<p>Congratulations, Anniezz!!! </p>
<p>Confusedmom --that’s an incredible increase! Congrats to your S and you!</p>
<p>@stillnadine, Congrats on Guilford! I don’t know what page it is but I wrote out what I love about Warren Wilson. Click on my username and do a search under my posts and you will find it. It’s probably too hippie for what your daughter may be looking for, but Guilford does sound like a good fit :).</p>
<p>Thanks jkiwmom and spritle- I asked him before he left for school if there are any schools he would like to apply to now that he didn’t think he had a chance to get into before. He seemed intrigued. We have to hurry though and see if any of them have Jan 1st deadlines. Since tomorrow is the last day of school before the break so he would have to let his GC know so they could send out transcripts, etc. tomorrow.</p>
<p>@stillnadine: also take a look at Methodist U. in Fayetteville, NC. I think MU’s campus is nicer than Guilford’s, and more to do in the area.</p>
<p>[Methodist</a> University - Fayetteville, NC](<a href=“http://www.methodist.edu%5DMethodist”>http://www.methodist.edu)</p>
<p>So ConfusedMom–how’s my empty mailbox buddy? Yet <em>another</em> day with nothing–no large, no small, no medium. I’m beginning to think the mailman is holding anything with a college return address just to annoy me.</p>
<p>Gunnerz, thanks for the suggestion. Looked at the website. Doesn’t seem like a fit for my DD but others may be interested.</p>
<p>Congrats on all of the great news lately - and my best wishes to those still waiting to hear.</p>
<p>Confused, I’ll chime in on the improved test score question. My D took ACT one last time in the fall and had a huge improvement. She did decide to apply to a couple of academic reaches because of it. She was waitlisted at one of them, and ultimately got in. It made her decision time in the spring very complicated and drawn out, even painful toward the very end. She decided ultimately not to go to the reach school, and she is happy where she is. </p>
<p>For some kids, adding reaches just stresses them out. The high scores themselves are a great accomplishment, and sometimes that’s enough for them. I do think that in my D’s case it was a very big ego boost to have gotten into a pretty high prestige school, even though she decided to turn it down. It all depends on the individual.</p>
<p>Thanks to all those who offered well-wishes for DD. She’s home for now and went to school this morning (has been in bed since); I’m hopeful we can get a handle on this before next fall. I’d really hoped Guilford would come through with some wonderful news for her to return to, but instead I got a postcard about carpet cleaning.
Sigh.
Oh well, she’s home and doing relatively OK for the holidays 
Best outcome wished for all those waiting for CC EA decisions tonight.</p>
<p>DD rejected from CC. Only one of two schools she was truly excited about. I wish I could do something to delay this pain - this is not the time for this news.</p>
<p>So sorry cbreeze. Hopefully, the disappointment won’t stay with her, or you, for long.</p>
<p>MyLB-Sorry, but you are alone now. We got our 1st acceptance today. No big envelope but an email. He got in to UMass Lowell. </p>
<p>Cbreeze - your daughter must be so disappointed. Must be hard.</p>
<p>Emmy- you raise valid points. He did decide to apply to 3 more schools (RPI, WPI and U Rochester). We shall see how it goes.</p>
<p>Congrats to ConfusedMom! You (and your S) must feel wonderful! Here’s to lots more good news for all of us.</p>
<p>Confused Momma- We are local to RPI and D applied there (ultimately getting WL but we still call that a win :D) Anything we can help with, or questions, let me know.</p>
<p>This is such a classic B student thread question. How high should they reach, big/small fish/pond, etc. How can they follow high-achieving siblings (and/or parents). How they can get merit $ when they’re not at the top of their class, and many more questions.</p>
<p>My D had all of those factors (although while fortunately she didn’t need merit money, she really wanted to earn it), plus she had a double challenge in applying with both academic hurdles and auditions into selective arts programs. </p>
<p>Her results were classic - almost completely predictable, from what I could gather on CC, even with the auditioned programs. She took a few ego blows with the rejections to the elite academic and arts programs (where her stats were on the lower side, and she was up against way more experienced and prepared auditioners), but she did get some great acceptances just a notch or two down from that. For her that settled in her mind that she was “acceptable,” that she could choose to join what she felt was a family tradition of highly intense academic achievement.</p>
<p>Yet as a B+ student and a late bloomer she had to think long and hard about fit, and about whether she wanted to be a big or small fish. She also had to look very very hard at the specifics of the programs. The great thing was that her list gave her so many options, and she put a ton of effort into figuring out what was most important to her. In the end, she chose the school that had the selective arts program, the not-so-selective general academic admissions that gave her great merit aid, and an honors college to beef up the academics. Oh, added to that, it’s in the dream location for someone with her interests.</p>
<p>It sounds like the obvious choice, but there have been challenges. There have been times that being at less of an “ivory tower” type of school has bothered her. She had a little trouble finding her place there, and still struggles with the big/small fish/pond question (which probably is inevitable in her unavoidably competitive performance major). She has found some incredible friends and has bonded with some terrific profs, and she’s figured out how she wants to live her life there - much like any college student has to. </p>
<p>In many ways our less-than-perfect HS students have an easier time choosing (and getting into) colleges than the top kids, because they do know that there are many good schools that are attainable. Every year there are students on these threads who are deciding if and how much to reach, and if they do get in, would they really fit there. Every student - and family - is different in their response to these questions. And no matter where a student decides to go, they still have to spend the next four years deciding who they are and what matters to them. </p>
<p>It’s an exciting time. I think the main thing that they, and we, all learn is how to look at this question of “worth” and “capability.” I think our kids who have experienced frustration and setbacks often have a terrific handle on how mysterious life can be and how to make hard choices.</p>
<p>I admire all of them. I have been honored to observe and support my Ds’ journeys as they learn to make meaning for themselves in a complex world full of unpredictable experiences.</p>
<p>@kinderny - Thanks for the offer. We have not yet been to RPI but I have heard differing opinions about the area around the school. what is it like? Safe? How city is it? We are in a town of 3000 on the MA/NH border. More cows than people in town!</p>
<p>I think we may skip URochester. It would be a HMFR for my DS. Not sure he’d go even if he got in, too tough to get everything done by Jan 1st. they seem to highly recommend interviews and that ain’t happening before Jan 1st. also I sent his SAT scores last night. He has taken a few SAT subject tests but didin’t do very well. I sent his best score (US History 650) but this morning I read the website more carefully and they want 2 subject tests. Might as well stop while we are only into it for $11.</p>
<p>Cbreeze… I am so sorry about CC!!! It was my DS’s #1 last year and he was deferred ED and then rejected in March… I thought he would be devastated, but guess what, he bounced right back and is now going to another college that he absolutely fell in love with on an accepted student weekend. The problem about CC is that if you fall in love with it, it is so unique because of the block plan, that no other school seems to be similar to it, so no second choice. The school that my S will be attending in August( he is on a gap year right now) is St Lawrence University… which actually has a lot of CC cross overs. It is VERY similar, just not the block plan…so happy ending, I’m sure your D will too!</p>
<p>EmmyBet… you are right on as usual and I want to give you 100 green boxes. My DS had a quite a few high reaches on his list, and thankfully he didn’t get in one of them… I don’t think he wold have been comfortable with the stress of being at the bottom of the pack. At his school he will be at the top( he got their top merit scholarship so that is why I think this), I think he will be able to shine there… and still have time to do all the other things he is passionate about. He just finished completing the Pacific Crest Trail… 2650 miles from Mexico to Canada by himself… he has matured in so m any ways, and he will be SO ready to start his academic life this August!</p>
<p>I know it’s a bit late for the '13s, but anyone who is interested in Colorado College’s block plan should look at Cornell College in Iowa, which has one that is very similar. Actually - from their website they have a 2/1 deadline for RD, so maybe it’s still a possibility. I’m pretty sure it’s an easier admit, too (“2011 incoming class had an average high school GPA of 3.54, average ACT score of 26.2, and average SAT combined score of 1238”). Maybe it’s not as glamorous as Colorado, but it is a lovely little campus in a sweet town, and only a half hour from Iowa City (a neat place) and the big U there. I know they get the kids out and around a lot, especially with the block plan that allows them to travel for several weeks, move to a city for a project, etc.</p>
<p>Thanks, 5boys. Good luck to your son. That sounds like a terrific gap year experience! And I think I’ll be seeing more of you, since at least one of your other boys is looking at theatre, too, right?</p>
<p>D has finally heard from U of SF, and she’s in. They really dragged it out before the holiday but I think it remains one of her top choices. Hopefully others will get some happy news before the break begins in earnest and have something to start the new year off with.</p>
<p>I am sorry Cbreeze. Admissions can really take it’s toll :(. Praying that you get more good news soon!</p>
<p>I am trying to think of another block type school…Cornell College comes to mind and I know Knox College has a trimester system with 3 courses at a time (also great for FA -merit and need based). </p>
<p>Emmy, wonderful words about our kids. I completely agree…I am so proud of my DD. I will take her beautiful spirit over a 4.0 GPA any day!</p>
<p>Congrats, nyersmom! Lots to celebrate lately!!!</p>
<p>Confusedmom, great schools to add!</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for the compassion and suggestions.
We’ll add Cornell, Knox, and St. Lawrence. DD balks at NY and especially Iowa, but felt the same about North Carolina until we visited. Besides, we’re in sub-rural GA - how different could it be?</p>