know current Cornell students.</p>