D finally hit submit on the last app, kind of at my request. It’s a college that was recommended to me by her GC and people here. It has good science facilities and isn’t too far from home. She recently met a kind, older gentleman whose own D went there and I think that may have sparked a tiny bit of interest because she asked about visiting.
My mission this week is to try to get some kind of replacement for my dear Honda Odyssey. The transmission started losing gears yesterday. We have to get something quickly because D and I are leaving for a long weekend of college visits on Friday.
@DiotimaDM that is so incredibly heartbreaking. My thoughts are with everyone affected and who have lost friends and family. Sending lots of love your way that things start to look up; the pressure of the process along with a lot of stress must be a terrible strain.
@macmiracle, My old Odyssey’s transmission died a couple of weeks ago when I was 200 miles from home. It was quite the adventure. I bought a CR-V that day and highly recommend it as a step down from the Odyssey, if that’s what you intend. Good luck!
For those waiting on UMCP decisions, I saw on another thread that they had an admissions bus that stopped at a few MD homes to give students their acceptance letters (too bad they didn’t show up at our house!) So we may be hearing decisions for that school in the next few days. DD performs in a school play tonight, so I’m kind of hoping decisions don’t get released right before she goes onstage (unless, of course, she’s accepted).
I’m on my second Odyssey. Love those vans! I plan to buy a new one at some point, but not until my son picks a school and I know the implications to our finances. Mine is a 2012 with 116,000 miles on it. It runs like a champ, so I’m in no hurry to replace it. My last one, a 2005, had the transmission go out 3 times while I was travelling, the side of the rode is not a fun place to be. I lost faith about the time I think they actually fixed it (found a crimped cooling hose on the third rebuild), but we were heading to Florida in it for vacation and I didn’t want to take a chance on it. This van is under warranty for another 4000 miles…I will say, I test drove a ton of vehicles and came back to the odyssey. For a family of 5, with an added grandparent for most trips, there’s just nothing like the space, the ride is awesome. Most other vans just don’t “feel” the same.
I have a Toyota Sienna that is showing its age … after almost 10 years lol. It still runs like a dream, however, so I’m hanging onto it for a good long while. Our Honda Accord is a nice second vehicle that still runs nicely after 14 years (although we recently had a bunch of expensive age-related repairs done on it).
I am planning on going with another Toyota when the time comes. The local dealership is top notch, especially the service department. I absolutely despise our local Honda dealership, and hold my nose every time I bring in our Accord (which we bought there, and they still treat us poorly). If not for them, I would be open to another Honda at some point.
I always say, the sales department courts you. The service department marries you.
DS was admitted to Calhoun Honors College. He got an email this morning.
Today is the day they notify semi-finalists by email or phone of a big local scholarship. It’s nearly 10 a.m. and still nothing so I am anxious. I told DS to answer his phone today, even if the number is unknown. I’m sure I will keep checking his email obsessively all day while he’s at school. I REALLY wish they would notify the people who didn’t qualify as well. Some news is better than no news and left wondering.
Has anyone been thinking about graduation parties? Another mom asked me what we were planning - I had not even started thinking about it. Graduation is mid-morning on a Sunday - not sure whether we would do it later that day or wait till the next week.
Graduation parties! It’s so exciting to think about!
We may talk to D’s BF’s parents about hosting a party together. D and BF have grown up together, they share all the same friends, and our families are close.
Other happenings in our house:
We are waiting for news or no-news from USC this week. If D is one of the lucky few who receives an acceptance and invite to interview for the big scholarships, there will be much celebration. If not, we will have to sit on our hands and wait until late March for a decision.
There was a mix-up with D’s LOR for her McGill merit scholarship application. Thankfully McGill admissions is okay with the letter coming in late. That could have potentially been a $40k mishap. Lesson learned: verify EVERYTHING on the college portals!
Crickets from UBC. This waiting stage is so hard. :((
Swim season will be over in five weeks. D has been swimming competitively for ten years. She has three high school meets and one club meet left, and then she’s done. Forever.
D’s HS swim team has a fun ritual–the night before certain meets, they have a pasta party at a swimmer’s house. This Friday it’s our turn. It’s the big one, where everybody shows up. Sixty-some swimmers are coming over for dinner! :))
I’ve got a 2002 Ody with 265K - the transmission went out when it was at about 80K (Honda replaced). Last summer the Transmission over heated and left us stranded 75 miles from home but to be fair, it was 110 outside and we were on a stretch of highway that has a ton of lights, we hit every red one. Our mechanic flushed the transmission system and no problems since but I no longer trust it for long drives and it will be DD’s if she ever manages to learn to drive. I have a 2009 5 speed civic that I now drive as my primary vehicle but I really miss the Ody, its just so comfortable.
We may end up going back to an Ody or a CRV but for now the family fleet is all paid for and I’m good with that. DH drives a 97 Civic with 300K - we rebuilt the top end a couple of years ago because he loves his car.
DD Committed to UAH - Housing deposit sent, now to make the flight arrangements for orientation. Whew, I am so glad this process is over!
UT is making a great big mess of it’s admission process this year. They reset their regular decision application deadline from December 1 to January 1 with a March 1 decision date, supposedly because of Hurricane Harvey. Priority deadline was Nov 1 with a February 1 decision date, it was not reset. DD’s app was submitted on Aug 2 and all documents received by August 7. This was posted on DD’s portal this morning:
“We’re still reviewing your application.
Thank you for completing your application for admission by the priority deadline. We need additional time to make a final decision about your admission. We will post your decision here by March 1”
UT does not have a deferral policy. Pretty confident it shouldn’t take UT 8 months to say “Yes, please!” or “Thank you, but no thank you!”. A&M also set back their application deadline, but does it has not seemed to have hampered their application processing and notifications.
This decision delay seems to have put a crack in DD’s “It’s all good” facade. She texted me this morning “annoyed about UT!” and I hadn’t even told her to check the portal.
College or Charleston also notified a delay in their decisions this year too. Anyone else have decision being “delayed”?
Ugh, @labegg, that is so not cool for UT to “defer” like that. If the student submitted everything by the priority deadline it is just not right for the school to reach the priority decision date and cop out with a lame “we need more time” message. It’s one thing for colleges that do have deferral policies but for ones that do not there’s no good excuse to mess around that way.
S18 has had it happen twice - Georgia Tech and more recently Colorado School of Mines. It really is annoying as you know they would not be ok with the kids delaying their applications!
So sorry to see the So Cal impact of the mud slides. Take care everyone!
@momma2018 When my older daughter graduated HS we actually waited nearly a month to host a party because there were so many parties and a lot of the kids/families are all invited to each others. We ended up doing an outdoor party, rented a tent, hired a caterer etc. It worked out well without any conflicts. I’m not sure what we’ll do this time around, but probably something similar. I’m thinking of doing something in July again but I really need to put my thinking cap on :).
