@RightCoaster - yep. I didn’t visit UChicago, but there are significant differences. BUT - they both seem to have a neat variety of architecture, which is something DS values. And yes - we’re still in the early stages of the hunt, which is stressing his Dad and me out. He doesn’t seem phased.
Totally didn’t believe this would be me. I’m so ready to empty nest, but doing the last first day of school drop off was hard. She humored me and let me tame her curls and take a pic.
@peachActuary73 mine scowled and said “really?” when taking a pic
So yesterday we went out to see a play, and got trapped in conversation by a random opinionated stranger. My husband has not yet learned to be vague with the college list.
This guy dismissed the theatre programs of every college on our list with varying degrees of scorn, and then proceeded to bend our ear for half an hour about how great the theatre program at Shepherd University in West Virginia was. All without ever meeting us or our kid.
I’ve really got to figure out how to train my husband to stop oversharing.
@mom23travelers We just returned from final touring. I’m exhausted and waiting for D19 to wake up and magically start her application and get busy. It’s 8:35 a.m. School starts in 10 days. What is she waiting for??? It’s all I can do not to get a bullhorn and start giving orders. My new million $ idea. A sleep away camp for one week in August just for college apps!!! @DCNatFan @cakeisgreat @carolinamom2boys I think the sleep away camp could work!!
Ten more days until school starts. S19 becoming a little quiet these days as the reality is setting in. Our D21 is even getting wistful already.
We just got back from Maine and it was drop dead gorgeous. Thoroughly enjoyed our family time at Bar Harbor, hiking and swimming. And eating lots of lobster of course.
Hit Bowdoin and Colby. The visits were at the beginning of the week and S19 was sick as a dog with a cold. The morning of the Bowdoin interview, he begged us to cancel or reschedule for the end of the week and we could just circle back on our way back to the airport. That wasn’t realistic so he got in the shower, downed some decongestant, and sucked it up. I felt bad but we went all that way so he could see the school and interview and the admissions director explicitly said that doing the interview can be important. He loved the school. And he thinks the interview went fine. His plan was to prep the night before in the hotel and review their website but he was so sick he fell asleep. I was worried that he’d seem uninformed about the school but he said they really just talked about easy things like his high school and his ECs. He seemed pretty pumped afterwards. Boy how I would have liked to have been a fly on the wall for that interview. Bowdoin shot to the top of the list. And I have to laugh because whatever school he’s seen last is his favorite.
Colby was not as big of a hit. Much more isolated. The town wasn’t close enough to walk to and it was pretty dead when we saw it. The campus is gorgeous and the kids seemed smart. But they offer no merit aid and it’s too hard to get there for us. It was good to see the differences between the two schools so I’m glad we went. We are limiting the number of full price schools on the list. They really have to be perfect fits to stay there. S19 will hopefully end up with some merit at schools he really likes so full price schools have to really offer something above and beyond to stay in consideration.
S19 has just three more essays to write and two more pieces to finish for his art portfolio. I think he’s feeling like he’s in a decent spot and not feeling overwhelmed.
@TwinMom2023 I have heard of kids getting together to work on applications. You invite some friends over, everyone brings their laptops, and you order some pizza. Misery loves company!
My son got up early this morning and is headed to the beach. Tough life! He has quite a bit of AP schoolwork to finish up and some studying to do, but said after today he is buckling down for the next few days and will crank it out.
One school has asked him to submit an application asap which caught us off guard, as he is not quite ready to submit everything just yet. He has to get LOR’s and he needs to put the finishing touches on the Common App activities section. But they want his app sooner than later, so he’d better get going!!
School doesn’t start for another 3 weeks so luckily he has some time to work on everything.
First day of senior year for S (sniff sniff) :(( And he did his usual and ruined all the pictures.
@ninakatarina My husband is just the opposite. He somehow completely changes the subject. He hates talking about this stuff. I think he just wants it to be over and for S19 to tell him who to make the check out to.
My response to college questions lately has been to say S19 is looking at smaller schools and to mention a few that he may get into. I try to leave it at that. If someone asks if he’s applying to x or y reach school, I just say he’s got a few reaches and they are all impossible to get into but we will see.
I’ve run into some moms with 2019ers here and there around town in the last couple of days… I feel like it’s so awkward not to bring it up and it’s like a giant elephant in the room while we are small talking about how summer is going, blah, blah. These are women I’ve know since the kids were babies so it’s weird to just ignore the college issue but I think a lot of us don’t want to bring it up.
@homerdog that is brilliant. I’m going to do that. @RightCoaster I think I would freak out with excitement if D19 was asked to submit early.Hope beach goes well and @elana13 i’m sad. I can’t believe they’re seniors. I am not ready. Get a pic this afternoon?
Thanks @elena13 and @eh1234 for the Common App suggestions. D is a little overwhelmed by the entire process and this particular section of the app is causing considerable anxiety. The character limit and “action words” doesn’t help either! I think the rest of the app should be a breeze but just getting through this section is really a struggle.
It’s an August miracle! S19 has an almost finished essay and a halfway filled out application for the top choice state flagship.
The essay turned out well. This kid wants to major in English/writing and puts so much pressure on himself. Hence, the procrastinating. But when he finally does write, it’s always spot on. Not polished but solid raw material. I’m a professional writer. And I didn’t fully embrace my writing abilities until college thanks to a few amazing professors. He seems to be taking after me in that regard. Anyway, I made a few minor edits and suggestions (per his request). Once he plows through those, the essay will be ready for prime time.
The state flagship app does not require LORs and grades are self-reported. Senior year grades are not considered. He has everything he needs to apply. And he has a fee waiver. So I am thinking he will have the first app in some time this week. He has time with the others as they are Common App and require LORs.
Band camp starts today. And I probably won’t say “see, I told you” when he realizes how happy he is to have completed this stuff before all of his school activities start back up again. Probably. 
@TwinMom2023 Oh good! Let us know if it works. LOL.
As for being sad @elena13 , I am trying hard to hold it together. One of my best friends just sent her son off for freshman year. Her husband is bringing him since it’s a long flight. The photos of the goodbyes at the airport were heart wrenching. Even the little sister was a complete mess. I know that they are still our kids after they leave for school but how am I not going to miss the everyday with him? I know it’s going to be a very hard adjustment for me but I don’t want to be sad about it before it happens. Better to have a blast with him while he’s still here!
D19 has started to fill out her part of the Common App and she says her essay is almost finished. Her goal is to get all of the applications completed and submitted before we start back to school after Labor Day. I am completely done with the guidance counselor part, which is a relief.
I haven’t seen this question asked, so hopefully I didn’t miss it: Are your kids uploading a resume if it would basically be a repeat of everything listed in the activities and award sections?
@shuttlebus S19 won’t do a resume. Everything is in the activity section. He has a resume to bring with him to alumni interviews in case they ask for one.
For those of you whose kids have completed the CA, how long does it take? If S19 has his essay done and has written out his activities section in a Google doc, I’m thinking filling out the actual form doesn’t take that long. He’s made an account and we can see the supplements and any extra ‘questions’ that seem like supplements. If those are done then it’s just a matter of cutting and pasting the answers in. Do most people print out a copy to proofread?
Taking a break from applications/essays here for widsom teeth! D had all four out this morning (and all were impacted). Hoping for a smooth and quick recovery as we head out for vacation on Friday.
Once we get back she will polish off her main essay (draft is done), complete her common app (this is about 1/2 done and she’s spent about an hour on it so far), and start looking at many supplements. School starts on 8/29 here, so not much time left.
(edited date school starts–8/29 not 8/20. Though as a student athletic trainer she goes back on 8/20 to help with tryouts. Maybe that explains my mistake 
@homerdog. Filling out the CA does not take that long once the essay is written. It is the extra supplements that can be the most time consuming, depending on the list of schools a student has on his list.
Our dentist suggested d19 get her wisdom teeth out this summer… but she decided to put it off (with dh’s encouragement). Now we will have to decide whether to do it over on of the week long school breaks or wait until after graduation.