<p>Thanks WashDad</p>
<p>I did call and they're sending a catalog I accidentally gave his away). At least they had his name and address on file. Apparently they're not ready yet to send stuff out. I'm just an impatient mess.</p>
<p>mots</p>
<p>I will happily join the throng. I'm not getting anything else done!</p>
<p>Hang in there. Your son is going to Grinnell, correct? I graduated from there in the early eighties. Their director of admissions is also retiring from his post this year, I believe, so things may not be running like clockwork- people may have new responsibilities. Your son shouldn't worry about a "B" at all. Chemistry is hard! I remember when I was accepted I was so anxious for all kinds of information and really didn't get much until late June, early July (of course, this was some time ago) but one thing that really stands out in my mind was a great new student packet detailing all the fun things to do (like bakery runs)! I wonder if they still do that.</p>
<p>I can anticipate that you are going to have lots of worries next year. If your kid is like mine, you can expect to hear some venting - the usual stuff, such as unfair grading, professors with accents, too much work, bad food, course registration difficulties, loud roommates, etc. You better learn to chill some this year.</p>
<p>Bethie! Don't Worry! My D got into Grinnell with many B's (and a C+ in physics) -- she's going to Wooster. They are not going to rescind. Happy Syttende Mai! Skoal!</p>
<p>If colleges recinded for a B, would they have any students left in their incoming classes? Please don't tell me grade inflation is to the point these days where everyone is getting straight A's. That's depressing.</p>
<p>I guess I'm a little nuts. Seeing him turn down so many great schools, I think I wanted Grinnell to be all over things. They did send my son a receipt of our deposit on-line. </p>
<p>ASAP</p>
<p>Maybe not grade inflation, but competitiveness seems to be that bad.</p>
<p>And if he's never had a B before it is time for that anyway!!! Kids who go into college believing they must maintain a 4.00 are in peril I think...</p>
<p>And after all the planning, fretting (with duct tape in place), nudging, waiting, and celebrating, there is an inevitable "let down" in this phase. For kids, it is often (even healthily) letting go some in the academic pressure-on-self....I remember too being hungry for information, etc. but there was a long quiet spell before Next Phase began. Hang in there, obsess about sheets or laptops. Its all what we need to do in our developmental transition while they do theirs...</p>
<p>Mine's arriving home from end of his first year tonight and I am obsessing over what to feed him....Now that I get to for a few days....</p>
<p>Yes I will talk to him about not expecting all A's in college. I do think the let-down is normal and feel incredibly happy it's only happening now--at the last minute. In fact I wish his teachers would just let the partying begin. I think it will happen soon.</p>
<p>I previously thought that Swarthmore's famous (or perhaps infamous) tee shirt that says, "Anywhere else it would have been an A" was exclusive to that school. Actually, now I believe that someone at Swathmore was simply smart enough to coin the phrase and generate substantial profits at the bookstore! I bet that shirt could be sold in a lot of colleges and universitites around the country.</p>
<p>The University of Chicago has many shirts like that, Twinmom, but they tend to be more self-depricating than anything else (i.e. "Where the only thing that goes down on you is your GPA"). Many of the houses on campus have their own infamous phrase like that, which they alone have the right to use, and students sell them in order to raise money for their resident house.</p>
<p>Son disliked his chemistry teacher, got into his safety, took AP exams- got a 5 on the Chem AP exam and a second semester C last year. Picking him up from college with all his stuff tomorrow. Sons... Don't worry. </p>
<p>BTW, Do they have many Norwegians in VT like they do in WI? I grew up going to see Little Norway (an old settlement), near Madison, on a grade school field trip. And I own a krumkake iron (to make delicious cookies).</p>
<p>Bethie, no need for worry. He got a B to find out if he's human. </p>
<p>A nice change that comes with college is asking more, "What are you learning?" and less, "What grade did you get on X paper?" </p>
<p>I'm guessing the college attention is on graduating and cleaning up after departing seniors, then taking a deep breath (or vacation weeks) before mailing to the new incoming class. My recollection of May/June is very quiet months, but July brings roommate news and choosing first courses, very exciting. August is for packups; local goodbyes; driving to freshman orientation; crying all the way home; mailing the forgotten odd sock.</p>
<p>Thanks, you guys!</p>
<p>We're short on Norwegians in VT--no local outlets for lutefisk or lefse. I sometimes make my own lefse and rommegrot, but not krumkake--and my rosettes are always soggy. Any hints wis75?</p>
<p>corranged--very funny. My son would like you. He's saving U of Chicago for grad school maybe.</p>
<p>p3t--he certainly is human and so are the admissions people. I'm sure they're still sorting out loose ends.</p>
<p>Since you mentioned chemistry...</p>
<p>My son came home wearing a new t-shirt this week. On the front it says "Varsity Chemistry" with a typical athletic "XXL" oval underneath. Between the oval and the "Varsity Chemistry" logo is a pair of safety goggles.</p>
<p>On the back of the shirt:</p>
<p>"We could explain it to you"</p>
<p>A picture of the chemical structure of hemoglobin.</p>
<p>"But you still wouldn't understand it"</p>
<p>His AP Chem class designed the shirt, chipped in money, and the teacher had them printed up. Very cool, I say.</p>
<p>I was driving around with my son (a chemistry major) when we saw THE perfect bumper sticker: Honk if you passed P-Chem. Hoping to see the car next year and be able to honk!</p>
<p>I think the waiting period between choosing a college & actually going there is a little fraught with anxiety (is it really the right choice? maybe college b/c/d would have been the right one ...) particularly when the college is so far away! I know I was a little anxious about having my son going to such a remote spot in Iowa (& this feeling continued as we flew to Chicago & then headed farther & farther west...). Don't worry though - Grinnell will be a very welcoming place by the time you get there in late August & I think you'll be happy with your son's decision. It's a really wonderful community, with students who take their academics VERY seriously (& will be VERY well equipped for top graduate schools), & are also unpretentious, adventurous, & kind-hearted. There are no wi****l longings for college b/c/d - Grinnell has proved itself a winner!</p>
<p>hmm - now why did that totally innocent word get those asterisks???</p>
<p>Bishop - because those letters can be used as an abbreviation for a not-very-nice way to tell someone to be quiet. ;)</p>
<p>they are initials for nasty words some people use online</p>
<p>Thanks bishopcrusoe for those kind words. What you say about Grinnell seems to be exactly what my son picked up there. He does think he'll want to go to grad school and does take learning very seriously but also loved the wacky playful vibe he felt there.</p>
<p>"****"
Of course. How lame I am. Obviously somewhat slow (& still more adept at British profanities).</p>