It’s been a long month, this month, as we’ve waited for my son’s college admissions decisions.

(Also a long month because of the four feet of snow that fell between me and my woodpile. But that is another story.)

We thought it would be a month of “yes’s” and maybe a few “no’s.”

(But probably not very many “no’s.” Because he is a great student! We were so optimistic.)

We never imagined that it would be a month of  “maybe’s.”

My son first learned that he was waitlisted at UC Davis, which is the first UC school to post admissions decisions. Then a few days later,  he was waitlisted at UC Santa Cruz, my alma mater (which generally has at least a fifty percent admissions rate). The week after that he found out that he was waitlisted at UC San Diego.

Not a “no,” but definitely not a “yes.” The colleges who put you on their waiting lists encourage you to accept any “for sure” offers you receive, because they do not know at all if they will be able to admit you.

Then there was a “no” from UCLA. “No’s” from Colby College and Northeastern.

Rough days.

Lots of motherly angst (which might have been apparent in my last two blog entries, which were written during this entire process.)

But then? Last Tuesday?

“You’re in! Welcome to the University of California, Santa Barbara.”

A yes.

Finally, a yes.

To Santa Barbara, of all places!

He couldn’t ask for a more beautiful place to go to school.

We do not know for sure if that is where he will end up (community college is still a great option), but it was so encouraging for him to finally get that “yes.” It affirmed his hard work. It made his day. It made my day.  It made all of our days!

(And doesn’t it just go to show how arbitrary the entire admissions process is?)

Thanks to all of you who sent notes of encouragement as we navigated this process. They meant a lot to me.