My daughter has a t-shirt or sweatshirt from every school she visited, only because she loves that stuff. Of course when she finally get’s decisions and makes her own decision she will want more and more swag. The other’s will go to her little sister I’m sure.
My youngest is eyeing all the new college t-shirts she’ll be getting from her older sister too, @ljasnau.
My D16 refused all pre-decision gear purchases… even when she had already been admitted and was on campus for admitted students day. And then she refused to make a decision until two days before the deadline so she had to borrow a shirt for Decision Day!
My S20, however, has sweatshirts for his first choice school as well as others he’s not even applying to. And I and his grandparent have bought him a sweatshirt, socks, t-shirt and trucker hat for Christmas from the one school he’s already been admitted to. I think he’ll wear it ironically at another school next year. 
We never bought swag for our D17 before she was admitted and decided where she was going. She didn’t want to, I’m superstitious and that stuff is expensive! Now D20 is going through the process and pretty much the same applies. She did get a free Pitt shirt when we visited there and that’s the one school she’s been admitted to so far - didn’t feel superstitious about that since they handed them out to everyone visiting - and she’s worn it.
We had been visiting colleges since Sophomore year so it was all so exciting (being so far out) that we usually made a point to stop at the bookstores. DH and I encouraged DS to get gear so he has a number of shirts. As we continued to tour through this summer he started to refuse the tshirts and he will not wear any swag to school. He says it just invites questions on where’d he apply, where’d he get in, what’s his top choice, etc. Since he doesn’t have any acceptances and still has a number of RD apps to complete, he’s not ready for those questions. He was actually dreading questions from family on Thanksgiving. I totally understand as people tend to dissect his decisions. I think that the questions sometimes add to the stress of waiting.
We got D20 a small ornament from her top 3 schools she was accepted to; we’re going to write the acceptance date on the back, so she can have a little memento of her accomplishments.
It’s interesting to read about students preferences for the swag gear.
DS20 never cared about the gear - we (the parents) gave him some money during every college tour for him to buy something from the college bookshop - he never bought any. He never really considered it seriously 
Don’t know if its a good thing or bad but: he is emotionally not attached to any college yet - he is attached to his major to some extent. His younger sis DD23 is complete opposite - is already collecting t-shirts and has 5 colleges on her fav ‘list’ 
- kids are so different.
I agree - kids are so different,
My D22 currently wears all my old college sweatshirts so once she starts touring this summer I have a feeling she will want something from all the schools she visits and is seriously considering. I guess it’s a good thing D20 never wanted them so we saved some money from him.
My D20 has a sweatshirt from each of the schools she visited. She rotates wearing them nearly every day. I think she wears them more because they are soft and “cozy” rather than the logo on front. The ones she wears the most aren’t necessarily her top choice schools.
@mtemmd For me, I quickly refocused on the yeses. He got over it and quickly realized how fortunate he was to get into those other schools, as he had classmates that did not. And we also watched a basketball game where the school he did get into beat the school he did not get into, so that was fortunate. I pointed out how fun it would be to be at that game live.
I just found this amazing thread. I wish I would have found you guys last summer as we were in full college crazy in our house. DS20 has applied to 5 of his favorite colleges and has plans to run track. He has been in contact with Coaches from three of the 5 colleges and pending admission he should stand a good chance to be recruited. He has been accepted to 3 out of the 5 so far.
His absolute favorite (and best major, location, and track fit) is a smaller school that is pretty competitive. Back in October, after his first term, he emailed the counselor to see if they would like an update on his grades (even though not official transcripts) because he knew he was on the line. The counselor was awesome and got back to him asap and thanked him for his communication. After he received the letter stating they needed his 7th-semester transcript, he reached back out to that counselor, thanked him for the letter and let him know he was working very hard on his classwork and looked forward to being a part of the class of 2024. The counselor wrote back that he hoped his progress was on track with what he sent him in the fall and he was rooting for him. The interaction was very positive, but I have never heard of a 7th-semester transcript request, not that I am seasoned at all at any of this! lol
Have you guys heard of that before? I was just very happy it was not a rejection, reassured DS20 that he just had to keep working hard, but not sure how to take that.
I think it’s just the opposite. Every school I know of wants the 7th semester transcript.
I should have mentioned this was ED.
None of the schools we applied to require 7th semester grades, but he was accepted at all of them before the end of the semester.
@hs2020dad - Your son sounds just like mine. He’s not attached to any particular school either, but just wants to make the best choice for the pocketbook and his major. His 9 year old brother and I are cheering on the respective football teams and getting all sucked into the school spirit, but S20 doesn’t care a lick.
All of my daughter’s schools she’s applying to require 7th semester grades. They call it a mid year report, and it’s listed on the schools’ requirements in the Common App. Her ED school required 1st quarter grades, and if she’s accepted, I think she still has to submit her mid year report (7th semester grades) and her final transcript at the end of the year.
I think just about every school requests the mid-year report. So much so that our HS sends it whether it is requested or not. Any school that gets a transcript request by the student in the fall will receive a mid-year report. Colleges want to make sure there is not too much senior-itis going on I suppose.
Only two of the schools we applied to even had us sent a transcript at all prior to applying. Most just required a final transcript and grades were all self-reported on the application.
So I’m looking through a brochure of one of my kid’s colleges he’s applied to. (this one is more of my idea than his; I have friends/family there).
It’s true, and it’s not a myth.
there actually are schools with outdoor lazy rivers!
@bgbg4us Yes, there are. And we wonder why tuition is so high. ?