@LKnomad, @grlscoutmom, @AsleepAtTheWheel, @riverboat, @crowlady – Many thanks for your views. I will probably call California tomorrow and ask. It’s so stupid that things are not clearer. Another unrelated question, and I hope this doesn’t sound strange, but – I’ve noticed on various threads on this forum that some members have hundreds or even thousands of posts, yet their kid(s) have been out of college for years and years. Am I the only one who wonders why they continue to frequent this site? I understand if someone is an adcom or interviewer, or something like that. I certainly don’t intend any offense, and am grateful for the help that some of these long time posters offer, I just find it curious. Do you all think you’ll keep on keeping on here for years? Anyway, time to figure out Thursday’s menu — Happy Thanksgiving to all!
@Smilla - I definitely appreciate long-timers’ experience, especially with complicated issues like financial aid. Do I plan to stick around? Probably not after DS3 is done, but since he’s HS class of 2025, that will still be a long tenure. 
If I last that long on CC!
My DD graduated from college in 2014 - I stayed active on the Parents Class of 2010 through her freshman year. Then I took a break until recently. But that 2010 thread has been going strong for years now. I think there are folks who bond online through the college experience of their kids and stay connected. Probably a nice thing for those who become empty nesters in particular.
On the app front, after some misery this morning, DS buckled down and wrote a new essay for his last school with a Dec. 1 priority deadline. There were two prompts and he had written an essay for the first prompt about two weeks ago, but even with editing, it just didn’t seem to flow. DH and I felt it needed a lot of work. Anyway, we helped DS brainstorm a little this morning about the other prompt - a more creative prompt. And surprise, when DS sat down and really focused, he wrote the essay in about an hour. 15 minutes of minor editing and a closing paragraph and it was finished. Now he has one 250 word essay for a school that is probably near the top of his list and would be a great fit for him if he gets in. After that, he has two reach schools that he is deciding whether to apply to. So, the light at the end of the tunnel is coming into view. Now to get through Thanksgiving!
Anyone else in Thanksgiving prep mode? We are having more than 24 people so the college process will be on hold for a week. I have a few things finished and in the freezer but the main stuff will kick into gear Tuesday. My mom and her partner are flying in on Tuesday but my DD does not fly in until Wed. night - the absolute worst time to go to the airport. But since her birthday is on Thanksgiving this year, we have to deal 
So, I still need to make the birthday cake (choc. chip) as well as the pumpkin pies. I think our biggest concern for Thanksgiving this year is making sure we have enough chairs.
The College Board’s ineptness boggles my mind. I’m so sorry @AsleepAtTheWheel and other '16 parents to hear about the frustration. My S took the infamous June sitting, and we were on pins and needles waiting to hear what they were going to do with the scores. After all that went down with that fiasco, you would think CB would be gun shy about launching a new reporting system right in the middle of app season. #-o
My S still has a number of RD apps to submit, but after hearing about the reporting delays, we decided to send the scores to all his schools now. His CB account said “pending” for about a week, but now it says “sent.” Should he call each school to see if they’ve received his scores, even though he hasn’t submitted his apps yet? Has anyone else done this? I’m hesitant to wait until he actually submits his apps, because I suspect he’ll wait till the last minute, and the admissions offices will be closed for the holidays. :-?
@PAO2008, yes, we’re hosting Thanksgiving for about 25 too. No birthday though. Kudos to you!
@Smilla, I found the UC test scores (for SAT subject tests) very confusing. Ultimately, we sent all four of DD’s scores and her ACT score.
Please let us know whether you can check on scores without having an applicant # or the like, @happymochi. I’m interested.
I found CB refund $31 recently. We ordered score on Oct. 28th and CB website said they sent the scores on Nov. 4th. DD has not checked the schools received or not. So we don’t know they are delivered or not. Anyway, on Oct 28th, we sent scores to all RD schools to avoid any complications.
NYDad513: Are you saying that the CB refunded money to you without prior notification and you are just noticing the funds in your accounts?
I did not ask CB regarding refund. They simply returned the rush order money because scores were not delivered in 2 business days. I found the money was refunded while reading my credit card statement.
Same here. Got refund for rush order of October SAT, since scores were delivered late.
D was accepted into the honors college today! We tour tomorrow, meet some faculty, a dean, lunch, etc.
After that, I may have to tie D to her chair to complete UC essays. I really want these to be completed before the holiday.
I’m not consumed with Thanksgiving prep as we go to a relative’s home to celebrate. I need only make the mashed potatoes. That makes me thankful!
A short article on the UCs, in case you’re interested. I found it interesting.:
http://egpnews.com/2015/11/as-nov-30-deadline-looms-uc-pres-calls-on-students-to-apply/
@grlscoutmom Congrats!!!
DD just finished one honors college RD app today. The deadline is Dec. 1st but her school asked students to finish that specific app until Nov. 23rd. I don’t know why and DD does not know the reason either. Now next phase will be bunch of Jan 1st apps.
@girlscoutmom Congrats!
@waitingtoexhale, I am pretty sure it is the top 9% of CA students who are guaranteed UC (or rather, Merced) admission, not 12% as it states in the article you linked. That 12% figure was true several years ago.
@grlscoutmom – Wouldn’t sweat the UC essays all that much. I think that the essays’ primary use is to see if the applicant is a URM, so they can scheme around the prop 209 prohibition against using race or ethnicity as a qualification for admission. Beyond that they couldn’t care less what’s in there.
I read somewhere on cc that essays are counted for 35% at UCB and UCLA and have very little weight at the rest of UCs. Share your frustration with UC system @AsleepAtTheWheel. Unfortunately as California resident DD can’t afford not to apply.
When we went to UCB they stated they read every essay and that they were looking for a specific type of person. I cannot remember the words that the adcom said but I remember thinking that DS’s essay will work well. I guess we will see.
We are back from our campus visit. We learned a lot and definitely confirmed DS would be driven down in the fall and back at the end of the year but would fly the rest of the time if he came home. It was a lot of driving to be there for only two full days, let alone to just stay over night and come right back! Now he needs to decide if he will complete the honors application. He has two major tests at school this week so he will not have time to think about it until those are over. Thanksgiving will not be quite as much of a break if he chooses to apply since the honors application is due 12/8. GC has until 12/15 to submit materials however. He does need to at least GC about how to submit the request to her since the honors process requires some of the same info as applying to the school itself, but submitted to a different place. It would be easy to think parts have already been done, that are not.
Glad you had a safe trip@cheeringsection. DS16 will also be completing essays as well over Thanksgiving . He has several scholarship essays to complete.
This reminded me to check the SAT scores again. Today they show the Nov. test sent. We shall see if they really are. Since one score from October is still lost in space, I’m not too optimistic.