Parents of the High School Class of 2017/College 2021

[bjscheel]

My sister got me into Sam's Club to price supplies and food for the reception. Then we went to Nobbies and got aqua and gray tablecloths, napkins, and some aqua and clear jewels to scatter on the tables. It all looked so neat and coordinated in the cart! We're going to put pictures of DD and her BFF (they're sharing the reception) in holders at the tables too. My sister will see how many she has from last year, otherwise I need to find photo holders. Oh and we picked up a basket for cards at the thrift store. My sister suggested that. It was good to have her along as she did receptions in 2014 and 2016. DD is excited now.

Still need to decide how many wallet portraits to order, how to display photos and artwork, get an address book for guests to fill in. DD wants to create a Snapchat filter for the location too!

 

[robinb]

DD was waitlisted at NYU. She's glad it wasn't an outright rejection but it amounts to the same thing. She has to pick between two midwestern universities now. She was here hoping to get out of the middle of the country!

That's a bummer that she was waitlisted . I'm sorry.

The counselor couldn't really offer too much info on waitlists. He said there's no predictability at all. The waitlists are not ranked, so once the schools figure out how many (if any) spots they'll fill from the waitlist, then they sift through looking for the kids who are what they're looking for to complete the class. What they're looking for varies, could be a sport, musical talent, a particular major, etc. DD knows her chances are slim - an undecided middle class girl from the northeast probably doesn't have much of a chance to stand out (her waitlist schools are all in New England), but she's going to give it a shot at 3 of them.

He said to write/email each school to let them know how much she likes them. Every school is different as to whether they want you to send additional grades, recommendations, etc,. Also, he said if there's one school that she loves above the others (since DD is dealing with 3) that she should say in her letter that she'd definitely commit to going there if she got in.

Thanks for letting me know that what her couselor said. I read a similar thing about the WL on College Confidential. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that something will make all our kids stand out!

 

[Poohforyou]

Thank you! I would love to know the name of the company she used. We plan to be there when the car arrives, so we can make sure all is well. We'll plan it around move-in to the university.

Hi, my mom used hi ho silver shipping llc. Their website has a rate calculator which should help you. Like I said, it was a very simple process. Good luck.

 

[Kimberle]

We attended the admitted student open house for one of the colleges dd was accepted into the Nursing program. We finally got some numbers. *LOL* This year, they had nearly 1000 applicants into this program. This will funnel down to a Freshman class of around 175.

 

[v.t.]

DS got waitlisted for Berkeley, his number one, yesterday. He already opted in. Still holding out a bit of hope, but is going commit to his #2 this weekend.

Sorry to hear that, I hope he gets better news soon.

Same here- she was waitlisted at NYU and Tufts and denied at Columbia and Brown- she knew she wasn't getting into Columbia but she said the Brown one hurt! Oh well- guess I am booking our airfare for next week to accepted students day at Northeastern! I am going to pick her up some Northeastern "gear" while we are there! Our Valedictorian was also rejected at Columbia, Barnard, Brown, Harvard, Johns Hopkins and Cornell- crazy you can be class valedictorian and still have to deal with all those rejections! Not talking about a tiny class either- she is top of almost 400 kids!

It is so hard to get the rejections, but it sounds like Northeastern is a good fit. And buying the "gear" always helps!

DD just texted that she is on the ballot for Prom Court!

How exciting! When is prom?

We attended the admitted student open house for one of the colleges dd was accepted into the Nursing program. We finally got some numbers. *LOL* This year, they had nearly 1000 applicants into this program. This will funnel down to a Freshman class of around 175.

Very impressive. Was it a good visit?

 

[mamacatnv]

Congratulations to everyone on their acceptances! I find this thread fascinating and I have learned so much. My kids are not college aged yet, but this is a great way to get up to speed on what is going on with applying to college, FAFSA, etc.

Has anyone on here been in a position to take advantage of the WICHE / WUE tuition agreement in the western states? I first learned about this when we lived in Hawaii, and now we live in Colorado, but I never hear anyone talk about it. As this is something we could potentially utilize, I’m wondering if anyone here has first hand experience. I am aware that not all majors qualify for the reduced tuition. Youngest, of course, wants to go back and attend University of Hawaii!

When my DS went to college we lived in Northern Nevada - The WICHE at the time covered the schools with low enrollment numbers ie the ones "no one wanted to go too" per my DS. There was a point where Oregon State was on WICHE but then they pulled out (DS originally wanted Oregon State) My Son's girlfriend is from California, her Brother just graduated from somewhere in Colorado Springs and he went on the WICHE. If Memory serves the WICHE fixes the tuition rate - its not as cheap as instate nor as spendy as OOS - I believe it used to be 1.5x's instate. Not sure what it is now as we now live in Texas and its not an option.
My DD got accepted to Hawaii but the price tag is too high and honestly, I didn't want her going that far from anyone we knew, you know, the network safety net we all weave

DD was waitlisted at NYU. She's glad it wasn't an outright rejection but it amounts to the same thing. She has to pick between two midwestern universities now. She was here hoping to get out of the middle of the country!

When do they announce waitlists?

Anyone have info/experience with shipping a car to college? Thinking shipping would be better than the cross-country drive and wear and tear.

I just sent you a PM - We have a guy we have used as well as referred who was awesome. Beware of the internet lowballers, you get what you pay for......maybe

One of DD's closest friends was shocked to learn she was accepted to the Berklee College of Music in Boston - I do mean shocked, she never thought she had even a glimmer of a chance. Needless to say she is thrilled and now the girls are talking about road tripping to college since DD will be heading to NYC and her friend to Boston, the friend going to Boston wants to take her car.

 

[mamacatnv]

My sister got me into Sam's Club to price supplies and food for the reception. Then we went to Nobbies and got aqua and gray tablecloths, napkins, and some aqua and clear jewels to scatter on the tables. It all looked so neat and coordinated in the cart! We're going to put pictures of DD and her BFF (they're sharing the reception) in holders at the tables too. My sister will see how many she has from last year, otherwise I need to find photo holders. Oh and we picked up a basket for cards at the thrift store. My sister suggested that. It was good to have her along as she did receptions in 2014 and 2016. DD is excited now.

Still need to decide how many wallet portraits to order, how to display photos and artwork, get an address book for guests to fill in. DD wants to create a Snapchat filter for the location too!

We did a joint grad party with DS's BFF. We used black poster board, turned it into a cylinder and then glued photos of the boys to the cylinders. These became the center pieces for the tables

 

[bjscheel]

We did a joint grad party with DS's BFF. We used black poster board, turned it into a cylinder and then glued photos of the boys to the cylinders. These became the center pieces for the tables

Oh, that's a good idea! My sister does have enough double sided frames for our table so we'll probably use those if our pics are the right size. If not will definitely consider the cylinder idea!

 

[robinb]

We did a joint grad party with DS's BFF. We used black poster board, turned it into a cylinder and then glued photos of the boys to the cylinders. These became the center pieces for the tables

My DD wants to have a joint graduation party with the other kids in the immediate neighborhood. Of course, they don't have a date and they don't have any real plans. They were thinking about having it at the local park shelter but it is already booked for graduation weekend. I'm sure they'll ask for my help at the last minute. *sigh*

 

[lovesdumbo]

We did a joint grad party with DS's BFF. We used black poster board, turned it into a cylinder and then glued photos of the boys to the cylinders. These became the center pieces for the tables

That's a great idea.

We're doing a BBQ themed party-red/white/blue with chalkboard accents...DD said she's done with HS and didn't want to do those colors (but they are blue/white so red/white/blue isn't too far off) and college colors aren't great-green and gold.

My DD wants to have a joint graduation party with the other kids in the immediate neighborhood. Of course, they don't have a date and they don't have any real plans. They were thinking about having it at the local park shelter but it is already booked for graduation weekend. I'm sure they'll ask for my help at the last minute. *sigh*

We intentionally picked weekend after graduation so we don't feel rushed either weekend.

 

[mamacatnv]

DD's graduation is at 8pm on a Saturday - we have several friends/family flying in so we decided we will be hosting a luncheon on the Saturday of graduation and some sort of brunch for all the out of town guests on Sunday.
DD will be leaving two days later to either go to her summer job at GirlScout camp, her required college orientation or the camping trip and push the orientation to one of the later dates available. Somewhere in all this her friends group wants to go camping - camping in June in Texas is not my idea of fun but they want to do it as their last hurrah, their senior trip.

 

[robinb]

... college colors aren't great-green and gold.

There's nothing wrong with green and gold .

We intentionally picked weekend after graduation so we don't feel rushed either weekend.

We may have to do the same but they have no real plans. I guess we'll do what we can when they decide what they might want. Since there are 5-6 kids and families involved it'll be fun (I mean that both in a real and ironic sense).

 

[bjscheel]

Our reception is the Sunday before graduation since State Track is the same weekend as graduation and I would hope she will be at State Track! She hasn't gotten any invitations from other kids having the same afternoon so it should work out well allowing other classmates to get there. School colors are purple/black, class colors are royal blue/silver. DD is decorating in aqua & gray, and her BFF wants coral and purple! We'll have the east end of the hall in DD's colors and the west end in BFF's colors. Clear dishware...

 

[aprilgail]

My DD wants to have a joint graduation party with the other kids in the immediate neighborhood. Of course, they don't have a date and they don't have any real plans. They were thinking about having it at the local park shelter but it is already booked for graduation weekend. I'm sure they'll ask for my help at the last minute. *sigh*

We are doing my daughters graduation party mid-late July- kids have them into mid august to spread them all out. My friends daughter is having one the day after graduation so kids have to pick which one they will go to since a lot of kids have it the same day.

 

[AustinTink]

Just ordered graduation announcements/ invitations from Shutterfly. 40% off and free shipping! Whoohooooo!

 

[LilTinkFan]

Hi, new to the boards here, and an anxious mom to a Senior. Our dd has been counting the days left since school started this year.
I am sad and proud all at once. And dreading the empty bedroom to come.
Our school had a strike so the kids have to go through mid June, making graduation the same weekend as Fathers Day...oh the scheduling nightmare that is for a venue and caterer.

 

[robinb]

Just ordered graduation announcements/ invitations from Shutterfly. 40% off and free shipping! Whoohooooo!

Is that today or was it yesterday?

 

[AustinTink]

Is that today or was it yesterday?

Yesterday. I believe the discount is until 4/9.

 

[Poohforyou]

My daughter doesn't want a graduation party, which is fine with me. She may want a party over the summer to celebrate her 18th birthday early and as a last hurrah with her friends. That's easy though, just lots of food and music.

She's on spring break this week and seeing friends she doesn't see a lot of in school. I hope to have a college decision from her soon.

 

[aprilgail]

My daughter doesn't want a graduation party, which is fine with me. She may want a party over the summer to celebrate her 18th birthday early and as a last hurrah with her friends. That's easy though, just lots of food and music.
.

My daughter is a bit bummed about her 18th birthday- all her friends have been having surprise 18th birthday parties and regular parties and when she turns 18 they will all be scattered around the US at various schools. I am hoping by her birthday she will have made some good friends in college to celebrate with-she has 3 months in college before she turns 18 so there is a chance!