<p>Hi all I am new to this, but what a great board, a makeshift support group for all of us parents so entertwined in our childrens futures! My oldest son is graduating this year from a top school, private and quite highly regarded. Alhtough he is naturally quite a bright kid, he never really put into his studies what he should, if I had a dollar for every parent that has said this! So as a result has applied to everything from very mediocre schools to good higher level reach schools. Got into a few decent smaller liberal arts schools, Stonehill in Mass. got offered a nice scholarship to Indiana-Bloomington, deferred from BU,got into Wisconsin-Madison, waiting on Northeastern, GW, BC, Villanova, NYU, most of which are reach schools. I have three others all who will be going through this within the next five years. In reading a number of posts, the bottom line is this process is so very arbitrary and the scene is different every year, we know of so many shockers this year including his best friend who is a stellar studnet, national merit scholar, fabulous athelte and travels the world yes the world for his music skills! He had legacy ON BOTH ENDS from mom and dad to Harvard and did not get in, did not get deferred but an outright rejection! You hear stories like this and it scares just about every one of us, myself included. Yes of course i am stressed to the max over where he will go, I am happy and have to remind myself that he got into a few schools and am grateful for that, had the foresight to not set his sights too high and applied to some solid safety schools. A good friend of mine, who was a admissions officer for Brown up until three years ago constantly did and does remind me of this process, not being one which is an exact science, not being one that anyone can predict the outcome of and most of all, that it is one that we must support our children through but ultimately trust that they end up where it is a good fit and where they will thrive. Good luck to you all.</p>
<p>Welcome to CC! All of your children should be thankful to have a mom like you. Your perspective on the college app process is definitely on target--there is no such animal as a sure thing. One of the best pieces of advice mentioned on CC is "Love thy safety," that can be broadened to "Love every school to which you apply."</p>
<p>Good luck to your S and you!</p>
<p>Welcome- sounds like your son already has some great choices. I am an IU grad and both my kids applied there are got accepted, but neither was destined to attend. Boo. I think it provides a great college experience. It is a fun, but difficult process and I, too, am grateful for this board where we can learn from each other and provide insight and suggestions.</p>
<p>IU!!!! Wisconsin!!!! Go!!!! It will all be great for your kid. But from your post, you already know that. :)</p>
<p>Stay tuned for linens, airfare, vacations, girlfriends, chat, cell phones and the smaller nest.</p>
<p>NYMOMof4- Welcome. Happy to have you here during the long waiting period. I know what you mean about being in at some solid safety schools, but still the wait is long. DS is going through this for the second time this year (due to Tulane's post-Katrina elimination of his Engineering major). He is in at 3 solid safety schools, but awaits (until end of May) word on his more preferred reach schools. Like you, I have been stressed to the max about where he will be next year, but the stress eases a bit with each passing day. Your S' "safety" schools are a nice strong set - with variety in atmosphere and size.</p>
<p>I'll be waiting with you over the next weeks.</p>
<p>NYMOMOF4~</p>
<p>Welcome to the CC "waiting room"!!!!!!!!!!! I am not waiting this year, but was last year with my oldest son, and will be five more times over the next 10 years! </p>
<p>It sounds as if your son has done an excellent job with school selection and as a result, has some fine choices already! I just wanted to wish you both the best for his remaining schools. Whatever happens, I'm sure he will enjoy a most fabulous college experience!</p>
<p>~berurah</p>
<p>Welcome! I live 2 miles from Stonehill and know it very well. Bothof my kids have done various programs there. Let me know if you have any questions about the school or the area.</p>
<p>Welcome NYMOMOF4!! This site has been my advisor, shrink, handholder and social life for the last year and a half!!!!!!!!! There are so many funny, wise and most of all caring people here. </p>
<p>Good luck with your next few decisions.</p>
<p>andi</p>
<p>< Alhtough he is naturally quite a bright kid, he never really put into his studies what he should, if I had a dollar for every parent that has said this! ></p>
<p><i have="" three="" others="" all="" who="" will="" be="" going="" through="" this="" within="" the="" next="" five="" years.="" in="" reading="" a="" number="" of="" posts,="" bottom="" line="" is="" process="" so="" very="" arbitrary="" and="" scene="" different="" every="" year,="" we="" know="" many="" shockers="" year="" including="" his="" best="" friend="" stellar="" studnet,="" national="" merit="" scholar,="" fabulous="" athelte="" travels="" world="" yes="" for="" music="" skills!="" he="" had="" legacy="" on="" both="" ends="" from="" mom="" dad="" to="" harvard="" did="" not="" get="" in,="" deferred="" but="" an="" outright="" rejection!=""></i></p><i have="" three="" others="" all="" who="" will="" be="" going="" through="" this="" within="" the="" next="" five="" years.="" in="" reading="" a="" number="" of="" posts,="" bottom="" line="" is="" process="" so="" very="" arbitrary="" and="" scene="" different="" every="" year,="" we="" know="" many="" shockers="" year="" including="" his="" best="" friend="" stellar="" studnet,="" national="" merit="" scholar,="" fabulous="" athelte="" travels="" world="" yes="" for="" music="" skills!="" he="" had="" legacy="" on="" both="" ends="" from="" mom="" dad="" to="" harvard="" did="" not="" get="" in,="" deferred="" but="" an="" outright="" rejection!="">
<p>Perhaps your son decided that the Harvard track was too stressful.</p>
</i>
<p>Hi NY Mom from another NY Mom (Long Island). You seem to have it right and your kids will do fine. I think we NY parents learned a few years ago, that we couldn't take anything for granted and we have to look beyond the usual group of NE schools. I cannot stress how many smart NY kids use schools like U Mich, Wisc, Indiana etc as "good bet schools". I think the rest of the country is learning the same lessons that we in NY learned a while ago. Be a little creative-look outside of the box- and show some interest in particular schools and our kids will wind up at a very fine school that will meet their needs and more so. Welcome to CC.</p>
<p>Too many of the kids on CC think that schools outside the top 25 are populated exclusively by students who are not as bright or capable as they are. NYMOMOF4's story is a good example of how many extremely bright and capable students are peppered throughout a broad range of schools. </p>
<p>Based on your list, NYmomof4, your S will find a challenging, wonderful college experience where he lands. Good luck to both you, your S, and the other 3! (and a very warm welcome to CC)</p>
<p>I knew I came to the right place! Thanks for your kind welcome. In hindsight, I realized I completely lost sight of my point in my initial opening statement(it was so exciting to be writing again, expressing my thoughts...guess I got carried away!) the point was that my husband and I are both Ivy grads and my son is on a different track and we are ok with it. We realize that he is not who we were but that he is a unique and special kid who will succeed anywhere he goes. He is waiting on about 5 more decisions, but honestly with this insane process that could drive someone out of a window, we are so relieved he got into a few already. Gotta keep a reality check CONSTANTLY and here in NY, people are in a literal bubble where its easy to lose sight of the REAL WORLD! This process for just about all of us will end up with some real disappointments and true jubilations of every kind. We all have to keep in mind though this is not OUR life but our childrens and always be true to their best interest and they will indeed turn out just fine!</p>
<p>oh my gosh, my son will be so upset.................i accidentally went on his name! Oops........oh well, its me who posted that!</p>
<p>"Welcome to the CC "waiting room"!!!!!!!!!!! I am not waiting this year"</p>
<p>Of course you are, Berurah!!! You're keeping us company while the rest of us are waiting - and giving us moral support!!! :)</p>
<p>Welcome NYMomOf4</p>
<p>
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Of course you are, Berurah!!! You're keeping us company while the rest of us are waiting - and giving us moral support!!!
[/quote]
awwwwwwwwww, thanks twinmom!!! My son and I got so much support last year.....I was very much looking forward to returning it this year! :)</p>
<p>Also, if you can count this, I am IMPATIENTLY waiting for my oldest D to become even a tenth as interested in college selection as her older brother!!!!!!!!!!! <em>lol</em> ;) Two totally different kiddos, neither of whom could be loved and cherished any more than they are! <3 <3 <3</p>
<p>~berurah</p>
<p>My son got into USF and Bentley Business today! Didn't get into USC or UCSD, no surprise at all, still waiting on about 5 more schools. Has been wait listed at BU. DMBNE87, why do you say if you were my son you would go very very far away from home?</p>
<p>
[quote]
My son got into USF and Bentley Business today!
[/quote]
NYMOMOF4~
CONGRATULATIONS!! on today's acceptances! It starts to get really exciting about now! Good luck with the remaining five!! </p>
<p>~berurah</p>
<p>Thanks! Yes although he has yet to hear from two schools he really is hoping for, we are thrilled he has a few choices so far. I wish all of you much luck, it is exciting and a bit nervewracking at the same tune(:</p>