My D24 received her first phone call from a school letting her know she was admitted to the BFA musical theater program. It is not a school super high on her list but she still thought it was very cool to get a phone call and also be accepted.
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I agree completely. If I had to do this again (thankfully she is the last one!), I would place more priority on at least one or two rolling admissions schools that could be serious contenders, just to have that early decision in hand.
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It truly is a school-by-school thing. You may be able to find information for specific schools (what date to expect your package by) on the schoolsā individual websites. In my experience, some schools send the aid info along with the acceptance, some send it a week or two later, and some it will be even longer.
With the FAFSA issues this year, I think many schools are playing a catch up game in terms of sending aid packages.
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I didnāt expect to have another update so soon, but as coincidence would have it, D24 received her financial aid package from St. Olaf today.
Let me preface this by saying that we are very, very dependent on need-based aid because my husband suffered a head injury in 2023 and is now disabled. Our income has taken a serious hit, so awaiting the aid numbers has had me nervous.
Well, after merit and her need-based package, she can attend St. Olaf for less than $500/year. I swear Iām not trying to brag or flex or whatever ā¦ I cried tears of relief knowing that she will have options. Such a weight lifted after all of the stress of the past year.
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WONDERFUL NEWS!!! Awesome!
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thatās so incredibly meaningful and Iām so happy for your family!
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I am so happy for your family. Congratulations!
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What a wonderful welcome from St Olafā¦in all ways!
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Centre College visit and music audition was today. Audition went well. Music professor gave us tour of the performing arts center. Itās a great facility. Lots of opportunity to travel overseas as part of their music programs.
Danville, KY is an adorable town. Very safe. Lots of restaurants in downtown, all within easy walking distance of campus.
Other Pluses:
- D24 liked the Mexican food & Japanese food we had while in Danville
- D24 liked the small class sizes (no class more than 30 students)
- Really good music program
- Music scholarship requirements are only 1 class away from a minor in music
- Lots of opportunities to travel overseas with choirs at Centre. Music professors are really nice.
- Close knit community, collaborative
- Greek life isnāt pushed a lot. All students invited to frat parties. Greeks and non-greeks hang out and remain friends.
- Very easy to do undergrad research. If you do research over summer, itās paid and they give you housing in dorms for free.
Minuses:
- Harder to get to/from airport
- No Uber or Lyft in Danville. Have to use taxi to get to airport if you canāt find somebody to give you a lift.
- No large city or big suburb nearby. D24 said that Austin college and southwestern are better with this.
- in the words of my kid, āMama, itās way too cold here!ā But truthfully, itās not that bad.
- 83% admit rate to med school, but no partnership programs with PA grad schools.
- D24 said that itās a little too far away from home.
Also, my DH asked a million questions and properly embarrassed D24 many times today as a result of that. 
It was definitely worth it to visit this school in person. I do think weāre going to put it on the list for D26 to consider when the time comes for her to apply down the road.
Centre College is a pretty cool place and I can see now why the college counselor at school recommended it to D24 and her classmates.
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That is AMAZING! Congrats to all of you
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Great News! Congratulations 
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So happy for you!
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AMAZING! Congrats to your daughter and whole family!
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Amazing!
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This is such a wonderful blessing for your family. I am so thrilled for you and your kiddo! One of D24ās choir directors went to St Olaf and he still sings St Olafās praises many years after graduationā¦he always talks about what an awesome school it is and what a unique experience going to college there was. Your daughter is going to have a transformative educational experience there. In your shoes, I would have cried, too. 
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So so happy for your family 
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This is amazing news!
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Im so thrilled for you and your family. Happy news like this truly makes my day. Continued blessings to you and your family and huge congratulations again.
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The Boston schools may, but the UC system clearly does not
āDadā¦my phone. Itāsā¦ringing. What do I do?!ā - my kids probably
And congrats to @M_Fun !!!
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What a great visit, and it sounds like maybe itās not entirely off the table for D24. Congrats!
And I love your detailed posts - you share so much good info.
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