WRT Snapchat - yes, people can screenshot what you send (if they do it right away). But leaks on snapchat are almost necessarily malicious, vs other platforms where it can be more about carelessness.
I think teens today are actually quite aware of protecting their privacy, and are typically making reasonable choices.
Which is not at all what I predicted when my kids were young… 
I just read 120 posts. You all have been busy bunnies!
RE: Halloween. Last year the indoor decorations fell by the wayside. This year I couldn’t get anyone interested in doing Jack-o-lanterns. sigh Fortunately, the museum where I work participates in a downtown trick-or-treat event, so on Friday I dressed as Professor McGonagall, handed out toys to hundreds of kids and posed for photos with many. That was my celebration! (Like many of you, we don’t get trick-or-treaters in our neighborhood anymore.)
Part two of my witchy weekend was attending Wicked with D2 this evening. It was our third time, and better than ever.
When we returned, we reviewed her UMD application together and hit the submit button. Yay! She’s gone from six apps to three, so all apps are in. Now she needs to do honors college and scholarship apps, but she needs a bit of a breather first. (Frankly, so do I.)
Good luck to everyone with your deadlines.
WOW—did you all see that post about the kid who got rejected from Michigan State with a 36 ACT and likely Val status?
Something fishy with the OP in that thread, didn’t you think? Besides their politics.
@littleray …I need to sit and read the entire thread. Why any kid would be so over the top with their politics on apps is beyond me.
Did she write an essay about her politics?
@carachel2 The post is a fake, in my opinion. Perfect scores but a Trump supporter gets rejected from a school that rejects very few. Nah.
@STEM2017 …ahh, gotcha. Victim/political gaming. Makes sense.
Edited to add: I’m a little gullible and didn’t see that at first.
Which is the main reason I was horrible when I worked ER and trauma–a gullible ER RN was a hilarious thing!
@littleray yes!
@carachel2 Its actually quite funny on second reading. Perfect scores, a quadruple legacy with 8 siblings attending MSU, but he gets rejected. Most of his listed ECs are as right-wing as you can get. We were all baited into this one.
But surely someone will call me mean for not believing the poor kid. :))
Doing the happy dance! All their EA apps where all submitted last night by the twins. Onwards now to the UC’s app.
@calimom3 that is fantastic! D is still mulling over whether or not to apply to UC’s, deadline fast approaching. Quite frankly, I’m concerned about the massive housing crisis over there. Thoughts?
@Calimom3 —oh wow, TWO in the process! Do they want to go to the same school?
@STEM2017 --Holy Moly!!! I just did a Facebook search for the group that student claims to be the founder of–wow that is some intense stuff.
Did my morning portal check and all docs are in to every school except one ( which we just submtted this weekemd).
So that’s 8 schools in total. 3 safeties, 2 matches, 3 match/reach.
It will be interesting to see the results. He is not convinced where he wants to go.but preferably not safeties unless he has to. I think it will come down to if he really wants city life vs burbs and whether or not he really wants to play varsity lax or not.
@carachel2 – Some overlaps, but I doubt they will end up at the same school.
@Fishnlines29 – UC guarantee housing for all freshman. UCLA, all 4 years. I don’t think the student housing is any worse than other major area like Boston, DC or Seattle. I am more concerned about the lack of flexibility of changing majors if you aren’t first admitted in that major/school.
@STEM2017 – I think it is a hoax…
Which forum is this hoax-y post in?
Son finished his UIUC essay last night after some gentle pushing and a little bribery. It’s a “Why this major?” essay so it should not have been that difficult for him but he really dragged his feet. He’s starting to show the classic symptoms of Senioritis. Give me strength.
Tonight: Ole Miss Barksdale essay.
@STEM2017 D finds topics like the Barksdale essay’s to be much easier than ones that require her to talk about herself. Maybe your s will be the same
Portal checks. IU was nice enough to send an email that they’ve received the FAFSA. So, I checked Case Western’s portal, and they, too, received the FAFSA…however they say that we need Citizenship Documentation for D17, who was adopted internationally. Grrrr. Stuff like this continues to grind my gears. The government knows she is a citizen, so why can’t they indicate that on their end, once D’s FAFSA ID has been verified?
It reminds me of the background checks and fingerprinting we had to do in order to adopt, when last I checked folks with bio kids did none of that (no offense).
[/rant]
Tip of The Day (TOTD): Check your kid’s passport. Especially any of you whose kid plans to study abroad. While I was scanning D’s passport for Case (they accept that as proof of citizenship) I realized her passport expires next March! So, we want to get that renewed while she is still around and there is plenty of time.
@hadmeathello – Re: passport…but if possible, wait until attainment of age 18, as I think that passport would be valid for ten years instead of five? I may be wrong…I need to renew for both boys before March and both will be over 18, so plan to do so during college winter break.