<p>DS graduated CMU '06, dual degreed and very well. My *nom d'uderparent *, died about that time. Reincarnated when he started University of Toronto on full-ride masters (must perform TA duties) and now less than 30 days left in that phase of his life and mine. I am feeling my old age. [Cough, wheeze, limp, what?, ouch, begone woman.] After which he's off to Bangalore, India, for 3 months, courtesy of his advising prof and big software company and to tour India with CMU ethnic Indian friends and work? Then hopefully to Barcelona to deliver his paper. followed by touring Europe with more classmates. </p>
<p>I've recently counted 17 RT, Home to Pittsburgh/Toronto, in his academic career. The last 4 times, I keep reminding DW that this could be last time she will see him for a year or longer. </p>
<p>The big question; Can get a paying position?</p>
<p>I'm still hanging around CC, lurking mostly and posting occasionally in the Carleton forum. DD is a senior polishing her apps to PhD programs in Atmospheric Chemistry. Her interest in this field was fueled by a Carleton research opportunity where she spent last summer north of the Arctic Circle in Sweden collecting aerosol pollutants with a specialized mass spectrometer and working with PhD students and professor from ETH in Zurich. She'll be paid to attend school this time around. Yea!</p>
<p>I came in 2003, when college senior was a junior in HS. He will graduate from MIT in May with a degree in EECS, and has a job in New York City he is very excited to begin. Decided to take the job instead of going to grad school. He's loved MIT but is ready to be out of school. MIT was a great fit for him, as it seems to be for my freshman, which seems somewhat odd as they are polar opposites in almost every way. </p>
<p>I don't visit CC as much now, and don't post as often, but I still enjoy the community and help out when I can.</p>
<p>TheDad and I (and maybe others) still remember the old boards, which you can find in the archives. In spite of having sworn off these boards more than once, and even having detoxed for about three months once, I'm still here.</p>
<p>Newmassdaughter is in her last year at U. Chicago and has had an amazingly good experience. By fortunate coincidence (really, her hard work) she has a scholarship that will pay for two-three years overseas where she'll pick up a masters or two before coming back to do either a MD, PhD, Md/PhD or maybe something else?</p>
<p>It is interesting how for five years she was 100% set on her post-bac plans until the home stretch arrived. Thankfully, she is re-thinking her plans. I say thankfully because we all need to constantly think about options and different paths.</p>
<p>Anyway, it is so interesting to see the new crop of parents on these boards each year, to see the changing admissions landscape and the enduring controversies about various topics. And we've seen some interesting changes, too: the legal death of race preferences; the further rise of merit aid; overt efforts on the part of some elites to recruit low income kids and so forth.</p>
<p>Finally, let us give thanks this Thanksgiving for how well things are turning out for most of our kids. I can only speak for myself when I say how amazing it is to see these kids prove they can make better decisions than their parents!</p>
<p>Jobs? Paid PhD programs? I think I am sorry I started this thread. I am looking down the barrel of 4 years of med. school tuition, and still have two undergrads in college. Oy Vey.</p>
<p>Med school tuition is for your young adult to pay (IMHO!). :) Time for you to spend that hard-earned dough on fine wines, travel, and.. oh yes, those last two in college.
Happy Turkey day, y'all!</p>
<p>Hmm, what's your phone number, maybe I should have him talk to you! LOL</p>
<p>Actually, I am thrilled to be in a position to do it. I read about the things these kids are doing, and I have such hope for the future. And that is something to be thankful for this day.</p>
<p>Guess it's six years later for me! I first came onto this forum when it was quite new and D was a junior in high school (2000-2001). D graduated from Smith in '06 with an economics major. She is employed as a research economist with an economic consulting firm, where she intends to put in a few years before heading to grad school.
Meanwhile her little brother became a high school senior, so we are going through the college application process for him. That's my excuse for hanging around, anyway. ;)</p>
<p>Still here too, having joined 4 years ago right about now. Not saying anything about anyone's plans until I know for sure :). That will probably be in the spring! But it has been, and continues to be, a fascinating ride, that's for sure.</p>
<p>I discovered this site just as my daughter was sending in her ED application and wish that I had found it sooner. She graduated from Columbia last May and is at Oxford working toward a graduate degree with plans to apply to medical school in year or two. She also is deciding whether to pursue an MD or MD/PhD. </p>
<p>I think that she would agree with me when I say that she received an outstanding education at Columbia. Her friends from there are all remarkable...interesting, unique and occasionally gritty. They are all politically passionate and give me great hope for the future. The downside is that Columbia College is not always the best run business in the world.</p>
<p>I honestly believe that the general muckety muck of attending undergrad at a school that can be bureaucratically challenging prepared her in a way for the real world. You also develop an ability to handle things while living a city lifestyle that will serve you well over the long haul. That being said, there were a couple of moments when I was going to storm the office of the President but was threatened with death by my daughter....no helicoptering here, my friends.</p>
<p>She is thoroughly enjoying Oxford and her course work. The tutorial system seems perfect for a grad student. She also likes her college and the rituals...quite the opposite of the Columbia but she thinks that the one experience compliments the other. I suspect that she would happily be a student forever....wouldn't we all.</p>
<p>I mostly lurk these days but there are some people who write so well on a variety of subjects that I can't quite walk away. I also have friends and family who are going through the college process with their children and this site provides the occasional nugget that I pass on.</p>
<p>Hey, I think I started visiting CC about three years ago. DD graduated from Cornell last spring and is working in psychology research in Boston, loving it.
DS is a sophomore at Cornell, also loving it and, thank goodness, taking schoolwork more seriously this year. </p>
<p>My H and I are savoring the joys and tiny irritations of an empty house suddenly becoming a full house, and will be trying not to be overly sentimental on Sunday when quiet returns. </p>
<p>Our DS is a senior at Rensselaer now applying to grad schools. His 4 years at "The Tute" have been wonderful for hom and academically he has really blossomed. Socially things are going swimmingly, him and his friends hosting their T'giving Day dinner at their apartment with 50 attending including a few faculty.</p>
<p>He took the GRE's yesterday and got 1490 on the V/M parts with an 800 on the math portion. Yippee! There are very few universities offering his graduate program in interactive electronic arts and is applying to USC, SMU-Guild Hall, Northeastern, Central Florida and UIUC.</p>
<p>I'm still here as well--found this site when DS had already submitted college apps but before he was accepted. He graduated last May from his reach school, having had a wonderful social and academic experience; now working in DC and trying to figure out what he really wants to do.</p>
<p>DD has just submitted her ED app; not saying where but please keep all available appendages crossed whenever possible. DH continues to be worried about my CC "addiction".</p>
<p>My middle son just graduated from Towson University in Accounting and is in grad school at Bentley. Cherish these time folks. Time really goes by quickly.</p>
<p>Thank you for the inquiries. The programs I am applying to offer a combination of studies in economics and education policy. My first choice will allow me to stay in California, but I might have to finally leave the sunny climates for more frigid areas of the country. The good news is that New England, and Boston in particular, have become quite a dominating sports' mecca. The bad news is that I'll to tone down that "y'all" to blend in. </p>
<p>Am I the only one here with a kid who took the long way round to a college degree? I also came onto the old boards soon after their creation, when my son was already in college. He started in 2001 and will be graduating this coming spring ... a mere 7 year path to a bachelor's degree.</p>