<p>@GoAskDad and @NoVADad99,</p>
<p>I don’t want to scare you but please take care of your health. Don’t underestimate the stress you go through during the job loss. My H lost his job, worked unstable odd jobs for his friends and six months later, he had a massive heart attack. That was almost 6 years ago. He is so overqualified for his current job, but we are getting by. I just appreciate that he is still here with us. You are in my thoughts!!</p>
<p>GoAskDad and NoVaDad99–sending good mojo and prayers your way. I don’t understand companies who make these announcements at this time of year. I’m sure they’ve known for some time but wait. It doesn’t make sense that if they wait before the holidays they should be able to wait until after as well. It would be a crummy start to the New Year but at it’s easier to job search after the holidays when people are in the office. </p>
<p>Would like to second what @cd2015 said, both the sympathy for @GoAskDad and @NoVADad99, as well as the personal finance education and career guidance for our kids. I’ve been in big corp [BC] my whole life (pretty much just 3 companies), and on both sides of the ax - not fun. Watched as I went from having a pension and great healthcare at BC1, to a 401k and great healthcare at BC2, to a 401k and weak healthcare at BC3. Along the way, didn’t get a lot of enjoyment from “the grind” while most of the fruits of my labor went to corporations, investors, and Uncle Sam.</p>
<p>So, have been having the twins investing their work/chore money and any cash gifts since there’s no pensions - and maybe no Social Security - in their future. Then, encouraging them to think through education, internship, and extracurricular activities that, post-college, give them options to work for themselves. Suggesting that they don’t go the corp route for more than a few years, if at all…not that they can’t make good money, just a lot less likely to get real satisfaction/enjoyment. </p>
<p>By the way, taking my own advice. Quitting corp life after 27 years and going into biz with some friends starting Jan 1. Scary as can be, but maybe the independently wealthy Brassicae will let me and Mrs. Cabbage live in their basement after I go broke. </p>
<p>@GoAskDad, I am in management, and the thought never crossed my mind to make such decisions around the holidays. Positive thoughts to you and your family.</p>
<p>We might be done even with 5 more schools to hear from in March 2015, because BHG was accepted by Lawrence U in WI! Perfect location, easy access by air, bus and car, has her programs, and in a quaint small city. She’s notifying Clark U and College of Wooster that she is not attending their wonderful institutions.</p>
<p>DS got into his EA school, Colo. College! He got a nice FA package, which comes in just above what I thought our upper limit would be, but also includes loans, which makes it less attractive. There will be other acceptances, at the very least the honors college at Ginormous State, so he should have choices to make in April. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - CC is where I want to go to school!</p>
<p>D semester finals are in the books; the only ones for this year!<br>
Now my big Vent: I can’t wait to be able to get in my soaker tub and not have to worry about hot water…Next year…Thank The Lord that D will be using a comercial hot water tank…or her roommates maybe not be to friendly after her epic showers #-o !!!</p>
<p>@Cabbage1: My walking set of spare matching parts & I both attended in-state , but separate schools. Ultimately we both earned degrees “on the Banks of the old Rar-I-Tan” ( Go RU!!) but at different times. </p>
<p>And S is down to the last four essays, two short (100 words) and two long, and then he can submit his last three apps for a total of 18 apps! After a rocky first couple of months, my son got the hang of it, and it was actually pretty easy going. Not sure his semester grades are going to score any points with admissions-he was full time at the local college this semester and it was hard-but it is what it is.</p>
<p>Then it’s onto scholarship apps, but with all these essays he’s written, I think he can find plenty to reuse.</p>
<p>I confess I still would love for him to apply to College of the Ozarks. Total long shot school, but I think it would be such a valuable, valuable experience for him. Haven’t talked him into it yet…</p>
<p>There might be one fairly close by Christian school I’ll encourage him to apply to in January, but I’m not sure it will get done.</p>
<p>Just read the article about the Johns Hopkins admissions e-mail mistake. I feel so very sad for the almost 300 kids and their families who had to go through elation followed a couple hours later with an oh, our bad…you are really rejected. Aggh! Makes me want to cry for them! Hope none of your children on this thread were impacted!!</p>
<p>@joe2015, If it has been that long and the teachers haven’t done the recommendation letters, I think I’d be asking other teachers to do them, rather than hope that they will get them done. </p>
<p>I have finally decided to accept the fact that Christmas is coming…quickly, and that I need to get some shopping done! Until this evening I had bought exactly 2 things for family… candy for 2 stockings. lol So I am online shopping tonight.<br>
I actually usually like to shop for gifts, but the last couple years it has seemed to take longer to find the inspiration. D is the only ‘kid’ in the immediate family that we shop for. Adults can be challenging to shop for. It’s probably good that I am getting a late start, otherwise I do tend to just keep shopping right up until Christmas, and while I am shopping I find a lot of things that I ‘need’. Trying to keep it pretty simple this year for Christmas gifts. there are lots of other expenses coming up.</p>
<p>You may recall that my D’s boyfriend moved away this summer. He is coming to visit for a few days, and arrives tomorrow…and now D is sick. 
It’s just a bad cold, but they seem to hit her hard…and she’s not exactly in the condition she’d like to greet her BF in…laying on the couch going through boxes of tissues. :-q She gets at least one every year. I keep thinking she will develop more immunity to them, but not yet.
The plan was for her to have all her apps done before his arrival. She has one app with essays and one honors essay to write, but that didn’t happen, so she may have to carve out some time while he is here.</p>
<p>Congrats to @PhxRising, @BunHeadMom, @rhandco, @twogirls, @IJustDrive, @FCCDAD, @VMT, @green678, @Cabbage1, @jennie11, @Kelowna , , , and too many to list! Wonderful to read good news here.</p>
<p>Anyone else having severe essay fatigue? After critiquing near 40 for my D - > I’m seeing a light at the end of the tunnel! At least I didn’t have to write any. 
</p>
<p>Congrats, @PhxRising! My d is in EA at CC, too. </p>
<p>Essay writing fatigue is so bad here that I don’t think any more applications will be submitted. I’m not sure if that will be regretted in the fullness of time or not.</p>
<p>D received a package from New College of Florida last night. She was accepted and DH got a t-shirt! </p>
<p>Remember, there are more than enough rolling admission schools out there. I know of two that accept applications up to March 1st, but also say "we will accept applications later if there are still spots available. One school I know of in NJ, NJIT, accepts students up to August to start in September. </p>
<p>Congrats to @BunHeadMom and @PhxRising - I’ve heard great things about both schools.</p>
<p>Edit: And now I see @KAMmom 's D is in at CC, too. Congrats also to @SlackerMomMD and @FCCDAD, too! I don’t want to leave anyone out.</p>
<p>Congratulations all around! >:D< I am so glad that so many of us are getting good news! Sooo exciting for the top choices and such a nice relief for the safeties. </p>
<p>@SlackermomMD, Congratulations on New College! D applied there too (I’m pretty sure she submitted it…New College has been on and off ‘the list’ a few times), but we didn’t get any mail from them yet. I’ll be watching the mail today. D really liked the academic program there, but she’s not sure it’s the right fit for her. Is New College a top choice for you? </p>