@ Parents of Seniors … final stretch!

[formerlyak]

We’ve had a few “parents of seniors” posts this year about post-high school plans. All college decisions are out. Everyone holding up ok?

DS was waitlisted by his top choice - UDub. He was bummed but after the initial disappointment started to focus on schools that had accepted him. He had it narrowed down to Rutgers and UC Irvine (we are in CA). Then he got the surprise of his life and was admitted to UC Berkeley! Turns out, after visiting this past weekend, he loves it and is thankful UDub waitlisted him. If they hadn’t, he never would have visited Berkeley and seen how great of a fit it is for him. We signed the intent to register and paid the deposit. When people say they land where they are supposed to land, apparently they are right.

I love seeing all his friends make their plans - university, community college, trade school, military. They all seem to be finding their way.

Good luck to all parents of seniors as we finish this out. And good luck to the parent of juniors who are just starting the process.

[shopgirl07]

UC Berkeley, what an accomplishment! I love that campus, my son lived nearby for many years. I always try to get my friends kids to apply.

[deadwing]

What is UDub? University of Washington? University of Dublin? I'm sure I'm way off...

[cjcouple]

Overall great but definitely emotional. Scholarships are out and we are just awaiting the final schools report from FAFSA.

Accepted students day is Saturday so that'll be emotional I'm sure.

I teared up when they sent home the packet of events and on the calendar it said Senior Sunset on the last day. They had a Senior Sunrise on the first day and for some reason it just hit me.

I am worried about next year. DH & I both attempted college and neither of us made it through and ended up with student debt and it's a fraction of DSs first semester. I'm so anxious that he won't be prepared or ready but I just try to tell myself I had the same fears about HS and he did great! Hes a great kid.

Next up all the good stuff. Prom, Senior trip, awards night, sports banquet and graduation!!

[InBetweenDays]

We have 2 more months! DD has known where she is going since November (she was recruited to play lacrosse there and applied early decision) so that has been nice. Have to make it through AP tests in a few weeks and then it is all smooth sailing.

Oh, and have to make it through their senior assassin week. Do your schools do this? She waited outside her target's house for 40 minutes before school - but he didn't end up going to 1st period. Each morning or when she leaves for practice/games/work she makes us check and clear the yard, then DS escorts her to the car where she waits as he runs back in to get all of her stuff.

cjcouple our school did senior sunrise as well but I haven't heard about senior sunset. I love that!

[definitelyO]

Congratulations formerlyak , on your son's acceptance and decision!!

DS just finalized his choice on Sunday night - WHEW!! so now we can start ordering announcements and make PLANS!!
and he only has 2.5 weeks of official school left - last day is May 10 (2 days of finals that week) and graduation in exactly a month.  

[InBetweenDays]

Apr 16, 2024 14:59:28 GMT -5 deadwing said:

What is UDub? University of Washington? University of Dublin? I'm sure I'm way off...

University of Washington. Dubs Up!

[definitelyO]

InBetweenDays, yes, most of the schools by us have sr assassin "month"... with a nice pot of $$ at the end. DS wasn't that into it and got out by one of his close friends just a few days in....

[InBetweenDays]

definitelyO a month? I think here they do a week and then if you don't get your person and are not taken out in that week they start "the purge". Where anyone left in the game can go after each other.

I just reread the rules. Each round is a week with the week ending in a purge. So maybe it could last a month!

[mommin]

Congrats everyone! We almost made it!

DS1 got a welcome package in the mail yesterday from his chosen school, which was a fun surprise. It was his top choice and I’m grateful he got in. He would have been fine with either of his back up options, but I think he needed to feel like all of his work really paid off and, for him, that was connected with where he got accepted to college.

While he is accepted, he’s decided to defer for a bit to go do some missionary work in Columbia. He is more excited about this than I’ve ever seen him get excited about anything. We’re waiting on visa paperwork and such and he should head out in September. I really think this will be an amazing opportunity for him to grow. It’s very controlled and well-organized by the people that run the program but he’ll also be responsible for a lot more of his own things than he is here at home. I feel like it will be a great tip toe in to adulthood before he actually heads off to school.

He will be graduating with AS degree but apparently we have to wait up to 8 weeks after graduation to confirm if he actually took all the required classes. Has anyone experienced this? My college was not like this and I think it’s weird that he won’t find out until almost the end of summer semester if he missed anything needs more classes.

[formerlyak]

Apr 16, 2024 14:59:28 GMT -5 deadwing said:

What is UDub? University of Washington? University of Dublin? I'm sure I'm way off...

Washington.

[stinkyfeet]

Mine was accepted to her dream school early decision. We just went to admitted students' day and she is beyond excited to start. It was so fun to see her there, I hope it's everything she wants and more

[pinkly]

I have one of each - a senior and a junior. They just had prom this past weekend. Last prom for my senior, last prom pic with them together. Tomorrow is SAT for my junior and NHS induction.

They are in the middle of DD1’s last soccer season ever, and the last season they’ll ever play together. After over a decade of soccer, this is especially hard.

DD1 is headed to school about 4 hours away, with her best friend. She plans on checking out sorority recruitment, which I’m a tad anxious about because she’s not the most outgoing.

Graduation is so quickly approaching, and I’m going to miss that kid like crazy.

[W.T.Faulkner]

Hats off to you guys! This year was a doozy with the FAFSA debacle.

[cjcouple]

Apr 16, 2024 15:08:55 GMT -5 InBetweenDays said:

We have 2 more months! DD has known where she is going since November (she was recruited to play lacrosse there and applied early decision) so that has been nice. Have to make it through AP tests in a few weeks and then it is all smooth sailing.

Oh, and have to make it through their senior assassin week. Do your schools do this? She waited outside her target's house for 40 minutes before school - but he didn't end up going to 1st period. Each morning or when she leaves for practice/games/work she makes us check and clear the yard, then DS escorts her to the car where she waits as he runs back in to get all of her stuff.

cjcouple our school did senior sunrise as well but I haven't heard about senior sunset. I love that!

me too! it's a nice end in addition to graduation

[melmaria]

My SD did not get into her top choice, but she did get into her number 2 with a huge amount (six figures) of merit aid. We will be able to cover the rest and she should graduate debt free. Win for her, win for us!

She’s going out of state but not too far and in a city that will actually be awesome to visit. I’m so excited for her. I teared up when her graduation announcements arrived - it’s really starting to feel real.

[mommin]

Apr 16, 2024 21:21:17 GMT -5 W.T.Faulkner said:

Hats off to you guys! This year was a doozy with the FAFSA debacle.

That was absolute garbage! We ended up having to completely delete our first one, after all the info was input, and start again because it couldn’t figure out how to connect to DH’s info.

[bex1973]

Chiming in as someone who works in new student programs in higher ed - if your student knows where they're going tell them to get on making their Orientation or Academic Advising appointment. Typically the sooner the better so they have a wider variety of course offerings. Of course they need everything so they won't get stuck taking a class they don't need but if they have desires around days and times and modalities then the soonest possible session is usually the best bet!

[formerlyak]

bex1973, thanks for the reminder. DS and I have been going through his checklist and doing all the requirements (deposits, requesting test scores, etc). I will put "make advising appointment" at the top of our list. His school does a lot of online orientation modules and then the in-person stuff appears to be the week between move-in day and the first day of school.

[waverly]

mommin, our college would do an audit of our transcript before graduation. Could he make an appointment with someone at the college for them to review? Or is administration only through the high school?

[threejs]

My DD is a junior who has a lot of senior friends. I've also been extremely active at her school, so I am so loving hearing all the senior decisions. I'm so proud but also teary and emotional! I'm going to be a complete wreck next year. Congratulations to everyone finalizing plans! Oh, and I seriously hope the FAFSA debacle is cleared up for next year. What a mess!

[leahcar]

She’s been fairly sure about her choice for a few months, but we officially paid deposits last week. We are headed to Admitted Students Day- and to register for classes!- Saturday and ordered the first thing- a rug- for her dorm room.

She’s going to have her associates when she graduates. That graduation is in less than a month. We are just going to dinner afterwards so that one will be easy.

Then senior awards, prom, senior breakfast, and HS graduation. Planning her party is a lot, but also fun. May will be VERY emotional!

She’s suddenly having drama with her best friend; that’s been hard to watch. It is also making her more excited to leave high school behind though.

I have a sophomore as well so the break in college planning won’t be a long one. At least we know a bit more from doing this once already.

[mommin]

Apr 17, 2024 15:41:06 GMT -5 waverly said:

mommin, our college would do an audit of our transcript before graduation. Could he make an appointment with someone at the college for them to review? Or is administration only through the high school?

He filled out the graduation request and sent it to the records department to start the process and got an email that he is at least approved to walk at graduation. I think I might have him call the jump start office (the college office that handles the high schoolers) to see what to do. Thank you for the suggestion!

[bex1973]

Apr 18, 2024 18:34:36 GMT -5 mommin said:

Apr 17, 2024 15:41:06 GMT -5 waverly said:

mommin , our college would do an audit of our transcript before graduation. Could he make an appointment with someone at the college for them to review? Or is administration only through the high school?

He filled out the graduation request and sent it to the records department to start the process and got an email that he is at least approved to walk at graduation. I think I might have him call the jump start office (the college office that handles the high schoolers) to see what to do. Thank you for the suggestion!

Most colleges & universities have a degree audit system where a student can look at what they completed and compare to requirements. At my university it's called My Degree Plan and is run through a platform called Degree Works and it's the same mechanism that the Registrar's Office uses for audits. 

Also - don't forget to have him submit transcripts to the school he's going to - lots of high schoolers think that happens automatically but it doesn't - students have to request the transcript be sent.

[flymetothemoon]

Apr 16, 2024 14:43:53 GMT -5 formerlyak said:

We’ve had a few “parents of seniors” posts this year about post-high school plans. All college decisions are out. Everyone holding up ok?

DS was waitlisted by his top choice - UDub. He was bummed but after the initial disappointment started to focus on schools that had accepted him. He had it narrowed down to Rutgers and UC Irvine (we are in CA). Then he got the surprise of his life and was admitted to UC Berkeley! Turns out, after visiting this past weekend, he loves it and is thankful UDub waitlisted him. If they hadn’t, he never would have visited Berkeley and seen how great of a fit it is for him. We signed the intent to register and paid the deposit. When people say they land where they are supposed to land, apparently they are right.

I love seeing all his friends make their plans - university, community college, trade school, military. They all seem to be finding their way.

Good luck to all parents of seniors as we finish this out. And good luck to the parent of juniors who are just starting the process.

Congratulations! Former Cal alum here. Let me know if you have questions about finding an apartment after the first year of housing is up. I lived on both north and Southside at various times. My oldest niece got accepted into Cal as well so I'm hoping she accepts!