So glad you posted this, because it reminded me that S25 had the first of the MenB series last summer, and then we neglected to go back over winter break to get the second one. Oy. I hope he can get the second shot when he’s home this summer and still be adequately protected.
I’m almost sure that D22 had both before she went off to college? I think? I’m going to go find her immunization record right now.
And yeah, need to get it for D26, too.
Oh and please get your kid to snap a photo of which brand they got (Bexsero or Trumenba) as they are not interchangeable. I walked off for a minute and S26 could not remember which one he got previously (but had a photo on his phone)and I have no idea why they didn’t check the pharmacy records as we got both shots at the same place. This is especially if they are doing the second shot while at college or in another state/pharmacy.
Good tip, thank you. Mine got his at our long-time pediatrician’s office, so they should have a record of the brand.
This was my D22 on our Macalester Admitted Students day. We’d signed up for the whole shebang—the tour, sitting in on a class and lunch with a couple of students. She wanted to bail after the tour. But we went through all of it and the lunch was the icing on the cake. I’m certain Macalester is a wonderful school but it was not for D22, and nothing made that clearer than eating lunch with the 2 students she was paired with.
Oh I so understand this–potential peers were a big deciding factor for one of my S24s (that was one of the reasons he wanted to leave Skidmore and other colleges–they were too much like his high school in so many ways. I think he called it “boarding school for adults” while on our tour and I said “save it for the car ride home, buddy!” 
), and that turned out to be very wise on his part. I guess this is exactly why these visits are so important! I’m excited for everyone in our lovely group to go out on their admitted students day visits. My S24 met one of his future best friends on his. I still remember the moment of their first meeting! Two kids from totally different parts of the US, different backgrounds, different everything just about. And it was like the accompanying parents simply disappeared as they hit it off…wonderful to watch. For my other S24, I wish for this exact reason that I’d been able to convince him to do more visits. He wasn’t all that interested, focusing much more on academics on offer no matter what I said. He’s fine and thriving now, but I do think he could have an even better fit. (And of course the flip side is he learned something through experience and that is very valuable!)
As of last night, we are finally DONE 
and D26 finished off the application season with a bang! She got into the most selective school on her list, Hamilton, as a January 2027 admit! Completely floored us after all the rejections lately. She will now have to decide between Hamilton and Franklin & Marshall, which she loved and which I think would also be a great choice. We haven’t seen Hamilton yet, so scheduling a visit is at the top of our college to-do list today. My husband applied there eons ago and still has a ratty sweatshirt from that school visit. I have been wearing it all morning in celebration 
Wow! Congrats! Great options.
When you visit Hamilton I’d want to talk to someone about exactly how they integrate the Jan. students into campus life. Some questions I’d ask include:
-Is there a Hamilton run program for first semester (some schools have study abroad programs for these students)? If not, is it ok to take classes at a local college first semester to stay on track for a timely graduation (and how to get classes pre-approved for credit)?
–How many Jan starts do they normally have?
–Is there some kind of orientation?
–How do Jan starts schedule spring classes?
–Where do Jan starts live once they arrive on campus (do they dorm with other freshman..or do they fill spots of upperclassmen going abroad).
Thanks for this! It is all very exciting!
I’ve actually started reading about the program and I am sure my D26 will also do her own research. Hamilton does have study-abroad and other options available for Jan students. I don’t know yet whether students are permitted to take classes at another institution for credit (but will definitely be looking into that). It looks like Jan students do typically graduate with their class (due to a combination of IB/AP credits and the school’s “open curriculum”). They are invited to the summer orientation and they also have a required orientation midyear with their Jan cohort (which is comprised of 50 students). Jan students replace juniors who are studying abroad, so I imagine that is where they will be housed. Still lots more to learn!
I second this. I just flew in and out of ORD (to/from our UMiami admitted student day) and waited maybe 20 minutes in Chicago without TSA pre-check.
D26 received notification she has been awarded In State Tuition rates at FSU. This would be around $ 6-6.5k a year tuition. Lower than her In State option at NCSU (estimate at 9.5-10k a year as they have voted to increase for next year.
Neither FSU or NCSU are currently in her Top 5 consideration group.
She has merit/scholarship awards from two of the schools she is heavily considering -however they are still substantially higher than her NCSU Instate option and now the FSU option is her least expensive.
Question:
Have any of you had any success at having a State Flagship/Public school (UF, IU, UIUC, Purdue, UGA) ‘reevaluate’ their merit/scholarship awards thru requests for reconsideration w/o specifically saying ‘can you match this offer…’?
Congratulations! Those are great options. I visited Hamilton back in my college app days and was very high on the place. I’m an open curriculum Stan. So love it.
Franklin & Marshall is also great. She really can’t go wrong with those choices.
Purdue is pretty upfront about not negotiating on merit. You could try IU. They may be more accommodating. They have so many scholarships, they may have one that could still work for your kid.
Congratulations! If this study abroad option for Hamilton is the same as my friend’s kid who recently graduated from there did, the entry for the spring was surprisingly smooth. They spent first semester in London (with, I believe, other Hamilton first year students) and then in January moved into a dorm with other first years and it was all fine. They made friends right away, no weirdness, they LOVED their time there. Great fit.
A Jan abroad with other Hamilton students could be a great option. This way your D could start on campus with a group of friends at the school and would be sure to get credit for any classes taken. My friend’s D did a program like this at another school and it worked out well for her.
Enjoy the visits. She has two fine options to choose from. Congrats!
Awww thanks!
Oh I think studying abroad would be splendid for a first semester! And congratulations! That’s so exciting! 
We have not but as a GA resident I’m fairly certain they won’t re-evaluate. I could be wrong.
Is the FSU Tuition a grandparent waiver? I wonder if UF would honor it since same state?
I mean it can’t hurt to ask!
It is not.
I don’t have the exact wording of the award either so I can’t make a direct comparison - my D26 mentioned it in passing to me on Monday while we were discussing the upcoming trip to visit IU/UIUC this weekend an “Oh by the way, I checked my portals on Friday and FSU is giving me an award that makes my tuition the same as instate level”.
UF has already given her a decent merit award which makes them a good value versus other OOS options - but its still about 15k more/yr than the current FSU offer. I believe she currently has UF as her #1, so we’d still likely take the offer, even without further monetary considerations.
You have to apply for the GP waiver separately at each Florida school. We did one for UF and one for FSU.
My daughter just won a National level award - I can’t be too specific because it would identify her – but I’m excited for her. It has a free trip to a place she hasn’t been!
Also something for her LOCIs at her waitlisted schools.