Back in 1980, I applied to one school - the local regional state university that my parents told me I was to attend. I graduated and have done fine. S1 applied to three academic match schools, was accepted by all three and went to his second choice (my alma mater)for FA reasons. He had a ball, graduated on time with a double major and good grades and got a good job in one of his majors right out of school. He’s off out payroll and doing well. As for S2, well, as the OP said, please do go to Baskin Robbins. That’s where he’s working while he figures things out.
I loved your whole post, @blossom , but this really resonated with me today:
My D flew the coop almost 8 years ago. She’s graduated from college and has launched successfully into her own career and her own life. It feels like its been eons since I took her to the zoo, or treated her to a Drumstick from the ice cream truck, or watched the meteor showers with her from our deck. Sometimes I look at all the energy I wasted on worrying about college and nagging about grads (…Spanish 4 - really?..) and I could kick myself.
Time brings perspective. What seemed so important at one time now seems trivial.