Same here. No access to her common app account, email, portals, anything. She handles everything, as did my D21. I wouldn’t have it any other way. D24 does have merch from 2 colleges who were favorites in previous years. She ended up applying to only one of those but it’s not her ED school. My older daughter only got merch from her REA school after she was accepted and does own a few branded items by now in her junior year (much was free from orientations, residence hall spirit gear,etc) or her club sport merch.
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My daughter’s preferences came down to 13 schools. There are four extreme reaches (hallelujah types–but none ivy league). One, possibly two matches. Then, there are seven likelies. We felt comfortable buying a hat or shirt at the two extreme reaches we visited. However, I won’t be buying any of that stuff in anticipation of regular decision season. I’m rooting for one of the likelies that has cool/nice people and a whole lot of offerings. 
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We have done the same and I actually have had them all to give to them when they receive an acceptance. I guess I am on team manifest!
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Northern kids think that too 
Also, flip flops are boots. Apparently.
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it was 40 degrees an raining here in the northeast today and he went to school in a thin hoodie and sweatpants. maybe he will wear a coat when it is under 20
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I recently dropped my 13-year-old off at school (~6,400’ in elevation) in nothing but a t-shirt when it was 18 degrees outside. It’s a fight I’ve previously conceded. He doesn’t complain, get sick, or listen to his parents’ sartorial advice, so 
.
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Sweatpants this year are a welcome change that I see. Otherwise it used to be shorts 365 days a year, including when its snowing.
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The funny thing abojt mine is that he always wears wool socks. Would wear them with shorts but even he thinks that looks weird. Ahh. Kids.
You are not alone! My kids also think a hoodie is a coat … and we get lots of snow! D22 actually started wearing a coat and hat in college though. So maybe my S24 will too?
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The US college admission journey for unhooked applicants is stressful, unpredictable, and full of unknowns. But if you thinks that’s stressful, think about the process in Japan, Korea, China, or even elite French Engineering schools.
There is one series of exams, every test is mandatory without optional foofoo, after which results rank every single candidate. The choice of university is then assigned by rank as in a housing lottery, with the number one ranked picking first.
Some may argue that whilst it is not holistic at all, and stressful to the extreme, it is the ultimate in equal opportunity & fairness, giving everyone a shot.
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And shorts are acceptable year round.
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It is like that in my country. All the rich kids who went to the top private schools “rank” first.
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Ha! What I actually think gives kids a “shot” in those other countries isn’t their rack & stack admissions process, but the fact that university is much, much more affordable. In this country a promising kid from a poor family who is a good, but not exceptional, student (meaning not an elite school applicant) is going to have very, very few affordable options - that is the real scandal, not holistic admissions.
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I have zero access to any of his portals for this reason- I know I would be tempted. For some reason, when he got admitted to Alabama back in September, both my husband I I received a copy of the “Congratulations you have been admitted” email and we knew before he did- while it was super exciting in the moment, I realized it was sort of a bummer that he didn’t;t get to find out and then come tell us. BUT I also feel the stress and frustration of a kid who is really really bad about checking email, so I am constantly having to remind him to check emails, portals, etc. So I get why parents want/have access to the portals.
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Mine has shirts from every school we visited- even ones he did not like 
I think he more wanted to commemorate the visit. At one particular school, we pulled onto campus and he right away said “NO, no way, not even going not the tour”. But you better believe he went to the bookstore and bought himself a t-shirt 
and he totally wears it. But for sure there are a few schools that he would probably not dare wear a shirt from another school on campus. So once he makes his decision, he will leave the swag from the other SEC schools at home.
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I work in a K-8 schools and half the kids came in t-shirts and shorts today. And I am here in my office with my space heater blasting…
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Yup. I use my sheepskin lined jacket as a blanket with my two sweaters in the office and my tween patients are in short sleeves and mini skirts with no tights 
There are pros and cons of both systems for sure.
I would also propose that if one is resourceful, there are definitely more affordable college options for students looking to keep costs low. However, that involves attending a community college first. A lot of folks on CC can sometimes tend to see community college as the least desirable option. It’s definitely less prestigious. However, when you’re done w/your 4 yr degree, it’s doesn’t say “Community College X” on your BA/BS diploma.
Another factor to consider in the US is that, by and large (with the exception of a couple of professions), employers don’t really care WHERE you graduated from college. Just the fact that you have a bachelor’s degree opens more doors than if you don’t have a degree.
AND in the US, it can often be much easier to switch from one type of job to another without having to go get a whole separate college degree for it. Whereas in some other countries, this might not always be the case (i.e., whatever your degree is in, that’s the only field you’ll be hired in unless you go back to school and start over).
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Curious about people’s thoughts on something.
My kids have heard about a student at their school who has applied EA to one highly desirable school and ED to another, with the intention of going to the EA school if he gets into both. Acknowledging that sometimes kids just say stuff and that the likelihood this kid gets into both is very low (although the kid is also extremely high-achieving, so it’s not impossible), I find this disturbing—not just because it’s unethical but also because it could have an impact on future applicants from their school to these highly desirable schools.
I’m mulling emailing our school’s college counselor—not naming names, of course, or even specific schools—and suggesting that she send a note to all seniors who have submitted ED applications to remind them of their obligations under those agreements and the potential consequences of violating them, and to note that there’s still time to switch to RD if their ED school is not their first choice.
I really am torn here; my default position is MYOB, but this is a big public school where the guidance counselors are overworked and aren’t talking with the students about the implications of signing ED agreements. I would hate for the GC who signed this kid’s agreement to have to deal with the aftermath if he violates it, and I would really hate for future students to get blackballed because of this kid’s actions.
Thoughts?
@Collegequestions5 - hmm that’s tricky. I could see sending a note to the counselor and maybe saying that your own child was confused about EA vs. ED and that it might be helpful to remind seniors about the binding nature of ED. I wouldn’t necessarily mention the rumor mill because it’s just that - the rumor mill.
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