<p>Yes, that’s odd to be waitlisted at Rice. Good luck with the Amherst FA. The usually generous FA packages at schools like Amherst really help with the high COA and lack of merit aid. Wash U is need-aware in admissions and even though the school has a large endowment, I wonder if it tends to be a bit stingy in aid overall. I hope Amherst comes through with a more attractive aid package.</p>
<p>Did you work out a FA calculator to get an idea what Amherst might consider need to be? For us at Bowdoin the award was a few grand lower than what the FA calculator led me to think/hope S would get, but it was in range and at least it is all grant.</p>
<p>as one Mainer to another… my oldest received several waitlists… which were very surprising… I cannot speak to Rice and how they do things… but, geography may play a big role here… I suspect that Amherst has greater enrollments from Northeast applicants and Rice has better yield from Southwest applicants… factor in the competitive athlete pool in Texas… and then perhaps “demonstrated” interest?? my college roommate’s son was a legacy at Emory… waitlisted there, having never visted etc… accepted at Stanford and Williams etc… but at that point in time, Emory placed a high value on demonstrated interest…it is easy to question outcomes, especially when looking at class sizes etc… but once again, this is why we all encourage the kids to cast their net far and wide… enjoy the glow of the fine choices… only 2.5 months to graduation!!</p>
<p>Well, we got the FA package from Amherst, and it’s less than the online calculator predicted. The Wash U coach wants us to talk to the FA people again to see if they will give us more money. Worth a chance! Our business IS slower than last year, so we have that going for us! Otherwise, DS has decided he’ll go to Texas and run for clubs if he can’t walk on to the team (I told him to assume he will NOT be on the team).</p>
<p>I hope Wash U can come up with some more $ for S. We’re in the same odd situation as you, having tougher times for a business translate into a positive for FA. If S has Wash U for a 1st choice and UT as his 2nd, I guess he is comfortable with or more interested in the bigger school environment. Will Amherst be off the table altogether or might you see if there’s the possibility of more $ there? It sounded at one point as if he was pretty interested in Amherst.</p>
<p>UT Austin is a great school and actually I tried to push S to go there but it will cost more than going to other private schools. So it is a financial reason S isn’t going there. S went to the scholar day last year and he was really impressed by the honor program. UT is too close for him but not me. All his friends go there but he wants to see different worlds and make new friends otherwise it is a good school but cost me more. Again it is a good school and can’t be wrong going Longhorn. Congrats to your S. </p>
<p>Maybe you can help. S is going to visit Middlebury on 4/18 after Bowdoin visit. I post some threads to know how to get there from Portland. Like to know other options beside air. Bowdoin drop him off at the airport Portland.</p>
<p>Sorry I haven’t posted in a long time. The whole athletic part of this was stressing me out, so I needed to take a breather! soccer92boy, did you come up with a good route to Middlebury? That’s a tough one. Going west/east in New England is very difficult, since all the major highways run north/south!</p>
<p>OK, here’s the big news: DS has decided to go to Texas! I REALLY pushed other schools, because I never wanted him to feel resentful that we “made” him go to UT. My younger sister still feels that way - my parents told her she could consider other schools, but SHE had to be the one to do the research. She didn’t do much and ended up in Austin. I guess she feels as if they should have done more to help her look. Well, DS certainly had a lot of help in HIS search, lol!</p>
<p>It finally came down to the fact that he wants to study biomedical engineering, and Wash U was just too expensive (although they bumped up his aid from $10,700 per year to $20,350/year, so you CAN ask for more money!). He’ll get lots of perks with my dad’s office being about a block from the BME building. Dad said DS can even use his car frequently. Huh, he didn’t tell ME that when I was at UT! DS talked to a senior in the department yesterday, and that sealed the deal. Looking at the BME curriculum was also helpful - it is unbelievably challenging, which appeals to him.</p>
<p>It’s also almost a blessing that running has been really hard for him lately - his legs keep bothering him, even though we’ve taken him to doctors and physical therapists. This way, there’s no pressure on him - if he heals up, he can try to walk on the team, or just run for clubs in Austin.</p>
<p>So thanks for everyone’s encouragement and advice. This journey did not end the way I expected it to, but we’re very excited. Now I have to start figuring out the details of qualifying him for in-state tuition in 2011!</p>
<p>Congrats to you and your S for a terrific resolution. So glad it’s satisfactory to all and I hope he’s able to continue with his running in some way that suits him. Definitely better not to push if he’s having problems with his legs right now.</p>
<p>Interesting about the Wash U FA. That’s an impressive increase! I hope we have some success in our effort to up S’s award at his school in Maine . . .</p>
<p>Congratulations - and what a relief to have a decision made - phew! Also, good for your son to not have the pressure of a Div. 1 running program right now if his running is not up to his usual standards, and he has the option to be a walk-on if he is up to it… A great ending to your journey :)</p>
<p>Congratulations MaineL and son! How great he found the ideal program at a beautiful location, with the right price. All the best for a calmer and enjoyable last month of HS.</p>
<p>Thanks, everyone! fogfog, I get strange looks when I talk about online friends, too! And get this - in December I’m going out to Las Vegas to run a half marathon with a bunch of women online friends I’ve never met in person! My husband is a good sport and said he’ll come cheer me on (I am VERY slow, lol). There are some wonderful online communities out there, huh?</p>
<p>DS had to call quite a few coaches today to tell them he won’t be attending their school. The coaches at Rhodes and Wash U were particularly classy (and smart), telling him if he ever decided to transfer, he would be welcome! He talked to the assistant coach at Rhodes, and tonight the head coach called. DS wasn’t home, so the coach spent several minutes talking to me, telling me what an awesome kid DS is, and that he’ll do great at whatever school he attends. What a nice guy!</p>
<p>A couple of the coaches were a little short with him, but I can understand that.</p>
<p>fogfog, good luck to you! I’ll stick my head in here occasionally to see how you and your great kids are doing!</p>