The NP has heard of a very qualified senior who was accepted to Berkeley, NYU, Vassar and WashU, but was waitlisted at _______, where both of her parents attended AND her mom is an interviewer. 

Moral: Apply early or forget about your legacy perks. 

But in the case of this girl, she wasn't ABSOLUTELY positive she wanted to attend _______, so she gambled and it didn't work out. (At least not yet – the waitlist domino action does not officially begin until May 1st.) 

Meanwhile, at the moment I am on my dream spring break trip – at a B&B in a gorgeous mansion a block from CJ's campus (my regular hotel of choice was full). I am pleased to report that my son has survived the pledge process and his new brothers-for-life are actually very impressive dudes who can hold their own in a discussion of current events at dinner, not as "fratty" as I feared. 

Now that I have approved his friends, I can worry about the 3.5" flying cockroach we found in his room, nestled in a pair of boxers on the bottom of a  semester's pile of unwashed clothes.  Luckily, after numerous tropical travels, I am not as neurotic about insects as I am about college admissions.

Mr. NP had to miss this trip.  But he is here is spirit – and since I've trademarked my brand, he has  finally become supportive of this blog.  He even sent some links to share with readers:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/06/hardest-schools-to-get-in_n_526881.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/13/the-highest-paying-colleg_n_535061.html

http://www.tuftsdaily.com/number-of-new-england-schools-in-50-000-tuition-bracket-to-double-1.2220866