Decisions

We're still trying to decide between The Scholarship School and The Other School. (Well, there's a third attractive option as well as a very attractive waiting list option, but we're putting them out of our minds in order to simplify the decision.)

Seems like a no-brainer to choose The Scholarship School. Guaranteed free tuition for eight semesters as long as her GPA stays above 3.2. She can go abroad for a semester, and it's paid for. She can cross-register at other area colleges, including at The Other School, and it's paid for. She has no work-study. Any scholarships she might receive (which we won't know about until June) can be used towards room and board because of the laws concerning merit aid, which isn't true for grant monies.

The problem is that she loves The Other School. It's a beautiful campus, and some might argue "more elite." It feels like a victory to her to have been accepted, especially after the worries about her brain cancer and some of the possible problems she might have had with cognition. (And might still have, some day in the future.)

But it's so expensive. And we have other kids that will go to college. The math just doesn't make sense. Their view of what we can afford and what they think we can afford are very different. She will still go to its Admitted Students Day (even though I wonder if that's wise), if only to try to convince herself that she's better off at The Scholarship School.

Admitted Students Day

We spent yesterday at The Scholarship School. It was Admitted Students Day, and although DD18 was familiar with the school, it was a chance to see the school in all its glory. Most schools, I think, put their best foot forward for these events. Lawns are mowed, flowers are blooming, and everyone is really nice. They are trying to woo the student, and separate the parents from their hard-earned dollars. Well, that's not our problem here, so we could relax and let them try to impress us.

The Scholarship School is a Geek School. It has no pretensions to coolness, unless it's in a nerdy way. It has few winning sports teams, at least at the moment, so you wouldn't attend this school for its sport scene. But it does pride itself on easy access to professors and opportunities for undergraduate research. I do think DD18 would be happy there...the social pressures would be mimimal and most students enroll for the academics. It does not have a reputation as a party school, although I'm sure parties can be had if you want them.

We have another Admitted Students Day at another school in a few weeks, and then DD18 will have to make a decision. I know she's not looking forward to it...it feels like a life-changing big deal, but I tell her not to stress over it. It's a good problem to have, considering the kinds of problems she could have.

Catch-Up: College

This blog has lagged a bit while we've gone through that agonizing time known as college acceptance season. I haven't talked much about college on here. In general, I haven't let myself think too far ahead. It's just the way I try to stay sane.

After all, last year happened. Just as DD18 approached what is arguably the most critical time in her high school career (second half of junior year), she needed more brain surgery. Her toughest courses were on hold, AP exams were on hold, SAT testing was on hold: we just didn't know how it would play out. But she came through that with grit and determination and plowed through everything doggedly, as if she had a lot to prove. This cancer thing and its hateful side effects were not going to stop her if she had her way.

I think we can breathe now. She did well. She did very well. We are so thankful...in the toughest, most competitive college application year ever, she has very good choices (even great choices). She even has an offer of a full scholarship at one school, where they acknowledged her "significant personal resilience." I cried when I read that.

We never had any expectations...we thought it would work out, that she'd hopefully end up going somewhere close to home. There are a lot of choices around here, and there are a lot of ways to live your life. She didn't lose sleep over this phase in her life. I think she was just going to accept whatever happened. What other choice do any of us really have?

She might have made it look easy. I know she never complains about the hand she's been dealt, and it's been so hard keeping my mouth shut when I listen to other parents whine about the unfairness of certain teachers or coaches or other "obstacles" put in their kids way.

I don't know what the future may bring, but I do know I am very grateful for the opportunities presented to her. And I know she will take full advantage of everything offered her, because she has a deep appreciation for where she's been and how far she's come.