Well done! are you ready to start planning mine? 
It’s just visiting about 12 schools in 7 states in 5 days. NBD…
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D25 submitted a scholarship application tonight that could be worth $10,000 if she gets it. She will find out in few weeks if she gets it. 
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That sounds AMAZING. Isn’t it nice to have something awesome and totally different and fun lined up? You’re going to have to share details come March/April, just so the rest of us can live vicariously as you describe…(well, I haven’t been to Greece, so I’m gonna spitball here and say) bright blue waters and delicious hummus and some of those classic oracle ruins and…
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This IS awesome. My parents took my family for our first trip abroad in 2012, and they paid for a private guided tour like that. Peter became like one of the family. He drove us all around Germany. The company took care of all the hotels, meals (which was amazing, because trying to get my parents to agree on a place to eat is very very difficult), tickets, etc. If there were snafus, Peter took care of it. We didn’t bring shampoo thinking the hotels would have it. Nope. So he drove us to the store to get some. When my older S had an allergy attack in the basement of an old church, he took us to the pharmacy and coordinated what we needed. Now that we’ve travelled abroad a few times, I could manage this on my own, but for our first time it was so so helpful. You are going to have a blast.
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Question for you parents (I’m a student, but the student forums are less active): are you seeing a lot of deferrals this year? I feel like I’m seeing way more than usual, and I myself have a couple that seem kind of unexplained, and I’d love to see if anyone else is thinking the same.
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Yes! I was talking to S25 about that this morning. He was deferred from two schools at the end of December, one of which he considered more likely/safety, which surprised us. Yesterday, his very high stats friend was deferred from Binghamton (we are in-state). I keep seeing deferral after deferral. We wondered if it is because of the volume of applicants and schools can’t get through them all in time for decision release day, continued grade inflation increasing the number of high stats kids, or something else.
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I have no idea what we’re going to do for spring break. S25 acted miserable during our Christmas trip, so I’m not sure if it’s worth planning anything. Maybe he will want to get together and do something with his friends, but I’m not sure. We have a big trip planned just after graduation, so maybe we should just save our money for that. Or maybe I should go on a spring break trip by myself… 
I might need a bit of accountability from you all. My goal for the rest of the school year is to LET GO AND LET GOD. (or really “LET GO AND LET S25”) I have micromanaged this kid for years, and it’s time to take my hand off the wheel. A lot of this is driven by my own anxiety and desire for perfection. It’s really unhealthy. Last night I was hassling him about his assignments for this week, and he said, “Mom, please stop. I’ve got this.” He is over high school, and at this point some Bs will not hurt him. It just causes a lot of anxiety for me to not be involved, but I have to let go before he goes to college. I’m trying to focus on just having a good relationship with him and to keep my meddling and micromanagement under wraps. Send me strength!
Hope everyone has a good day!
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Now that’s something exciting to plan!
You got it! Honestly I sort of quit following grades too much. I don’t like that mess of online gradebooks and each class online folder, and just the amount of “stuff” in those class folders - to me it feels like I’m logging into my work assignments and underlying stressful. My work is like that, online inboxes of work, get one done and see more emails that work is in the inbox-fun times. I don’t even want to open them, I expect work for me to be there to do 
I’m impressed how any kids keep up with it! I don’t know how these guys keep up and I’m glad I lived during the old grocerty bag wrapped textbook and peechee folders days
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I think the colleges are getting more applications, so you may see more deferrals.
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I’ve been glued to updates on the fires in southern California for a variety of reasons, but the least important of them is that D25 and I are supposed to fly down there this weekend for her audition. I’m thinking it’s not going to happen. Regardless, I want to update you on D25–honestly, it feels like a miracle. Less than 36 hours after she couldn’t turn her head and had symptoms in her shoulder and arm when I felt her neck, she danced two dance classes with minimal to no pain. The next day, no pain and another class. Thank you again for your prayers/thoughts/vibes–I believe they made a difference and am humbled by the whole situation.
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Ahh me too! Deferred from Bing in-state. I do think it’s an influx of students applying this year, especially for certain majors.
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That’s what I was thinking, just wasn’t sure if I was overthinking it or if the trend was actually happening. Thanks!
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I’m in the same boat. 'I’ve got this!" Is the mantra I keep hearing and it’s so hard to let it go. But Let It Go I will. I know he can do it, but the not knowing details and for sure on my end causes anxiety. I find after a week of ‘being good’ on my end, he talks to me much more about things on his own. And then when I have a bout of micromanaging, he puts up a wall. So I’m learning and trying to be better. When I see myself spiraling, I acknowledge and ask for grace. He knows this about me and we move on pretty quickly.
We have a winter break week and a spring break week. For Winter break we are doing an all inclusive in Jamaica with his group of about 10 boys and their parents for 4 nights. I’m excited as I’ve always wanted to go to an all-inclusive resort! It’ll also be nice to meet all his friends and their families for longer than just a passing moment at a school meeting, etc. He always goes to their houses and never brings them home - lol. It’s in about 5 weeks and the warmth sounds so nice right now!!
For spring break in April we’ll be doing last minute visits to any schools he needs to see again (or for first time) to make a decision. This could be none or we could be going here, there and everywhere that week. Just gonna depend on the decisions coming in Jan and March. Definitely kills me not to be able to plan that more in advance!
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Not undergrad, but law schools are verifiably seeing a massive spike in applications this year.
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I could have written this. I’ve felt lately that my relationship with my son has suffered a bit during this whole process and I really want to focus on having a positive environment at home these next few months. He is so sick of talking about the college app process, he really is ready to have fun with friends and go out more, and I want to support him as much as I can in that endeavor. His school is on trimesters and I’m hoping those are the last grades that will truly matter. If he gets some B’s from here on out I don’t think it will truly matter. I can’t imagine any schools will rescind over B’s. I wanna just enjoy my kid while he’s here.
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Looks like that may be the case..
https://toptieradmissions.com/early-college-application-trends-class-of-2029/ though variation in regions, etc.
This* is as of Nov 1, so could also mean same amount of kids, in the end, with more applying early. (I assume that is possible, if not likely).
*data from common app is from Nov 1 - ED data from colleges is obviously later!
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Thanks for letting me know I’m not alone in this @Tonya77 and @Julmarmc. I’m also trying to acknowledge when I’m being obnoxious and micromanaging. I have had to tell my son (more than once recently) “This is my first time doing this, and I don’t always do it right. I just love you and want things to go well for you.” Last night he sat and talked to me for a while, and it was such a treat. I just want to focus on that and enjoy the time I have left with him at home. Last night he said, “I’m never coming back to this city again.” I said, “Aren’t you coming to visit us during breaks?” He responded with “I thought you and Dad would come see me.” And maybe that is how things will look moving forward. Both sad and glad that he is ready to spread his wings. I know he’s eager for the next life step.
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Speedwagon update: s/he’s starting to grow real feathers on his/her wings and has taken some experimental elevated flutterings. I’ve been pooped on, thrice. Hard to say whether it’s deliberate. Lots of adorable vocalization. No additional movement in the incubator but I really hope that at least some of Speedwagon’s friends hatch. I don’t think they’re supposed to live alone.
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I feel like I’ve been given a crystal ball into the coming months of senior year. Hmm.
Seriously, though, love to read this update! 'Skoden, Speedwagon!
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