Is this USC West you are all referring too? I keep thinking East…
@ChattaChia - sorry, that’s USCal (West)
Scratch USCal off our list as well. D received notification this morning that she is not in the running for any merit awards.
I am so very sorry to hear all the disappointing news from the past 24 hours on UVA, USC and Richmond. Frankly I’m shocked and upset for all of you and your kids; I really don’t know what to make of the merit world these days. I know my D18 has received good merit from decent schools but she hasn’t received spectacular merit from any school and she’s seen kids with similar or lower stats get more and some with higher get less. It’s all a big mystery to me! I fear I’ll be the next one with disappointing news as Chancellor for Pitt should be announcing interview phase soon and it’s a drastically smaller pool of kids that make it there. Sending all the virtual hugs to everyone who is dealing with disappointed and frustrated kids.
@droppedit You’re telling us NMFs aren’t getting any merit money from USC? That’s insane. I’m sure you’re daughter will wind up in a great school and be very successful
USC was my son’s #1 as a junior Looks like we were fortunate he changed his mind over the summer. That would have stung
@JerseyParents NMFs should still get half-tuition at USC (west) if admitted, but they won’t get a decision until late March. Even thought USC does not call this process EA, that’s how it functions. This is essentially an EA deferral.
Okay, so we have a well-timed distraction from the USC sting: I am hosting 60+ high school swimmers for dinner tonight! 
It’s being catered and I’ll have lots of help, but still, 60+ high schoolers in my house. That deserves another
I suspect D will be wearing her McGill gear tonight.
@ShrimpBurrito GOOD LUCK!!! Been there with the field hockey team and it’s wonderful and terrifying all at the same time! By the way I really just adore McGill, I’m starting to get that feeling it’s your daughter’s future home ;).
Whoa, @ShrimpBurrito! I hope you are somewhere warm where the weather is nice so you can throw them outside!
@Booajo, I’m sorry about the tough news. 
@suzy100 it’s warm but I don’t dare let them out of eyeshot, given tales of pasta parties past. Plus we are having plumbing issues (adds to the excitement, right?) and our front yard is all dug up. Don’t want swimmers falling into ditches and twisting ankles right before State.
@AmyBeth68 “wonderful and terrifying…” love it! Haha!
Yes, I’d almost put money down on McGill now. I don’t say that to D, but the way this train is going, I’d be really surprised if she chose elsewhere.
sorry, double post
@ShrimpBurrito what about UBC?
I’m spending the afternoon looking at all my kids other awesome options. He will be fine, but rejection sure is tough. For me, these 2 are harder than Stanford because I thought he had a decent shot.
@Booajo D has been taking a hard look at UBC’s Cognitive Systems program. It’s extremely inflexible. There is a series of courses she has to take, in order, and there is currently a wait list for some of those classes. It looks like graduating on time could be an issue, even though she’d go in with 46 AP credit hours. She also would have no room for study abroad, unless she did it over the summer. She really loves the UBC campus and Vancouver weather, but I think the practicality of McGill will win out. She’d have way more flexibility there, and if she gets a major entrance scholarship, she’d have priority registration. We have a trip planned to Vancouver in March. D is making out her list of questions for a UBC advisor. Maybe there’s a magic formula we are missing, but I doubt it.
But first D has to be accepted to UBC. Still crickets from them.
Good luck @ShrimpBurrito l’m hosting a pasta party next week for 45 (so far) swimmers. The last host had too much pasta and desert, but not enough drinks. Each class brings something and host provides pasta. I was weighing catering vs cooking myself. Please report back 8-}
@AmyBeth68 D18 did try for PA scholars Stamps/Nordenberg but did not get to interview stage, best of luck to your D. D18 is learning valuable lessons in resiliency, I just wish she didn’t have so many resiliency lessons so close together.
We are softball booster club commissioners. We’re hosting 120 for “meet the team” breakfast tomorrow. Luckily, we are using a room at the school. Just another last time thing to add to the senior memories.
Wow, some unexpected good news today. Seven-semester GPA and rank were just updated. S is taking a level class this year so I expected him to drop a few spots down from his previous rank of 5, assuming that students behind him were taking all AP and dual credit. Instead he moved UP to number 3! A very nice surprise!
First time posting here. So far no love from USC and deferred from UMich. Very testing time and hard to perk up. What if it doesn’t work out in the end?! Then what? Gap year?
The pasta party sounds like fun! My DS2008 was a football player - we used to host the team for a stuffed baked potato dinner twice a season - staying out of the way was purely for one’s safety - my hubby used to rope off the dining room until all the food was in place, then it was like being at Disney for the rope drop!
Drop the rope and get out of the way, 65 football players were coming right at us 
Those were fun events. Oh and did I mention, I had white carpet! The one and only spill ever was the one my hubby did when he dropped his bowl of chili - the boys were always great but man oh man could they eat!
Hang in there @thespian18 it seems to be a tough day around here. Hopefully you have some matches and safeties that are good options if it doesn’t work out.