Parents of College Class of 2018 (A.K.A., "Is this the line to the poor house?")

[Gina]

Yesterday my DS came home from Senior check-out and said, with a look of awe on his face, "I am officially not a high school student anymore!" Tomorrow is the big day for us. Somehow, even with talking about it with you guys for all this time, it still feels like it snuck up on me somehow. I have my waterproof mascara ready!

Someone posted this on the College Confidential boards via Buzzfeed, and I love it so much I wanted to pass it along to you guys. I wish I had been given a list like this when I went to college! I think I'm going to print it out on nice resume' paper, roll it up like a diploma, and attach it to the gift to my son from me.


"100 Wise Words To Seniors Leaving For College"

 

[elgerber]

Yesterday my DS came home from Senior check-out and said, with a look of awe on his face, "I am officially not a high school student anymore!" Tomorrow is the big day for us. Somehow, even with talking about it with you guys for all this time, it still feels like it snuck up on me somehow. I have my waterproof mascara ready!

Someone posted this on the College Confidential boards via Buzzfeed, and I love it so much I wanted to pass it along to you guys. I wish I had been given a list like this when I went to college! I think I'm going to print it out on nice resume' paper, roll it up like a diploma, and attach it to the gift to my son from me.


"100 Wise Words To Seniors Leaving For College"

I have my waterproof mascara on, and my kleenex in my purse. The big night for us is in 6 hours and 35 minutes LOL. I survived the final talent show, with only a teeny sniffle. It was actually worse when she walked out the door that day for the last time. Tonight, all bets are off.

 

[Gina]

Well, I made it through! But I am having a hard time wrapping my brain around the fact that he is done with high school... it just doesn't seem possible!

The ceremony wasn't as long as I was afraid it would be. Once they got to actually calling all 800 names, it chugged along pretty quickly. Get this, though -- We sit down and I'm looking at the program, and whose name is listed under Summa Cum Laude, but my son's. I asked him afterward why on earth he didn't tell me, and he says, "I didn't really know what it meant." OMG, you took 4 years of Latin, you know what it meant!! He says, "Yeah, but I didn't know what it really signified." And he forgot the cords he was to wear (which I also didn't know about) in the car. I told him he's going to have to start over and graduate again, because I deserve to see him walk in the complete get-up, lol.

But otherwise it all went very smoothly, his party was a lot of fun, and he had a ball at Project Grad after that. And I managed to hold it together through everything, lol. Now he's just enjoying sleeping late, and he's working a bunch of hours to bank some extra $$ before he leaves. I can't believe New Student Conference is already next week!!

I hope everyone is hanging in there and finding some quiet time for themselves between whirlwinds... Congrats to all our grads!!

 

[Bluestars]

Gina, that's funny that your son didn't realize the significance of Summa Cum Laude. What a nice surprise!!

We went to the new student conference. It was exhausting. The best part was at night when the students went one way and the parents went another. The students ate together as a group and the parents ate together later. I got to meet a few other parents and eat a very good meal.

My son had to get measured for his cadet uniforms and now we have the list of things he needs to buy for school. We are going on a cruise this Saturday, so I will work on the list when we get back. We've already purchased airlines tickets to attend a football game and then the new family weekend in October.

How is everyone's summer?

 

[njmom47]

Senior Prom over...ds looked so handsome!
The baseball banquet is over too.
It was a bit emotional as ds had a meager but extremely successful season and Coach spoke very positively about my son (you know, the coach who totally messed up my son last season ). The Senior moms made shadowboxes for our sons and displayed them during the banquet.
Graduation is this Friday.

In the meantime, ds was scheduled for placement testing at his college this past Sat. He scored very well! That made him feel great (me too - no remedial classes for him).
His classes are scheduled...he found out his roommates names (fellow baseball recruits). Financial aid package came a couple of weeks ago. Off to search for books.
Moving along!

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

My son had his orientation, advisement and registration for college last Thursday and Friday.

I was bored in all the parent meetings. They didn't tell us much.

But I did track down a few things around the campus like where the ATM's were and was one for our sons bank (yes it was), and we drove around the small town a bit and know where various things that my son asked about are.

We also got to walk to the area where his dorm room will be. Of course his building is furthest from the main campus of the school - it's only a 20 minute walk but still that would be a 10 minute run if he oversleeps.

At least is now all registered for his first semesters classes at college. We still have to get the tuition bill but I've not doubt that will arrive soon.

There is no turning back now!

 

[elgerber]

We graduated, party done, classes registered, well on our way.
She is taking a 4 day film workshop next week, and staying in a dorm (not at her college) so that will be a good preview for both of us I guess.
I didn't sob at graduation, but I have sobbed many times since. Now that the stress of the party is over, the thought of her leaving is getting more real by the day. I bought tickets for her all time favorite musical, which is being done by a community theater up where her college is, for the last weekend in July. I used the musical as an excuse, but it's really about me having her all to myself for two entire days before she leaves. I need that so badly. We will spend the day hours driving all over the place and exploring her new town more than we have already.
There, now I am crying again. OMG, I have got to get it together!!

 

[elgerber]

Well, I am going to be in big trouble come August. My dd is at a film workshop, dropped her off on Sunday evening, will pick her up tomorrow. She is only 45 minutes away. The first night was fine, knew it was only 4 days, and she is right across town. By last night, it was killing me. I hate not seeing her in the hallway, and having her pop in my room to just stand there, and surf the net on her Ipod. I hardly heard from her yesterday, and just simple answers via text. So I couldn't tell if she was just too busy and having fun, or unhappy. I am trying really hard to hold it together with people around, but when I am alone, I'm dying.
It's so stupid, I need to suck it up, but this an indication of what my life will be like in 2 months and I hate it!

 

[Gina]

Well, I am going to be in big trouble come August. My dd is at a film workshop, dropped her off on Sunday evening, will pick her up tomorrow. She is only 45 minutes away. The first night was fine, knew it was only 4 days, and she is right across town. By last night, it was killing me. I hate not seeing her in the hallway, and having her pop in my room to just stand there, and surf the net on her Ipod. I hardly heard from her yesterday, and just simple answers via text. So I couldn't tell if she was just too busy and having fun, or unhappy. I am trying really hard to hold it together with people around, but when I am alone, I'm dying.
It's so stupid, I need to suck it up, but this an indication of what my life will be like in 2 months and I hate it!

I am so right there with you, Erika... I'm grateful this thread is still going, so we can all sob on each other's shoulders!

I have spent the past year trying to mentally prepare myself for all this, but even I am surprised at how I am (not) handling it. I get choked up at the most random times. I feel weird not doing stuff for DS, even just making his sandwich for lunch every day. I scraped the marching band sticker off my car so that I could put on my new Sea Aggie Mom sticker, and about lost it over that. I alternate between picturing myself dropping him off and cheerfully waving goodbye, excited for him and his future, and daydreaming about throwing myself around his legs and refusing to let him leave. UGH. I swear, I'm not a nut ball!

Now he and his new roommate and two other friends are driving to Florida for a week next month and staying with the roommate's grandfather. Then DS is headed to California in early August to have some one-on-one time with my brother. What little time I had left with my son before school starts, is quickly being whittled away. :-( I'm happy for him -- he's going to have a ball on both trips and deserves the fun before college starts -- I just thought I'd have more time.

And now just typing this is making me tear up again... good grief, can I just blame this all on perimenopause?

 

[elgerber]

I am so right there with you, Erika... I'm grateful this thread is still going, so we can all sob on each other's shoulders!

I have spent the past year trying to mentally prepare myself for all this, but even I am surprised at how I am (not) handling it. I get choked up at the most random times. I feel weird not doing stuff for DS, even just making his sandwich for lunch every day. I scraped the marching band sticker off my car so that I could put on my new Sea Aggie Mom sticker, and about lost it over that. I alternate between picturing myself dropping him off and cheerfully waving goodbye, excited for him and his future, and daydreaming about throwing myself around his legs and refusing to let him leave. UGH. I swear, I'm not a nut ball!

Now he and his new roommate and two other friends are driving to Florida for a week next month and staying with the roommate's grandfather. Then DS is headed to California in early August to have some one-on-one time with my brother. What little time I had left with my son before school starts, is quickly being whittled away. :-( I'm happy for him -- he's going to have a ball on both trips and deserves the fun before college starts -- I just thought I'd have more time.

And now just typing this is making me tear up again... good grief, can I just blame this all on perimenopause?

I guess we have to try to blame it on something. I haven't heard from her at all this morning, and it's crushing me. It's so dumb, I know she won't text me every morning at school, but I can't stand it. And I have cried so much already today, it's ridiculous.
My husband doesn't see me do this, he wouldn't get it.

 

[mom2rtk]

I just want to say "hang in there" to everyone anticipating their kids leaving in the fall. My son just finished his freshman year and is home again for the summer. Everything is SO much less stressful this year. It was a huge adjustment, but you'll make it through to a much calmer new normal.

 

[spima3]

I have followed this thread off and on throughout the year, although my son won't graduate until 2015, but there was a lot of good information here.


I was wondering if anyone can answer a question for me. Ds will be applying to a few schools requiring the CSS/Profile and one or two of them require IDOC.

Anyone done this? Can you tell me what kind of documentation is requested? I am terrible w/ organization, and can see myself totally stressing out over this.

I don't know if it was here, but I read somewhere that they were required to show checking account information for the previous months?

So other than the federal tax forms that are often requested, what kind of stuff would come under "Institution Specific Documents?"

 

[TLuvsD]

Our D will be a Junior in college in the Fall, we have done the CSS/Profile and IDOCs for several years. The documents required can vary, depending on your personal financial situation, you will definitely need your tax return. The book "Paying for College without Going Broke" has great instructions on how to fill out the forms, documents needed, etc. It's revised every year by the Princeton Review (nothing shady or odd). You can likely get a copy at your library to look at for now.
We have not been asked to upload our checking account statements...

 

[Mom21]

My dd got a small scholarship. She is 17 and doesn't work. They sent a W-9. Do I fill it out in my name or hers?

 

[Gr8t Fan]

My dd got a small scholarship. She is 17 and doesn't work. They sent a W-9. Do I fill it out in my name or hers?

Hers.

 

[Mom21]

Hers.

Thank you.

 

[sk!mom]

DD and DH went to orientation last week. She had a ball and is even more anxious to get there. She got all of her classes and was happy enough with her schedule. She was also very excited to have a really good lead on a job that sounds perfect for her. DH was impressed with the school but decided that his instinct was correct- parent orientation is stupid.

She's purchased most of what she needs to make her dorm room pretty, comfortable, and "her."

I'm very excited for her and sometimes feel like I barely see her anyway and then we have a day like today- my first day of Summer since Summer School ended yesterday- a day when we laid around and caught up on Orange is the New Black and talked and talked and I think, I'm going to miss this girl so much!

 

[lvloopingbag]

Wow! I've seen so many folks mention that their kids have had orientation already. It seems like my DS is the only one who has to wait until he is on campus in August.....

 

[IDoDis]

DD had her 2 day orientation 2 weeks ago. She is all registered for her classes and met her roommate who she connected with on RoomSync. They both attended the same orientation session. DD came down with a nasty cold a couple of days after we returned from her NYC graduation trip, so she had to go to orientation kind of icky. Luckily the worst day of her cold was the day before orientation where she slept on and off throughout the day, so it could have been worse.

Now that she knows her roommate (who wants to coordinate dorm stuff) we get to start shopping for her dorm. I'm asking friends to save their BB&B 20% off coupons for us. The dorm stuff should be in the stores right after the 4th of July.

Summer is already half over for DD! I'm guessing by now that everyone has been through graduation and are now hopefully enjoying summer! Do we need to migrate to a new thread -- college class of 2018?

 

[Katelly]

I keep seeing this thread and I guess it's time I join! My dd17 graduated this past Wednesday evening (yes I teared up!) and she'll be leaving for her freshman year in college on August 22. The school she's going to is six hours away.

Her orientation is July 16 though the 18th so we still have a bit of a wait.

Right now we're still in high school graduation mode with all the grad parties going on and all the other things the kids have planned for their last summer together.

I hope this summer goes, really, really slow!