Waiting for Godot ..... Early Decision

<p>True, those ‘other visits’! We went to 19 (and add the engineering tour to the two tour sessions at each!), he only applied to 1 for the ED and likes 2 others, so the other schools he is applying to we haven’t been to. The EDII school he loved when we first visited in the Spring, then spent a weekend there in the fall and thought it might be too small…so ALL the state school honors programs that we assumed were going to be out are suddenly in for him! Fingers crossed that this spring break is Aruba and NOT more college tours. (though we really did have great times!!!)</p>

<p>I’m in! DS is making comments every day about it getting close. His ED school does the snail mail too, so who knows when he will get the letter. The school is a safety but he really wants to go there!</p>

<p>My son was rejected at his ED school last year, and I just want you all to be prepared – though I hope it doesn’t happen – that it may be very painful for all. The ED process in particular focuses a lot of hope on one moment of yes or no. And then they have to pull themselves together very quickly to finish the other applications – possibly when their firends are celebrating and having a very relaxed holiday break. My son is happily at another excellent school – perhaps even better for what he wants – but even remembering how he was that night stiill makes my heart clench a bit for him a year later. Be prepaed to tap into your own parental strength. I recommend you think in advance of what you are going to say, should this happen. Think what kind of consolation works best for you child. It is a singular kind of rejection that they might not have experienced before. As parents, we may not have watched our children experience it before. Of course, we know that this is just one moment in time and not the end of opportunity – and it is important to try to be prepared to convey that while also respecting their pain, in my view. Of course, I am hoping it doesn’t happen to anyone!</p>

<p>Thanks for the perspective MomW - I keep telling myself just knowing one way or the other will bring the relief I seek. If it’s bad news, S has 3 RDs already submitted and finished the scholarship apps before we left for a Thanksgiving trip. </p>

<p>I refused to let Ds wait until we heard from the EA school in case the news is bad. Oh did we have some struggles - it felt like we were married at one point - the bickering to just plow through! </p>

<p>So if bad news comes, hopefully, we can treat it as one rejection out of a possible few. We won’t hear from his safety until April, but he would be very happy there. That was great advice we received from CC - love thy safety!</p>

<p>@momwonders: that is great advice. this morning I sat down with my S and told him what I believe to be true, that he is just an amazing kid, no matter what the outcome is tonight. He does not need dream school to validate this. I think that internally he knows this, but it would just stink to see a child’s dreams crushed. We know, of course, that they will be fine wherever they land but they are 17 and don’t have the benefit of hindsight like we do.</p>

<p>I am going to try think positive thoughts for the rest of the day and send good karma into the universe for all of us.</p>

<p>@breathedeeply: my vote is to say nothing about applying to gf’s school for the time being. Keeping my fingers crossed for an ED acceptance so the topic can be avoided altogether!</p>

<p>College4three:</p>

<p>GOOD LUCK! Just know there are a bunch of us rooting for you tonight. PLEASE let us know what happens asap. If it’s bad news, I’m so sorry ahead of time…but you may help the rest of us deal with bad news in the coming week…</p>

<p>Thank you momwonders for your comments. My S has had plenty of disappointments already so if this school doesn’t come through, it’ll be yet another lesson I guess…</p>

<p>C4T: I didn’t realize you were going to hear today. I really hope you get good news. Try to keep busy today. It’s going to be a long one. Good luck!</p>

<p>My daughter’s ED school says that they will release decisions on or before the 15th. I’m hosting a PTA holiday party at our house on the 14th. I really hope we don’t hear that day. If the news is good I want to be able to celebrate with her and if the news is bad, the last thing we need is a house full of people.</p>

<p>Thanks Momwonders for sharing your son’s story. It does seem like things usually work out fine in the end, but it can be very difficult in the short run.</p>

<p>@momwonders yes- you are right about trying to prepare for the worst. I have already been talking about the advantages to be able to compare FA packages and choose…the advantagees of being closer to home (2nd choice school) etc etc. But DS LOVES his ED1 school and pictures himself there and nowhere else. Tomorrow eve at “the end of the day”.</p>

<p>Good luck to you and your son mommyg.</p>

<p>Well the big drug bust (of engineering students) may make the ED today easier (or more difficult)…not sure now what I want to hear!!!</p>

<p>Thank you so much! Your good wishes are greatly appreciated :)</p>

<p>S did not submit any ED/EA’s but I’m nervous just reading this thread. I keep trying to explain to our kids that there is nothing more crazy-nervous than waiting for results from them…competitions, test scores…now college!!! Best of Luck to ALL of you - good thoughts are coming your way.</p>

<p>My son applied to one reach school ED last year. We expected to be deferred (he was a legacy) but he was rejected. At his high school he was hot stuff, so I actually think the rejection was good for him. In the end, he applied to 10 schools and was admitted to 7 and was admitted to his “dream” school so everything ended up working out. For me I like to plan so I just wanted to know so that I could make plans which made the waiting stressful. I don’t think it had anything to do with “hovering or loving”. I was actually pretty cool until mid-February, and then I was a mess and by March I was a disaster.</p>

<p>My son’s dream school, MIT, just posted 12/16 at 9pm, as the date and time of the EA announcement. I’ve told him that whatever happens, he knows he’s done the very best he possibly could to reach his goals, and the rest is up to them. It’s going to be a loooong week.</p>

<p>D will know this Saturday about her ED school. I posted this elsewhere, but I was so touched by what she said to me last Sunday: “I’m going through a lot of stress and this week will be the worst so if I snap at you and Dad or sound really mean, it’s because I’m so stressed right now.” I told her I thought that was very mature and considerate and that I loved her. I was going to tell her not to worry but that would be pointless. She’s keeping busy, and whatever the outcome is, I know many schools will be lucky to have her.</p>

<p>thinking about all of you for the next week…lots of friends and relatives involved too!!</p>

<p>C4T good luck tonight!!..</p>

<p>good luck to all; see you on the flip side of ED…daughter has already been accepted to her ED school(Elon)</p>

<p>“Nah. After almost 18 years, why should I start loving now?”</p>

<p>Love it.</p>

<p>Just an anecdotal note to all waiting on ED results. Last year my d’s letter arrived 9 days after it was mailed. We’re not sure whether it got caught in the Christmas rush, the weather, or what. She was like a caged animal. Ultimately she got the best present on Christmas Eve - but it was a long hard wait.</p>

<p>scoutsmom: right there with you on the MIT anticipation. So proud that our son even wanted to give it a try. Good luck to your family.</p>

<p>(Is your son an Eagle scout?)</p>

<p>thanks to all of you for your good wishes. I will check back in later… for now I am trying to breathe. I mean, really, I can’t breathe!</p>

<p>College4three:</p>

<p>Recite the Serenity prayer over & over again. My S just said to me…“mom, I just re-read my essays and they were great! I know if I don’t get in to ED school, it wasn’t because of something I did…I have a fabulous GPA, great EC’s, great rec’s…I’ll just keep applying and will have other choices”! </p>

<p>He does not want me to feel sorry for him…this is a match school, not a reach school, so we feel pretty good about it, but still, you never know until an acceptance is in hand.</p>

<p>Does your S have other choices he feels good about?</p>

<p>Keep breathing deep…best of luck, we are definitely rooting for you!</p>