High School Class 2013: Picking Colleges..Check in Here!

[Christine]

Originally Posted by marcyinPA

I have to retract something I wrote earlier. My DS got a 1280 on his SAT, not an 1140.

I realized this when we registered (or tried to anyway) for the October SAT this morning. Unfortunately, their systems are down. This is new, though- you now need to upload a picture of your student (and they emphasize that it must look EXACTLY like them) for their admission ticket. And the test price has gone up since he took it in April/May.

My son registered for both the SAT and ACT for October. Both required the photos this time and, I swear, both cost more. Crazy.

[Beachbumpirates]

Loving this thread - thank you! Question - my DD applied to her top pick in July under their early application opportunity. They said they would let us know mid August. She emailed her advisor on Monday to see if he had any idea when notification would be made and he advd her that they never received her ACT scores. Called the HS to find out this is the first year that our HS wont be sending ACT/SAT scores with official transcripts but they had not told the kids this. She said they were planning to tell them once school resumed later this week. Do we think that my DD missed out on the first round of acceptance letters because of this? And what, if anything, would you say or do? She is our oldest and we are treading on new ground.

[LisaR]

Originally Posted by vttkdmom

Sigh, I know it is expensive, but our "local" university UVM in Burlington is around $40k for IN STATE. I know, ridiculous isn't it? Jeesh...

I was curious so I looked up public universities in Vermont. Wow! You guys are really lacking state schools, aren't you?

I'd still look at some privates in FL, though. If you have to pay OOS anyway, you will likely get more aid from a private school. Good luck!

[Longsx3]

Originally Posted by Beachbumpirates

Loving this thread - thank you! Question - my DD applied to her top pick in July under their early application opportunity. They said they would let us know mid August. She emailed her advisor on Monday to see if he had any idea when notification would be made and he advd her that they never received her ACT scores. Called the HS to find out this is the first year that our HS wont be sending ACT/SAT scores with official transcripts but they had not told the kids this. She said they were planning to tell them once school resumed later this week. Do we think that my DD missed out on the first round of acceptance letters because of this? And what, if anything, would you say or do? She is our oldest and we are treading on new ground.

Is it a University with rolling admissions or early action? Either way I am sure there is still time to apply under early action. If you want to name the school I will try to help.

[Beachbumpirates]

I am not sure which it is, early or rolling. How would I find that out? It is Carthage College in Kenosha, WI and thanks for your help!

[vttkdmom]

Originally Posted by LisaR

I was curious so I looked up public universities in Vermont. Wow! You guys are really lacking state schools, aren't you?

Yes, I grew up in NY and there are so many SUNY schools to choose from, VT has only a handful, and if you want a BS in nursing, UVM is pretty much IT.

I'd still look at some privates in FL, though. If you have to pay OOS anyway, you will likely get more aid from a private school. Good luck!

Thanks. Her second choice is Nova, which is private; I am thinking if we get a better financial aid package from Nova, she may choose that.

But, the Navy program will offer her a $10k signing bonus, and $1k/month while in nursing school (jr & sr yrs), so that would pay a chunk of the tuition, she has to serve 5 yrs after, but she thinks that would be a bonus, guaranteed job at graduation, and when she is out of the Navy, she will have 5 yrs experience going into her field. She can apply to the program once she is accepted into a nursing school in her junior year.

[Longsx3]

Originally Posted by Beachbumpirates

I am not sure which it is, early or rolling. How would I find that out? It is Carthage College in Kenosha, WI and thanks for your help!

Carthage is Rolling, so when they get all of her application including transcript they will review her app. Kudos to her for being so fat ahead in the process.


BTW I found the info by googling, sometimes college websites require digging....you can also use a website like cappex where info is easy to find.

[Denise W]

For those of you in New England - check out regional rates. We were living in RI and the state schools did not offer the major my daughter wanted (illustration). I found out that the NE states had an agreement that if another NE state school had that major, she could attend and pay a regional rate, which was just a little more than their in-state rate. She ended up going to UMASS and we saved over $8000 a year due to paying the regional rate. This was 8 years ago so I don't know if this is still offered, but it was a well kept secret.

Hope it helps!

Denise

[Longsx3]

Originally Posted by vttkdmom

Thanks. Her second choice is Nova, which is private; I am thinking if we get a better financial aid package from Nova, she may choose that.

But, the Navy program will offer her a $10k signing bonus, and $1k/month while in nursing school (jr & sr yrs), so that would pay a chunk of the tuition, she has to serve 5 yrs after, but she thinks that would be a bonus, guaranteed job at graduation, and when she is out of the Navy, she will have 5 yrs experience going into her field. She can apply to the program once she is accepted into a nursing school in her junior year.

Hopefully Nova will offer a good aid package. Someone mentioned Vermont schools lacking, some states offer neighbor discounted tuition you may want to look into that.

My husband is an Active duty officer, I would hate to see a new officer come into the military with that kind of debt even if it is 60K, heck even 30K that is a lot just starting out.

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Originally Posted by LisaR

I'd still look at some privates in FL, though.

(Gasp)

[LisaR]

Originally Posted by Cannot_Wait_4Disney

(Gasp)

Hmmm.......maybe I could have worded that a little better.

[Beachbumpirates]

Originally Posted by Longsx3

Carthage is Rolling, so when they get all of her application including transcript they will review her app. Kudos to her for being so fat ahead in the process.


BTW I found the info by googling, sometimes college websites require digging....you can also use a website like cappex where info is easy to find.

Thank you! We are thrilled she is ahead of the game too but I still wonder if the delay of her scores made a difference. I am learning that we will need to stay way on top of our HS through this process.

[hemispheredancer]

This year is coming faster than I anticipated!! DD is very active in school with clubs and marching/symphonic band. She has a 3.5 right now and her ACT was less than stellar..twice! She is not a standardized test taker. Her ACT score dos not reflect her academic ability and I hope colleges see that. She would like to major in biomedical engineering and then go on to med school. Her #1 choice is U of Michigan. She will also apply to Central Mich Univ and Wayne State Univ. This year she will be taking AP chem, calc, and AP Lit. Last year she had AP comp and got a B in there. Also took anatomy & physiology and got A+ all 3 trimesters. I have no doubt she will get into CMU and WSU, but I hope she has a killer essay for U-M and they look beyond her ACT scores. Looking to do early desicion there, too.

[marcyinPA]

Can anyone answer a FAFSA question? When you fill out the application, do they take into account your debt? We currently only have a mortgage, but we also don't make a lot of money. My DH works two jobs and I work one in order to make ends meet.

That said, we are kind of in need of a new(er) car, and will have to take out a loan in order to get one. This will make money a lot tighter for us.

Not sure how to go about this whole thing-

[wvjules]

Originally Posted by marcyinPA

Can anyone answer a FAFSA question? When you fill out the application, do they take into account your debt? We currently only have a mortgage, but we also don't make a lot of money. My DH works two jobs and I work one in order to make ends meet.

That said, we are kind of in need of a new(er) car, and will have to take out a loan in order to get one. This will make money a lot tighter for us.

Not sure how to go about this whole thing-

They do not care about debt. Only income and assets.