@lvmjac That is quite the story. You can’t make this stuff up!
@sseamom I’m also sorry to hear that H’s relatives upset your DD. It is true that all kids have some anxiety about going away to school and really being on their own, but most do well. My DD went to a school 900 miles from home where she absolutely thrived. She is pretty outgoing and friendly and I was sure it would all be fine. But I do remember a few phone calls the first few weeks where she was having doubts. Those quickly passed but she needed to reach back home for a little extra support.
I did was not plugged into the baby forums when DS was born, but I do remember finding breastfeading dot org when he was a newborn and being active on the forums there - I wanted to pump for awhile when I went back to work and avoid formula all together - something I did not have info on when his sisters were born pre-internet. It was awesome to give and receive information so easily. I’m also glad to read that some of you have 1999 babies - my son also skipped a grade. Lots of research and angst over making that decision for him back in elementary school, but we think we made the right decision. Although applying to college at 16 seems like a lot for any teen. Do you think the college admissions staff consider this at all? Of course, we have not mentioned it anywhere in DS’s apps but he is clearly the youngest kid in his grade.
@carolinamom2boys How absolutely terrifying! Was there a lockdown or anything? There has been police action at my normally quiet school lately. A sophomore and a junior got arrested for porn. Apparently they had 200 pictures of girls at my school on their phones. Just disgusting
Thanks everyone for your concern. The boys are fine. They didn’t even know anything happened because it was handled very quietly. The student turned himself into the principal and research officer. The gun was not loaded, but he did have ammo with him in one magazine. What really concerns me is that this has become so common place that kids are becoming desensitized about it. Very, very sad.
@sseamom Next time, when your daughter meets them, I am sure that she will be happy to talk about how wonderful to go to college, grow up, be independent and have wonderful friends there.
S16 finished his last UC essay last night and today around 8pm started the final submissions sequence. Looks like they’ve extended the deadline a day: “If you started your application prior to 11:59pm PST, November 30, you will have until 11:59pm PST on December 1 to complete the submission of your application for fall 2016 admissions.” That’s good, because he accidentally hit enter before fully filling out the payment info and now the site is very confused. I’ll have to try to straighten it out tomorrow.
@mom2jl My son has stopped letting me read his essays. He won’t let anybody look at them. I guess nobody can say they aren’t authentically his!
Now CrowMan has helped him negotiate with me – if he gets one more app in tonight they can play pool for half an hour before he starts his homework. I tell them I feel like I live in a frat house (not that I know what that is like).
@lvmjac1@carolina2boys I’m at the point where I kind of want to hide my head in the sand. News is so depressing.
@sseamom I’m so sorry your D is doubting herself. Whether these relatives are jealous or just unfamiliar with intellectual career paths (or even fumbling attempts to lighten her mood) I hope she can find some inner strength. As an occasional sufferer of imposter syndrome, I can tell her she’s not alone in her doubts. It is hard, but still worth trying her best and seeing how it goes. Over time, with more successes, the feeling fades.
@crowlady that is a great point and thought regarding imposter syndrome. I never heard of the term but when I looked it up it was very enlightening! Thanks for sharing. I learn so much from you all!
@sseamom, I think I would encourage my daughter to muse to her relatives, “You all seem to know a lot about college…(wait for it, wait for it)…especially for folks who HAVEN’T GONE TO COLLEGE!” :)>- Or maybe that’s something she just imagines herself saying… ;))
@sseamom your story tore at my heart. If I understand correctly, the family that was poo-pooing your D’s future college experience have not been to a four-year college. Sometimes people don’t realize when their lack of knowledge manifests itself into a lack of empathy.
Our kids are on the path to many exciting and worthwhile endeavors. We are so lucky to have a front row seat!
@Suzima, Congratulations. My son’s large troop has had more guys earn Eagle this year than any other time in it’s history. I’m touched at all the pep talks my son has been giving his “almost Eagle” friends and how this group of young men are willing to drop everything and help last minute with a project. They are so special.
Ah, thanks so much for all the nice comments! D has bounced back and tonight was making cookies to hand out as she “bribes” her classmates to attend the “Snow Ball” on Friday night. She even turned the experience into one of the mini-essays needed for one of the last applications. If all apps were based on essays alone, she’d have so much fun-she loves essays.
Palm715-you are correct. Most of H’s family did not attend college, including the one cousin who was the loudest in making the mean comments. And she was OFFERED a scholarship, but chose not to go.
I walk a fine line-I am estranged from most of my own family, and even if I wasn’t, they all live on the other coast. H’s family has always treated me with kindness and despite what happened Saturday, they would do anything for my D. They’ve already got her graduation date penciled in so they can be there to see her walk. So I mostly keep quiet, but would have stepped in if D hadn’t appeared to be handling herself well.
Aaaand, another application completed but not submitted because the site went down! Good thing that one truly isn’t due until tomorrow. Now he and CrowMan are playing pool. He’s never going to get today’s homework done. And that, my friends, is why he has the GPA he does.
@sseamom That is SO funny she turned the experience into an essay. And that, my friends, is how one succeeds.
Among the most useful things I’ve learned on this site is how the Common App’s site crashes on deadline dates. Good luck to everyone over the next 24 hours!
DD is a leans and mean essay writing machine. Why *** school essays are the most difficult. What a coincidence that one of the top Ivy schools has the easiest essay prompt? 8 more applications to go.
In case anyone is still dealing with SAT angst, D heard from one of her colleges today: we have everything we need, except for your SAT’s," which the College Board says was delivered 10 days ago. Other schools that we sent the scores to at the same time are showing them as delivered. The school with the Dec. 1 deadline, D’s top choice, is showing as having the scores, and everything else was sent in plenty of time. It still baffles me how a computerized system can take up to 10 days (or more!) to deliver something over the internet. Amazon delivers hard goods overnight, for Pete’s sake!