<p>@BunHeadMom, you probably know that The University of Alabama is very generous with merit based on stats. I don’t know if a full-ride’s an option, but at least full tuition in some cases. There’s a thread pinned somewhere on CC (prob Fin Ad section) that would be helpful - though you of all people have probably explored every conceivable scenario for your DD. You are extremely organized!</p>
<p>Off-topic, I find out whether or not I get to keep my job on Friday. The Friday before Christmas, mind you. I am not alone in this predicament at work and I can’t decide if I’m more upset about potentially losing my job - or that any company, any decision-maker(s) with an ounce of decency would let people go just a few days before Christmas. I find it so disturbing on every level, and I fear it’s indicative of the working world our DCs will enter in a few short years. Sorry to be a downer. Thank you for letting me vent And hopefully we will keep the happy news about acceptances coming in the days ahead!</p>
<p>Congrats to all receiving good news, and hugs to those who may be stressed. D has heard from 3 schools- our in state and 2 OOS with amazing merit. Still waiting on 9 more schools. Of course her favorites have not yet arrived.
:-SS </p>
<p>I will need the fruity drinks for awhile…
GAD I sm sorry to hear about your job. </p>
<p>@GoAskDad, Sorry to hear about the stress you and your coworkers are having to go through right now. It is true that job security isn’t something people can plan on as they may have in the past. I think that has far reaching effects…</p>
<p>@GoAskDad. Good luck to you. I know how you feel. I was told before Thanksgiving my last day at my current position is Dec 31. Happy holidays, indeed.</p>
<p>@NoVADad99, I am so sorry about your job! That just stinks. I will be keeping you in my thoughts and hopefully you’re networking/looking ahead to the next thing already. Layoffs/RIFS are stressful at any time, but during the holiday season - ugh. </p>
<p>Thanks everyone for your good wishes and I didn’t mean to take us off-thread. My family will be OK if I don’t have a job for a while. Some of the folks I work with will <em>not</em> be OK, and this weighs on my mind. </p>
<p>I should go to the Parent Cafe and start some kind of Vent-Against-Scrooge Thread! But first I have to find Mary Ann because I see she <em>still</em> has not rounded up our current USS Indecision crew list.She needs to get her short-shorted bootie in-gear!!</p>
<p>Ugh @GoAskDad and NoVaDad99! The epitome of Scrooge! Sorry for this extra stress in your lives right now.</p>
<p>D got her first EA acceptance today with a nice merit award. The big envelope came in the mail unannounced by an email, the old fashioned way. But as luck would have it today was a long day for all of us and the only one home all afternoon was her older sister home from college. Since it had a big CONGRATULATIONS on the outside, she knew it was a big deal and texted me a picture. I told her to go ahead and text her little sister. I figured that little sis would like hearing it from big sis. It is definitely a safety but she surprised herself with how happy and excited she was to get that first acceptance. I know a weight is off her shoulders. And this was the school I pegged as a good safety because it has everything she wants but is less selective. It was one of the first schools we visited to confirm she liked it enough to apply. So props to me too! </p>
<p>And props to all the parents here supporting our kids through this challenging transition. Wishing you all precious moments with them. Tonight was the winter concert at D’s school and I wound up crying. Not the first time and won’t be the last.</p>
<p>@GoAskDad we too are in the same boat, or lack thereof… still nothing…here. Getting a little nervous because of safety notifications are not until the end of January.</p>
<p>One other question about Common App teacher recommendations. If January 1st is the application deadline for a certain college, is that the deadline for the teacher recommendations as well or do they have a grace period? Son asked the teachers back in September, one has started, but not submitted and the second teacher hasn’t even started the recommendation. Should he be concerned? </p>
<p>@GoAskDad So sorry for what you’re going through. Over the last ten years, DH has dodged the bullet many times, managing to find another role in his huge, multinational oragnization. But it has probably taken a physical toll on him, as the severe stress has made him ill at times. I will be hoping for good news from you soon, and I’m sure many CCers are praying/thinking good thoughts for you!</p>
<p>@NoVADad99, I am so sorry about your job too. The timing is never good, but this seems to be particularly bad. I hope new and better things are right around the corner for you.</p>
<p>@Joe2015, I’m not sure if you/he <em>should</em> be concerned, but I know that I’d be worried. I think most schools give a little leeway for recommendations to catch up to the app, but I’d have my kiddo follow up with the teachers, and if he doesn’t want to do that for fear of being a pest, then I’d have him talk to the GC and see if he or she can nudge the teachers.</p>
<p>@suzy100 thanks! He has sent them an email earlier in the week and a reminder last month. One teacher has responded to the email. The other has not.</p>
<p>I wonder what is going on. My head begins to swirl, wondering why they are dragging their feet.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. I’m actually not that worried as I think I can get into another position in short order. But it did ruin the holidays for my family having to think about belt tightening just in case. The state of this country is that employers have absolutely no loyalty to their employees, so employees likewise feel no loyalty to their bosses. </p>
<p>@sally305 - I see you’re adopting Gov. Walker’s expression of congratulations!</p>
<p>@GoAskDad and @NoVADad99 - I took a couple of business classes this year, and I think one problem is that employees are viewed as merely costs, not as assets, which is how I think they should be categorized. I have some measure of job security at my workplace (public sector, no HR so our Executive Director has to do the work if someone is going to be let go, and he avoids that kind of stuff), but we are stressed out because we have more work than people to do it and they won’t hire anyone else. </p>
<p>Anyway…my daughter has decided to submit one more application, to Shenandoah, because she keeps getting emails, letters and calls from them. </p>
<p>@GoAskDad and @NoVADad99 - I’m sorry both of you are going through this during the holiday season. I went through this last spring and summer with DH and know how stressful it can be. Two good things did come out of it in the end 1. We have more home cooked family meals together and 2. Husband now has a job where he is wanted and appreciate. I wish the same for both of you.</p>
<p>Late recommendations - I’d say if an email doesn’t work, ask your GC to remind them or you remind them in person to do the recommendation. My son thought he might have to change recommenders, but his last remaining one squeaked in by the deadline.</p>
<p>I believe the grace period is unofficial, and that a week late is okay (for anything out of the student’s control, like a recommendation) and that the school should notify you if they are missing something they need to review your application.</p>
<p>As for job woes - I thought I was getting fired a few weeks back and they ended up giving me more work, which is good but remember the average age of professors at this point is pretty darn old, 60+ and some over 70 and still teaching. Spouse is overloaded at work, and they are dissing younger employees with great potential and it is expected some of them may leave. </p>
<p>If one is at a company that has a severance package and so on, it might not be that bad, but some have nothing except they might tell you your fired and give you two weeks pay but want you to clear your desk out that day :(</p>
<p>Sorry to hear about what you are going through @GoAskDad and @NoVADad99. Wish you all the best for future opportunities! I have seen it all over companies that layoffs during holidays are quite common. I think we need to prepare our kids that years of working at same company for years are vividly over. I foresee a lot of consulting work in future for our kids. This means, no pension, likely SEP IRAs… So, need to incorporate personal finance education in their overall growth! </p>
And hopefully we will keep the happy news about acceptances coming in the days ahead!</p>
But first I have to find Mary Ann because I see she <em>still</em> has not rounded up our current USS Indecision crew list.She needs to get her short-shorted bootie in-gear!!</p>
</p>