<p>Joisy Mom - YES!!! I was far more freaked out than my daughter, which I think should tell me I’m too invested. I already have an arrhythmia, and the first skinny envelope came from D’s top choice.
Now the kids get the mail. I can’t handle it.</p>
<p>1st acceptance finally came from Albright College. They left a voicemail.</p>
<p>Just wanted to say thanks to all the parents who posted in this thread. Your comments about your kids and potential schools have been an invaluable help to me! My daughter and I visited many of schools that were suggested here. We never would have heard of them had I not read this thread. Still waiting for October’s ACT scores to be released. Once that is done, her applications are complete and we can relax and hopefully see some acceptances. Thanks again!</p>
<p>Very relieved to report screaming happy daughter got first acceptance, OWU! Came just hours after being deferred by UGA, so welcome good news in this house.
Like HeavyLidded, I too have been wishing there were more ~6k student body sizes to choose from (non-Ivy).</p>
<p>Congrats on the OWU acceptances! It’s a lovely school in a great location and personally I am a big fan of the CTCL schools.</p>
<p>[Ohio</a> Wesleyan University | Colleges That Change Lives](<a href=“http://www.ctcl.org/colleges/ohio-wesleyan]Ohio”>Ohio Wesleyan University – Colleges That Change Lives)</p>
<p>So–just to confirm. I’m not allowed to open any big envelopes that come in addressed to DS, right? Like the one I’m looking at from OWU admissions? (That knucklehead doesn’t even have school today–he’s playing video games at a friend’s house. Grrrr. . . )</p>
<p>Lol…MyLB, I stupidly promised my son that I wouldn’t open any mail that came from colleges he’s applied to. Up until now, I’ve acted as secretary, apening mail and forwarding important stuff that he needs to take a look at. He still just dumps the mail on the sofa for me to look at when I get home. He told me he doesn’t even want to know when the decisions are due to come out.</p>
<p>I really don’t think DS would mind–this is more me. I love surprises and feel like he should open this one. (I had his brother put it at the bottom of the mail pile so when I say, “Um. . . I think there’s something in there for you” he’ll have to dig for a while.) And of course I’ve decided I’m just going to stress eat until he gets home. I have tea water heating and a piece of pie warming up in the oven. It’ll be on to the leftover brownies next. :)</p>
<p>Oh, my son doesn’t care either. It was my idea, also wanting to let him get the thrill of it. But I took this week off from work and I went to the mailbox 3 times today before the mail finally arrived, only to find no mail from a school he’s applied to. I admit that I’m way too invested in this…but whatever 
Be sure to let us know his reaction!</p>
<p>Sooooo grateful to OWU (and all the other schools that have done the same) for sending out these acceptances to our kids before Thanksgiving, and in many cases with merit scholarships. I know it’s going to make the mood in our house a lot lighter for the holiday!
Congrats to all of your kids!</p>
<p>Big thumbs up on that. DS <em>finally</em> got home and yes he is in at OWU! And yes to merit aid!! Woot woot!</p>
<p>@reeinaz, congratulations on Albright College acceptance!</p>
<p>@Bloomfield, welcome :)</p>
<p>@cbreeze and LB, congrats on Ohio Wesleyan U. acceptances! (and the merit!)</p>
<p>Time for me to get back to this thread. I started it three years back but then have been drifting in and out as my son has been going his own way. On the other hand I am glad that many are finding this thread very useful. </p>
<p>I have posted my situation before but here is it again. My son is very bright, but lives for his guitar and music and hence pays no attention to grades (around 3.2 UW) and has a 29 ACT. He has ADHD. Every teacher tells us that he is not performing up to potential and that he puts in minimum effort. He was interested in only music schools but is now willing to consider LAC’s with good music programs. Finally!!!</p>
<p>I have read about CTCL and am looking for some suggestions of some more colleges he could apply. I was looking at Reed in Oregon. Are other colleges that he might apply and be able to have a fighting chance. And no, he is not interested in taking the ACT again, even though he knows he might be able to get a better score.</p>
<p>My S had a lower GPA and slightly lower ACT and had several good options for LACs in the midwest. And he is a bass guitarist, ultimately chose to study music :)</p>
<p>Mazewanderer–I remember finding this thread months ago and thanking heaven that I wasn’t alone. I wanted to just thank you and the other parents for your honest posts about your kiddos. You have sustained me. (And I am thrilled to report that son’s first quarter grades were all A’s for the first time since eighth grade…it does get better, sometimes sooner, sometimes later.)</p>
<p>Regarding CTCLs…My son (who plays guitar, like yours), was really attracted to St. Lawrence in Appleton, Wis. Have you looked into it or St. John’s College? Would a gap year be a possibility?</p>
<p>Mazewanderer, I have a friend who is studying saxophone at Furman (Greenville, SC). The family is full of trained musicians, and they’re thrilled with the school. According to supermatch, your son has about a 59% shot.</p>
<p>Thank you all </p>
<p>OHMomof2, which school did your child finally go to, does he like it there?</p>
<p>kelijake1987, no we have not looked any of those colleges, it is just recently that he has even agreed to look beyond those colleges. I will look in them and Furman. Given we live on the west coast, are there any suggestions on western side.</p>
<p>Thank you Maze! You deserve a lot of credit. I’m here a lot even though my DD falls below 3.0. To her credit, she has put on steam in the last two years and scored 1400 on M/CR SATs. </p>
<p>To be honest, I think this little thread you started is a lot more useful than the CTCL list, which seems rather thin and out of date by now. It would take you days to comb through all the tips here, but there are many worthwhile ones.</p>
<p>My only thought about Reed is that it’s such an in-demand college. Everyone knows it as the place that Steve Jobs dropped out of. If my daughter had a 3.8, I might consider applying. What about looking at schools near or in cities, where he could indulge his passion for music. And since he’s not interested in taking the ACT again, look at test optional schools. My DD has ADHD as well and for us it was medication that helped her turn the corner. We are looking for small LAC’s with good services and accommodations. No classes bigger that 35 if possible. To be honest, we wouldn’t have her take the ACTs because it’s too difficult for a student like her to be successful on so many timed sections.</p>
<p>He chose Capita1 in Columbus, OH because it had the best music program for him and also offered a great $ deal. But his final choices included Depauw, Wooster, Wittenberg and Adrian, plus the state schools he applied to(BGSU and Cincy), and Duquesne in Pittsburgh. He LOVES it there, academically, socially, location and for sure his music classes. His college GPA is higher than his HS one was :)</p>
<p>He didn’t want to go far from home so these are all in and around Ohio. Is your S looking to come this far east? </p>
<p>There’s a great thread on schools that accept more than 50% of applicants and graduate more than 50% at <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1299462-looking-beyond-rankings.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1299462-looking-beyond-rankings.html</a> - nice look at each school and some things that make it special. I’d take a look in there.</p>
<p>Congrats on all the OWU acceptances! I thought D was going to apply but it’s fallen off…app fatigue I think. Great school with wonderful opportunities. Loved the science building. And the tip-it programs. Oh how I wish we had that acceptance in hand!</p>
<p>Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using CC</p>