Many (most?) schools ask for the “mid-year report” (which will have either 1st trimester or 1st semester grades depending on how your school works). The colleges that ask for it typically expect counselors to upload it before RD decisions come out.
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Yes this is sort of how S24 is. “I’ll probably get in everywhere, or if I don’t I’ll just go the community college and transfer.” In general he is a roll with the punches kind of guy and our community college is actually great so it would work out fine. But I am just bracing myself for him actually being surprised and feeling down if he doesn’t get positive (and affordable) results.
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We definitely have a don’t ask/don’t tell culture in our BS community. And for those outside it, we just deflect with generalities. Now on to the much more important stuff…
I’d like to give a shout out to Michter’s…bourbon or rye. Both excellent IMO.
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I found this podcast to be particularly informative on what some Ivies are looking for. Lee Coffin gives a mock interview with a student who is not applying to Dartmouth. Lee gives great insight in to the mind of the AD and how they are looking for the applicant to tell a compelling story through out the application and interview.
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has old fashioned stuff. Agree with @beebee3 that Luxardo cherries could be a good idea.
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Btw if the cocktail lover in your life has been extremely nice (or naughty if that’s your thing) there’s this:
https://www.hermes.com/us/en/product/adage-tumbler-large-model-P010227P/
Speaking of podcasts, I’ve already told S24 that I’ve officially moved on to D26 now. I’ve done everything I can to help him, my job is done. 
Any other college podcast recommendations? As I look ahead to the next.
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On @NiceUnparticularMan ’s recommendation, I’ve been listening to the Inside The Yale Admissions Office podcast, and it’s really excellent.
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Someone else here (I regret not remembering who) recommended it to me, so that is where the real credit lies (although I have been happy to pass it along wherever appropriate).
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I love Your College Bound Kid podcast as well. I listen to this plus the Yale and Lee Coffin podcasts.
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I finally caught up! This thread has been busy.
I guess we are a bit of an outlier with no ED and only 1 real EA. Many of the colleges had an EA date, but decisions were rolling. So, she has 7/8 decisions in already and the 8th comes Dec 15.
This weekend, she goes to a scholarship competition. It’s definitely not her top school, but it has a lot of positives and I think going back will help it look good.
We are working on figuring out visits for accepted student days and regular visits when needed. Of the 8 colleges, she has had official visits at 4, although one was a few years ago. And she’s been to the campus of another. Three are completely unvisited at this time. She is currently all about missing school, so I am sure she’ll be on board to visit. haha. I think she is counting the days until the last day in May.
Good luck to everyone waiting on the ED and big EA decisions! I did the waiting with S22 and it is definitely intense.
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Not a podcast, but I follow Harlan Cohen on tiktok and send them off to my D24 when it seems really good for her to hear (for instance, he talked about how to get involved if you’re shy.) I ordered his book “the Naked Roommate” for a christmas present, too.
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Rick Clark from Georgia Tech is amazing. He has a great blog and podcast that is applicable to college admission in general.
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I just ordered the book for my daughter’s stocking. They had a parent one too that I have ordered for my kindle. Thanks for the suggestion 
The College Amissions Process Podcast by John Durante is good. Each episode is a deep dive into a particular school (and he lists all in show notes, so you can pick and choose). He has a guest from that school’s admissions department to discuss what’s unique. So only positive toward the school.
Inside the Yale Admissions Office and Just Admit It are also worthwhile.
Tests and The Rest is usually good - though it has a heavy emphasis on standardized testing (including AP).
But YCBK is the most thorough and balanced. Definitely recommend it.
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Yes they do check and I have had to keep reminding S24 that he needs to make sure this semesters grades are good. Senioritis is raising its head here also. I am telling him he can relax a bit next sem but needs to focus this Month.
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Yes wait until after mid year grades to start relaxing. I told my son this too.
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I can talk about it with my sister because our kids are on completely different paths and it doesn’t feel like competing etc. D24 talks with her BF extensively about college stuff, but with friends and acquaintances I think she mostly follows their lead. She was surprised by how many are only applying RD (they just started stressing about essays quite recently), since her major required a lot of early apps for portfolio and scholarship reasons.
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I have officially crossed to the dark side. My S22 is doing a speech for his communications class on “Should colleges remain TO”. Of course, he thought he would wing it. In response, I wrote a 4-page single-space position paper with links for him to review.
I would like to thank everyone on CC who has linked/cited/mentioned articles and podcasts some of which may end up on a powerpoint. 
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