@vegas1 And keeping in the Granite State is a plus. 
I’m a fan of gap years.
@soxmom that is very cool they room kids together like that. I would love to hear more about your sons gap year. I also believe they can be a great experience- but am struggling with where to start so late in the game. Our older son took a gap year and stayed home and worked. It was what he wanted to do. But our daughter is so social, I think she would go nuts. Also many programs aren’t open to her because her age- she will turn 17 this summer. I was hoping to celebrate the last college admission cycle and not have to think about the next year plans for my youngest. Oh well- so much for that plan.
It just occurred to me to check this thread…congrats to all now that college acceptances are in, and VERY belatedly to @ChoatieMom!
4 revisits and several weeks of vascillating later, and SmallFry has finally made a choice - a choice that we think is the right choice for SmallFry. The deposit has been sent and the sweatshirt has been purchased so we are official. The school was a dark horse candidate that didn’t emerge from the pack until the very end. So happy to be done with this for several years when it will be EvenSmaller Fry’s (Tater Tot’s?) turn. Maybe by then there will be universal free college for everyone…
Hooray, @Frydaddy ! Have been seeing glimpses of your quandaries and glad the sweatshirt is bought! Hope everyone is feeling excitement and relief.
Congratulations @Frydaddy it feels so great when they are committed to a school they are excited about attending. I can appreciate the darkhorse candidate angle. Our daughter almost didn’t even send in her application for the college she will attend. She had talked herself out of it being a top choice, we encouraged to send the app anyway as she had down the essays already earlier in the fall. At revisit day, I didn’t attend most of the parents portion as she has convinced us it was just a formality to attend.
My advice to all parents going through this in the future, if at all possible attend a few admitted student days with a clean slate attitude. With our other kids, we only attended the top choice school admitted student days. In hindsight, we probably missed out on some better fit colleges as a result.
Wise advice, @vegas1. The perspective is really different with matriculation 6 months away and an offer in hand. We too had surprises from the revisits. Both up and down!
Excited for the class of 2019!
The revisits/admitted student days were definitely key in SmallFry’s decision. One lesson learned: it can be difficult to get an accurate read on a school during a summer visit without all the students there. In our case we had no choice but to do summer visits. For EvenSmallerFry I will try to avoid summer visits if possible.
Now looking forward to graduation! I’d like to get a gift for SmallFry’s advisors/dorm head - any suggestions?
Memberships to museums (or zoos if they have little ones) can be nice If they live near a city. Gift certificates for a local restaurant can be useful. If you know them and their taste, you can get more daring and get something more personal (like a scarf, tote bag, etc.)
Congratulations to the wonderful Class of 2019!!! ???
Congratulations to students graduating this week - Cheers to the Class of 2019 ???????????????You did it!!
Congrats! Best of luck with whatever path is next for these 2019 grads!!
Congratulations!!!
Hope everyone enjoyed their graduation festivities. It’s exciting and emotional. Congratulations all!
That hat toss was one of the most wonderful things I’ve ever seen. And VP Pence shook every new LT’s hand as diplomas were awarded. ChoatieLT was happier than I’ve seen him in a long time. The day was pretty much perfect.
Congrats to all 2019s!
I’m so happy to hear that, @ChoatieMom!!! Congrats to all!
Congratulations everyone!
We are done! The graduation was beautiful.
Thank you everyone for the journey!
Congratulations @ChoatieMom ! Whenever I see photos of my Colorado neighbor’s son (same year at West Point) on facebook I imagine ChoatieLT. Beautiful ceremony.
Well, it’s official - I am now a college graduate. So long MA; it’s been a wild and fun 8 years.
Where next, @skieurope? And congratulations!!
Congratulations @skieurope !!
All the best to next phase of your life! ???