First two decisions of RD are expected March 14; last two on March 31, with three in between. My son got in EA to University of Michigan (Engineering), SUNY Binghamton (Engineering), and Case Western Reserve University ($22K/year merit scholarship). So, I’m not “worried” - he is in a good place now. But he applied to 7 reaches after the EA round, figuring (reasonably) why apply to any place that he’s less interested in than those? So really, I have no reason to stress - and it would be fabulous if my son went to any of the three he has in his pocket . . . I just want to KNOW already!
@brooklynilene. I’m here in Bk too with a son who was accepted to Case and SUNY Buffalo with nice scholarship money, planning to study EE or MechE. He is perfectly happy to go to Case but waiting to hear from one other RD school that is a little shinier – but won’t give us money. (I am pretty sure about the money.) It seems like a long time to wait for that last one. And then, if he gets in, we have to decide if it is worth the extra money to go to the school with the fancier reputation. I feel shallow about even considering that, as well as a bit frightened by the extra money it will cost over Case. So I am needlessly worrying and fluctuating between hoping he doesn’t get in to the RD school, and hoping that he will (because, like I say, I’m shallow). Luckily my son was not energetic enough to apply to more than one reach RD school, so probably I feel less stressed than you. But it just goes to show that sometimes we stress for no good reason and also, having too many choices is not always a good thing.
Try to do something fun for the next few weeks like watch all the episodes of the original Fame on youtube.
It’s common for us parents to stress during this important time in our kid’s lives. My D thinks that we care more about what college she’s ultimately going to attend than she does.
It’s fantastic that your child already got into some schools, that really takes a lot of the stress out of the household, knowing that even if they get rejected from all the other schools they are waiting for that they’ll still be in college. We were all stressed until the first acceptance came through a few weeks ago, somewhere she really wants to go. The upcoming ones would be great, but the stress factor is gone. Enjoy this time with your child, it’s likely the last time they’ll be living with you full time.
We are waiting on the last two schools and of course they are my D’s top 2 choices. She found out she got into UCONN Friday night. Since we are OOS it is out of reach financially without any scholarship. The stress is killing me; however, she seems nonchalant about it.
Waiting on last two RDs after five EA acceptances which seem like eons ago. It’s a good thing merit offers continue to roll in along with keeping busy with FAFSA/CSS and cracking the whip reminding son about private scholarships many that were due in February and March. I’m pretty stressed out. Son busy in school so I’m not seeing it in him at all.
I do not think that I will stop feeling stressed out until I see the financial aid packages from her top three choices. Then I am sure I will feel stressed until I see what my son’s final year of college will cost us as D moves into her first year (his financial aid package never comes until mid-summer) - I think I need to call his college.
Honestly, I think I’ll feel much better 4 years from now, after I’ve paid my last tuition check! 
If I don’t have any loans to worry about…
Even with loans to pay, sending the final tuition check felt really good (although also poignant). My second-of-two children to finish college (this June) will, like her sibling, be far away after graduation (farther away than she is now, while in college).
Thanks everyone for your comments. It’s nice to hear your perspectives and to know this is all normal given where we are on the college application calendar.
YES
At her age, it is quite possible that the child’s life is more in her parents’ mind than the other way around, I would guess. (This is something not bad at all.)
Also, if the college would cost up to $200,000 in 4 years, the parents, being older, more experienced and maybe wiser, could appreciate how much money is at stake than their child does at 17 yo.
I’m a little impatient, but not stressed, exactly. I’m more stressed about financial aid information!
We’re waiting for news of a scholarship. They said award winners would be informed at the end of February and we wait. She’s been offered top scholarship awards at two other schools, but this one is her favorite. A couple weeks ago they sent her a letter letting her know they are giving her direct entry into their nursing program. When we visited the school in the fall they told us they only give that to their presidential scholars, so we feel very optimistic she’ll get it. My daughter is just at that point where she wants to just commit to a school and move forward. It’s hard to wait for things. Good luck to all of you that are waiting for news.
Waiting is the hardest part, but since you can’t move the calendar at your will, just try and relax. Decision day will be here before you know it. As you will see once they are in college, time flies pretty fast.
OP, we have yet to hear anything from any of our D’s schools. It’s been a challenge and a real growing experience for her to keep celebrating her friends’ EDs and scholarships without having any news of her own. Our whole family will be happy to have some closure by the end of this month. Heartfelt best wishes to all who are waiting on pins & needles!!
Not too stressed, but checking the mail often! Wishing some answers would come in earlier than expected. It does make it hard to plan what we will do over the summer and in the fall. Son has some really different possibilities. One school would start earlier than the others.
We (he and I) are spending our time checking out the front runner colleges, but trying not to get too attached. I enjoy hearing him talk about it.
Not really stressed…but, I just want to know. Waiting on two RD applications with several safeties and EAs with good merit in the bag. Not sure these last two really matter now, but, it also means DD can’t move forward with a decision. I want to be able to start deciding on whether to attend several family occasions in the fall, and whether I’ll be able to or not depends on where DD chooses because of the differing academic calendars. My life is on hold.
The waiting is killing me! I’m trying not to pass on my anxiousness to my DD though We have only heard from 2 of the 10 she applied to, so the next 3 weeks are going to be crazy!
I think someone else said what I feel… mostly impatient, rather than truly stressed. DD has EA acceptances with merit aid at 3 schools and is waiting on 7 more. (Well, really, waiting on 6 more, as one decision is probably up on the portal at a school she’s no longer interested in and I haven’t talked her into checking again just to humor me :-)). She should hear from 3 this weekend but the other 3 not until the end of the month.
I just want to get to the point where we’re done so we can have a good conversation about choices & finances…right now, D can’t knock out schools because there is still a good chance of merit aid. By April 1, the way will be much clearer.
The biggest problem I see is being able to fit in more college visits once all the information arrives.