Signed up for May SATIIs here. Have had a few more unofficial visits (7D2 is athletic prospect) — interesting to hear her reactions to various places…I think there’s a late, somewhat dark horse entry in the mix now.
I’m taking my (hopefully) last ACT next week, then I’ll turn what’s left of my attention to APs and subject tests. Woohoo, junior spring! 
I just had a reason to remember the above post from @twinsmama. My kid has started the athletic recruitment process, and her college list looked reasonable to me both athletically and academically: no HYPS but many LACs and several private universities. Suddenly, now she is talking about Ivies and worrying about not having a hook! I guess the emotions around RD/Ivy Day are running high and no one is immune.
@goatmama Haha. Funny your daughter is starting the athletic recruiting process yet worried about not having a hook. 
I know nothing about the U.S. college process. What I find surprising (not right or wrong, just unexpected) is that college AOs seem to value breadth over depth. Graduate and post-graduate studies are just the opposite: your hole needs to be an inch wide and a foot deep.
@GoatMama , I thought it was the other way around, what with all the IMO ridiculous talk about having a “passion!” The dangerous thing about the prestige pursuit for us is that the most prestigious college my kids are aiming at (same school for both, because of legacy status) is the one that would be most affordable for us. So it’s hard to stay as uninvested in the outcome as I would like to be when I consider the actual dollars to be invested. Maybe the children would be happier elsewhere, at colleges that are easier to get into but harder to pay for. What should I be hoping for? I haven’t figured that out yet.
Yeah, they seem to want everything: “passion” but also “trying new things.” With multiple ECs, clubs, community hours, four instruments, and three varsity sports, you aren’t that good in anything unless you’re a mutant.
Did a whirlwind tour over last break… was very expensive but super helpful… in hindsight would have casually looked at schools while passing through randomly and saved a lot of money ‘touring’ in a rush. Spent that lovely Stella blizzard in hotel in Worcester Mass pigging out on Trader Joes frozen food which we kept in the car 
I am now sitting on my hands, leaving Deweykid alone to chew the future… having a cocktail and swimming through this great thread… I’m 25 pages in…100 to go
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1883008-colleges-your-child-crossed-off-the-list-after-visiting-schools-that-moved-up-on-the-list-why-p22.html
whoops better to start at the beginning it’s pretty funny and a great catharsis
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1883008-colleges-your-child-crossed-off-the-list-after-visiting-schools-that-moved-up-on-the-list-why-p1.html
…it was really funny for about 30 something pages with folks explaining why school tours failed them, great for comedic relief… but I only got half way and folks started to take it too serious for my entertainment value. It’s nice to hear the bad tour bits as a distraction from the looming future. We have a good one about Brandeis.
@jdewey I’ve been following that thread since its start and found it odd that it started out as something lighthearted and then folks were taking it very, very seriously like it was some bible on which schools to consider.
huh… I was willing to dive back in for the second half, does it get funny again? I wish it would… let me know the cliff notes @doschicos
There’s a few moments of humor but it definitely has kept the too serious tone, @jdewey.
This one can be entertaining if you’ve never read it:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/705291-stupidest-reason-child-wont-look-at-a-college-p1.html
Omg… =))
@jdewey @doschicos Please give us more… 
“The squirrels were too big!” Thanks, @doschicos. It gives me hope that one day I may dare venture to “the other side.”
Well, there’s always this classic CC gem of all time! 
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/470497-clam-fart-oh-my-god-what-did-i-do-p1.html
Hah Clamfart post just made me laugh ridiculous. That is epic I’ll relish the other thread thanks
Oh yes, someone else had mentioned the epic ‘clamfart thread’ … and when I read it and I laughed myself off the bed :))
And best of all the guy was admitted!
Did you guys see this in NYT today? https://nyti.ms/2ozDp1q
love that @GoatMama