<p>Thanks for that insight, Blossom, So useful for all aspects of life.</p>
<p>Just the words of wisdom I needed, Blossom. I had no idea there was such a thing as Behavioral Economics. (Maybe I'm the one who needs to go back to college!) S is the poster child for the Satisfiers Society. He just said that both Michigan and the ED schools are dream schools for him - He will be thrilled with either, but the ED school would win out in either December or April. So that part of the dilemma is settled. Now on to considering what to do about the other unfinished apps.</p>
<p>The problem here is that our satisfier has a parent who is an agonizer....oops...make that an optimizer.</p>
<p>Michigan is no slouch school, either. There are parents who have posted on CC whose kids took UMich over other fabulous schools (including schools with single-letter CC abbreviations). If his ED is a top school, he may also be in a good position for merit money at UMich, which can make a great school even sweeter. </p>
<p>S1 did his agonizing over where to apply -- by April of junior year he had a list and he was happy. Once he started getting results, things lined up in pretty short order. His top two at the beginning of the process were his top two at the end, not because he didn't grow (he did, and how!), but because he spent a LOT of time talking to people, professors, friends, etc. and getting a terrific sense of what felt right for him. A number of his teachers were really thrilled with his decision because he ran counter to the prevailing winds among his peers. </p>
<p>Blossom, GREAT post. Do you have a reference or link?</p>
<p>Blossom, yes, that was a fabulous post. So useful to think about. I am pretty sure I have three Satisfiers with a capital S.</p>
<p>^^Thanks blossom. Satisfier married to an Optimizer here. Wow, this explains a lot!</p>
<p>Update: Miraculously, S was accepted to his ED reach school. Although Michigan would have been a great fit, he is over the moon, and there is no question that the ED school was truly his first choice. I think he never expected to get in - thus his attachment to Michigan. </p>
<p>Thanks again to everyone for your excellent advice and support.</p>
<p>Congrats nprr!!!!</p>
<p>Congrats- so happy for him. Wishing him a marvelous year next year and much relief for the rest of his Sr. year.</p>
<p>How wonderful for him - congratulations!!!! Time to buy him a sweatshirt for Christmas!!!</p>
<p>Thanks, everyone.</p>
<p>This is a great thread, and I learned some interesting, helpful information.
My D is an optimizer with a capital "O". Weighs and weighs decisions until sometimes the time for a decision to be made goes by, and she loses out. I knew we were in trouble when she was in jr. high and had to choose a quarter-long elective to fill her schedule. Oh my god, you would have thought she was making a decision that would affect the rest of her life.!</p>
<p>Congrats to you and your S, nprr. And how wonderful to have the pressure off -- happy holidays!!!! :)</p>
<p>nprr-
Just wondering, if you are willing to share, where your son will be attending next year. It is wonderful to hear the success stories, when someone gets into their reach school. Someone I know just got into his reach school (Cornell) and he is thrilled!</p>