<p>Both my kids did very heartfelt thank you notes. We plan to do an end of year gift/gift card. Also we brought back college gear tshirts for her two special teachers, which they really seemed to enjoy wearing often :)</p>
<p>DS gave his teachers a card and brownies. His favorite teacher is also getting another card at the end of the year thanking her for pushing and inspiring him.</p>
<p>@12Dandelion Laundry at RIT is apparently FREE!! </p>
<p>Congrats to @2014ProfDad and hang in there @2016BarnardMom. Ordered a fancy new Jansport backpack last night. He also expressed an interest in bedding. Went to the mall yesterday with S16 and he outshopped me. So not all boys are without interest.</p>
<p>I like the idea of college tshirts for the teachers, I might even get one for our guidance counselor who has been very helpful (and will need to pull for S16, too, so it is an investment!).</p>
<p>@crowlady Yes, we were happy to see the free, and in pretty good condition, laundry equipment. D is a bit of a clothes horse, and I was glad to see she’ll be able to do her separate loads. Whether she actually WILL or not is another story. </p>
<p>Her letters were from history, art and English teachers, so I think a local bookstore gift card might be nice for them. Or B&N, which in our area includes a Starbucks, so they could use it on a latte if they prefer. The art teacher actually went to RIT (where D will be in the fall) so she probably already has the t-shirt. ;-)</p>
<p>Boy you guys have been busy!</p>
<p>We brought back some treats from London for DS’s teachers and his counselor. He also wrote very nice notes. He gave them out last week and said all were much appreciated and it also gave him a chance to have a nice chat with all three adults. </p>
<p>Case Western doesn’t charge for laundry so no need for quarters or for DS to use his swipe card. I do know that some of the dorms at Michigan still use quarters since DS spent a month there a couple of summers ago. But they may have switched over by now so don’t take my word for it.</p>
<p>Since d’11 just moved into an apartment, dorm fridge, micro, bed risers, etc are now going to be passed down to d’14. I think I need to buy sheets. That’s it. Can get em at Walmart for $16 a set. </p>
<p>After a week+ away, I’m back. While visiting USC in CA, I landed in the ER and was only released when I promised to go to the ER in NY the next day when my flight arrived home. What followed was a short 2 day hospital admittance and a week working from home to recover. I had been reading the posts but I took a break right before we left for CA because everyone’s decisions were starting to make me more nervous, actually. I don’t know why, but they were. I was mourning schools that my kids were accepted to but the cost to us was way out of our league (Dartmouth, Rice and Vandy, for example). </p>
<p>So, we have toured approx. 30 schools over the last 3 years. And 1 1/2 weeks before the May 1 deadline we take a trip to CA to see USC to leave no stone unturned. Within 10 mins I could see it in my girls’ demeanor. They felt at home. The only other place I had seen that was Harvard. Yes, completely different schools but something at both clicked. They were WL at Harvard so it wasn’t a choice (although they have sent in extra info/material just in case). While at USC I texted my husband and said “We’ve got some thinking to do. This is it.” Even with my ER visit and having to rush home, the USC trip sealed the deal. Both my twins will join the Trojan family in the fall double majoring in science and theater. </p>
<p>We are elated for them and sad at the same time. 2600 miles. That’s a long way. </p>
<p>Congrats to all who have decided, especially @AsleepAtTheWheel, who helped us in so many ways, and your S’s decision to go to Emory! I can see how that is a perfect fit. And Emory at full pay is still less than sending my twins combined with scholarships. We had much cheaper options on the table so this decision was a tough one. We have already started to find ways to save $$ bc every $ is going to help. I feel at peace though and that’s priceless. </p>
<p>Congratulations @3tallblonds and @2014ProfDad</p>
<p>As for @2016BarnardMom I am starting to wonder if our S’s were separated at birth i.e. Sunday naps and no further clarity.
To say that I am panicked would be an understatement. Each day I imagine a world of having him at one place or another and it is a very disconcerting state of mind. I had to go to a fundraiser this weekend and EVERYONE asked where he was going. Even people I didn’t know. And everyone had an opinion. It was’t easy.
It is not super easy to read the board now that everyone is on to packing lists and dorm decorating. As happy as I am for all of you, I am in the Lido deck hot tub immersed in worry. @AvonHSDad I am sure I will be the one carrying the margarita blender off of the ship…</p>
<p>I feel for you @2016BarnardMom and @MrsPepper . Hang in there - this WILL be over when you wake up on Friday. </p>
<p>Congratulations on decisions, 2014ProfDad and 3TallBlondes. I sure hope you are feeling better! what a terrible scare. USC hasa vibrant community and amazing school spirit! It’s very infectious! I hear you on the distance—it is difficult to know they are so far from home. go2girl and I have already decided that we will have a formal Skye date weekly. There are so many more opportunities to stay connected than when we were in college.</p>
<p>@Mrspepper, I understand… VERY hard to look at dorm room stuff when you don’t have a decision. Ours was JUST made and I can’t even think of shopping yet. Just wanted you to know I’m thinking of you and @2016BarnardMom</p>
<p>@2016BarnardMom and @Mrspepper – sending good thoughts that clarity will come asap! And a speedy recovery 3tallblonds. Certainly not the way you want to experience finding THE school. USC is a wonderful choice, and I’m sure your D’s will be very happy there.</p>
<p>Interesting on the laundry card swipe set-up. D14’s BF uses quarters in his dorm, so I guess it is one of those things you have to ascertain on a per school basis. I wish the laundry was free, but I think that may be a perk at private schools – definitely not at the UCs</p>
<p>Dorm stuff: I second the tip about finding out what’s provided before buying. For instance, D’s school provides vacuum, mop, broom in a cleaning closet on each floor. They also have beds that can be flipped over to raise them quite a bit higher than normal (so bed risers aren’t needed) or left at a lower height. They use swipe cards instead of quarters in the laundry. Etc. But they do NOT provide trash cans!</p>
<p>@12dandelion Boy do I hear you about the art teacher recommendation! My D started off knowing she wanted her art and bio teachers to write recs. Given that those are the two majors she’s deciding between, seems perfectly reasonable. But several schools would not count the art teacher except as an “extra”. It was fine, she had another great teacher to ask, but it made me so mad! She’s a prospective art major, for goodness sake: how is that not relevant. Plus it’s an IB art class, and the level of rigor and critical thinking is very high!</p>
<p>@3tallblonds I’m so sorry about your ER visits and can certainly commiserate, as I’ve been at home for a week already. Yuck! Also congrats on your Ds’ decisions. Even though they’re so far away, at least they’ll have each other, right? That must give you at least some comfort. </p>
<p>Congrats @3tallblonds & @2014ProfDad! </p>
<p>Hang in there @Mrspepper & @2016BarnardMom. Belly up to the bar and I’ll whip you up your favorite drink. A decision has to be made by Wednesday at midnight or is it Thursday at midnight? Either way it will be over soon! </p>
<p>I don’t know if this will help your kids come to a decision but shortly after I told Spygirl that if after a year she was unhappy she could transfer, something clicked. That seemed to seal the deal for her.</p>
<p>We haven’t begun thinking about dorm decor yet, except for a request that I find out about fans. I started a thread yesterday asking for input from those who’ve had experience in hot dorm rooms without a/c. GA2012 kindly responded and then they locked down the thread without explanation. </p>
<p>Please pass on any recommendations for a good fan.</p>
<p>Tonight might be “tough love” night. We’re going to reserve his tux for prom. I’m going to tell him that if he hasn’t told me otherwise before then, that before I go to bed on the 30th, I’m putting a deposit down for Michigan. Heck, I might get really radical and tell him I’m doing it on the 29th. He’s just prolonging this and I don’t understand why anymore. If he’s still mourning the wait list schools, then he has to get over it and move on. Delaying putting a deposit down anywhere else isn’t going to change that result. </p>
<p>He’s said lots of times he knows he’s going to tell me to deposit with Michigan. SO let’s just do it already! Sheesh. </p>
<p>sounds like an excellent plan, @2016BarnardMom! Sometimes they need a little push!</p>
<p>Is the deadline April 30 or May 1 11:59pm? L-)
I blocked off an hour on DS’s calendar on the evening of the 30th to discuss his final decision. Maybe I should move it to the 29th! </p>
<p>I’m not really sure which it is, but I refuse to wait that long. It’s happening April 30th at the latest. </p>
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<p>Yep, both sons and daughters should have a supply to prevent disease (disclaimer, my oldest told me that she was perfectly capable of getting her own, btw) and if you are the owner of a D, might I suggest a birth control discussion now? Yes, bcp are available at campus health, but sometimes, there are side effects, a need to change formulations, etc. Sometimes that’s easier handled at home with a familiar doctor. Girls who aren’t yet sexually active no longer need a pelvic exam to get a prescription. Just saying think about it!</p>
<p>Congratulations @3tallblonds, I’m glad to hear that at least the girls have both decided on the same school. It really has to be comforting that they will be together. I really believe that how you feel when you are on campus is sooo important. </p>