@go2mom Congratulations!!!
@Astro77 @Pri930 Same issue with UMD and the SAT dates. Since we are all in the same boat, I am going to assume (hope!) that it is correct. Good news that her checklist finally updated that the application is complete…took almost a week, so hang in there!
We are also still waiting for LORs. D asked two of them and gave them a resume/cheat sheet last spring.
@kcheves My D may qualify for merit at USC also, but the UC’s, especially Cal and UCLA and CP SLO, still make an enticing bargain. That would be a wonderful thing for our D’s to have high quality choices like that available. I’m hoping D will have multiple in-state and OOS choices, when the time comes.
@Booajo Quitting your sport, especially one that your kid has played all their lives is a difficult decision. My D made that choice between sophomore and junior years. She had played soccer since she could walk almost. It was difficult for me too, but she was never going to be a college player and there were just too many other things going on. At least for you, it lasted a little while longer. It’s a tough transition for both kid and parent. Sometimes when I’m driving, I’ll wistfully think back to those days when the weather was either too hot or too cold and waking up bright and early to attend games and chatting with other parents on the sidelines. I remember one early morning game, where I ran 6 miles around the track surrounding the field, before the tournament game started, and all the girls yelling out “Run Forrest. Run!” =))
I’m so happy that D dropped AP Comp Sci at the beginning of the year due to a scheduling issue. What a blessing. With multiple tests (MV Calc, AP Chem, etc.) and a huge (200 points) AP Spanish presentation this week, along with finalizing her college essays, I think she’s running on fumes at the moment. She hasn’t even had time to eat breakfast in the morning, which worries me. Breakfast is very important in our house.
@LOUKYDAD for reference, look at Publication 501 under “earned income”
https://www.irs.gov/publications/p501#en_US_2016_publink1000220710
Bargain alert for early dorm shoppers: Macy’s is having a One-Day sale on Saturday. They have bed-in-a-bag (sheets & comforter) combos for $29.99. Sheet sets start at $8.99. If you have a Macy’s card, the deals probably start on Friday. Quality at those prices probably isn’t wonderful, but there are deals on higher end stuff, too. (I’m eyeing a particular Croscill set for our MBR.)
I bought a comforter set and sheets yesterday at Kohl’s because I had coupons and gift certs about to expire. I might change my mind once I see the Macy’s deal, though.
I bought some nice percale sheets for warm weather and microfleece for winter. ABQ has much colder winters than S is used to, so he’ll be glad of the snuggly sheets. 
If you shop, remember that most dorm beds are Twin XL. Regular twin sheets won’t fit, and twin blankets / comforters may be too short if they’re 86 inches instead of 90.
@DiotimaDM Are these deals online or in-store?
The level of anxiety has gone down by a LOT since 3 nights ago when DD finally submitted her ED and 2 EAs. All 3 are OOS schools. Then last night, DD submitted to the one and only in-state school (public). Perhaps tonight she will submit to UofMaryland. This is 5 of the 13 schools she is planning to apply to.
FAFSA and CSS are done. Still in a state of shock re: that EFC — but it is what it is
One LOR is still not submitted by her teacher; DD didn’t procrastinate and asked teacher back in June. I thought asking early would be good but it is proving to be such a headache and a stressor right now. @MACmiracle — we asked early too!
Lastly, DD passed her road test today! Yay, an increase in auto insurance 
@sushiritto Both.
@DiotimaDM Good. Because I’m not a big fan of going to our local malls. And thank you for the details on typical dorm beds. I have no clue. Although at this point, it’s looking like she’ll be commuting to her local CC, so I may have to re-sell her dorm bedding on our local Craigslist :-SS [-O<
Sushiritto got me thinking again of a plan D is unlikely to take advantage of, but…if she would be willing, D could go to CC for free for two years. She could then apply as a transfer to a meets need school when her sister will be applying to college (but that one will probably go to CC).
That would likely get us the best bang for the buck, but it won’t happen because she can’t wait to get away.
Hallelujah! D reports her Common App essay is 100% done, finito. I can tell she means it this time, it like a dark cloud lifted. And she’s getting it uploaded! Woot!!
So much progress! I bet it’s a big relief for the students to hit big milestones, as well as the parents who come here to post.
Anyone have thoughts on actually paying early enrollment deposits at more than one school? For arguments sake, assume the deposit is real but not unmanageable to pay. Is there are rule I am not aware of against doing this?
There are a couple reasons one might do this. For example, to get in to the housing system early in scenarios where there is a “first come first served” schedule but you are still deciding between two schools and awaiting more information.
@DavidPuddy I am eagerly awaiting responses as we have been wondering the exact same thing here. Son has 2 schools he is deciding between, has been admitted to both and needs to reserve housing early, especially at the one which does not guarantee housing for freshman.
@DavidPuddy, if it were me I’d have no problem paying early deposits to multiple schools as long as they didn’t require the student to accept the offer of admission. I think a fair number of colleges allow families to put down housing deposits (sometimes even refundable or partially refundable) without actually committing the student to attend. I doubt there’s any legal issue with a student accepting admission and paying enrollment deposits to more than one school (excluding the issues surrounding binding ED) but to me it would not feel right to have my student accept more than one admission in order to get on the list for housing or whatever.
So far we have only deposited at one school where an early deposit is an advantage in housing. This is one of the top two schools DD is interested in, so she could very well go here. If it wasn’t a serious contender, I wouldn’t have done it. It’s refundable until May 1.
I’m pinching myself!! D has hit send on THREE common app schools tonight. Wow - that happened fast once she got her CA essay down. She asked me to read It and I think she nailed it. The ending felt forced and a little overworked before, but now it makes better sense, flows and really sounds like her.
Is that a light I’m seeing at the end of the tunnel?
S18 received an $8000 annual renewable scholarship to Franciscan University!
@traveler98
The school I am specifically referencing requires both an enrollment deposit (NON refundable) and then the housing deposit, (mostly refundable). If it were just housing deposits, I think I would have no problem pulling the trigger. But this is an admissions deposit. A little sketchy to do that, potentially.
It’s really unfair of them to ask that. The kids are supposed to have until May 1 to decide!