@2muchquan I’m nominating you for the role of 2017 Group Organizer. I don’t have time/interest in reading thru the 2016 thread to get tips on what I need to buy for son17 when he goes off to college.
Can you please organize some sort of spread sheet or flow chart with items needed? It would be so appreciated.
I’m probably going to the parent in our family who ends up doing the bulk of the shopping.
Thanks 
I’ve been lurking for several days as work is pretty intense lately. But during a break today, I get to read the post #23670 on the 2016 thread. Oh, my. I had to run to the bathroom in the office…I do remember when I was in grad school, my mom visited me and on my way back from airport (sending her home), I was sobbing like crazy for no apperant reasons and wore sun glasses to my night class so people won’t see my puffy eyes. I was pretty wierd back then I guess…
@RightCoaster Your son will be a big hit with his hanging shoe organizer, matching Hello Kitty bed linens, and fluffy slippers.
Tours/visits: We were pretty much done with tours/visits until acceptances, but I’m going to NY for work at the end of the month so DD is coming to meet me and is going to check out Fordham. We’re going to head to DC for the weekend and we’ll go visit Howard (not an official visit as they don’t have any until after Labor Day) and we might check out American. I wish we could afford to go to Chicago and New Orleans to see UChicago, Northwestern, and Tulane, but it’s not in the budget. Maybe my job will send me to the Chicago office before apps are due!
I think I’ve now memorized my credit card number, exp. date, and security code. I hate CB and ACT.
Knowing the emotions we were going through last year at this time as my son was starting college, I have absolutely no interest in going through it a year early seeing a bunch of 2016 parents going through it all. Looking to slow life down a little. Not speed it up.
We also are done with visits until he is accepted and goes back to sit in on classes.
@2muchquan, I have one of my credit cards memorized also. 
And I nominate @dfbdfb and @2muchquan as the thread jokesters. Please keep up the JOTD!
@saillakeerie …exactly. I will embrace this year for all the excitement and enjoy it all without living the sadness that next year will bring. I just can’t do it and I actually sat down and PROMISED D that I would not spend the year saying “this is your last time to do X.”
Let’s all go enjoy the year and don’t peek too much into the future.
I took D school supply shopping. She takes forever at Staples because man she is a girl who loves herself some good school supplies! In years past I would have whipped out my phone and started flipping through it…but not this time. I stood there and helped debate the types and colors of folders, what type of pencils, etc. She totally geeked it out and I enjoyed every second of it. I will have zero zero regrets when she graduates and I refuse to make her sad along with me by playing the “it’s the last time” game.
Regarding the “where did your parents go to school” question, I recently read an article in which the person was offering a breakdown of their application. The person is now an AO at their Alma mater and has his hands on his app, handwritten notes and all. He mentioned there is a points system so for his stay-at-home mom she got a number of points and his highly educated dad had different points. The questions referenced earlier as being bold on the app preview, race and parents education, capture URM and first in family which is part of the points system. I’ll look for the article and post a link.
@paveyourpath ok wow so that’s interesting. So wonder how many points for SAHM vs working mom?
@paveyourpath Looking forward to the link. I’m ok with them asking about whether parents have a degree. What I don’t like is the assumption that will be made when considering career + college parent attended.
The assumptions about me and D from all of that may be very judgey, which is probably why it bothers me so much.
@paveyourpath Please do post the link. Some of those measurements sound incredibly controversial.
I think if they list it as important, you really want to do it. I am willing to bet that the interviewers are good at talking with the shy kids as well as the bold kids. I was a painfully shy teenager unless I was talking about something that was important to me. If your D can talk about that, maybe practice having that as a topic that she can pull out of her metaphorical hat during the interview?
regarding the common app-now I don’t know whether to say I’m an artist or a SAHM. I was home when I was painting? I put the paintbrush down when the kids needed something? Ack, I don’t know. I get paid for my work, but not a lot. If they handed out awards for useless overthinking on everything, I’d be a gold medal contender…
@MotherOfDragons ARTIST! Absolutely without question.
@itsgettingreal17 Now I’ve got all sorts of combinations rolling around in my head. 8-}
@MotherOfDragons I would totally put down ‘Artist’.
Points system…
@MotherOfDragons: Stay at home artist – 10 points!
@stem2017: Stay at home unemployed Wall Street executive – Minus 10 points.
Progress of sorts here…and a compromise
We are sitting out the ACT after all and considering ourselves done. If the kid is absolutely convinced he cannot do better, he will not. It is not worth the stress all around, the arguing, the drama and the scheduling logistics were an absolute nightmare. In return S has agreed to complete draft #2 of the essay this week, meet with counselor for additional editing support after that, hopefully next week. He will also work with me one day next week to finalize the list so I can start sending scores. We are both less stressed now! I figure breaking up the financial pain is in my best interest lol. On the positive side he’s read several chapters of one of the books for AP English and actually looked at the APES and AP Calc homework
@thshadow I don’t think S17 plans to bring up his ADHD. One of his apps does have a spot for that kind of thing (special challenges you think we should know ish) but it is optional. And I am not even sure which school it is for and if that school will actually make the “apply” cut. At least I think that’s the plan for now, we haven’t started the CA so who really knows.
Here is the link. I kept googling college admissions officers posting their college app and found nothing. That’s because my recollection on that point was incorrect. The person is not an AO he is just writing about his app getting him into many elite schools. Anyway, when you get to the parents section it looks like they put A by each parent (Asian) and then J by the dad (Job?) and H by mom (housewife)? Each parent gets a 2 for having a Bachelors degree, dad gets a 2 for a masters and mom gets a 3 for no graduate education. They are judging our kids based on our careers and educations? I don’t get it.
Some of you are already planning what you need to buy for new fall?? I very very rarely plan that far ahead. S17 couldn’t really care. Plus I’ve been there, done that, just moved one home. S17 would be happy with his sleeping bag & a few smelly clothes. Maybe I can get S17 to take his sisters purple XL dorm sheets? :))