Successful Eye Opening Day

I am knackered! We did not get on the road on Thursday until after 4:30, which meant we drove though Minneapolis and the western suburbs in full on rush hour instead of being past it before the real chaos started. We didn't get into our hotel room until 9:30 and our daughter quickly had to log in and finish and submit a paper due at 11:59. She made it but it was close. We ended up running to get each of us a chicken sandwich and some soothing throat drops for her. We were up and going early on Friday, had breakfast and got to the morning scholarship program in ample time. We had a brief time together then she went into a discussion group. Later we met up for a luncheon for all Scholarship candidates. She had her rehearsal, interview, and then audition for a choir scholarship in the afternoon. They provided us dinner passes as well, before we meet up again for a reception with the music department and then the concert. On the road again by 9:15, one stop for gas and bathroom, and home at 1;30 a.m. 

Whew-I am spent. At some point this morning, once the crew is done sorting, I'll go pick up and help deliver flowers and my daughter is doing bell ringing. I'll cobble together something for breakfast, lunch and supper, but at some point will grocery shop this weekend. Snow is in the forecast, so will factor that in my plans. Tomorrow seems free, but I'll want to decorate. 

Here are the eye opening things we learned.

• With what we know already for her scholarship package, we estimate this option will be the lowest cost cumulatively, over four years of the schools she is looking at attending. They guarantee graduation in four years, providing she declares and  by her sophomore year. Yet, the sticker is still high, and we do not have nearly enough saved-cash flowing much year to year.
• My husbands sticker shock was somewhat soothed with being on campus for the full day. The programming, faculty/staff to student ration, and class size and general vibe from the school won him over.
• For our daughter, she was slowly but clearly checking each box on her college search priorities, and we could feel her interest growing as the day went on. 
• She is often uncomfortable in groups where she does not know anyone, but she told us she actually did jump in and participate in the small group, and later in different parts of the day, she greeted and chatted with a couple girls she had met. Some of that is maturing, but a lot was the way this school seems to focus on particular learning styles. 
• We were impressed that while this was a recruitment pitch kind of day, the admissions people reiterated that the students personal fit was most important, transparently saying they are aware that different students thrive better in different settings. Yes, they had their admissions pitch, but we really did feel they were authentic. 
• DH and I are not as young as we were with the older kids. This 33 hour trip wreaked havoc on our bodies. My December Goals post is really resonating with me, particularly the  ones about exercise, yoga, eating well, and not gaining any more weight. 

She still wants to hear from the one school she is waiting on, the school that was her original dream school, a very large university in a city. She should even talk with an admissions person there, understand how it would or would not be a fit for her personally, before making a decision. We don't want her to have regrets that she didn't at least weigh out the option and feel pushed towards a school by us. I think she'll come to the decision on her own, and it will be a more confident one because of that. Now, to look for ways to pinch those pennies while enjoying the rest of our life, and not just putting all our financial eggs in her basket.