College Board sends all the AP scores to each school in a large CSV datafile, and the school then just has to run it through an import process set up by the school’s IT team that imports all that data into their SIS (Student Information System). The SIS then automatically awards the credit for qualifying scores and adds it to each students’ record. It’s much better than the old days of hand-entering each score and the credit!
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Married to a Clemson alum here, also a Clemson alum.
Yes, your son needs a couple of orange polo style shirts and khaki shorts. Get them in that drifit material with a small paw as the chest logo. Meanwhile, the girls dress to the nines. Tailgating is an experience. We’re talking silver and TVs and gourmet food.
Keep in mind that Death Valley is hotter than the face of the sun.
I also recommend that your son start practicing “sir” and “ma’am.”
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My daughter and her roommate and the roommate’s mom and I have been getting to know each other while simultaneously picking out all kinds of cute things for their dorm
room. Yes it will be somewhat matchy. It’s really fun if a little bit stressful. I’m really happy to do this for my daughter and I think the roommate’s mom is too.
Lots of folks here seem really judgmental about “Southern schools.”
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I think my boy will be fine with all of this - now it’s ME I’m worried about. I’m reasonably confident I do not have sufficiently cute clothes for the parents cocktail hour at the orientation weekend OR the football game and activities over parents weekend. And I * know * this isn’t about me at all, but I hate feeling like I’m not dressed right for the cool kids. It brings back all kinds of school age mental crap for me. Sigh. Clearly, I need to work on myself some to get over all of this business.
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In other news, S25 checked his AP scores this morning and he’s happy with them. He did well enough on APLit to get credit for a second English course, which means he doesn’t have to take one of the requirements for his major, so he’s a happy camper. I still kind of wish he had taken the APGov exam instead of passing on the re-take day and working instead. I think he would’ve done very well on it, and it would’ve given him enough credits that he would’ve entered college with sophomore standing, but oh well, it was his choice and in the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t really impact anything other than when he gets to register for classes.
He’s stretching those independence wings a bit, but in such a good way. When my S22 was getting ready to go to college, that summer before was full of “soiling the nest”. My previously sweet, never caused any trouble kid just kind of became a turd and we were all ready for him to get to school already. S25 isn’t doing that at all. He’s actually become a more fun person to have at home - I think not having the constant stress of school and all the things associated with it has really shown us how fun he can be and how much we can enjoy each other. He’s actually volunteering to join me to run errands on the weekends and we’re having fun together. It’s nice. Anyhoo, this weekend he and a buddy planned a whole afternoon for the Fourth of July. They went to the grocery store and picked up a bucket of chicken and drinks, drove to the metro parking, metroed downtown, walked around then found a great spot to watch the fireworks, metroed home. He dropped the buddy off then just took a bit of a ride, because he wanted to be out and about and it was a nice night. Now, I never go down to the Mall for the Fourth anymore, it’s way too many people. But I’m glad he had a good evening with his friend - those are the kind of summer memories I hope he takes with him to college!
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Well, we are off and running with full on summer. Had a pretty mellow 4th of July, and now kiddo has some old friends visiting for a week. I had my first adventure at a Costco to buy food for the extra runners/young adults in the house. I know that sounds nuts, but the nearest Costco is 90 minutes away, so it’s not something that was ever really on our radar. That was a trip - especially when I went to check out and learned that they do not accept MC and I had to remember the PIN for my debit card that I never use…
We are way behind on completing forms and everything. Hopefully we’ll have a few moments of down time this week to catch up on some things that are due next week.
AP scores were a mixed bag, but he doesn’t seem to care one way or the other. We’ll have to log in anyway some time this week and that might clarify his credit and placement picture for us a bit. Oh, ya, and pay the first bill!!
On Thanksgiving, my preliminary foray into looking at airfare was not promising. We’d be pushing it on the miles/dollars budget for sure. I honestly am questioning if it’s worth it, since they don’t have the full week off and he’d have to roll the dice with changing planes both ways. I don’t know. We haven’t had the chance to really talk about it as a family yet. Personally, I’d rather use the miles to fly out and watch a race this fall or for a bigger family trip next year than stress about travel over the busiest holiday of the year.
On room decor, I don’t think he really cares, as long as he’s got decent pillows and a good mattress topper. He has a few special things from his room that I bet he will want me to ship, and that’s fine. Can’t wait to see what dorm he gets and who his roommate is and maybe then we can start to get a little more serious about planning. It’s hard when we’re planning to buy most of it when we get there. Just 5.5 weeks away!
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Somehow, I hadn’t yet thought of it this way. We are 5 weeks away. That… seems so soon.
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C25 did ok on the AP tests they took. Higher score on the subject I thought they’d enjoy more, so that’s an interesting data point to take to college. I’m a bit concerned about them placing out of things and finding out that BC Calc isn’t actually equivalent to freshman Calc at some later point, but the school should be able to figure that out, I guess.
I’m kinda checking the billing website every day, since it’s getting closer, and I’d like to know what that big number is so I can figure out where it’s all coming from. 
This year is the most financially challenging with S22 having a final year and C25 having a first year. “Show me the money (needed)!”
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Am I remembering right that your son is heading to St Olaf? Is he planning to participate in any of the music ensembles? You may already know this (it catches some parents by surprise), but if he is in choir or St. Olaf Orchestra he’ll need to be back on campus on Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend for Christmas Festival rehearsal. Just making sure you’re aware in case it affects those Thanksgiving plans. Good luck with all the things!
This would give me anxiety too. I always have to remind myself (very loudly), “NO ONE CARES WHAT YOU ARE WEARING!” But it still stresses me out.
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I understand the fun of it and wanting the room to look homey and comfortable. I don’t understand wanting to do the stress of having a dozen curated expensive outfits picked out by mom or being pressured by mom to have things look a certain way.
I have helped design and pick out things for all 3 of my kids living spaces with their consent but on a small budget with lots of free or thrifted items though so as long as parent and kid have fun with it is all that matters.
D25 got her room assignment. 5th floor. Not too bad during fire drills.
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Nice weekend for the Kumihama gang. We went to visit the in-laws and S25 got to see his grandparents and cousins for the last time before he heads off to college. And he didn’t blow up his hands or eyes setting off fireworks with his cousins, so that’s a win.
It was happy days when he opened his AP scores this morning. He’s the king of the 3 on AP exams, but he got a 5 on Calc AB and 4s on Chem and Lit. He was very proud of himself and excited to get that credit for college, since Rose only takes 4 and above.
After that celebration he headed off to the first day of his summer class (Calc II) at one of our local colleges. There are only 5 kids in the class, and he said the professor was really nice and stayed after to talk with him. Very glad he will have this to keep him busy along with working with a Japanese tutor on his writing and working on an application for a research program at Rose. And then he’ll be off before I we know it!
Hope everyone has a good week!
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@Kumihama-Cho - you are so right. I KNOW no one cares. It’s just my head, messing with me. I just hate feeling not right in my clothes for the crowd. Sigh. I’ll just keep reminding myself that it’s really all about attitude, and that I just need to own it, whatever I’m wearing.
@nothappyabout - this:
is us too. I have an S22 and a S25, and I’m just waiting to see what the actual bills are. It’s easy to get into S22s financial area, but I haven’t quite figured that out for S25 yet. I know he gave me access, but I don’t know how to get to the access site. I need to figure that out. I think for the fall we’re going to send $$ from both 529’s, to try to mitigate the actual cash leaving our pockets this year. Given the fact that I know I’ve spent money on college stuff already (nothing super expensive other than the laptop, but added together it’s not nothing) and that we’re covering food (a pretty substantial cost for both boys) out of pocket, I feel like we’ll still be spending a decent amount this fall out of pocket.
For the spring for S22 there isn’t enough 529 cash left, so we’ll be paying for that out of pocket, so I think we’ll plan to use S25s 529 then too. I’m not particularly eager to send away our money, but I do want/need to see what the actual bill is going to be.
Cool! Thanks for explaining:)
Speaking as someone who happily sent one of my children (a daughter, even, just to amp up the stereotypes a bit more) to a “Southern school” (an SEC school, even, just to amp up the stereotypes even more): It isn’t the Southern schools as a whole, but they do have a tradition of disproportionately attracting a set of people who are somewhat, um, over the top when it comes to things like room decor.
And it’s that that gets criticized, and let’s face it, the Southern schools as a whole haven’t really done anything to discourage the practice.
And sadly, I think the rumors of many of those who are over the top with decorating judging others negatively who don’t have the financials (or simply don’t care) are out there and give the extreme matchy dorm decorators a bad rep.
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Hugs! Isn’t it funny how even though it’s our kids going off, it brings up insecurities for us?
About 2 years ago, I lost the 40 pounds that I’ve been trying to lose since Baby #2, and it has felt wonderful. I got a whole new wardrobe and a bunch of confidence back . But since Christmas, I’ve steadily put on 10 pounds and I am absolutely freaking out. So I get it.
I just think it’s really easy to throw Southern schools under the bus when certain Northern schools or West Coast schools could have their own standards—but those never get discussed.
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How other parents decorate their kid’s dorm room and what it costs them has no impact on your life. If some parents kit their daughters out in $5K worth of stuff for sorority rush, it is no skin off of our nose. Just like some parents are full pay, others are not. Some kids have brand new luxury sports cars; some kids ride the bus for free if they’re lucky.
Comparison is the thief of joy.
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Not sure I agree entirely. Comparison is indeed the thief of joy, and it’s quite normal for at least some teens to feel inferior when others’ wealth is in their face. Agree with you that this happens elsewhere as well in different ways, but those aren’t all immediately obvious in the way that seeing someone’s dorm room can be.
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I think it’s not the geography that creates the questions, confusions, and comments, but more how much it differs from our own lived experience. Things that aren’t what we “know” can feel strange or silly or weird. And in the context here, I think we just don’t have that many folks who have experience with big southern football schools.
For example, I went to William and Mary. My older kid goes to WPI. Although W&M is in southern VA (it IS where I learned to say “all y’all” and “I might could do that” from my more southern roommates) it feels more like my WPI kid’s Massachusetts school than it does my S25’s soon to be adventure in South Carolina. I think a lot of that is based on size of school and the general nerdy vibe. Like I’d guess I would feel more comfortable with Rice or Emory because the vibe would be more like what I know. Kind of geeky, not so sporty. So I feel like navigating WPI was familiar and comfortable, whereas Clemson feels - for now at least - like I’m trying to figure out how to ease in somewhere I don’t quite belong.
And I think it’s those feelings of “different” that I’m working on getting past. Re: someone’s room - I truly don’t care if someone pinterests the heck out if their kids room - as long as the decorator is being considerate of their roommate. But I want everyone to be considerate of their roommates because that’s an important part of how our young adults learn to navigate the world. You don’t have to be besties, but you have to be polite enough to get along. People don’t have to make the same choices about how they spend their money or what they prioritize, but they need to be respectful of other people. And I think it’s possible to be All In on decorating and be respectful at the same time. It’s just another opportunity to see how people are different from each other.
At the end of the day, that difference is a big reason S25 picked Clemson. He wanted something that was completely different from his current lived experience and nothing in-state would do. So I’m trying to honor that for him, and help him be prepared to explore something new and different, and see what he learns and how he grows from that. He’s always been my excited to try new things and go new places and just see what else the world has to offer kid, and I think college in a new to us environment is just one more way of continuing that exploration.
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