My son is super excited to have been admitted to UCLA! Still waiting to get all decisions and awards back, but yesterday was a happy day !
@pickledginger CONGRATULATIONS! Love happy days!!
Thanks to all for the support and listening to my rant. Updating the odds:
One of three RDs waiting for decision on 5%
Medium School in Big MidWest City 35%
Medium School in Very Small Southern Town 35%
Medium School in Very Small East Coast Town 25%
Yesterday was mixed at our house - accepted to UCSD, waitlist at UCLA and declined at Harvey Mudd. Seeing his reaction, I’m not sure any were top choices for him. We visited UCSC today after S competed at a jazz festival. That campus is gorgeous!
STILL waiting to see him be really excited by a school!
Congratulations to all the great acceptances and @MinnieFan hope the wait is over soon. Colleges can be pretty cruel.
@MinnieFan - yes, BU said the 17th and they stuck to it, both for rejections and acceptances. Such a refreshing experience! Funny how that level of professionalism colors how one views an institution. I feel like BU has schooled me on how the process SHOULD be handled, but so many admissions offices do not provide the same example. Thank you BU for having the process under control and for sticking to what you said.
Interesting about “seeing the reaction” to the result as a way to determine if a particular school is a top choice. For us a much clearer picture has come from the level of visible stress while waiting for a result, if you know when the decision is coming (e.g. UCLA this week). After the result is known then the reaction turns more into one of relief (or disappointment), and its harder to determine how interested they actually are. But the stress of waiting is not a pleasant experience.
Just a reminder, if you would care to participate:
Final decisions thred
@labegg We won’t get there for a while, but thanks for setting that thread up.
Hi,
I have question for all parents. What are experiences/perceptions of Greek life? My daughter got accepted to UCLA and she is wondering if it would be a good idea to rush, considering it is such a big school. I was not in a sorority in college and my husband was…and did a lot of partying. She is a way more dedicated student than either of us, but I know she is going to want to have a fun college experience also.
Thanks!
@momtwin You might get better luck in the UCLA forum (I think there is one).
But my two cents, there is no rush to rush (ha-ha). I was never in a sorority, and at least in day rushing seemed to take a lot of time and close off some girls from freshman experiences. That might have just been them - once they started rushing they didn’t have time to go to dinner with floormates and we rarely saw them for a while.
I would like to call and ask about if all the notifications have gone out for that one last competitive scholarship. I just want to know what’s on the table so D can start to move on.
I know a lot of my friends kids went on to college and rushed frat/sorority and seem very happy. My older daughter was strictly against it and has been happy and fulfilled without greek life. Albeit she goes to a VERY small school. My D18 is interested in looking at service sororities; but is not interested in traditional social greek life. I think at some universities where the greek population is a large percentage of the student body, it almost feels compulsary. But many schools tend to downplay it. I don’t think there is anything wrong with it, aside from the added costs and potential for more partying It probably depends on the culture at each school.
I agree with @AmyBeth68. I think it will depend on the school.
@MACmiracle, I don’t see any harm in making that call.
I just learned of this site on the BU RD board. I have an 18 year old D going through this process and sometimes I feel that I am more anxious about this process than she is. It is so refreshing to see supportive people on this board. My daughter is awaiting two more decisions from Tulane and NYU ad then we will be done. Phew!
We are currently debating the merits/demerits of greek life/rushing at our house for DD2018. Husband is firmly against it (although I think he is working off of some stereotypes); I am on the fence; DD2916 think DD2018 should rush. DD2018 was firmly against it, but has been melting in her firmness. At this point I think she is at go ahead and rush, see if you like it and if you don’t, you certainly do not have to pledge spot. No reason to limit youroptions by not even trying, if you are undecided in the value of something. (But that has always been our family motive).
I think it really depends on your kid for greek life. I don’t see my D18 in a sorority, but she may choose to rush. Personally, I would advocate against rushing Fall semester freshman year. I think it’s a good idea to get a lay of the land at college first and then see if that’s something you want. I like the schools where Spring rush is the policy.
Even if you end up pledging you can decommit later.
I really don’t know much about greek life, but the stories at some schools scare me.
My D was never interested, but she has joined a professional pharmacy fraternity.
Her friend is in a service oriented sorority at a small school, and they seem very supportive of one another.
So it would depend on the school and the greek organization I would think.
Most schools (except for perhaps large southern schools) now have rush in spring semester so kids can figure out how they fit in at school before deciding on Greek life. DD is definitely interested in rushing. DH and I were both Greek at Northwestern in the 80s and DS2014 also went Greek. It has been an overwhelmingly positive experience for the three of us, resulting in lifelong friendships and everlasting memories.
Greek life–depends on kid. My D16 didn’t get a bid, so be prepared for it to NOT work out. She joined an academic fraternity (coed which she likes).
In other news, I have big envelopes on my kitchen counter (waiting for kid to get home) from Richmond and Denison. Yay!
Rushing is definitely an individualized decision. D15 wanted to rush as she knew it would be the quickest way to make a close-knit group of friends. She was required to be at interviews and meetings from early in the morning until late at night with the only breaks being for classes that started the 1st day of rush. It was a crazy schedule but she got through it and got the bid she was hoping for. That being said, she never really had a chance to make other friends because all of her spare time was spent at sorority functions. She wishes her school had saved rushing for the start of 2nd semester and I agree. It was too much at once, especially for an incoming freshman.
S18 has no desire to rush and I have to say that I am glad. He may change his mind once he gets to school, but I think that for guys, fraternity life, and especially pledging, is a different beast.