We’re heading to Denison for an admitted student day shortly too, with our own artsy/bio D25. 
10 Likes
ugh, I just don’t understand the need for such statements, your child got in because the school looked at their application and thought “this is the kid I want here”. It’s really that simple. And sometimes that’s your kid and not mine and it really says nothing about mine other than that the school just didn’t deem them the same fit for what could have been a hundred different reasons, really none of which having anything to do with my kids accomplishments. Taking away someone else’s joy is sad.
10 Likes
Was about to post the same! Thank you!
5 Likes
Ooh, it appears to be your cake day. Happy CC anniversary!
5 Likes
Thanks! I didn’t even notice ; ).
2 Likes
99% sure the kid that said that didn’t get into where they wanted. Lots of hurt around at this time of year. Not excusing it of course - it’s a mean thing to say.
4 Likes
OMG, I have gotten this my entire life. God forbid I am mistaken or say something “stupid”… I get Oh Miss N.Y.U. It’s so annoying.
1 Like
I forget who said this but there is a quote that says “The best thing you can wish for your child, is for them to be average”. It always stuck with me. Meaning your child is lucky to be average and they don’t have to feel less b/c they aren’t the best or the brightest. They will be just fine either way.
2 Likes
All we ever wanted was for them to be kind and respectful…we knew the rest would fall into place.
14 Likes
Can I share my parenting high of the week? After lots of ups and downs over the last two months, S25 came home last night and apologized for his moodiness. He said, “I’m reframing and trying to focus on the positives.” I was so happy to see him self-reflecting and being aware that he has some choice in where he puts his focus. Granted, we might have another dip (or two or three!) but it felt like a corner was turned.
On another note, we decided to opt out of our trip to Rose-Hulman this weekend. What I thought was an admitted student day was really just a day for prospective and admitted students. The itinerary looks exactly the same as what we’ve already done twice there, and S25 didn’t seem excited about sitting through another admissions talk again. So that will save us 12 hours of driving this weekend.
Next weekend is S25’s 18th birthday and prom. He is taking a new “friend” and I’m hoping it will get his mind off of all the angst he’s felt recently. The young woman’s father is insisting that he meet my son before prom the following weekend, so he’s going over to her house this weekend for the “interview.” Thankfully he’s a polite, engaged kid, so hopefully the dad will be reassured.
I’m also going to miss the college search process, but my niece is a year behind my son. I am already heavily involved in the process. Hooray for holding onto the college search high! (or low, depending on how you look at it!)
Hope everyone has a great day! Good luck to anyone waiting for the Ivy decisions tonight!
27 Likes
That’s wonderful he’s mature enough to admit he needs to reframe everything. Can he give my son a call? Thanks.
15 Likes
Although once I felt I deserved it. My sister said to me, “well I’m not the one with the degree in fluid mechanics from MIT, but…” when I tried to give DS16 selzer in a “spill-proof” sippy cup that worked on a pressure mechanism, about 2001.
14 Likes
Well, we’ll see how long this lasts!
In all seriousness, I do know people who have ordered large pillows with the image of a pet for their kid to take to college.
I joked that I’d send one with my and my husband’s faces. 
18 Likes
It’s not just fellow students. D25’s college counselor said to her, “If you get into X [reachy reach], it’s because they didn’t have enough dancers.” Dance is loud and clear across her activities, shapes how she wants to study dance/psych, etc. But maybe you could have said that will be what tips you in, because everyone applying, including you, is a strong student. She’s a dancer, but she’s also more than a dancer… (I think I’m just feeling a little sensitive.)
15 Likes
I think my son would like the parental face pillows about as much as he would enjoy me putting this on his dorm bed: https://a.co/d/g5LoMRE
14 Likes
agree, it’s belittling her accomplishments.
Schools want kids who can succeed at their school, period. They want diversity (not just the obvious diversity but like major, interests, geographic, etc). The don’t admit kids they think can’t make it because that hurts their % grad stats which are important.
People seem to forget that when deeming others “unworthy” to get in. Schools don’t admit you if they think you can’t hack it, therefore every kid who got in is fully capable in the opinion of the university.
10 Likes
Let me tell you, the temptation is real. If it weren’t, you know, pillow-sized I would 100% try to sneak that into some kind of packed bag…
3 Likes
I got a 4x6 photo of our family, popped it in a frame and put it on my son’s desk freshman year. Every year since I’ve put it back on his desk. He keeps it there, so I guess he’s not totally embarrassed by us. A pillow he’d prob throw in the closet.
8 Likes
I had a student a few years ago whose parents took the same approach. They were not at all intrusive in terms of his classes, grades, etc. They weren’t hovering, questioning grading or pedagogy, or overstepping in their child’s education in any way. They did, however, provide an additional layer of support not just for their child, but for the people at the college who were also supporting their child. (I’m being intentionally vague here to not disclose anything. Apologies if it’s confusing.) My point is that they were part of a team of people who supported their child to graduation. They respected the roles of the other people involved and just wanted to be able to provide information that was useful to us in educating their child and in helping them navigate difficulties related to their child’s chronic medical condition.
12 Likes