Absolutely zero news here, but it has been such a joy to read all the great news on this thread. I continue to be inspired by all your kid’s hard-work and perseverance, as well as the unconditional love of their parents.
Thanks all for the comfort and support - its wonderful to be able to “come” here down in the dumps and immediately feel a kinship and be buoyed by everyone’s care and support as well as revel in the greatness that fills this thread everyday! @readingclaygirl I will have to have my D check out that series.
Congrats @lvmjac1 and welcome to @3tallblonds.
D finally got her merit award from Pitt today. With it, COA doesn’t come in any less than a UC would cost, so it’s pretty much out - I suppose it’s not worth traveling that far AND dealing with the cold for a large school. Of course that assumes D won’t get shut out of the UC’s. I find that unlikely, but you never know. I’m looking forward to the March/April round of acceptances, sincerely hoping that D is truly excited about her choices at that point. I’m so proud of all that she has accomplished, I just want her to be happy with her options. [-O<
@Undercovermom1 Thanks and I couldn’t agree more with your words “I’m looking forward to the March/April round of acceptances, sincerely hoping that D is truly excited about her choices at that point. I’m so proud of all that she has accomplished, I just want her to be happy with her options.”
New here. You are all such a nice supportive group! I enjoy all the positivity during a stressful time.
I hope your D ends up happy @Undercovermom1
Welcome @nubble16
Welcome @nubble16! We pride ourselves on supporting both the ups and downs that parents and children are experiencing during this crazy time. Have a group to vent to is one of the only things keeping me sane (I tend to worry too much and my H and S are more laid back about it).
@Ballerina016 and @LKnomad congratulations for CSULB acceptance.
My S also got the acceptance email. Although CSULB is a safety for us, but I am little confused with the email we received. It says “If selected for a President’s Scholarship you may be eligible to receive a full scholarship (covering tuition, housing, and a textbook/materials stipend) for your first two years at the university.”
I was under the impression that CSULB is full ride for 4 years, but the email says it is for 2 years only. Did you guys get the 2 or 4 years offer ?
Welcome @nubble16 I totally agree and could not have said it better than @crowlady! Without everyone here, I would have been a lot more stressed and a lot more grey going through this process!
Congrats to your S @indsfolax <:-P
@indsfolax I didn’t pay attention yesterday, since DD very unlikely be attending CSULB, but it is 2 years. I am actually surprised since I think it was 4 years in the past. I think they also used to offer full ride to NMF for 4 years.
What a wonderful Friday! Very little news on our side for well over a month, still, so I’m vicariously enjoying the good news from so many of y’all, and pulling for everyone who had a rougher week - it’s getting better! Hang in there! Welcome to the newbies, too!
CSULB folks - I have two good friends on faculty there, in very different departments. I’ve visited the school and think it’s a terrific place - congratulations! (I love LB, too - sometimes I fantasize about moving there, since my job isn’t fixed in any particular location. It’s a sweet little area.)
About the only thing happening here - S had an interview this morning for one of his “crapshoot” schools. He’s within range for it to not be impossible, but I think it’s one of two he has that admits in the single digits, so he’s realistic. The interview was his interviewer’s first one ever, a recent alum. Sounds like it was awkward all around. Oh well. S now has his largest project of the year to finish by tomorrow, but is at school for an EC activity 'til 5. I’m doing taxes and FAFSA updates. This is how we roll here.
@readingclaygirl Thanks.
@Ballerina016 I think CSULB changed all their Scholarship policies (NMF and others) starting this year 2016.
Welcome @nubble16 !
Just slogged through our taxes on TurboTax so that I feel better about pushing the button on FAFSA & CSS.
But, it is a glorious sunny 76* day here- so I am now rewarding myself by sitting outside & getting my CC fix!
Taxes, Federal, State and Local - done and filed!!
FAFSA - done and submitted!!!
D had a rough week with being sick (like the whole family), getting slammed at school with tons of assignments and projects right after school returned from our snow induced two day break, unhappy news on one scholarship app and feeling a bit like that school, which had been her favorite at one time has done nothing to get to know her as a person. She had a mini-meltdown one evening, followed by a total meltdown the next evening when the straw broke the camel’s back, so to speak. Dad went out and got her favorite dish at Chipotle and they gave her the wrong order.
We had a long talk about what she has really learned about her desires and likes in a school and their admissions processes, many hugs and realizations were involved, then Dad took the offending burrito bowl back out to the Chipotle 20 minutes away, where they couldn’t have been nicer about fixing their mistake and D’s night ended far better than it began. A definite catharsis moment there.
She has discovered that with all of the research and investigation she does of the schools she applied to, she really loves it when they return that attention just a little bit, and even more if they do so a lot. Two schools (Tulane and Case Western) included hand-written noted with her acceptances and initial scholarship offers, each one referencing the various projects and subjects in her essay, Tulane also set up a great alumni interview that wasn’t about admissions or scholarships, but an informal get to know each other and know the school conversation, while UCF gave her a personalized, individual tour of the campus and several students and faculty to meet with, even though we visited near a major holiday. Those personal touches really mean a lot to her, and I can’t say I disagree with her one bit.
In good news, D received her acceptance into UCF’s Honors Program (which we all love after our visit and meeting the Honor’s College Chair with the entire family) and was approved by UCF on the undergrad side for their guaranteed med school admissions program. One more app to go on that that she has to submit to the actual Med School at UCF, but the app isn’t daunting and she was even smiling after checking it out. Imagine that, smiling about another application.
Tough week that ended quite well, and special thanks to all here for their words of encouragement, and major congrats to those with new admits and scholarships posted today (-:
@Skates76 I’m sorry your D had such a stressful week but congratulations on another acceptance! <:-P I also love personal touches- my acceptance letter for Russell Sage was personalized and it’s a tiny school, but so many people on campus already know my name! It’s a really good feeling, feeling wanted. Best of luck on her decision!
@Skates76 I’m glad your daughter is feeling better. Personalized attention goes a long way at our house too.
The CSULB scholarship policies are having big changes. A few months back several students from S’s high school who are now presidential scholars came to talk to select students. They said that there were huge changes but nobody knew what was going to happen. I think up until now CSULB had the most generous scholarship program of ask the CSUs.
Making the scholarship only two years is worse than making it a half scholarship for all 4 IMO.
@3tallblonds and @nubble16 Welcome!