<p>This week will bring some information for us. Three are matches and one is a (big) reach. We’re already pretty sure that D did not get into one of the matches due to intelligence garnered from CC. This match isn’t even a top choice, but I expect that my D will take it pretty hard. Someone one this thread earlier posted the truism that “rejections from matches hurt the most.” And, then of course, next week comes word from all the uber reaches… Stress, anyone?</p>
<p>D and DH are planning a trip in April to visit at least one college that D is expecting to get into (likely letter). We have family back East, so we have a home base there. Me? I’m staying home to earn money to pay for D’s college education…</p>
<p>Madbean–congrats! Hope it’s the program he wants the most!</p>
<p>Moonmaid–you crack me up! Sewing the apron pocket shut–too funny. I could see myself doing the same thing!</p>
<p>Tomorrow I am taking a bus trip with DS to Florida for their spring band trip. Not looking forward to that ride, but I’ve never been able to go before, and so I’m going this year, since it’s his last trip! He’s not thrilled, but did tell me at dinner tonight, ‘I know in the future I’ll be glad you went with me’. Guess I’ll take what I can get–at least he understands why I’m going! </p>
<p>So at least one decision will come while on the trip–UVA. Son isn’t even worried, since he received a likely letter. He has no clue about the scholars programs that might be possible too. For him, ignorance is bliss during these stressful last days! I think all other decisions come next week after we return. </p>
<p>The next thing I’m stressing about are admitted student visits. DS really hasn’t made a decision, and already has some really good choices. Once all decisions are in, I expect at least 3 visits to seal the deal. But that means missing several days of school potentially. We’ll cross that bridge after next week.</p>
<p>Have a great weekend and enjoy spring break for those of you that are headed into the break. We have to wait until Easter week for that!</p>
<p>Madbean, That sounds great! Looking forward to hearing which school it is at USC.
S1 is psyching himself up to visit IU again. This time he’ll look at the honor’s college and the vegetarian restaurants and find out about internships and computer tech student jobs. Bloomington is more liberal and I think more fun - certainly a better place for a vegetarian than West Lafayette. I still think he could risk taking out loans for Purdue if he really wanted to do so. With a computer science major his job prospects are more secure than D2’s who will be applying to colleges for Chinese and international relations next year.</p>
<p>Wow that Michigan COA is just amazingly high.</p>
<p>My issue isn’t the lack of FA we are getting-I expected that. I may not agree with what they say we can afford but they can calculate it however they want-and I can chose to pay it or not.</p>
<p>What bugs me is calling a loan aid-what kind of aid is a loan?? </p>
<p>So anyway after a school meeting tonight to talk about the trip my son’s language class is taking in mid-April (yes great timing) one of the parents comes up and asks him where he is going. He tells her where he is probably going and she proceeds to trash the place-they visited it, hated it, can’t he do better, etc. I like this woman and that’s just her but he was pretty discouraged-</p>
<p>He also bombed a Chemistry test and is actually going to get his first B ever. Now please understand his HS is not anything out of the ordinary and I am sure an A there would be a B at some other schools but still it is bumming him out-he was so close to getting to the end of his time in the public schools here and keeping a straight A that he is very disappointed. By the way for those of you who may remember he applied to two of his three Ivies as a Chemistry major-he was just kidding! He likes but doesn’t love it anymore and wants to be undecided again. Too late Bucko! My goodness as I saw somewhere else on CC dealing with a teenager is like trying to nail Jello to a tree.</p>
<p>He is also very pessimistic about his chances next week-I can’t disagree with him since I think those SAT Subject tests were the nail in his coffin but he is really down about himself-especially after reading the threads of the schools he has applied to. He told me every time he comes on here he feels stupid and inferior.</p>
<p>I think between his antics non-school related and all this school stuff he is hanging on by a thread-and he’s a pretty laid back happy kid-I can’t imagine how the more intense ones are coping.</p>
<p>Pepper: I think that my D will also receive her first B ever this semester. It happens. She also had her lowest SAT II score ever on her favorite and A+ class. It happens. IMHO we ask way too much of these mere mortal 17 year olds. (Not than I’m not guilty of pushing and prodding my D to achieve more!)</p>
<p>Feeling sad tonight. Realizing that very soon my little girl will be gone. Sniff…</p>
<p>Congrats Madbean – that’s exciting news. Can’t wait to hear the details!</p>
<p>sorry to hear about Financial Aid woes and wait lists. this process has so many twists, turns and concerns. by next Fri, april 1, we’ll at least have all the news to consider (i don’t think there are schools that notify pass april 1, are there? and is most finaid info available by then?). i’m sure i’ll be asking for some opinions post april 1. glad to have all of you to turn to w/ any questions that come up.</p>
<p>pepper, these kids are all probably a bit wrecked. i didn’t even realize how nervous my S was until I saw that poem today. on the outside he seems so cool and collected but obviously he’s very stressed. i just think that this college process is way too long – two years, junior and senior, that are non-stop focused on this all-important goal. and as far as the lady who spoke w/ him tonight: man, no awareness! these kids have to deal w/ so much in navigating this process, the last thing they need is to deal w/ insensitive people. i’ve noticed in the last few weeks that every time i run into an acquaintance who knows i have a senior, the first thing i’m asked is where is he going to school, not how I am or how my family is doing.</p>
<p>camathmom I don’t know if we ask too much or just come to expect them always to perform at such high levels-either way point well taken. It does happen-and life will go on.</p>
<p>RM that is the first question everyone asks too-the college one. It’s nice to know we have company in this-it is way too much I agree and way too long as well.</p>
<p>My daughter has the eye roll down to perfection on all this stuff-of course she was born with a perfect eye roll technique. ):</p>
<p>Rmom, I hear you on this. However, full disclosure, three years ago I was the person asking these kids and their parents where they wanted to go to college. They must have hated me, and I had no idea about the stress I was inducing.</p>
<p>amandakayak : Michigan is ultra-stingy with support for OOS. My daughter is just finishing up after 4 years. If you can swing the $$, you will not regret it. It is an outstanding school with a vast number of top notch programs and most importantly the connections with Michigan Alumni. My daughter got all 3 of her summer intern positions in DC through the Alumni & Michigan in DC program - and now is all set with a job there. But they are terrible about FA with OOS. In fact they rely on folks like me to keep the subsidies going for their instate students !</p>
<p>Just popping in to say S2 got into the Film School at USC. We are happy and may be taking a bit of time to digest all the good news. I hear you all about the stress–even of having too many great choices all at once.</p>
<p>But I do wish that sort of stress on all!</p>
<p>camathmom–I am sorry your D may have a bump in the road from a match. I’m sure she’ll have even more good news soon to wipe away any hurt feelings.</p>
<p>camathmom and pepper03 - We are in the same position as S is currently getting a B in AP Calc and the grading period ends this Friday. He has one test to get through on Friday to hopefully avoid his first ever B in high school. He is going crazy over it as he is worried that it will affect his class ranking that he has worked so hard to achieve. At least he is trying to stay focused and is studying for it. I am just glad he is not over obsessing about the college decisions although he got excited this evening when he heard that Vanderbilt mailed their decision letters today.</p>
<p>madbean - congrats to your S on the USC film school :)</p>
<p>O-Mom and SeattleMom, now you have my curiousity going about “the school”?
D1’s heart also is definitely home in the Pacific Northwest, at least for college choices.</p>
<p>Re: rejection from matches - it happened to my D with UT Austin. In her case it was slightly different in that it was her first music audition and she didn’t nail it. The difference between that audition and her final two was amazing. Looking back, we should have tried to have scheduled that audition later in the process, but it was also a school that she knew and felt comfortable with, having played there before in music programs. But she then got accepted at Vanderbilt, which was a reach for her because of the tough academic admit stats, even for music students. And she aced her audition at her reach music school, and I think she stands a good chance of getting admitted there (going there however, is a reach for her parents, since it probably will be too expensive). So you just never know.</p>
<p>Avon I hope he can pull it out-my son was on the edge with the Calc around Christmas but pulled it out and now is doing very well in it-I think Chem though is past his ability to make up.</p>
<p>His school does the final calculation of class rank after 1st semester so he is locked in and doesn’t have to think about that anymore. I hear lots of stories from parents whose kids have checked out of school mentally since they have nothing to “work for” anymore. I wonder how motivated trying to keep his streak going has kept him and what will happen when it ends-I would like to think he has enough discipline and maturity to keep working his hardest.</p>
<p>One thing to keep in mind with those movitivated “A” students - a “B” right now might be a good thing. They need to realize that the world won’t end if they get a “B”. I understand the concern in situations where it will affect ranking for graduation awards. However, grading will be tougher in college, and they will probably not be able to get straight "A"s. This is especially true at selective schools where courses are curved. Most of the kids in their classes will be just as bright and hard-working as they are, and they won’t all get "A"s.</p>
<p>momjr- you took the words right out of my mouth! The B’s (and lower) grades my D has received have sometimes been the best thing to happen to her!</p>
<p>I’ve been catching up on the news and am silently rooting for all of your kids. Rest easy knowing that each of you helped your children make good choices, went into the process prepared, and gave them the tools they need to weather all of the outcomes.
I am confident that at the end of the day, all of our kids will rejoice that they made it through this gauntlet intact.</p>
<p>RenaissanceMom ~ Thanks for sharing your S beautiful poem…</p>
<p>Walking Tessie ~ Oh my!</p>
<p>VAMom2015 ~ It’s wonderful what you are doing to help this young man.</p>
<p>madbean ~ Congratulations on your S being accepted at the USC Film School!</p>
<p>Last night we went to one of MIT’s regional parties for admitted students. It made the idea more real, since I did not visit the school yet (S did, of course).</p>
</p>
I’m sure she’ll have even more good news soon to wipe away any hurt feelings.</p>