@CaucAsianDad What a wonderful and touching story. Thanks so much for sharing it!
Loved the story as well, @CaucAsianDad! Congrats to your D 
@CaucAsianDad Congrats to your D. What a great story!
@CaucAsianDad - Congratulations! Do you have any photos you can share for FB private group?
@CaucAsianDad - Great story! Congratulations to you and your D!
I am so glad you all have enjoyed the story, it still brings tears our eyes when we talk about it. I have to give all the credit to my wife, I would never come up with such a plan.
@CaucAsianDad Oh wow, thanks for sharing that story! Happy tears!
@CaucAsianDad that was an awesome story!
QOTD: ok, this is going to sounds very sexist… When S15 was a senior we left him home alone a few times, it was fine. With D17 the fact that she has a boyfriend makes me not willing to do it, I don’t want them potentially home alone. D15 had his same girlfriend then too, my husband had a talk with him and left a box of condoms. See, we’re terrible. I never thought I’d have a double standard until right now.
@CaucAsianDad – I LOVE that story!
Better than the acceptance and better than any scholarship $$$ is the realization that people who know your daughter in a capacity besides school think so highly of her as to treat her almost like family-- and to share so enthusiastically in her happiness.
You have raised someone to be proud of for sure.
I have been in and out of this thread but wanted to pop in to say how amazing all of your children are and what wonderful experiences they have ahead. Reading this thread gives me hope for our future - these kids are awesome!
I LOVE the story @CaucAsianDad - what a great memory!
We have been struggling with indecision at our house since all acceptances (and one denial - turned out to be a huge blessing) are in. D has a clear front runner and is very excited to attend - and yet when we have revisited others or talke to her about declining their offers she falls back to doubt and uncertainty. I am worried that too many choices is now a burden instead of a relief. Our strategy was to craft a list of viable schools that were affordable. She never got her heart set on one - waiting for merit offers and final $ amounts. She was successful and now is really struggling to cut things off of the list completely. There were good things about all of the schools or she would not have applied. We are worried that she has put her first choice up on such a high pedestal so that she can justify her choice – that when the reality sets in (college is work - not all the kids will be awesome - it will have bad things) that she will have regrets and what ifs. It does not help that her front runner is not where we would have chosen for her - it is a great school but we feel that some of her other options might be better fits. We realize that this is real life - but we are secretly a bit envious of our neighbors whose kids have known for years that they are going to the state flagship – only applied to one, only visited one, and are now confidently headed there with no regrets. DD will not have the option for a do-over at any of these schools since the financial offers will be gone - this is weighing heavily on the decisions.
A good problem to have but causes worry and stress.
@CaucAsianDad Huge Congrats to your daughter!! That story made my day <:-P
I wish we all such a fun way to tell our kids the big news, so fun!!
@novicemom23kids – I get where you are coming from - we may have a bit of similar concern here! I think that the schools can be fairly different about some things and perhaps prioritizing what she feels are “needs” or “high wants” (location, schedule, undergrad opportunities, male/female ration, greek life, could help – and creating a list of cons to be mindful of - maybe then narrow the list down and see which seems to have the most positives. Nice to have choices, no school is perfect. She/you can also reach out to the schools and ask more questions of the departments and a lot of schools have current students or alums who will answer questions as well. Regarding the college is work - hat is something to think about and she can likely get a sense of how demanding the workload is, how accessible professors are and whether students are collaborative, what do students do on weekends, are the dorms ok, dining options good, grads get jobs or grad school positions etc. And likely there are trade-offs - so in the end a few schools might be of relatively similar overall appeal but for different reasons - just as likely in high school there are unforeseen situations and I make charts with info and ask questions. It is a process for sure. Good luck to you and your D!!
@novicemom23kids I feel for you, of course it’s great to have choices, but certainly tough to make the decision! I know my daughter is so excited to move on to college because she is “so over high school” but I felt the need to remind her exactly what you said: it’s work, you’ll meet plenty of people you don’t like, etc. She’s like “I know, I know”!
@CA1543 Just thinking this through… I feel like it’s tough to get a true sense of how demanding the workload is and whether students are collaborative, etc. I’m guessing most student ambassadors will say all the right things because THEY are the ones who love it there and want to promote the school. Plus much of it is subjective. I would be curious to know what students do on weekends…
Great news @CaucAsianDad and I liked that story a lot.
Let me know if you need me to send a better color of balloon at some point, something like Garnet and Gold. 
Kidding, great news, great school, great opportunity.
@novicemom23kids I understand what you are going thru, and I think my son17 may end up having to make some difficult choices if things work out for him. He doesn’t have one school on his list that is head and shoulders above the others, or the best deal, has the best programs etc. It might be a tough decision. Good luck to you.
@CaucAsianDad Congratulations to your daughter on UF! That is an absolutely amazing story! It will be a beautiful memory she can cherish forever.
Lovely story @CaucAsianDad!
QOTD - It’s interesting how pervasive double standards are in our society and how we – wittingly or unwittingly – fall prey to them!
The big reveal of the super-secret scholarship for which D is a semifinalist: Davidson’s Belk. Telephone interviews are this week, and, depending on how they go, there’s a finalist weekend in March. Fingers crossed.
In the meantime, she just called to say that she got into Grinnell with a BigMac award – $50K!
Let the good times roll!!
AWESOME @LoveTheBard !!! That is rockin’! Congrats to D.
I’m glad you could finally share what the super-secret scholarship was for and good luck on the interview!!
Double great news @LoveTheBard Congrats!!
and yet @LoveTheBard , even knowing it’s a double standard I can’t bring myself to leave D17 a box of condoms, leave for the weekend, and hope for the best 
@LoveTheBard Congrats!!! Excellent news day!. Good luck with the Belk! Fingers crossed.