There’s a pretty strong anti-swag culture at our kids HS, until/unless you’ve committed. So we’ve stayed away owed to this, above and beyond the jinx.
4 Likes
We didnt even tour any of the schools that S21 applied to for bfa acting, COVID played a role but superstition more (crazy actors, ha!) We got swag for each school as he was accepted and he now has fun tshirts to sleep in.
1 Like
same here.
Brag moment.
D24 got a 95% on her final project for her Bioethics class. It was on cancer and chemotherapeutic gene therapy. 
17 Likes
So senioritis is real. S24 got a not great for him score on a math test. I asked if there was an issue, he said i didnt study, i asked why… didnt feel like it, four more months…
12 Likes
@helpingthekid73 - I totally get that! The kids are burnt out! And tired! I think it’s actually great in some ways to know when to slow down, and now is the time, as long as it’s not a total crash.
4 Likes
I am seeing similar issue with my S24 in one of his classes. This was not mandatory class and he could have avoided but he wanted to do it. Now he has 3 missing assignments and did badly in one of the tests. So naturally his grade is low and when I ask he says he will catch up. I am not sure how much he can or will. He seems checked out of that class.
2 Likes
May I suggest the Senioritini
12 Likes
I don’t get this!! Most of the hoodies I see are public schools with associated sports teams (Chapel Hill, NC State, Clemson, USC, VT). And Duke because we are in North Carolina. Would that type of swag be OK there or still no? What do they wear? Is it more preppy?
1 Like
At our school they pretty much stick to neutral, but overwhelmingly school apparel. Droid’s kids, like my own, attend BS. These schools have as much (and as nice) apparel and ‘swag’ as colleges.
5 Likes
Our school too. Kids start to wear swag once they are accepted but not to an obnoxious amount. S24 wore his hoodie once to school and once to his precollege, otherwise it is home wear.
In our feederish HS, according to S24 there is an exception for schools where you were a long-time fan of their sports. There are similar exceptions for anything long predating college apps. But you are not supposed to buy gear for the first time in the context of applying until you actually commit.
3 Likes
On the other hand, once you start buying lots of swag for the college your kid decides to attend, fate will dictate they get off the waitlist somewhere else…
7 Likes
Senioritis is definitely setting in. We noticed DS had several demerits. Seniors get 21 per term. We questioned him on them. He claims several was because the teacher failed to report him present but he did fess up skipping a class to go lift weights. We were like dude okay once but never again.
5 Likes
February doldrums: D24 has dance performances all weekend, and her teacher accused her of not being “properly warmed up” in dress rehearsal last night (i.e., she criticized her performance). Even worse, she was going to go on a date (rare!, second ever!) on Sunday, but when she proposed this date as a makeup for when she got sick last weekend, she forgot the SuperBowl. So she told the date she was looking forward to Sunday night, and he said, “Yeah, the SuperBowl!” Meanwhile, on my own high-school mom treadmill, I got strong-armed by the dance teacher into doing the fundraiser this weekend. I allowed it to happen because I’m the only willing organizer she’s got. But this is the last time! 
The only brighter spot in a ho-hum month is that dad and daughter are going on a college visit to the Twin Cities next weekend. I’m staying behind to take care of the dogs, but I’ll be eagerly following their adventures. Hope all of you have good activities plans to stave off the “waiting for results” ick!
4 Likes
Yup as @TonyGrace noted, it’s a BS, they do wear swag from their own school, and big time sports fandom is kind of a niche thing at the place from what I’ve seen. But, I do think it’s trickier than that as well. I would hazard that the “no college swag” thing is also about the general bias against looking like you’re gloating, especially when “everyone here wants to go to HYPSM” sort of thing, and on the surface that’s not an unreasonable proposition. Over 1/3 go to Ivy+ every year.
Ah! The old reverse jinx! This is something I would employ!!
7 Likes
Here’s some photos of the senior prank. Students’ faces blacked out for privacy. Word on the street is that the middle school teachers were pretty mad but the HS teachers and administration thought it was pretty funny.
6 Likes
Your school’s schedule is so accelerated; it’s like getting a preview of what’s coming for all of us in the next few months.
I’m looking forward to some doldrums, honestly. It feels like the last six months have been one deadline/event after another so it’s nice to look forward to almost a month with nothing but C24’s regular school/work/spring musical stuff to think about. Maybe I’ll even pay some attention to my younger two kids…
10 Likes
I feel your pain. S24 second quarter grades came yesterday and 
I calmly reminded him that he has to send these to all his colleges and when he finishes at the end of the year he needs to not suddenly have terrible grades. I am trying not to stress but man, it’s hard.
5 Likes
I know I’m like guys we just have get to the finish line.
1 Like