<p>Oh, yes, T26E4, when they are high achieving sophomores, you think the world is their oyster. When D got her SAT scores back (2340), I thought, “she can get in anywhere.” And then, when they actually start applying, you realize, “Yes, she can, and so can the other 38,000 kids who are also applying to Stanford with these scores and the same 4.0 GPA.” That’s where my angst comes from, I think. If I have any advice, it’s to make sure your kid does a supplement of some kind that really showcases his/her talent and quirks. It’s very hard to stand out, even if your kid is truly a standout.</p>
<p>I actually think next week will be longer. I only hear from one school this week, so next week being spring break and having infinite amount of time to wait and worry… not fun.</p>
<p>No kidding, spring break starts in a week and I “hoped” S3 would get the decision made and we could leave this college “stuff” behind in the windshield. Waiting for 2 outcomes by the end of next weekend and of course they are his first and second ‘favorites.’</p>
<p>As a child, yes, yes it is. I get all of my decisions next week (save for one) and my fin aid package from one of my schools. It’s almost too much and I just want it to be over.</p>
<p>Yes, this is the longest week in the world! D is off at her dad’s for the week, and told me to just “open the envelopes that come, but don’t call me about any of them”. She will be home Friday, and there will be 2-3 by then (only one so far, and it was good news). Then… we leave for Florida on Saturday, with her 2 remaining top choices likely coming a day or two after we leave… We are going on vacation with my parents (with whom we have NO conversation about college until May 1). And… I just started a new job that I hate. So I am sitting at my desk all day, really wishing I were home watching for the mail truck. Ack.</p>
<p>There is something uniquely difficult in late March for families where their children apply to highly competitive schools with low acceptance rates. Acceptance is SO uncertain, and the waiting creates so much anxiety. When there is a higher likelihood of acceptance, it is still anxiety-producing, but not as random-seeming as it is at those high reach schools.</p>
<p>Last year when my older son applied to a few safeties and several high reach schools, the end of March was brutal. Waiting for e-mails and opening portals at 5:00 PM for six schools on March 29th last year was quite an experience. Several websites were down. My son didn’t get a rejection from one of the schools until after midnight. But fortunately, he got into quite a few of the reaches.</p>
<p>It is not as brutal a process with my younger son this year. He has some personal reaches, but they are not as outrageous as the ivies and he has already heard from most of the schools already. It is a much more sane process. We are still waiting to hear from three schools, one of which is his top choice and his highest reach school. But it is nothing like what we went through last year.</p>
<p>Good luck to all of you (us) waiting to hopefully hear good news.</p>
<p>As a student, I’m actually more nervous about scholarship and financial aid packages! I really love one of my match schools, but I need enough aid to afford it (I’ll find out on April 1st).</p>
<p>It would be nice to be accepted into one of my reach schools, though ;D. <em>cough</em> Rice <em>cough</em></p>
<p>^^ Yep, it was the same for us 4 years ago. The acceptance to her top choice came early in March. The financial stuff didn’t come until the last week. That was the longest 3 weeks of my life.</p>
<p>Good luck to all of you!</p>
<p>Our S1 went the highly competitive route, and it was torture. His first choice was a non-Ivy and he received his rejection about March 26th. To this day, my stomach churns when I think of that moment.</p>
<p>high test scores and great EC’s are no guarantee - its an absolute crap shoot. And for our highly competitive over achievers, rejection can be very brutal. But rest assured, they end up where they should, and it will be in a great place where they will flourish. </p>
<p>S1 was fortunately accepted at an Ivy, where he is busting his hump to stay middle of the pack. Which is another shock kids will face. Middle of the pack? How can that be? I received a B??? I didn’t make the debate team??? During the first semester, our S had to handle more rejection than he had ever seen in his scholastic career. It was very tough for mom and dad, on the other end of the phone…:(</p>
<p>Good Luck to all - it all works out in the end. Stay 
</p>
<p>This week is certainly harder for me than my S2. Kelbee is right… checking CC every hour doesn’t change the outcome, and I think makes waiting harder. The schools have all listed their notification dates, but posts on CC talk about when they came last year, or the year before… or 10 years ago. So we are all sitting here wondering who to listen to and what the secret meaning is behind the email our child just received from their top college.</p>
<p>Actually, my S2 won’t tell us his top pick. He announced months ago that he wouldn’t rank his schools for us until he had received all the decisions. Maybe he has the right attitude. He’s not stressing this week… he has three decisions and four to wait for but he never mentions them.</p>
<p>It is one two punch. First is he in, then, can we afford it. My son’s girlfriend got into Princeton ED. Now they are in a dilemma because of the cost, waiting for FA. Answering the Stanford mom: she was not the kid with the highest star that applied from her school, but got in, so good luch.</p>
<p>As I sit here in my Michigan Mom t-shirt, my heart goes out to all of you still waiting. Last week was my longest week of my life, until we got the good news on Friday.</p>
<p>I was way more anxious than my son was! He would check for an answer online every few days. I was checking every few hours. I played it cool with him and he thought it was funny. Inside though, I was a nervous wreck.</p>
<p>Best wishes to all of your students… and to you!</p>
<p>Sorry about the spelling. Trying to type on my iPhone with the autocorrect on.</p>
<p>My son has been accepted to five schools already. Waiting to hear from two reach schools. He still hasn’t made a decision. I just want him to hear from the others, visit again if necessary, and be done with it.</p>
<p>My daughter is only waiting on two schools that at this point only her pride cares about, as she thinks she has found her school. Of course the financial package wait is still going on here and we are a bit anxious for that. One school accepted her in November but we still have no idea on financials other than the " you have been recommended for a talent scholarship" letter she got with admission…</p>
<p>Sent from my Nexus 7 using CC</p>
<p>I know where my kid is going already but still tense wondering where all her best friends will go.</p>
<p>In 36 days this will all be over… Count 'em, 36 days.</p>
<p>Our D just committed last night. My H and I can’t believe how different we feel today, having that weight lifted off our shoulders.</p>
<p>Sending good wishes to everyone still waiting.</p>
<p>We went through this with our D in 2010. She applied EA to BC and was accepted into their honors program in December so she knew she had one great acceptance and was happy. Emails/letters from her matches began trickling in during early March; however, she refused to open anything. She said she was going to open everything on March 31st around 5:00 p.m. – the time the last notification was due to arrive from one of the reaches. She told us to hand her the unopened letters from those few who did snail mail and very quickly opened up a total of 17 emails/letters. She likened it to pulling off a Band Aid – she thought if it she did it quickly, it might not be as painful. 
She has been very happy at the school she chose and has done very well. I agree with what’s been said…even if your child is disappointed, chances are they’ll wind up where they’re meant to be and will be very happy.</p>
<p>jc40 - great story! It WOULD POSITIVELY KILL ME had my daughter done that, so kudos to you for not… going bonkers.</p>