High School class of 2011

[armomof3lvsdisney]

Just checking in, it's been awhile. It's 3 months from today until graduation. There have been alot of exciting things going on in this thread since I've been gone.

minkydog-Sending pixie dust to you DD, it's so great when your child finds a school that fits them perectly!!

agnes!-Congrats to you and your DD, it's all becoming so real the closer the end of school gets and the more information they get in the mail.

Jeafl-Congrats so exciting!!!

Kalliyanl-Congrats to your DS, sending up a prayer for help in deciding between the two schools.

My DS has his Scholars Weekend at his 1st choice school this weekend. He has to do an interview and write an essay. I'm so nervous for him and I will be glad when it's over and we know something. Hope everyone is having a great day!!

 

[kbeverina]

OMG! My son got his acceptance letter today from Carnegie-Mellon! He doesn't know it yet because he isn't home yet, but he is going to be SO excited! I know it is an acceptance letter because it says "Get your kilt on!" on the front. (Their mascot is the tartans)

That's the GOOD news, the BAD news is, a postcard also came saying that the 2011-2012 school year will cost approximately $57,200!!!

He'd better hope he got a TON of financial aid or he will not be going.

minkydog - please do let us know about the audition, minkypup/your DD has been in a lot of people's thoughts & prayers.

DD got some good mail from one of her universities yesterday...we already knew she was accepted but this was for aid.

Wow. Just WOW. Of course now we'll have to make a campus visit since this particular school has moved up a notch or two.

The last two schools don't give out acceptance/aid decisions until sometime in March....auuuuuuuuuugh.

agnes!

Wow--congrats to both of them! It's going to be so fun this fall to see where all the kids end up and what their experiences are.

 

[Robinrs]

Yes, this is the school that has been the best fit from the start. Valdosta State has *everything* she wants in a college AND it's affordable. It has taken her awhile to get on board with the whole going-to-college thing, but i think she's there now. It helps that we took her and 9 of her drama friends to VSU back in November. Her drama club teacher graduated from VSU, so he hooked them up with fine arts connections and a really good campus tour. In fact, as a result of that trip at least 4 other students have applied & been accepted. This trip was really nice, though. Even though she and her friend were both tryinout for the same thing, they were fully supportive of each other. They seemed relaxed and knew their way around campus this time. Of course, it helped that the weather was bee-you-ti-ful--78 degrees and sunny. I think they were able to picture themselves as students this time.Which is funny, because back in November DD was digging in her heels and never wanted to leave home!

Congrats for finding the perfect match!! I'm thrilled for you daughter, I have my BFA in Theatre, also and am working on that "perfect match" for my son, also!

Never looked into VSU, I'm checking them out now!

 

[minkydog]

Congrats for finding the perfect match!! I'm thrilled for you daughter, I have my BFA in Theatre, also and am working on that "perfect match" for my son, also!

Never looked into VSU, I'm checking them out now!

VSU has a great fine arts dept. I just love the professors. They are easy to talk to and seem to be very talented in their own rights. We've seen 2 of their plays and they were quite good. And VSU is only 4 hours from Atlanta--about 3hrs from WDW.

 

[geffric]

thanks goodness DS#2 is down to earth.. still deciding between ILL and Indiana..but we spent the weekend at U of ILL and he has decided on Illni Towers for housing..if he goes to U of ILL.. wants to go back to Indiana for one more visit..
__________________

BTW i copied this from another thread where i was discussing his older brother..but.. i hope decision is at hand..

 

[agnes!]

Ack, just got the scholarship offer from one of DD's schools (let's call it "B"), And after the WOW! one that came in this weekend (let's call it "D")?...if B can't up their offer, they are probably going to the back of the pack.

DD's actually pretty upset by it. One of her schools is an out of state/state-school and they gave the best $$ they could. Even though it's not technically as much as D's offer, DD says she knows it's the best the state school could give her. B's offer...not so much.

agnes!

 

[linnylu]

Minkydog, glad to hear your dd found her perfect fit school. I am hoping for that for both my ds and dd. DS's #1 choice seems like a perfect fit, but it does not have the perfect price. I just hope they come through with scholarship money. People kept telling ds to apply to the more expensive private schools because they have money to offer- let's hope there is some truth to that.

DS had his phone interview yesterday for a special pharmacy program at his #2 state school. If accepted to the program he won't have to take the PCAT or interview after his sophomore year. DS said the phone interview went very well and he wasn't nervous at all. This is his 6th interview- the other 5 were all in-person infront of a panel. I worry sometimes though when he tells me what a question was and what he answered.

We are still waiting to hear if he even got into his #3 school.

 

[bethbuchall]

Anyone else's senior seem to be getting cold feet about making the decision? We are still waiting on answers from two schools and scholarship offers from a couple of others, but I thought she was pretty sure where she wanted to go. Now, all of a sudden, there is a lot of indecision.

 

[agnes!]

Hey beth -

We're waiting on admit & $$ decisions from two schools as well.

Yeah, cold feet?...well, kind of, but for DD it's more a case of being stressed-out and feeling like she doesn't have any time to relax and just *think*.
Her course load is so heavy this year that she often stays up late/gets up early to do homework, she then gets run-down and add the stress of making a decision and a huge extra-curricular activity that also counts as part of a grade taking place over the next month...I pray no virus looks her way, it might find easy pickins'.
The most recent scholarship offer she got from one school was quite a bit less than DD (& myself as well to be honest) expected. The scholarship offer from another school that came over the weekend is so good that we now have to carve out enough time (HAH, what's TIME?!?) for an extensive campus visit out-of-state, sometime before Spring Break. It will have to be something along the lines of a train/car ride + campus tour + department visit + dorm visit, etc., no quick&easy drive-by just to see if she can stomach the campus.

agnes!

 

[bethbuchall]

Thanks, anges! I think that you may be on to something with the high stress factors and heavy course load. She may be too overwhelmed to think more than a week or so into her future at this point. Good luck finding the time and getting a good feel of the campus. We want to get back to a couple of them, too, but at least they are all instate.

 

[budmonster]

I was wondering where this thread went.

I'm so happy to hear that everyone is have such good luck with the college process.

And now for the Mom's am I the only one that is an emotional mess right now. Everytime I have to do something that involves DS senior year I just get all teary eyed. If I'm not getting announcemnet ready, going through old pictures for his senior page or looking at his senior pictures I'm just being a big cry baby. I still have to get through Prom and planning his graduation party. This is my first to graduate so hopefully it will get easier with the other two.

How is everyone else holding up?

 

[bethbuchall]

This is my second one going off to college. My son is a sophomore in college. I hate to say it, but it seems just as hard (if not harder) on me the second time as far as being overly sentimental and getting teary. I do my best to not let it show.

I guess I'm a little like my daughter, because I stick my head in the sand sometimes and just pretend that it isn't happening. They were just babies, weren't they? How did they get so grown up so fast?

 

[disykat]

Anyone else's senior seem to be getting cold feet about making the decision? We are still waiting on answers from two schools and scholarship offers from a couple of others, but I thought she was pretty sure where she wanted to go. Now, all of a sudden, there is a lot of indecision.

My son applied six places. The schools that were first on his list are now last. I was teasing him that every time some place accepts him, he dismisses them and holds on for the ones that haven't given him an answer yet. He admits there's truth to that. I keep encouraging him not to discount anything until he has all his options layed out in front of him.

 

[DisneyNutMary]

My son applied six places. The schools that were first on his list are now last. I was teasing him that every time some place accepts him, he dismisses them and holds on for the ones that haven't given him an answer yet. He admits there's truth to that. I keep encouraging him not to discount anything until he has all his options layed out in front of him.

That sounds like my son! The schools he was in love with in Sept are now on the bottom of his list. My son seems to be in love with the one school we saw very little of, didn't meet with the dept of his major, have very little information, and will give him the least amount of money (Penn State) So now we are waiting around until Mid-March for a financial aid package before he makes his final decision.

In the meantime, to say I am stressed out is an understatement! I have an appointment with his orthodontist tomorrow, after his last visit it looks like they want to keep his braces on much longer. He's already had them on 25 months, we were sure they would be off for graduation. I have to make the orthodontist aware that SHE will be driving out to his college (depending where he goes, it will be at least a 4 hour round trip, up to a 12 hour round trip) once a month for his adjustments, as I cannot go out there and back for every appointment. Hopefully this will convince her to take them off sooner. If not, I may just lose my cool with her!

 

[minkydog]

And now for the Mom's am I the only one that is an emotional mess right now. Everytime I have to do something that involves DS senior year I just get all teary eyed. If I'm not getting announcemnet ready, going through old pictures for his senior page or looking at his senior pictures I'm just being a big cry baby. I still have to get through Prom and planning his graduation party. This is my first to graduate so hopefully it will get easier with the other two.

How is everyone else holding up?

I find myself getting teary, too. We're in the countdown to the last Spring Musical in March. Then the last Spring Break, in April. The last prom, the last show choir performance, the last chorus banquet. DD17 is holding up pretty well, but I'm finding that she needs a lot of time to be with her friends. There are 5 girls who have been best friends since 5th grade. They remind me of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. It is going to be very hard on all of them when they graduate and go away to college. Thank goodness for cell phones!

 

[missypie]

I think I may have mentioned it before, but I cried all the way through my '09 son's senior year. And when it was time to say goodbye, H cried, Son cried, but I was all cried out.

We're coming upon the end of drill team - my favorite kid activity ever. They do one dance where starts with just the seniors, then they open doors and let the others come through. We were watching it on You Tube and my daughter said, "This is when you're going to cry at Nationals." She knows me well!

 

[geffric]

I think I may have mentioned it before, but I cried all the way through my '09 son's senior year. And when it was time to say goodbye, H cried, Son cried, but I was all cried out.

We're coming upon the end of drill team - my favorite kid activity ever. They do one dance where starts with just the seniors, then they open doors and let the others come through. We were watching it on You Tube and my daughter said, "This is when you're going to cry at Nationals." She knows me well!

All I can say is that at least for me, it didnt get any easier.. with my baby, it is so difficult.. trying to be cheery and all, but i really dont want him to leave high school .. can he and all his friends just be a senior again next year??

 

[agnes!]

All I can say is that at least for me, it didnt get any easier.. with my baby, it is so difficult.. trying to be cheery and all, but i really dont want him to leave high school .. can he and all his friends just be a senior again next year??

I know what you mean but I wouldn't wish this year on DD again for anything.

agnes!

 

[ctinct]

What are your regrets so far after getting this far in the process?

For me, I am wondering if we made a huge mistake in applying regular decision for my daughter's favorite school vs early decision. I was afraid to get locked into ED because of financial concerns (having to commit if accepted without knowing the aid pkg. until after you are locked in.) Daughter's favorite school is a little unique-they have TWO early decision rounds and accept 44% of their class ED. I have read about financial aid offered in past years to other rd applicants, and they just seem so all over the place. Some people were ecstatic with their pkgs., while others knew from the aid pkgs. the school would be impossible for them to attend.

It all seems so random. I am worried because on paper I have a very decent income---however, alimony has now ended and child support will be ending this year, and it is only within the past two years that my own income from work has been enough to sustain us. I went to college as an adult a few years ago and have my own college loans to pay. The school knows all this, but still.... We were stunned by the huge gap left by one of daughter's other favorite schools. I hope we are stunned in a good way like Agnes and her dd were. Please keep your fingers crossed for us. We should know in about 3-4 weeks. Daughter told me last night "You know I'm going to cry if I can't go, right?" She will be devastated, but at least we do have a viable compromise available at this point. I guess I am just second-guessing myself now. In reality, I just could not take the financial chance on early decision and I need to come to peace with that.

 

[golfgal]

What are your regrets so far after getting this far in the process?

For me, I am wondering if we made a huge mistake in applying regular decision for my daughter's favorite school vs early decision. I was afraid to get locked into ED because of financial concerns (having to commit if accepted without knowing the aid pkg. until after you are locked in.) Daughter's favorite school is a little unique-they have TWO early decision rounds and accept 44% of their class ED. I have read about financial aid offered in past years to other rd applicants, and they just seem so all over the place. Some people were ecstatic with their pkgs., while others knew from the aid pkgs. the school would be impossible for them to attend.

It all seems so random. I am worried because on paper I have a very decent income---however, alimony has now ended and child support will be ending this year, and it is only within the past two years that my own income from work has been enough to sustain us. I went to college as an adult a few years ago and have my own college loans to pay. The school knows all this, but still.... We were stunned by the huge gap left by one of daughter's other favorite schools. I hope we are stunned in a good way like Agnes and her dd were. Please keep your fingers crossed for us. We should know in about 3-4 weeks. Daughter told me last night "You know I'm going to cry if I can't go, right?" She will be devastated, but at least we do have a viable compromise available at this point. I guess I am just second-guessing myself now. In reality, I just could not take the financial chance on early decision and I need to come to peace with that.

It is my understanding that with ED you can opt out if the financial aid package isn't good enough.

Also, keep in mind that you can talk to the Financial Aid office at the school if you have a change in your income from last year. If you had to report income last year, alimony, but know you won't get it this year, that is something they will take into consideration and may rework the aid package for you.