<p>Hello all --
For those of you who followed my daughter's college search and admissions story over the past two years, I thought I'd post an update. </p>
<p>We dropped her off at Beloit this past weekend. All went extremely well (yes, I did shed a few tears) and she is very, very happy so far. Tonight she sent me an email that said "I love it here. Last night I spontaneously started dancing in the street and 5 or 6 people just joined in. I feel so liberated and free, as if I have finally found where I am supposed to be." She is thrilled with her room ( a single in the substance free dorm) and her freshman seminar (a course on political evil and genocide that ties in nicely with the community service work she has done with African political refugees here).</p>
<p>What I learned from the past two years: Trust your child's gut instincts. The college you think is "right" for them may have no bearing on the school they ultimately choose. This is NOT about the parents, it is about your child, their needs, their desires, their hopes and dreams. While it may seem at times during the process that they have absolutely no idea what their needs, desires or hopes are, eventually they will figure things out IF you give them room, love, and space to change their minds.</p>
<p>So, my daughter's college search ends. The new season begins. My son, a junior, is already drawing up his college list, and it bears absolutely NO relation to his sister's. That's as it should be, and I'm sure over the next two years I'll be amazed, excited, and, yes, at times, just as frightened and frustrated with his winding course. But, it will all work out in the end, just as it should.</p>
<p>Thanks to all who have offered kind support, friendship and advice over the past two years. When you think of my daughter, picture her dancing with a smile on her face. :)</p>
<p>I'm so happy that your D has found the perfect college for her. The freshman seminar sounds wonderful! May she continue to dance and smile through the next four years and beyond.</p>
<p>Beloit did look wonderful when we visited. It did not end up on our son's final 10 favorite colleges, but it placed. More people would benefit from looking at this great college!</p>
<p>Oh carolyn, how wonderful! Watching my own D at campus I felt she had found a place to dance freely, too. I am so pleased for y'all. I think our two will find college far more to their liking. Everybody is smart . Everybody is interested. Well, at least a far greater percentage than high school. LOL.</p>
<p>Thanks for the update! Waht great news! Are you seriously saying I should listen to my chickenlips when he says he just wants to have fun in college? Cause I would have a hard time parting with $160K for fun <em>cough</em>. ;)</p>
<p>Ah Beloit! It was on our son's long list but because of geography did not make it to the short list. However IMHO Beloit is one of those fly over LAC which, if originated in the northeast, would be among the more selective of colleges like Middlebury, Trinity, et al.</p>
<p>Carolyn, it is so good to hear that all went well and your daughter is so happy. As we moved our daughter into ASU this weekend I was overwhelmed at how different it was from moving our son into Beloit. The schools are as different as my children, and as right for them respectively. Beloit is indeed a special place and your daughter has chosen well. I would have liked to dance in the street at Beloit myself.</p>
<p>Oh Carolyn, it's so wonderful to read the good news! I can just imagine her twirling, what a lovely image! (The fact that I was in the Austrian Alps this summer has NOTHING to do with it, I swear! ;) ) Onward, into the future!</p>
<p>Yippee! Another great match is so wonderful to read about. I really feel my son has found a place he will be happy & thrive over the next 4 years. He's been out meeting & greeting folks since he arrived at his dorm & is housed in the "Great Outdoors" floor with a nice, quiet young man from MA (the other end of the US).
Glad you and your S will journey with us & our HS juniors. My D has yet to seriously list any colleges, other than local flagship U (which I don't particularly see as a fit for her).</p>
<p>Great to hear you are back.... we are down to the last 32 hours before my daughter boards the plane to her new life, which of course is as different from your d's choice as night and day. She'll be in a cramped double on the 6th floor of a high rise on Broadway & 116th, no doubt loving every minute of it. She spent the day stuffing boxes to deliver to herself - thank god for "media mail", that box with the books & CD's is HEAVY... but she insists she will be able to manage it on the other end.</p>
<p>Your comments and advice are so sound and inspirational to all of us on this forum--it's good to know that they worked out so well for your own daughter. Thanks for the update.</p>
<p>Tell your daughter not to get used to the nice weather we have had in southern Wisconsin for the last couple of weeks. It shall pass and very quickly.</p>