<p>
Entirely agree. Can the same be said for the parents? 
We can’t help but feel at least a little validated by our son’s successes.
In any event, they’re surely to be celebrated.</p>
<p>^^ like :)</p>
<p>Creekland, I’ve been maintaining a list of possibilities through my own research (including here on this forum). We already have several that we visited that he knows he will apply to. I have a few more that I’m suggesting and we’ll see how his endurance (and interest) goes. As far as I know our GC’s don’t sit with kids and help them pick colleges. It’s hard enough for them to stay on top of the transcripts and recommendation letters and the usual academic counseling on top of all that. </p>
<p>We have one or two more reaches on the list, a bunch that seem like matches, and another safety. One challenge is writing any supplemental essays at all. We’re trying to get ADD meds figured out so he can get out of a vicious sleep deprivation cycle and get enough homework done to pass his classes. Would it resonate with anyone if I said I could imagine applying only to schools that don’t require supplements :-b</p>
<p>Also, we should hear soon from UMBC, not his top choice but a good option.</p>
<p>
Resonates here.</p>
<p>ExpatCanuck… 
yes I think it holds true for the parents…
When K1 was born I was reading all of these books and convinced everyone else was screwing up because things were humming along
and
K2 was born…and litigator is the best way to describe K2 as a newborn and still…
ready to negotiate everything and to battle every boundary.</p>
<p>K1 landed at HYP (focused/hardworking kid with lots of interesting extras)
K2 is not fishing in the same pond…AND is the kid who notices the details, reads people and situations well, recognizes smoke/mirrors…And will not be at HYP.</p>
<p>I hope/pray they are successful and happy in their own right–
Frankly they are both Shocked to find out mom had a life and great career before Them (gave it up to stay home)!</p>
<p>Nice to have HYP on the car windshield, yes. And will be nice to have K2s U of choice…
then
maybe I can be more interesting/validated in my own right again :D</p>
<p>As for supplements…back in the day, at the last minute I applied to a school that had a one pager–basic info and no essays. Got in and attended/met DH there. DH (who had been applying to Cornell–gave up that app because of the supplemental essay! ha)
We’ve done just fine :)</p>
<p>IF the colored envelope of K2s first choice does not arrive, it will impact the holiday–AND we will be tasked with reminding K2 that no school defines us.</p>
<p>Hee, fogfog, I met my DH at Cornell but as we both claimed to be writers (as does our S2) the essays were not a barrier. However, I found my application essays and what a load of c**p they were.</p>
<p>Back in the day (when Toronto was only 1.5M or so people), the college application process took about half an hour, filling out a form in the cafeteria:
- Here’s the form – fill out your particulars (name, address … )
- Select your top three schools
- Hand in the form –
- – and your grades will be forwarded to the schools you’ve selected
- You’ll be notified in April / May</p>
<p>I would not be surprised if it hasn’t changed all that much.<br>
<sigh>
♫ Memories … ♪</sigh></p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I’ve always felt glad that we had 3 kids with 3 different personalities. If we had had just one or two I’d still be smug thinking we had it all figured out. With the combo of the three, I now know to be thankful when one has an “easy” kid as literally (almost) anyone could have parented them and done well.</p>
<p>I’m convinced it’s why some kids do extremely well from really bad situations and why some kids have everything going for them, but can’t see it and don’t take advantage of it.</p>
<p>Naturally, there are a few other factors, but… </p>
<p>The best chance for “success” for any student is to get them into “their” niche no matter where that is. A square peg in a round hole is awful at any level.</p>
<p>I’m proud of all three of mine, but will freely admit it is/was a heck of a lot easier with the self-driven, super pleasant, high stat one. Easier is only one dimension though. All three are doing well in “life” in their own niche - and that’s what counts.</p>
<p>Some good news and some bad news. My S got his acceptance to UMBC! We know people who are very happy there, I know many of the faculty, it’s a solid place to go.</p>
<p>The bad news is that one of our cats has severe anemia and is fading fast :-(</p>
<p>Crowlady</p>
<p>haha on essays. IKR! Years ago we were doing a big int’l move and so cleaning out the garage. Found my college papers for some classes. What bs…totally.
Many years ago DH and I were traveling and stopped to visit the int’l campus of our alma mater. We were invited by the profs to sit in on student presentations that morning. Couldn’t believe my ears of how bad some were–how the kids had clearly not prepared and had hoped to bs their way through it. I just wanted to say to them—“do you think we are buying this…?”</p>
<p>Sometimes I give out 17 the same look! haha</p>
<p>congratulations crowlady on UMBC! One of my daughter’s best friends just got accepted as well. I think this school is way underrated. Everyone I know who has a child there has been very happy with UMBC, and the kids range from needing extra support through honors college.</p>
<p>Congrats on all of the acceptances here on this board! What a relief it must be to have some of the nail-biting anxiety over.
Finally back from 11 days overseas with D and her several of her teammates. It was an incredible trip filled with many memories and new friendships. Wifi was spotty and D asked H to not open any envelopes while she was away. Interestingly, only one response so far received from the three she was expecting to hear from and that was via email. The good news was that it was a yes from Purdue (which was a 50/50 shot based on test scores/GPA), although the desire to go there is not very high. But, relieved to have at least one acceptance. Waiting nervously for remaining two EA decisions from the other Big 10 schools she’d prefer to attend. One is a probable, the other a reach.
A mountain of laundry awaits, so I’ll sign off for today and wish all good luck on their awaiting decisions.
Cheers!</p>
<p>Congrats to all those accepted early ! My S was deferred at ED school. But he did get accepted to UVM EA and very happy. I asked if he wanted to pick a school to apply ED2 and he looked at me very strangely…I think he is still hoping for ED school. Luckily, he has a list of schools that he is interested in and is now working on supplement essays -a little hard to motivate. His will apply to a total of 12 schools -7 are done - 5 more need essays. One is not do until Feb., two of them have 3 short answers . I asked him prioritize and if he does not get to all of them…so be it…S would be happy to go to UVM but we need to consider FA options.</p>
<p>I’ve been away from the thread for a few months dealing with my D’s illness but have tried to keep up with everyone’s news. Thanks to those who checked in – I still have some PMs to answer and hope to get to those this week. I’ve been sick myself with a bronchial infection for several weeks so I’m behind on everything!</p>
<p>First off…congratulations to all those with acceptances so far!! </p>
<p>Fogfog, I have to say how sorry I am for your losses. Having lost a parent myself, I truly feel for you. You have been in my thoughts. </p>
<p>Quick update…D finally got back on track a bit before Thanksgiving. That virus hung on for a long time! She missed her senior season on swim team but is back managing the boys’ team again which has been nice. 8/11 applications have been submitted, just 3 supplements left which will be done before Christmas. She was only able to submit one app EA which was a bummer…hoped to have more but it just wasn’t possible. But despite having missed a ton of school, she’s got all As and Bs so far, except for 1 incomplete. Can’t complain!</p>
<p>And in her typical fashion, D dropped 3 schools from her list and then added three new schools in the last two weeks, and two of the new adds are in the midwest where she was certain she didn’t want to go…go figure!</p>
<p>Clark U. has now risen to the top of her list, but she still pines for the Pacific Northwest. We’ll see…</p>
<p>Good luck and Happy Holidays to everyone!! Hope to be around more.</p>
<p>LisaK… LOVED the PNW schools… has your D checked out Whitman and Puget Sound? My S was admitted to UPS with a huge scholarship… it was down to the wire, and I thought for sure that he would pick UPS, as we are west coasters, but he choose St Lawrence… 3000 miles away…ARGH!! But he is SO happy there I guess he was right. </p>
<p>onlyonemom… I can’t remember exactly what your S’s interests are, but my DS12 applied to Colby… as well all the ME schools, and was rejected… with a 2200 SAT and 3.3 GPA. Rigorous schedule from a top private prep. Eagle Scout with 1500 CS hours. If your S is like mine, he also must not mind a rural school, he might like St Lawrence. My S looked at tons of schools, and in the end, NOTHING in his mind could beat St L. he also got a 30,000 merit scholarship, and need based aid, so it is almost ridiculous what we are paying. He LOVES, LOVES this school, as well as us parents!! If you want any more info pm me. My S added St L at the last minute… I think there is app is due in Feb. My S was also admitted to UVM and loved it… but ultimately was too big for him, and they gave literally 0 aid. I think of all comparisons, St L is most like Dartmouth,but with a down to earth green living vibe.</p>
<p>Lots of tears last night from D. She was “postponed” EA at Wisconsin which I believe is the same as deferred(?). Truthfully, this was really a surprise win, as UW was her big reach school and I fully anticipated an immediate rejection. So now she waits until all applications are in and admission officers can decide if she’s still good enough for an acceptance. I’m glad her first college answer was a yes, which helps.</p>
<p>And the waiting continues…</p>
<p>Aww, sorry momofwon 
It does sound like a deferral, so at least she has another go and other schools still to hear from. It’s tough to see our kids hurting, though.</p>
<p>5boys, I remember our conversation about the PNW schools from earlier. Yes, D applied to UPS and had a great Skype interview – the admissions counselor spoke with her for nearly an hour. The music program is very attractive to us. She didn’t apply to Whitman as it seemed like more of a reach, plus Walla Walla is hard to get to from here. She’s into the whole Portland/Seattle scene so if she’s going that far, she ought to be close to it.</p>
<p>Glad your son is enjoying St. Lawrence so much!! I keep wanting to take another look at that school…</p>
<p>Thanks Lisa. Actually, I believe that not getting an immediate yes will be character building and hopefully humbling too! Life is about how you handle disappointments and how you move on and become a better person because of it. Twenty years from now, no one will care if you got rejected from X college. But, to a high school senior, it seems like there’s nothing else more important in the entire world. Ahhhh, to be 17 again. If I knew then what I know now… Cheers!</p>
<p>You’re absolutely right. You have to have some disappointments to really know the joy of a success. Knowing how to handle it and put it in perspective is such an important life skill. Of course it will all turn out in the end, even if our teens don’t quite see it yet ;). Good luck and hang in there.</p>
<p>Lisa, so good to see you’re feeling well enough to post these days. Hope for good news about Clark for your D.
MOW: So sorry about your D and Wisconsin. S (who graduated from college in 2012) applied to Michigan as his rolling school and was also deferred in October (eventually rejected). It was a big blow to his ego, but that was not entirely a bad thing. He put a lot more effort into his other applications. By the end of the admission process, he had already decided that he really preferred a smaller U. or LAC, and the two big schools on his list had rejected/waitlisted him, almost as if they also could tell they were not a good fit for him. I came out of the process convinced that as hard as it was, it did really work.
He’s still “into the whole Portland/Seattle scene” and sometimes regrets that he chose another (wonderful) LAC in the NE over a full tuition scholarship to Lewis and Clark, especially now that he faces starting to pay off his (modest) student loans. He may still move to the PNW. That would put both kids on the west coast. D is loving her first year in the SF Bay area (Oakland) and may not come back east after she graduates. Maybe H and I will be pulled west after we retire…</p>