Yes that’s right. Just one decision (including merit aid in the admission letter). One of the latest decisions, IIRC it was a week or 10 days before April 1.
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I don’t have an older child, so I’m afraid I can’t offer anything but the assurance that at least one other family is going through this with their senior. First it was nearly impossible to even get C25 to consider what kind of college they wanted to go to. Then, even though their school is quite good at shepherding kids through the process and encouraging them to get started on their apps and essays the summer before senior year begins, my kid was right down to the wire for the handful of EA schools they decided to apply to. The election did serve to light a fire under them to get in several international apps, but it’s been pulling teeth to even find out that they are so far 4/4 on acceptances (won’t know the other four until January or later). They knew about one acceptance last Monday, and didn’t bother to tell me until Friday when I asked them check to see if their app was missing any information. “Oh, yeah. I got in there.” 
As you noted, ADHD paralysis is likely driving some of this behavior. Also, the last 10 years have been A LOT. I know every era has its challenges, but the Class of 2025 has spent about half their lives—the half they can remember—in this maelstrom. I am trying to remember this and give them some grace. They will end up somewhere, and it will be fine.
Hugs to you and your son. He has a system, no doubt, which will be revealed to you on his timetable.
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While there are kids who are just chomping at the bit to get to college, there are others who are loving – or maybe finally at least comfortable at – high school and not so excited about starting over again as the newbies. They know the ropes, they have friends, they’re seniors, they have leadership roles, they understand the social order, etc. Some of these kids even “forget” to submit apps!
Not saying this is where your kid is coming from, but having less than 100% enthusiasm for this next big step is - and has been - normal (for decades!) Giving your kid grace for this, regardless of the reason, is the kindness they need. 
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Same here. I feel like I’m driving and C25 is being drug behind the car.
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Current decision thoughts (edited version):
Admitted but never really considered:
All 10 auto direct admit instate publics (she didn’t apply but just got the auto admit letter from her hs)
Admitted but now not an option:
Bellarmine (23k/yr merit given)-changed major
LeMoyne- new major, not a good fit
Maryville- major now only offered online so not a fit
Saint Josephs (although she loved campus new major not a great fit)
Elmhurst (got free tuition offer via my employer benefit too but major not a fit)
Iowa State (COA would be 39k and she decided school too big)
U Nebraska Omaha (decided too commuter and dance options more limited)
Wayne State College (new major, too small)
Marquette (prefers a more contained campus)
Accepted but Not off the list totally yet:
University of Southern Mississippi (likely too expensive-29k to start)
Creighton (gave 16k/yr merit, awaiting final financials)
SLU (gave 27k/yr merit, awaiting final financials)
Wayne State U (awaiting final financials)
U of St Thomas (waiting final financials)
Mercyhurst (free tuition, total all in COA would be 13k/yr. She isn’t sure about dance opportunities as seems more hip hop based and that is her least fave style)
Highest contenders at the moment:
U of Indianapolis: Total all in COA would be 13k/y (wants to learn more about their dance team and needs to visit)-was awarded free tuition
Lindenwood: Awaiting final financials but has the major and dance opportunities she is looking for and sounds about the right size (needs to visit)
Central Michigan: She visited and loved everything about it. Cost starts at 27k. With merit given already (and if she is awarded the other scholarship she applied for) the end total COA would be around 19k/yr.
eta: Hubby came home 24 hrs after surgery. Both he and the recipient are doing well. His kidney is currently working great in the new body!
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Want to send another grateful round of applause for your husband’s sacrificial gift to the recipient!
Just wanted to put out there that Mercyhurst isn’t all hip hop based. I know a number of folks whose kids are applying and they are ballet focused.
I love hearing about the varied schools your D25 applied/got admitted to! You have brought up colleges we don’t always hear about on CC, which is fantastic. Thank you!
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First, thank you for the updates re your husband. Truly hope he has a quick and full recovery from this process.
Second, I am totally invested in your daughter’s application and decision making process. It is fascinating.
Happy holidays
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She is still debating what she all wants to do with dance. Mercyhurst does have a dance minor that she needs to explore a bit more. Their BFA and even the dance minor are more ballet based. She is looking at team and other performance options as well. She prefers pom, kick, jazz, contemporary.
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Ha, that’s a word to describe it for sure! None of my kids have had a basic path to adulting/college. I don’t think they realize yet how lucky they are to have me but they are starting to ask me to ask my “parents boards” for a bit of input and knowledge.
But yes, I am more open to our college searches because there are so many great colleges out there with some being more affordable that are not talked about much on social media.
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Is anyone planning more college visits this spring to help weigh into a decision? It looks like we are.
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Yes I have a whole calendar of admitted students days and kid only has half their decisions back 
As some others above, not sure how kid is going to make their decision AND has a big choice about majors..some schools don’t have one of their preferred majors… but seems ready to drop it, but not sure when rubber hits road if they will, etc. For parents, we don’t really care, but want kid to have some sort of rationale and have 2 potential good major fits.
I admittedly didn’t help plan as well, or maybe just simply didn’t understand this whole process, until we were knee-deep in it. I didn’t go this type of traditional college route, I’m a Veteran and did my college either at night wherever I was stationed if it fit in my unit schedule, or online when I could, so it took me many years to complete my degrees. But anyway, my kid wasn’t entirely sure either on plans and things even changed this fall, so here we are planning more college visits to help with a decision!
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We are headed to Denver in March (brr) for the DU admitted students day. I love Denver so am looking forward to it. We may go to Charleston SC too, not sure yet. We’ll know in a couple weeks if we’ll be going to Philly, depending on the Drexel decision. So yes, all over the place!
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Thank you for your service! Additionally, it’s always helpful to have the voices of those who didn’t do the “traditional” 4-year residential college experience, which I’m pretty sure is not what the majority of Americans college graduates ended up doing.
I will say that there are a number of experienced parents/families that don’t do any college visits until after acceptances, so your family is far from alone in the planning of more college visits!
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Yes. S25 was admitted to Pitt. It’s unlike any of his other choices (small LACs or Jesuits) and he seems excited about the school. Husband and I are alums so we’ve shared a lot about the campus but we feel it’s best if he sees it in person. While we loved our time there, I’m mixed on it being a good choice for S25. His ADHD/executive dysfunction/social introversion might not be the best fit for a large urban campus.
His RD app is in at Lehigh as well though we haven’t visited in person. Assuming this may ding his app though he did locally (to us) interview and has attended webinars. But I can’t muster the effort to ping pong myself across PA this winter 
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We only visited Oregon State, VT and Pitt of the 16 schools he applied to. He’s also been up to Boulder and accompanied his sister two years ago on tours of Clemson, Georgia and SDSU so he had a feel for different parts of the country. Once we hear from the rest of the schools, we will probably visit his top 3 or 4 before making a final decision. Although if ED had been an option at VT this year, he would have gone that route. So he may not even want to consider anything else depending on that decision in February.
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Just wanted to comment on this. Last week my kid said to me “Mom, I’ve got all these friends who either haven’t done any applications yet, or aren’t being realistic with their school choices, or who are just lost and confused and don’t know what to do. I didn’t realize that not everybody has someone like you helping. Thank you for helping me with everything and for making this process go smoothly.”
I seriously almost walked out of the room to cry. I don’t get a lot of kudos for being the family cruise director. My husband is the fun parent, I’m the organized parent. When my older boy gave his speech at his Eagle Scout Court of Honor he forgot to mention me, but mentioned all the camping trips and fun things he’d done with his dad. Sometimes it really really stings that the tremendous amount of mental load I put in to making sure everything works - that, sticking with scouts, all the gear is researched and purchased, the dinners are always ready early enough to eat before meetings, the homework is planned out ahead of time with a schedule set to make the activities feasible, the family calendar is adjusted to make room for fun activities, the carpools are set up, the permission slips are signed and fees are paid etc, so that the fun can be had.
So to be recognized, finally, when I was feeling a little low and like a massive nag about getting things done, was possibly the biggest parenting win I’ve had in a long long time. It’s also part of why I’m worried I’m going to fall apart a bit when this boy leaves. Not only is he my baby and my mini-me, he’s also got the highest Emotional Intelligence of everyone else in my house. He sees me in a way that my other boy and, heck, my husband, just doesn’t. And it’s not just me, it’s everyone. He sees people where they are and when they need support and he gives it. He’s sloppy as all get out, can’t cook to save his life and a smart@ss a lot of the time. But someday, this boy is going to make someone a terrific partner.
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We’ll be visiting at least two, if not three or four, schools. Two of them he’s in at, and we’d have to visit as he just isn’t sure which to choose. The other two he hasn’t heard yet, and one is top of the list (but I have reservations related to them being very different and having more necessary gen ed courses he may not like) and the other is the lowest on his list that he’s really considering, but that I really want him to look at one more time AND it’s literally on the way to one of the others we’d be visiting, so not a hardship, at all.
I’m not sure how we’re going to find the time for these - I’m thinking he’ll just miss a few days of school here and there. We can’t use spring break as we’re going to go visit my older son, who will be doing a study abroad term in Greece. None of us have ever been, and we’re excited, but it does put a crimp in our college visit timing plans.
Same here! S25 had his interview yesterday and was a little meh about it afterwards as well, we’re assuming he’ll get rejected.
I feel you on all of this! You’ve done your job- raised a good human. Good work mom!
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