Good to know! At the bigger one, I put the deposit down in January for housing selection priority 😬🤣. I have not for the smaller school.

Sorry for all my questions today. I need to upload mid-year grades to UVA through their portal. So you think it is ok to add their unofficial DE grade from the fall semester behind their transcript page? So a 2 page document? They are pretty strict with people who are deferred with providing info. All they want is for us to check the whether we are withdrawing or accepting the move to RD and to upload mid-year grades. No letter of continued interest or anything.

Business major 🙂

@Farrar Thank you! So glad to hear positive things about UMW and their alums. DS2 and I sat in on an accepted students zoom this week and I was quite impressed with what I heard. I can say the admissions people at UMW and JMU were the best to deal with of 8 schools they applied to and were super helpful to me during this process. Both boys are studying business. DS1 loves JMU, but he is not aware yet of any of the nuances of the "culture." He is not a follower, just wants to go study, use that beautiful gym, eat the great food, and move on -- LOL. And will be pining away for a girlfriend that will be a freshman at a different school. He will figure it out. I think he would have done well academically at UMW, but would have perished at the school size, lack of activities, etc. He is my social kid. DS2 and I were there on a Saturday in December (it was 60 degrees and beautiful out). We hardly saw anyone and we walked the entire length of the school and back. Thanks re: UVA. Both boys are continuing on in the process and I'll be sending in mid-term grades shortly.

Please don't quote My boys were deferred at UVA last night. Admit rate from deferred status is very, very small and deferral has been called the "soft reject" for this school 🤣. They had already made their school choices prior to this decision from UVA, knowing how low the acceptance rate is, but would have reconsidered their choice had they been accepted. Hope I'm making sense -- LOL. If they stay in the applicant pool for RD, those decisions won't be out until end of March (by April 1st). I don't want to NOT move forward with their other schools given the likelihood they will be rejected during RD. If deposits are made, and they end up getting into UVA 🤣, will there be any issues removing them from their current schools (except for possibly losing the deposit)? It isn't being done in bad faith. The reality is they will probably be going to these schools. But...who knows for sure 🤷‍♀️.

Please don't quote 🙂 I'm not even sure how to word this, but I have only talked about this with DH and DS2, I trust all of you, and we are pretty much making final decisions. So... Have any of your kids, either who have been through, are currently in, or planning to go) to a smaller, less challenging (statistically speaking from an admissions standpoint) school because it is the right fit living wise? DS2 has loved everything about a smaller public university about an hour from home (Univ of Mary Washington). He has said it was his pick since he toured schools (it was our first tour). I agree it is a perfect fit for him in most every way. But...he has been accepted to schools with probably better/bigger academic programs. He honestly would probably do well academically wherever he goes, but this one school is the right "fit" for him to enjoy the experience (if you know what I mean). Did you/would you have any qualms about your kid choosing a school in this situation? I worry about it being challenging enough for him, job and internship potential may not be what it would be at say JMU (where DS1 is likely going). But...he would maybe be one of the bigger fish in a smaller pond at this school. I would appreciate any thoughts or insight you might have for me. He may not change his mind regardless, and I actually feel really good about his choice, but I want to make sure I'm not missing something. I've told him he will need to get to know the students and professors well, build relationships, and that opportunities may come from that. He is also deciding on whether or not to do Honors. He was accepted, but isn't sure. It doesn't give you a lot of perks (housing, etc.) as the Honors programs at other schools he has been accepted to. He was deferred at UVA last night, which he is not upset about. However, this was the one school where an acceptance would have made him really think about and reconsider his choice. He would not have been comfortable with some aspects of UVA, but he would have been maybe more academically challenged there. But he also would have been more of a same size fish as other students. He would possibly have put himself out there for the opportunities and prestige that would come from a degree there. Am I even making sense 🤣? My brain is so fried?

I'm so sorry 😞. I know it stings/hurts and this process is brutal for so many :-(. Hang in there mama!

There were 4667 in-state rejections tonight. Feeling pretty good with the deferral 🤣🤣🤣.

I think they will stay in, but are looking forward to JMU and UMW.

DS1 and DS2 deferred to RD at UVA. They are taking it well :-). They will think about staying in or withdrawing and have until the 24th to decide.

It felt like you were making a statement - not that you were wanting understanding. That's all. I think it will vary by applicant. For us, my boys didn't want to apply anywhere out of state, much as I tried. We can afford it and DH would have been willing to pay full cost at UVA. He went to JMU undergrad and UVA law.

You don’t need to understand the appeal.

EA stats for UVA 🤣🤣🤣. Decisions out tomorrow 🤣🤣🤣 http://uvaapplication.blogspot.com/2023/02/2023-uva-early-action-admission.html

I totally agree! I am actually ready for the school year to be done if I'm being honest. I am ready to retire from this part -- LOL. I also know time is short with them. I do plan to enjoy every second of the summer, their swim meets, shopping for their dorms, etc. I have a feeling my dad will have a crisis though, as he is declining rather quickly now, so that is a little cloud hanging over. We'll get through though.

Just an interesting little tidbit about UVA. Dean J, on her live Q&A last week, talked about multiples applying. Someone asked her how they handle twins who apply. Dean J seems to enjoy when multiples apply. They generate a report of applicants who are multiples -- LOL. She said, generally speaking, multiples receive the same decision because there are a lot of similarities in their applications. She added, however, that a stellar student won't carry a non-stellar twin into admission -- LOL. I guess we'll see if this holds true. At this point, I just want to know so we can start finalizing things.

We are waiting for one more (the big reach). Decision coming tomorrow night 😬. But yes, his 1st choice. If the reach pans out 🤣, we will have another visit to that school and big discussions. If not, he is very happy with his choice! He loves everything about JMU - old dorms and all. Business college building is modern/brand new and has a good reputation.

JMU is one that bases dorm selection on when admission deposit is paid. They have some OLD, OLD, OLD dorms. Dorms my DH stayed in undergrad and he is 61 🤣🤣🤣. Hoping DS1 gets one of the newer dorms 🤞!

Your daughter is having twins? If so, she may want as many hands on deck as possible. My DH and I don’t even remember much of those first couple of months. But…I would set up rules/boundaries with them and also make sure FIL knows that breastfeeding is priority and he needs to step out when that is going on. I have never been so exhausted in my whole life as those first couple of months with my twins - especially while recovering from a c-section. My in-laws lived close by and I loved them dearly. They came over every evening for about 3 hours to love on them. I think this went on for at least 6 months. It gave me time to shower, take a short nap, etc. They also brought us a lot of meals. My dad also came over a lot during the day. I lost my mom before i married DH so I didn’t have her help.

That is super stressful! I think we've decided, but I'm going to go back and look at all our dates 😬!

One of my boys prefers to be home just the 4 of us. But he is social in his Spanish class twice a week and swims 6 days a week. His twin is my social butterfly at swim and he includes his brother in all of that. We talk a lot about everything and he is truly happy this way (for now). He is off to college in August so will be interesting to see how he handles all of that.

I’m so, so sorry for your loss 😢!

My 17.5 year old is similar. I’m not worried.

I didn’t pay this much for my boys’ shoes, but something like this https://www.kohls.com/product/prd-3509138/adidas-advantage-mens-sneakers.jsp?prdPV=72 or https://www.kohls.com/product/prd-3737517/vans-atwood-dx-mens-skate-shoes.jsp?prdPV=3. I think one of mine actually had the 2nd pair. One will be wearing his to prom in a couple of months.

I agree with Khaki pants (could be gray or tan), collared shirt (polo or button-down - no tie), and nicer shoes or tennis shoes (that aren't worn out). I finally bought my boys black leather "tennis" shoes that are popular with suits and dress pants these days.

We are still waiting for our last notification here. Will be no later than the 15th. My boys have made their decisions in the event the last decision is not an acceptance (which is the likely outcome to be honest), but we will see. We are pretty realistic in my house -- LOL. I will be glad when we can move on to focus on just one school for each kid :-).