@Ballerina016 , are you guys at MIT now? I’d love to hear about your experience there and what you’ve done. If you feel like PMing me, great. If not, that’s ok, too. 
I never went to CPW and neither did my son, but he’s very involved every year in some capacity. It’s one of the time of years that he most looks forward to!
We are @sbjdorlo I will pm you.
So glad to hear you D is on cloud nine, @sseamom and fantastic decision @skates76. I’ve heard great things about ASU Barrett, @midwestmom2kids .
I feel a bit left out of all the swag, but I’ll be happy when we send in the deposit.
Meanwhile, my S led a team in the high school programming competition at University of Maryland today. Now, there are some powerhouse schools in the Maryland/DC/Virginia area, several of which are in our county. So their ninth place finish (out of 36 I think) is a huge achievement (in our county, second only to the school that is consistently top 5). I’m so proud!
@4kids2graduate that’s wonderful! We’re working on local scholarships too and $4k is a great local scholarship! Around here most are only $500 to a $1K with a few higher.
@palm715 Avatar envy…what a great way to describe it! Any “slight” progress toward decisions (even at a snail’s pace) for your D at this point?
My son went to a Stanford admitted students reception today in our hometown. Had a great time. Met some local kids so maybe he’ll know a few faces at admitted students weekend…
And I have definitely avatar envy. So thrilled for all of you who are nearing the destination!
Well… funny you should ask @4kids2graduate . D will be turning 18 on Monday and per her request, the just-booked last-minute birthday gift is a trip to Philadelphia. Let’s hope she can fall in love with the school that loves her back. Nothing says “I’m an adult” like a 5000 mile red-eye flight on your birthday.
Good vibes will be much appreciated next week.
@palm715…a last minute trip to Philadelphia may be just what she needs as a birthday gift. S16 will turn 18 two days after your D…so will send good vibes to your D on her birthday (and wishes for a definitive decision)…please send the same to my S two days later! S does not feel he needs any additional visits to help with the decision making process…are you kidding me!
Best wishes for your D to enter into adulthood with a clear path [-O< …
Tell your D that Pat’s in South Philly has the best cheesesteaks in town.
Geno’s, across the street from Pat’s, is a good choice too
@ChicagoSportsFn that sounds like heaven, but D is a vegan so insanely tasty cheesesteaks with have no swaying power expect maybe in the wrong direction. While researching vegan options, I actually found a booth in the Reading Terminal Market that sells vegan cheesesteaks. Sacrilege!
@palm715 As the mom of a vegan as well, I would suggest buying pretty much any fruits and veggies sold by the Amish farmers at Reading. They have some magical powers to grow delicious stuff. Also loved Vedge. Yummy and great atmosphere. Have fun!!
@palm715 If she goes to the Reading Terminal market, have her get a cannoli from Termini’s. They are the best.
Congrats to everyone with good news and decisions made.
@petrichor11 I see that you snuck past your 1000th post, too when I wasn’t paying attention! Congrats to us!
On the topic of study abroad, I agree that all the schools we visited talked about them, and one even requires a study abroad experience (Goucher College). My S declared NO interest in study abroad. He has travelled with us and says now that he finds it exhausting. Maybe that’s just how we travel! So that didn’t factor into the decision-making process. My S14 has the chance to take a trip to the Galapagos if he can get into a particular biology course – they prepare during Fall term and then travel during the January break. Unfortunately the course filled up too fast, though they are talking about setting up another trip to meet demand. I don’t understand how credits and tuition work but I think the travel itself is pretty pricey. For study abroad I’m assuming you have to purchase the airfare, right?
@crowlady, the ones I’ve researched, yes–you pay for airfare. And any out of pocket expenses like transportation, incidentals, touring, etc. once you’re there. Also, room and board…though some programs you still pay that to or through your home institution.
@seamom, I was born in Nashville, but grew up in the northeast part of TN. My best friend from HS went to Vandy for undergrad and also did his postdoc there while his wife (who performed our marriage) went to divinity school, so I spent a lot of time there as an adult. I think your D will like it.
S didn’t think the cheesesteaks in Philly were exceptional. He should get the chance to get a larger sample size while he’s at Temple.
Vegan cannoli? 
Do teens just travel on their own…backpack-through-Europe-type? I don’t hear about such trips much nowadays, but I’m not 18. (Though, back in the day, I did take off for a summer to hitchhike/hostel around the British isles. And I drove solo cross-country in the US throughout college and grad school in my muscle car.) 
Trying to pack for an accepted student visit with DS. It will be warm here when we leave, 30 degrees when we land, and 50s and raining during the tour etc. So much for both of us fitting all our stuff in one carryon.
Congratulations to those with decisions, progress towards decisions and scholarships ! I really enjoy the good news.
More and more of DS’s classmates are deciding as well so there is much more talk here about schools and I can see people are more relaxed. I hope everyone here reaches that state soon!
Continuing on the theme of good places to eat…Industrial Revolution right next to Valpo has awesome (and humongous) burgers.