<p>The past three weekends my son has had a great time participating in various competitions. The first was a math competition at a local college. His team tied for second place and he did well, scoring the highest for his school on the individual competitions. Last week his Academic Team went to the state Competition in Orlando. They did well in round one, but round two…not a good showing. They did get to spend their non-competition time at Disney so that was a plus. This weekend ten members of the math team went to Orlando and competed in various team and individual events at the state math competition. My son came home with two trophies - one for statistics (22nd in the state) and one in Probability (first in the state). Most important of all, he had a chance to go away with his buddies, have fun and not think about school or college. Nine more school days plus seven more tests and one decision to GO.</p>
<p>Congrats FlMathMom for you S on his wonderful showing at the contests. Woo Hoo!
And to 2ed’s S who accepted Duke. That is a wonderful school; one of my nieces graduated there a few years ago.
psychmama, when I heard about the tornadoes in NC I was thinking that it was probably a good thing that your H and S didn’t make it down there as regularly scheduled. Glad they are seeing it now.</p>
<p>H is still thinking here, negotiating with D over her concerns about being able to come home if she chooses the school that is further away. It is all very calm so I am sure whichever happens to be her choice will be fine.<br>
Glad everyone appears to be safe despite the wild weather. Here in our part of upstate NY we had some gusty winds, but in just the next county people lost their roofs (and their cars when that’s where the roof landed. Oy!)</p>
<p>Wow, I’ve been lost in a world of family gatherings because of a death in the family, and have been out of touch for awhile, not just here but in the world-- had no idea of the horrible weather so many of you are dealing with! You don’t even want to know how gorgeous it is here in Southern California. D2 is at Coachella, where it was 97 yesterday and is probably the same today.</p>
<p>Missy, dump away, and all of you whose children have found their new homes, congratulations!</p>
<p>holliesue, I wish my D2 could have that experience. So far she is a rule follower and is very much against drinking and drugs. I imagine the drinking thing will change next year, and I hate to have them have a bad experience away from home, but I guess that’s a rite of passage. Her older sister has always kept it modest and moderate…</p>
<p>D2 has spring break next week, so she will be working for me to work off some of the Coachella debt, plus AP prep and seeking a vintage dress for prom (she wants to keep it inexpensive and quirky this year). And I have to buy both my girls a sensible, serious outfit for my uncle’s funeral… they’re fortunate enough to have had very few people pass away in their lives, so they don’t have grown-up serious-dress clothing. So lots of shopping coming up.</p>
<p>Good luck with the final decisions…</p>
<p>Congratulations 2ed and her son on the Duke decision.</p>
<p>missypie: Vent, rant, cry, share whatever you want. I don’t know if you’ve seen my story about our 08 son in other threads. I learned after posting it that many people on CC have children who have taking detours from the “traditional” four years in college and then graduate roadmap.</p>
<p>Count down here is 6.5 days of classes before AP/IB testing begins. Only two days in May without a test, graduation practice or Senior Service Day. </p>
<p>Five weeks from right now we will be at the graduation ceremony.</p>
<p>2ED-congrats on Duke! My DS loved the campus but was waitlisted, so has decided not to pursue it. Go Blue Devils!</p>
<p>Avon–Hope you jump ship soon. Hope you all enjoyed DC while visiting, although the weather was crazy.</p>
<p>Missypie–vent away. This thread has been a world of comfort to me and we are there for you!</p>
<p>As for us, we were down south in Williamsburg for the weather. It was supposed to rain and hail on Saturday, and luckily that held off for the visit. Then when I left DS for evening activities, the skies opened up and the weather rolled in. It was crazy, but luckily for us the really bad stuff missed us. Close by tornados hit, and a middle school was destroyed. NC also had a rough time. It was a bad weather weekend for many states.</p>
<p>DS is rowing quickly to shore. He has pretty much made his choice, but we have to talk $. His ROTC scholarship came thru, but to a college he doesn’t want to attend. So the battle continues as we try to get it transferred. Not sure how successful we’ll be. So just when we think the stress is ending, the wrench gets thrown into the works to keep us on our toes. (DS was not happy about scholarship, his words were “do I have to go to that school?”). He really didn’t fit at that school. Tomorrow he will call his first choice and see what options he might have. He will get to go to his school of choice, but the financial ramifications are unknown at this point. I’m confident it will work out in the end, but it would be nice to have the easy answer! When is life ever easy???</p>
<p>Missypie, I haven’t posted in awhile either, for the same reason as you: not in a good place right now. Maybe we should pm each other whenever we feel like being Debbie Downers.</p>
<p>I’m lurking, though, and I’m so happy for all your kids’ wonderful news and flexibility in adapting to tough decisions.</p>
<p>Also rooting for the small crew remaining on the SS Indecision. I know you will soon reach land and be happy to be back on terra firma.</p>
<p>Best wishes to all of you.</p>
<p>Congratulations to everyone that is disembarking the SS Indecision! </p>
<p>Today was our last accepted students day and it was wonderful. D finally asked for the sweatshirt! I told her at the begining of the process that I would spring for a tee shirt but not to ask for the sweatshirt until she knew for sure where she was going. </p>
<p>And thank you Pepper for the good weather!</p>
<p>Missypie and MOSB - we miss you on the board and we are here for the good, the bad and the ugly.</p>
<p>Posting to let everyone know that my daughter made the squad at UGA!!! She is so excited and glad to be a Bulldog!</p>
<p>trying to catch up here and stopping right where I am (on page 911) to say how wonderful Pepper’s post was… so heartfelt and said it all…</p>
<p>missypie–this is a great place to vent/get ideas as you know, just browse/lurk if you must but hope you jump in whenever you are up to it</p>
<p>puma–wow and yay on the 4K! and fingers crossed for the job status also</p>
<p>Glad to see that most kids have arrived where they should be by now and good luck to those still traveling</p>
<p>puma12 – good Lord, I’ll keep my fingers crossed for your job and your car. As for the sweatshirt – there’s another thread kicking around that says buying the t-shirt is a souvenir, but the sweatshirt is a commitment. I hope the finaid works out.</p>
<p>oregonianmom – how nice for H and S. I’d be so jealous if I were you. Forget the diet; you look great!</p>
<p>psychmama – glad they made it there! Sounds like he will get a chance to really see what the school is like.</p>
<p>2education – congratulations! Excited for S.</p>
<p>mosb – sorry things aren’t going too well for you right now. keep the good times in mind.</p>
<p>gamomof3 – great news!</p>
<p>My older kids are just finishing their spring break. Senior skip day tomorrow, and then less than three weeks of classes for D. Gettin’ close.</p>
<p>Ironically, we are on board another ship named Indecision. We have to decide whether to move our 2nd grader to a different school next year. The college decision was a lot easier! Really.</p>
<p>seattlemom–that would be a very tough decision with the 2nd grader, hope it becomes clear to you what the best choice will be.</p>
<p>2education–congrats to your S on Duke!</p>
<p>mosb–I was missing your posts and wondering what was going on–so sorry you are not in a good place, hope some light shines on you and for you soon.</p>
<p>gamom–congrats to your D!</p>
<p>As I was surfing around CC I found a link that led me to a page and I then linked onward and found the following information and statistics about waitlists. Just general FYI but eye opening none the less. Based on the source of the data, I am guessing these are last year’s figures at best.</p>
<p>The article can be found at [How</a> ‘yield’ figures into the admissions equation - Washington DC College admissions | Examiner.com](<a href=“http://www.examiner.com/college-admissions-in-washington-dc/how-yield-figures-into-the-admissions-equation]How”>http://www.examiner.com/college-admissions-in-washington-dc/how-yield-figures-into-the-admissions-equation)</p>
<p>Some of the details and stats are below.</p>
<p>USNWR uses its access to Common Data Set information to generate lists of college yields ranked from highest to lowest. Interestingly, it is one ranking not totally dominated by the Ivy League.</p>
<p>The following is a summary of the highest yields posted by liberal arts colleges and universities using the most recent data available:
•US Naval Academy: 85.5% ↑ from the previous year
•US Military Academy: 77% ↓
•Brigham Young University—Provo: 76.9% ↓
•Harvard University: 76.5% ↑
•Berea College: 76% ↑
•Principia College: 71.6% ↑
•Thomas Aquinas College: 70.8% ↑
•Stanford University: 69.8% ↓
•Georgia Southern University: 68.7% ↑
•University of Nebraska—Lincoln: 67.1% ↓
•Atlantic Union College: 66.9% ↑
•University of Alaska—Fairbanks: 66.9% ↑
•Yale University: 66.8% ↓
•Idaho State University: 66.7% ↑
•University of North Dakota: 66.3% ↑
•MIT: 64% ↓
•Yeshiva University: 63.8% ↓
•University of Pennsylvania: 61.3% ↓
•University of Wisconsin—Parkside: 61.3%↑
•University of Memphis: 60.5% ↑
Local colleges and universities have mixed results:</p>
<p>•Virginia Military Institute: 51.2% ↑
•University of Virginia: 48% (no change)
•Georgetown University: 42.2% ↓
•Washington & Lee University: 40% ↓
•Old Dominion University: 38.7% (n/a)
•UMBC: 36.8% (n/a)
•Virginia Commonwealth University: 36.4% (n/a)
•Virginia Tech: 36% ↓
•George Washington University: 35.5% ↑
•University of Maryland—College Park: 35.4% ↓
•St. Mary’s College of Maryland: 35.3% ↑
•College of William and Mary: 34.4% ↓
•Howard University: 32.1% ↑
•Johns Hopkins University: 31.3% ↑
•George Mason University: 30.6% (n/a)
•American University: 19.3% ↑</p>
<p>MOSB you know we are here-just like for missypie and everyone else in this family. </p>
<p>momofboston I am so thrilled the visit went well-I think our kids will be classmates? :)</p>
<p>Making cheerleader is a big deal!!! gamom your daughter must be thrilled!</p>
<p>Yikes having a 2nd grader seattle_mom-and having to think of changing schools-that can’t be good.</p>
<p>If I missed anyone I am sorry-oh yeah FLMath your son is amazing!</p>
<p>I find the whole acceptance and yield information fascinating. I know that NEU has a low yield-something like 20%. So to get their class to 2,800 for next year they have to accepted over 14K-and they got some crazy number over 40K applications. If their yield is off even slightly to the plus side of 20% what would they do? I know these people know what they are doing and have all the historical rates to back up the numbers they admit-but there isn’t much margin for error with those kinds of numbers.</p>
<p>gamom-congrats!
FLMathmom-wow, how impressive!</p>
<p>MOSB and missypie-my thoughts are with you…</p>
<p>Hello everyone,
I have been a lurker for a long time. I just wanted to say I am impressed with everyones kids on this site. They all sound awesome and have bright futures ahead of them. My DD was EA accepted to UGA in Dec. That is the only school she applied to and will be in their honors program.
Gamomof3 I am so happy your daughter made UGA’s cheerleading squad. My daughter will be trying out for their majorette line in two weeks and I don’t know who is more nervous. If everyone one can say a prayer or send good vibes her way on the 30th it would be great. Maybe we will see you at the games next year.</p>
<p>Momofsongbird - (((()))) You all were so great to me when my mom died so if anyone wants to vent to me about anything or pm me…I am here for you. Stuff gets better, it does, just takes time and allowing good things to come in to take their place.</p>
<p>Gamom - congrats, that is very exciting and it is nice that your D is starting off with a solid social group/activity. The transition will be easier.</p>
<p>Pepper - Yes our kids will be classmates at Northeastern! It was nice to see her be at peace with her decision and actually start to become excited about next fall. They did a really nice job of welcoming the students and the parents. What’s not to like?!</p>
<p>I find it to be very rewarding hearing about everyone’s stories and all these really AMAZING kids. They are all smart and talented in their own way and I am hopeful that they will find their way. I am sure that each of them (and their parents) are going to hit bumps and disappointments along the way but they can be sure that they will have loving and caring parents to guide them.</p>
<p>Congrats on all the nice decisions!
We should disembark the SS Indecision soon.
S is off school all week, so that should help, or will it, lol?
Welcome to the new posters and have a great day, everyone!</p>
<p>It’s a gray Monday here after now several days of cold and gray weather. Hard to be very perky when it’s like this. </p>
<p>I hope troubles lift soon and those in sadness - mosb, missypie, researching4emb and others - can feel some ease soon.</p>
<p>This is a very kind group, and I wish everyone well. It is true that the magic date of May 1 will bring almost the very end of this long and exhausting process, which comes on top of everything else life brings us. Being a waitlist family (which some days, believe me, I wish we weren’t!) I know that there are those of us whose uncertainty will last a few extra weeks, but in the meantime we all know that we had a heck of a year and that our kids can be proud of all that they accomplished.</p>
<p>Soon we will be in a phase where these kids will be handling their ups and downs, joys and disappointments, without us there with them, and that is a huge change for just about everyone. This weekend while the other families in the group were worrying over prom plans I found myself thinking, hey, in a few months I won’t have a clue where she’s having dinner on a Saturday night, so it’s kind of hard to be too worked up about who’s driving which car when. I can feel the earth starting to move. Mostly it’s exciting, although there is some sadness, too.</p>
<p>Had a long talk with college D, who’s having much the same feelings about her own life. She’s very sad thinking she only has one more month in this place that she loves - and yet she is excited and very ready to be moving on. I always knew that this spring would be a big moment in our families, with the two graduations, but you can’t know how something actually will feel until it happens. The combination of pride, joy, fear and sadness is very intense - and again, on top of everything else in our lives: parents’ health issues, big changes in work and finances, concerns about friends and community. </p>
<p>I know this group here will be an understanding and caring support for me and for all of us, with a perspective that comes from true empathy. We’re in it together, and that is a real comfort.</p>
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<p>As the mom of a 15 year old former gymnast who does both competitive and school cheer, I’m not only impressed that she made the squad, I’m impressed that her body has held out long enough for her to cheer in college. Yesterday was the last cheer competition of the season and none too soon. Our most awesome jumper has the second blown out knee in two years; D has been waiting to go on 6 weeks of rest/physical therapy since November, etc etc. One school cheerleader’s season/career ended with a pretty serious concussion. Despite the huge bows and glitter eyeshadow, it’s not a sport for sissies! </p>
<p>There is one 15 year old on our HS squad who is already being scouted for college. She is not only a great tumbler, but she is “full grown” at 4’10" and around 80 lbs. My own D is about 10" taller and that would never work for college.</p>
<p>I ordered '11 D’s graduation announcements and thank you cards this morning. I looked at a bunch of different sites and the one I liked best for design, price, and personalization as to text, font and color was Pear Tree Greetings. Glad to have that off my checklist. </p>
<p>D was considering trying out for her school’s dance team. They even took video auditions. But then we found out she’d need to stay at school during the Thanksgiving to New Years winter break. Sort of a deal killer for a freshman hundreds of miles from home.</p>