Kids headed to College Fall 2012 Check-in

[WDWBarb]

Checking in! First and only child starts college in the Fall. Ugh. I'm going to miss her so much.

The good news is that she's going 10 minutes away and she got into the only school that she wanted to apply to (I insisted she apply to others and her selected college did as well).

It's SO not the choice I thought she would make - I assumed she'd go to a large school much further from home. But I'm so glad she didn't

She will be living on campus (dorm life is 50% of the college experience!!) but home will be close enough that she can drop in and see us (and, more importantly, our dogs!) as much as she wants.

And I REALLY worry about the dogs missing her. They will be devestated when she's not here every night.

And I will too....

 

[zurgswife]

Does anyone know of a good discussion board, similar to DIS, for college.
Since this is my first child going off to college, I would love to find a board where I could talk with other parents on what to expect, financial aid, handling her leaving, etc..

I found a couple, but they were all about bragging. I dont need to brag or want to hear all about everyone's perfect child with the perfect SAT score and all AP classes. Barf.

I also suggest College Confidential Forums....I've used them for all 3 of my kid headed to college for various reasons and it's pretty good.

 

[LoveMyDogTheDoodle]

Hi,

My daughter's second choice was Mt. St. Mary's; a terrific school about an hour or so from home. It is small, so there is a lot of individual attention for the student. The students seem really happy there and it's located close enough to D.C. and Baltimore and just down the road from Gettysburg (a fun and historic college town).

My daughter's first choice was Washington College (Eastern shore of MD). I made it perfectly clear that she would go to the college that gave her the best financial aid package, and there was always the possibility of community college if it just wasn't finacially feasible to attend a four year university.

As it turned out, both colleges were very generous, with Washington just edging out Mt. St. Mary's. There is no way that I would support my child's decision to go to a college where I was expected to co-sign for a large percentage of the cost; also I would never support my child's decision to attend a university and then graduate with enormous debt.

I see that you are in Florida, has he considered any colleges there?

Good luck to you!

Our son applied and was accepted to two schools. Purdue (Indiana) was his top choice with Mount St. Mary's (Maryland) as his "back up". Mount St. Mary's offered him the Presidential Scholarship at $64,000 - just over half the total cost. Purdue offered him nothing. He has chosen Purdue.

Our son has known since he was 6 that he would need to be 100% responsible for his college education. I am not sure how he will pay for it. I really tried to talk him into MSM, but his heart is set on Purdue. So, he will need to get loans. Not exactly sure how that is going to work.

Michelle

 

[Boston Tea Party]

I also suggest College Confidential Forums....I've used them for all 3 of my kid headed to college for various reasons and it's pretty good.

GREAT site for Admissions Letter Watch, 2012.

 

[mvazul]

Hi,

My daughter's second choice was Mt. St. Mary's; a terrific school about an hour or so from home. It is small, so there is a lot of individual attention for the student. The students seem really happy there and it's located close enough to D.C. and Baltimore and just down the road from Gettysburg (a fun and historic college town).

My daughter's first choice was Washington College (Eastern shore of MD). I made it perfectly clear that she would go to the college that gave her the best financial aid package, and there was always the possibility of community college if it just wasn't finacially feasible to attend a four year university.

As it turned out, both colleges were very generous, with Washington just edging out Mt. St. Mary's. There is no way that I would support my child's decision to go to a college where I was expected to co-sign for a large percentage of the cost; also I would never support my child's decision to attend a university and then graduate with enormous debt.

I see that you are in Florida, has he considered any colleges there?

Good luck to you!

I have heard a lot of good things about Mount St. Mary's. I grew up in Pennsylvania and we have been to Gettysburg quite a few times. I also used to live in Maryland, so I know the area. We just moved to Florida in December. He is not interested in any of the schools here. Since we just moved in December, he is not eligible for any aid from Florida. I tried to talk him into a Pennsylvania state school (and have him stay with family until graduation), but he wanted nothing to do with it. It's his choice.

His first choice was Bucknell. $52,000 a year. That went to the wayside when he learned about Purdue. Purdue used to be one of the more affordable Big 10 schools. Not anymore.

 

[DVCLiz]

It's been really interesting to see the other side of this process as well - my oldest is an Admission Counselor and she has spent the week talking with parents, explaining the appeals process, etc. There are so many talented students and they want to make it possible for all of them to attend, but there are only so many dollars. It's hard on the other side of the fence, too - seeing a kid they know would be a great fit for their school have to turn it down because the money is just not there.

 

[js]

Hi all! So glad I found this thread! Can't believe I haven't seen it before.

Congratulations to all that have received their acceptances and know where they are going. Hugs to those still trying to figure it out.

Sorry, I hope you don't mind, I don't like to brag at home but I hope you don't mind my doing here:
My dd applied ED to Muhlenberg and got her acceptance, along with the Tuition Exchange Scholarship and half dorms for a total of $36,500 per year She's worked VERY hard and we are very proud of her, although the full COA is more about $51K but a loan and us helping her out will be what works for her/us.

We knew before Thanksgiving of her acceptance and her financials so we haven't had to have the stress that some of you have had along with the poor stress some of her friends are having.

Good luck to us all!!!

 

[kacaju]

dd is going to Ramapo College in NJ. In fact she is heading up there today for the placement testing.

 

[MrsPete]

So, my child should get to go to a college that costs $45,000, and she only gets a small scholarship (since she didn't study as hard as she could have), and she doesn't have to pay towards it? Nope, I have to disagree. My dd will take out loans to pay for school.

Speaking only for myself, in that situation I'd try to steer the child towards a less expensive college; thus, avoiding the loans. Yes, at the moment college is WHAT SHE WANTS, and that's as far down the road as she -- at almost 18 years old -- can see. She's also going to want other things in the future: A new car, an apartment, a wedding, a house, children, travel. She's going to want those things just as much as she wants college today, and I don't want debt to make her wait for those things.

We were fortunate that this wasn't an issue for us. Before we started looking at colleges, we discussed what we are willing to pay, and we discussed the benefits of finishing debt-free. My child to the bone, she was repelled by the idea that any portion of her as-yet-unearned paychecks would already belong to someone else. She also understands fully that, as a nursing major, what really matters is that she earn pass the test to earn a state license -- the name on her diploma isn't nearly as important. We visited a wide variety of colleges, and in the end the one she love-love-loved was quite affordable. It worked out well.

I wonder---do some states require non-custodial parents to contribute to college?

I'm not divorced myself, but I think it has to do with what's written into the divorce paperwork. I think pretty much everyone agrees on child support, insurance, and so forth . . . but some people write in their expectations on college costs.

Target is College Central around here. Our neighborhood Target is not far from Emory University and it is hysterical watching the little scared looking freshmen with thier overbearing grandparents and parents navigate their way thru the aisles!! I have to remind myself NOT to go there on those days.

I'm amazed at what students "need" to fill a dorm room these days. I had a new set of sheets and my grandmother gave me a small fridge as a graduation gift . . . but I brought a blanket, lamp and other items from home. Likewise, I brought towels, laundry baskets, etc. that we already had around the house. Of course, we didn't have two dimes to rub together, so that influenced our decision -- certainly some new things would've been nice . . . but it seems that outfitting a dorm room has become a whole industry. I think you can spend as much or as little as you're able, and you can still live pretty comfortably in a dorm.

 

[Bilberry]

Saw this article and thought to share, due to the concerns of many over high debts that can be incurred from university education. Not encouraging to see so many youth deep in debt early in life.

"Student Debt's Red Herring"

http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2012/04/04/student-debt-red-herring/

 

[minniebeth]

Bumping this thread up....
We just did a college tour over spring break with 5 college visits for DS. He's a junior though, so watching this thread with valuable info. in it for our upcoming year!

 

[LOVETHATMOUSE]

Hi all! So glad I found this thread! Can't believe I haven't seen it before.

Congratulations to all that have received their acceptances and know where they are going. Hugs to those still trying to figure it out.

Sorry, I hope you don't mind, I don't like to brag at home but I hope you don't mind my doing here:
My dd applied ED to Muhlenberg and got her acceptance, along with the Tuition Exchange Scholarship and half dorms for a total of $36,500 per year She's worked VERY hard and we are very proud of her, although the full COA is more about $51K but a loan and us helping her out will be what works for her/us.

We knew before Thanksgiving of her acceptance and her financials so we haven't had to have the stress that some of you have had along with the poor stress some of her friends are having.

Good luck to us all!!!

We just visted Muhlenberg and it's my dd's first choice. She wants to Dual Major in Dance and either Psych or English. She REALLY wants to go there, but I'm afraid if she does ED the financial package won't be as good bc they obviously know she will go there if accepted. Did you speak to admissions before applying to see what the package could be? She flat out can't go there if there is no aid..we can't afford it otherwise. BTW, what does your dd want to study?

 

[goofy4tink]

I understand that in your circumstance having your daughter assume some of the debt is reasonable. But, that is entirely different from what you stated earlier and what I was responding to, which was:

"My dh and I consider it our responsibility to help our dd with her college costs. Not 100% but some. I firmly believe that every college graduate should finish school with some debt!"

My point was, if parents can comfortably foot the entire bill, why did you feel that a student should still go into debt? That is what I thought you were indicating, and what I was questioning. So, if I pay my daughter's expenses she should still get a loan? I don't understand why anyone would advocate that. Going into debt if you don't have to seems wrong to me.

I in no way expect my dd to pay for her entire college cost. That wasn't my point. We have told her what we are willing to pay, at this moment in time. There will have to be loans taken out...either by her, or by us. And they will be deferred payments. That way, even though accruing interest from day 1, we can still pay them off before the actual repayment dates start. I truly believe that those students that have a financial interest in their education, tend to look at it differently than those students that are paying for nothing. My dd will graduate with about $20,000 in debt...subsidized and unsubsidized loans for 4 years. We, her parents, will take care of the rest of it....total will be about $100,000, not including interest. Our house will be put on the market in 2-3 years...and a huge amount of the profit from it will go towards paying off her school.

Could she go to a less expensive school? Sure...but that school isn't going to give her the tangibles, and intangibles, that this college will give her. And that is my point of view, not her 18 y/o point of view. She made a very informed choice.
So, she will go there, and it will be expensive. It will involve sacrifices being made. But, that's what we figured would happen. Even though she is taking out student loans, with a co-signer, she won't be paying them back....her parents will. And those student loans will be her first step towards being credit worthy.

 

[zurgswife]

Well we are down to Fordham and Pace...and have 8 days to make a decision .....it's going to be a long 8 days.

 

[MrsPete]

I do want to add, though, that it worries me when I see families that say their children will have to take out loans to cover the cost of school. (Not you in particular; I am talking in generalities here). I think many families that have not been through the process fail to realize that for most schools, a student CANNOT borrow enough money. Federal loans are limited, and there are really no other loans that a student can get solely in his or her name.

my daughter received a letter explaining how much she'd need for her freshman year -- though they seem to have estimated high for everything; for example, they say she'll need $700 for books . . . Though her school rents textbooks, and that cost is included in the tuition. Anyway, they offered to lend her 150% the cost of her first year. Scary.

 

[StephMK]

It feels so strange to be done now! DD has picked her school, roommate, and summer registration date. We just need to pay the second part of the housing deposit & accept her fin aid awards. Prom was last night, she had a great time and looked beautiful. Now we are down to a few weeks of school & events then graduation!

How is everyone doing on their kids' decision making & final events of HS?

 

[Boston Tea Party]

Deposit sent in, need to work on PLUS loan paperwork and Stafford loan paperwork as well. Spent the day shopping. Got her a cruiser bike for campus, among other things. Orientation is in June. We are renting a van to haul a her things out there to California from Texas and put them in a storage unit. She's accepted a roommate request and she'll meet her in June. Hope it all goes OK.

She's anti-prom, which makes me sad, so none of that here. She's counting down the days...

 

[Patience]

Disregard.

 

[pixie dust 112]

My daughter got into her #1 choice and got a nice scholarship. She heard from that school 1st before hearing from any others. As packages came in from the other schools that she had applied to she threw them in the garbage without even opening them. She said she didn't need to know whether she was accepted or not as she had already made her decision! She has ended up at a small (smaller than her HS) private school but luckily the scholarship they gave her brings the cost down to about the same as a SUNY

 

[Green Tea]

We just visted Muhlenberg and it's my dd's first choice. She wants to Dual Major in Dance and either Psych or English. She REALLY wants to go there, but I'm afraid if she does ED the financial package won't be as good bc they obviously know she will go there if accepted. Did you speak to admissions before applying to see what the package could be? She flat out can't go there if there is no aid..we can't afford it otherwise. BTW, what does your dd want to study?

They do not penalize the ED kids. Merit and need based aid are handed out freely to the early decision candidates. If the package is not something you can afford after being accepted, there is generally an "out" of the agreement if they can not meet the financial need.