This year is flying by with deadlines looming . I don’t like wishing my life away, but our household will become
much less stressful by November. Waiting will be hard , but calmer I think(hope)
@dyiu13 I think requiring a visit to compete for scholarships is how they determine true interest in attending their school especially if it’s a CA school . For one of the scholarship programs my son had to visit the school, be recommended by GC and attend an interview weekend.
One of the schools DD is applying to has a supplemental essays on visit to school. The school is really good and DD’s stats might earn her a full ride so we are flying next week for open house and back same day.
With early decision and early action, here’s hoping we will all be able to buy a college sweatshirt as a last minute Xmas present. 
I am also starting to play what I think will be a regular game, “Is this the last time?”. Example: being talked into a trip to the mall to buy fall scented candles so home smells more like her ideal college. Is this our last candle shopping trip before she leaves? Dorky, I know.
@palm715 At least you have a daughter. Hard to get sappy and sentimental with a teenage son.
@palm715 I totally get it. Not candle shopping trips (though that sounds lovely!) but last band competition, last time I have to bring pizzas in for academic team, last time buying an outfit for homecoming. It’s kind of weird to think about!
And add me to the list thinking of buying college sweatshirts as Christmas gifts. Here’s hoping for happy responses for EA/ED!
I remember reading on a thread a while back about a student getting a denial letter from her top school on Christmas Eve. Now I have one more thing to worry about, stalking the postman for bad news.
D and I were talking about something the other day and she got all misty-eyed and said, “I’m going to miss you SO much!” Then we both started tearing up…We’re going to be a mess next fall.
@carolinamom2boys Yikes I hope for no bad news on Chanukah, Christmas, or my son’s birthday all of which are fair game for hearing from his top choice. Last year his GF broke up with him on his birthday (it wasn’t that big a deal but still) so he deserves a better one this year!
@sseamom My D is only getting misty at the thought of leaving our beloved Shih Tzu (or at least that is all she’ll admit to) lol. But in comparison to the stress these last few weeks with applications, etc., I may need the empty nest syndrome just to feel more at ease. I too hope to be able to buy a sweatshirt from favored accepted school in December but I also try to get a lot of the necessary dorm bed and bath things on Black Friday to save some money. My S laughed at all the dorm bed and bath things he received the Christmas before he went away to college. My D initially rolled her eyes but has resolved herself to this trend of mine. Just love Black Friday all night shopping extravaganza!
@lvmjac1 I told my son that whenever I get a call or text from him in college I’ll send him a cute picture of his beloved beagle I’m also a big pre-shopper. I’ve been haunting the clearance aisles from the college stuff they’ve had this fall at various stores. Target mark downs are now 80%. I’m only buying things definitely on my kids lists like towels, mattress cover, lamps, etc. Nothing that takes up too much space and nothing I’m paying much for so will happily donate it if it doesn’t get used. I’m all set for Chanukah and they are just getting money for Christmas for school trips and my son wants to build a desktop computer himself. Just need decorative items and whatever storage solutions work for their dorm room types now plus may need seasonal clothing for other regions than ours.
@dcplanner – One of the most valuable pieces of advice that I picked up on the Parents of the Class of 2014 thread is that if your child has gone incommunicado at school and is not responding to texts or emails simply text them a photo of the family dog, and you’ll get an immediate response. That advice has served me well.
You obviously figured it out all on your own.
My sister keeps talking about how much she will miss our dog and how she will have to call and Skpye him on a regular basis.
@AsleepAtTheWheel - congratulations! What a loving and thoughtful and successful process!
Regarding “lasts” - I definitely felt that at the Jewish holidays this year, particularly Yom Kippur and Simchat Torah. Now my DH said to me today, “maybe he should just restrict himself to Boston-area schools because I miss him a lot” - currently DS16 is visiting UMD-CP for a weekend, and though he started out with a fabulous time at “Terp for a Day,” his assigned host for the weekend ended up having two roommates who are heavy smokers, and I got a panicked asthma-attack call at 4pm. However, by the time I helicoptered and called, he had arranged a new host through the old host. I have not heard from him since. 
@texaspg and others about listing awards - I had a long talk with the GC yesterday at school. She said she thinks that RPI and any college book awards should get their own lines, but that others can be combined logically. She also said two other things that I think might be helpful generally:
- Putting competition awards with the Club “activity” is fine (so you can leave Academic Club awards for the other section)
and - She is happy to write the AP, NMSF, and NHS awards into her letter, so we don’t have to list those, though in general she does not like to write just “NHS member” in her letter if there’s a chance of any reason for NHS revocation.
@AsleepAtTheWheel - Congratulations to your son in finding “The school” so early.
Haven’t had time to catch up on posts here - my Mom is visiting from out of town, to see D lead the band at Homecoming, and next week at Senior Week, and to spend one more fall, before D heads off next year, walking through the forest preserves, and visiting local pumpkin farms…
Also - D got the official acceptance letter from Ohio U yesterday afternoon.
My kid’s going to college!!! Yeah!
Hope you’re all having a good week, I may not be on CC much this week…
@fretfulmother I’m glad your S is okay. My sister has asthma and once had an asthma attack from a kid illegally smoking on a school bus.(he got suspended)
@readingclaygirl - Thank you! That is scary about your sister
Congrats @asleepatthewheel and @beedare!
Also sending congratulations to @AsleepAtTheWheel and @BeeDAre! Wahoo!