Thanks @GoatMama
I am doing my best to stay out of DS way and just provide the credit card when needed. ? my Type A planning personality is taking it hard but every time he mentions a school he’s interested in, I focus on my own little spreadsheet with the schools he’s named and all of their stats. He knows I have it, but we only discuss it if he asks.
I guess what floors me is the posturing over there…”my kid took college classes in middle school and is smarter than any applicant out there…oh but your kid will be fine” posts are annoying as heck. I find it worse than the chance mes on our side.
I agree…BS provides our kids with an accountability and responsibility level beyond many college students. And I also think they are being taught to think critically in all aspects instead of just trying to master a multiple choice test.
Again, I’m thankful that everyone over here realizes the importance of kindness, overall growth and maturity and truly being well-rounded. I could not function in the “cut-throat, let me list all my stats world” they are living in. I’ve told my kids…it doesn’t matter how talented you are because if you can’t relate to the majority of people and work together with them, you’ll never stay employed for very long.
I 
my BS peeps! Y’all are awesome sauce!
Back at you @buuzn03!
I do think people underestimate the importance of playing well with others, and truly caring about helping others out when they need assistance.
Also @buuzn03, I totally misread your post. What was on my mind had very little to do with what you were saying. Sorry about that.
@GoatMama please don’t apologize because you provided words of wisdom and reminders of why we made this sacrifice in the first place. Not only has my son grown because of BS, but it’s caused me to grow and let go, also.
Again, I’m really thankful for this supportive community.
UPDATE - DS called last night and said his CC told him he should just keep his ACT and concentrate on classes. He said that he could retake the entire test to superstore for the one section, but even if he retook it most of the schools he’s considering will not super score the composite…they will only use the initial composite score. CC seemed to think DSs composite was fine, so he didn’t think it would be worth it. Plus, since DS is planning on STEM major, he’ll have to do a science subject test or two for most of his schools anyway, so he should just focus on those in the Spring.
My response to this was…”So, CC agreed with your momma? I love it when people agree with your momma! ??”
That was when DS told me that CC told him he would probably need to take SAT, too…DANG!
i guess that’s net good news, @buuzn03, and at least DS doesn’t have to take SATs as well as additional ACT sittings. Interesting about the super scoring — every school on DS’s list will super score (and many are test optional, though he still needs scores for sports). Maybe it’s a STEM/engineering thing; DS is NOT a STEM kid. It’s also nice that the CC isn’t pushing him to retest just for the sake of it. That sounds very reasonable. DS doesn’t have his scores yet, and I am just hoping they inch up a little.
DS hasn’t formally been notified of his CC, but he heard informally yesterday who his was, and I think it’s a good match. One of his 1st year dorm parents who knows him fairly well. And he’s happy.
This morning’s plus two more exams, and it will be one more trimester in the books. The passage of time makes my head spin. I hope those who have exams this week are having a good week!
It’s weird about exams because DS is on quarters/semesters but he says all exams/projects are due right before the holiday breaks. So he’s had a very busy week-the hardest one he’s had in BS yet.
DSs CC is the director of CC department. He seems to really like him. And I like the fact he has years of experience.
I guess my plan of get the standardized test out of the way and forgotten is foiled. Sigh. Oh well…
On a different note, DH and I reminded him to pack a little nicer clothing than he normally would due to our Rice visit on Wednesday. To which he replied “I was thinking of bringing my suit home for dry cleaning, so I thought I’d wear my Hawaiian shirt with my salmon suit pants. Oh, and Dad can I borrow your cowboy boots or do I need to bring my own?” (The pants aren’t salmon, they are more mauve, but you get the picture). ??
I love it! Enjoy the visit, and hopefully warmer weather than Boston. DS goes to every visit looking like someone straight out of The Preppy Handbook — khakis/khaki shorts, boat shoes, no socks, untucked, slightly rumpled shirt, hair grown out…
Well…we definitely have the hair grown out syndrome!! I told him he looked like O’Callahan from Miracle last night. ?
Waiting at the airport for DS to arrive. I’m very thankful to have him home. Now if DH will get back from AZ, we will have everyone together again.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU AND YOURS!!!
Happy Thanksgiving all! I hope everyone has a fun and restful week. It’s been just over 24 hours since DS got home and already we’ve gone through about 3x the notmal amount of food.
@CTMom21 Funny you should mention that. I am about to run out to the grocery store AGAIN! lol Enjoy DS being home!
^ it’s funny both of you mention that because every time I walk into the kitchen, DS is standing in the pantry just staring. ??
@buuzn03 BOYS!! (Or maybe KIDS!, though that is not my experience with DD.)
There’s definitely no place like home and that we’ll-stocked fridge and comfy couch. Simple pleasures of home.
Our first college visit is complete. It was not what I expected. We were slightly overdressed (there were plenty of kids in t-shirts and athletic shorts…that will still never be my kid). DS said he saw nothing that would keep him from applying ED but was going to see how it compared to the other schools on his list, some of which we will see in March.
The one thing he did say mid-tour was he felt very “college preparatoried”. ?
If anyone would like our take on Rice, I’ll be happy to post specifics…but I now have to go attend to a turkey.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
Did a couple more low-key tours before dropping DC off following Thanksgiving break. Before the tours, DC thought one school might be a contender and wanted to visit the other school just to see it–no formal tour for the second school–but did not have any expectation of applying there. The first school dropped down the priority list, and the second moved up. Life is a like a box of chocolates.
Hi Buuzn03. I would be interested in hearing about your experience at Rice. Was it too informal (with regards to dress)? What parts did you guys like and why part did you not like? Which sports are the ones that your kid is interested in? Thanks!
@parentofnicekid Rice was not overly formal or informal. However, the people touring with us were much more informal than we were. They showed up in athletic shorts/pants and t shirts.
It truly reminded me more of the BS environment than most colleges. It is small, intimate and stately. There is no Greek presence. The students are relaxed & a bit nerdy, but very personable and you can tell they are intelligent. They divide the students up into 11 residential “colleges”, which are assigned at matriculation and stays with you all 4 years. Dorms are all coed. 75% of students live on campus.
They have 11 NCAA sports teams, but multiple club sports. DS was interested in crew, XC and cycling.
We liked the no Greek, high campus residence percentage, and free transport throughout Houston. We also liked their academic flexibility with core requirements, amazing engineering facilities and no requirement to declare a major until mid to late Sophomore year.
My husband hated the amount of trees on campus. (I don’t understand it, but ok). We didn’t like the lack of combined MS/BS program offerings. I also hate that their acceptance rate is around 9%. (Last year’s data)
All in all, DS still thinks he’ll apply ED, but is waiting to see how Rice compares to the other schools.