We knew that my sons first decision would likely be U Delaware. My thought was to order beginning of November from Amazon. He actually got accepted on 11/3 - too early. So he got a little gift a few days late!
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Just yesterday, my husband made a reservation at our familyās favorite upscale restaurant for Dec 16 ā in hopes of good news ā but without sharing with D24. If it turns out to be a sad day, we can just cancel. We will lean into whatever she is feeling.
We are expats in Seoul, so instead of Dec 15 ā a big day for ED releases ā it will be Saturday, the 16th for us. My daughter was so relieved that release day does not fall on a school day for her. She seems fine with the possiblity of a rejection, but some close friends are reaching incredibly high. For as many kids who are celebrating, so many students are absolutely devestated. Each year the school counselors warn against this kind of public rejoicing, but to no avail. There is so much pressure on the students to āwinā at the admissions game and, as we all know, its about so much more than a perfect GPA, a perfect SAT, and pay-to-play āinternshipsā and summer programs. But the loud shouts make it seem that everyone else did make it into an Ivy.
The enignmatic American high school student is a source of constant fascination for international school kids here, so tell me, whatās it like at your studentās high school on acceptance release days? Obviously, itās not the same across the board, but still very curious.
A very wise college counselor here sternly tells the kids never to open the decisions till they get home. If its a happy result, kids in the vicinity that were rejected may feel more sad, and if it is an undesired result it is better to be home anyway so as to be able to adjust to the dissapointment in private.
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That is very wise indeed.
(My kid will be at school for an activity, home around 10 pm. I donāt wanna wait that long lol. No idea what heāll decide to do; I have a feeling heāll check it at school, or maybe after the school day has ended, before his activity starts.)
Yes, easier said than done with kids sometimes having such long days!
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In our experience most results were released in the evening or weekend. Very few were released during the school day (of course not possible for international students unless a weekend).
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It seems like some schools release late afternoon Eastern time, which may be before the end of the school day in other US timezones. It just depends on the exact time.
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Of course the health comes first! Take care and hugs to you all!
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I have a cart full of swag, but Im trying really hard to hold off on hitting submit. I would love to have something to give her the day of, if she got accepted, but fear that is tempting too much fate. As she is a boarding school kid, I think she may find out a few days before coming home for winter break. I am hoping, if she gets an acceptance, I can overnight something small to have when she arrives home, and then Ill buy more swag to put under our Christmas tree. Her ED is a ālikelyā, but Im too scared to take any chances!
I am going ahead and buying a few things that will go well in her dorm (a poster of her musical playbills, a class photo, etc) for Christmas, but those are things that will work at any school.
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We have a ton of swag from our college visits.
If anyone wants a gently used Vanderbilt hoodie, Michigan sweatshirt, UF t-shirt, UT pen set, let us know in 3 months.
Andā¦ a Williams pencil (we got for free in the mail). Not sure if itās a #2 pencil or not so buyer beware for scantron sheets.
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Yes, he got a free T-Shirt from USF during our visit. Then, I bought him a USF water bottle (at the high price) hoping that heāll land. He is using it already.
There is a good chance and it is the best fit but only the 2 admissions on hand are for sure.
For getting the 2 acceptances, he wanted an apple watch and we are getting it with parents expectation that he will be more fit and less video game time 
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I wouldnāt buy anything yet. Just because the hassle of returning something would make me crazy.
We too have made a reservation on 12/16 at his favorite upscale restaurant on the QT. We just got feedback from the head coach that recruited him saying Admissions still loves him. We are worried that he got a solid B in Honors Multivariable Calculus and Differential Equations. I think it helps that heās planning on studying something in the humanities. Weāre still a little nervous but feeling a little better. Canāt wait for 12/15.
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Wow, the enthusiasm here for swag is big - I guess I never realized it was that much of a thing (and Iām on kid 3)! I think the first things my boys got were the free t-shirts on admitted student day, and something purchased when we dropped them off on move-in day. I guess itās just not as big of a thing here?
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D24 didnāt apply anywhere ED and will probably only receive one EA decision before Christmas (the biggest clump will be late January and others into February or maybe even March), so no swag for Christmas.
At D24ās high school, the biggest anticipation days will be when the in-state schools release, since itās a small school where many students will be applying to NC State, UNC Chapel Hill, App State, UNC Wilmington, etc. Several of these schools release around the same time. The school asks that you only post the place you matriculate on their social media, but peopleās personal instagrams/snapchats do get pretty busy. Most of the reveals would be on social media, not much in-class public rejoicing (due to the nature of the school, seniors are taking mostly community college classes and are all over the place).
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A cake decorated in school colors for a successful ED could be fun and quick for when she arrives home from boarding school - or a more generic cake to eat āyour feelingsā if not a successful ED 
I bought official sweatshirts from both my kids ED schools and figured I would donate if they didnāt get in. It worked out and I never even thought that I could be jinxing it - if I had - I would have never done it! I even pre-ordered the dog some swag from both schools and put in her Christmas stocking, of course, ED was already out and she was able to sport a dog bandana from one school and a leash from the other school (I have twins) on Christmas morning.
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In the previous years, when D1 applied, one parent suggested to buy ice cream or an ice cream cake. If DC gets in ED, you celebrate with it. If not, itās a consolation prize. 
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S24 bought some stuff when he committed but I think thatās common for recruited athletes. Otherwise, I wouldnāt have. As for gifts, heās getting his high school ring. Itās supposed to be delivered mid-Dec. I have some items in mind that are related to his school for his stocking like a team t-shirt for the local pro-football team and banana grams. He played it during his official visit. Both items I should be able to get in short order.
I wanted to buy my daughter a Christmas ornament for each of the four likelies that has accepted her (two of them are pretty high on her list). However, I bought one, and due to her anxiety about actually choosing a school, she told me she doesnāt want to look at a partial ācollegeā theme on the tree. Now that she said it, I understand completely!
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We buy t shirts from each school as they get in. My older one uses them to sleep in at home.