College loan ?

[The Mystery Machine]

He just took the PSAT last month--don't have results yet. But I hear very little about the ACT--everything seems to be SAT based. Do schools REQUIRE ACT or is it an either/or thing with the SATs? Guess I have some research to do!

Like I said, he's in his first AP class now, with the test in the spring. I guess we'll wait and see how that goes. He's definitely planning to do more in Junior and Senior year, but I'm not sure how he'd feel about taking the tests without being in the class. Something to think about.

I certainly don't expect him to get a full ride. He does well, but he's not at the top-top-top of his class. I guess I'm wondering if he'll be eligible for anything at all. I'm just hoping he'll be getting some aid--otherwise I'm afraid....very afraid!

Don't freak out yet, lol. Sounds like your son is on the right track. I would have him take both tests if you want to optimize. But yes it is an either/or thing.

In addition, depending on WHERE he wants to go to college there are other tests you can take as well. IF you are in "SAT country", you might also have a look at the SAT subject tests and CLEP exams.

Have your son look at the requirements for colleges he is interested in. It is easy enough with everything on the computer.

When you get the PSAT scores in, you will get an idea of where he sits.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I totally get what you're saying about the balance, but he seems to be doing it all pretty well--at least for now. He got a taste of what AP summer work was like last year. A lot of kids saw it and ended up dropping. He stuck it out and is doing well in the class. In addition to his honors/AP classes now, he plays on the soccer team, is in the marching band, does Boy Scouts, referees town soccer, belongs to the Key Club, and helps out with school council activities. I know it will get harder if he's taking multiple AP classes, but we'll take it as it goes. I'd hate to see him miss out on a lot in high school, but so far seems to be juggling things okay.

Sounds good. I just think a lot can change in the next couple of years. Some of the kids we know who are taking multiple AP and Honors classes report being up till the wee hours doing homework every night and developing some stress-related problems. Some wound up dropping classes, but feeling badly about themselves for it, etc. All of those other things like sports and councils and clubs and jobs and such, have merit in their own right as well. So just something to think about. I like saving money as much as anyone, but I don't want it to come at the expense of having fun during the HS years. I differs for everyone, and it's a balancing act, I guess.

and this is with twins...so take whatever the tuition is and double it.

Tell me about it! Working it now... my brain hurts.

 

[sam_gordon]

have him take ALL the AP tests he is in classes for. No if's, ands, or buts. They are so helpful and honestly not that hard.

those AP classes take up a lot of time - not just during the school year, but in the summer

Need to be in the 30's on the ACT to be even considered for merit aid.

I'll just say none of the bolded is true for my HS Senior DD. She's taken 5 AP tests and hasn't gotten a passing grade on one yet (despite having A's and B's in the class). I don't remember her having to do any summer work, and she just got notified last week that she got a merit scholarship (not "full") to go to the state school she applied to (she got a 23 on the ACT).

Just FYI.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Whether SAT or ACT is "the test" to take seems to vary depending on what part of the country you are in. Here in the midwest, it's ACT that is stressed for Juniors and Seniors. On the coast, it seems to be more the SAT. Some colleges do require one or the other, but most will take either.

Where I am, the schools have told us they want either an SAT score or an ACT score. Both are not needed. Most people here (that I know) do the SAT.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I disagree with needing to be 30+ for merit aid. Large state universities and smaller private universities often give it for the high 20's as well. Obviously what you get/the score you need depends entirely on the school in question (higher ranked schools requiring the best of scores), but the kid is likely not totally out of luck other places if he gets a 28 or something. They also look at individual scores as well as the composite, so for example if you end in the high 20's (26+), but some subjects you received 30+ and were just weak in one area, that gets taken into consideration.

As far as requiring the ACT it depends on the school and where it is. I was in the midwest and applying to mainly Chicago area schools, so I only bothered with the ACT since that was the norm there and what all my target schools required. It may be different where you are. His guidance counselor would be a good resource to talk to about that.

I was speaking in general terms on the 30 for the ACT. It is a good number to shoot for. Depends how competitive the school is to get in.

I am happy that people got scholarships with lower ACT scores.

 

[runwad]

If you go to most colleges website they should have a tab for financial aide and scholarships. Lots of times under the scholarship tab it will list their merit scholarships and the gpa's you need to have and act or sat score.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

I was speaking in general terms on the 30 for the ACT. It is a good number to shoot for. Depends how competitive the school is to get in.

It is definitely a great number to aim for! I agree, what you will end up needing depends entirely on the school.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I'll just say none of the bolded is true for my HS Senior DD. She's taken 5 AP tests and hasn't gotten a passing grade on one yet (despite having A's and B's in the class). I don't remember her having to do any summer work, and she just got notified last week that she got a merit scholarship (not "full") to go to the state school she applied to (she got a 23 on the ACT).

Just FYI.

It just goes to show how much this can vary according to a many factors.

No doubt they were impressed she carried so many AP classes. Congratulations to her. My senior DD has one AP class this year and she worked her butt off on preparatory homework for it over the summer, and has had a ton of work to do for it for homework this year - so much so that she just dropped a day of work because of it. (At a job she adores.)

 

[SparklePixie]

My DS is attending a private university that is just under $40000/yr, tuition, room and board. He got a 29 on his ACT. He was offered $19000/yr for four years in merit aid directly from the university based on ACT and GPA. He has to maintain a 3.0 GPA in college to keep the scholarship each year. They were actually three separate scholarships that totaled $19000. So, depending upon the university, there is merit scholarships available with an ACT under 30.

That still leaves $21,000 unpaid.

 

[sam_gordon]

It just goes to show how much this can vary according to a many factors.

No doubt they were impressed she carried so many AP classes. Congratulations to her. My senior DD has one AP class this year and she worked her butt off on preparatory homework for it over the summer, and has had a ton of work to do for it for homework this year - so much so that she just dropped a day of work because of it. (At a job she adores.)

DD's taking 3(!) AP classes this year (senior year), and I'm still hoping she passes at least one class. But I think her problem is more "testing anxiety" than a lack of knowledge. Either way, she's 0/5. At least this year she's also taking a dual credit math class, so that's at least one "guaranteed" course.

 

[wilkeliza]

I took 4 - 5 AP classes a semester and I passed 3 exams of the 10 I took. I don't have test anxiety at all but to be honest they can be hard. Perhaps they have changed a lot since I took them 10 years ago but I remember the US History test was brutal! Mostly the issue was you cover so much information and then they asked us about minor details of colonial america and then up to the late 90s in the US. It was hard to remember who did what in the colonies. All of us passed our class with flying colors but only 2 classmates passed the AP exam. I think I got a 3 which none of the colleges I was looking at accepted. The German AP was ridiculously hard for me but that was because I was a terrible German student.


OP do your child a favor and really push them to community college if they aren't going to get a good package. The only thing I regret about my college experience is the debt I'm now in. I am fortunate enough that I can pay my student loans with out it being a major downer but I could do so much more with my savings if I wasn't giving up to 500 a month to student loans.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

It is definitely a great number to aim for! I agree, what you will end up needing depends entirely on the school.

Yep.

My dd's friend who did cancer research at Wash U her JR & SR yr of HS was expecting a better offer from them and did not get it. They were not interested.

She went with the school that had the best scholarship package.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I took 4 - 5 AP classes a semester and I passed 3 exams of the 10 I took. I don't have test anxiety at all but to be honest they can be hard. Perhaps they have changed a lot since I took them 10 years ago but I remember the US History test was brutal! Mostly the issue was you cover so much information and then they asked us about minor details of colonial america and then up to the late 90s in the US. It was hard to remember who did what in the colonies. All of us passed our class with flying colors but only 2 classmates passed the AP exam. I think I got a 3 which none of the colleges I was looking at accepted. The German AP was ridiculously hard for me but that was because I was a terrible German student.


OP do your child a favor and really push them to community college if they aren't going to get a good package. The only thing I regret about my college experience is the debt I'm now in. I am fortunate enough that I can pay my student loans with out it being a major downer but I could do so much more with my savings if I wasn't giving up to 500 a month to student loans.

Depends on your child's strengths really. History and English were a cake walk for my dd. She is a good test taker though.

She got a 4 on the Stat AP test and not sure about AP Econ. All the others were 5's. She took all the History and English AP tests offered. She got 27 credit hours for her college.

 

[wilkeliza]

Depends on your child's strengths really. History and English were a cake walk for my dd. She is a good test taker though.

She got a 4 on the Stat AP test and not sure about AP Econ. All the others were 5's. She took all the History and English AP tests offered. She got 27 credit hours for her college.

Oh yeah strength is definitely apart of it. I took AP Calculus A and B and passed both exams with flying colors. I didn't take Stat because I only needed the Calculus credits for college and I was informed by the schools I was looking at that the more I stacked from subjects I was strong in the less I was going to benefit as I was going to study at a liberal arts school so things had to come from specific categories even electives to make sure we had a "well rounded" education.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Oh yeah strength is definitely apart of it. I took AP Calculus A and B and passed both exams with flying colors. I didn't take Stat because I only needed the Calculus credits for college and I was informed by the schools I was looking at that the more I stacked from subjects I was strong in the less I was going to benefit as I was going to study at a liberal arts school so things had to come from specific categories even electives to make sure we had a "well rounded" education.

My dd thought this was pretty sweet....

Her requirement was a 4/5 on the APStat which would pre req her to take only one math class for her degree, which she is taking this semester. Math is not her strong suit. She is doubling majoring in english/communications with a film minor.

 

[Hrhpd]

I have a HS sophomore so this is all starting to set in and become reality! I'm learning so much in baby steps right now...

Those who talk about "merit aid"--could you give some details? How much is an average award? I know it will vary greatly depending on school and personal factors, but what's a ballpark or a range?

And how high do grades have to be to realistically obtain merit aid? My son's in all honors level classes, even one AP class as a sophomore, and pulling down all As. Not 99s in every class but at least 90 and above across the board. As a freshman, he finished 12th in his class of 132 and is determined to move that up! Is he someone who is likely to get merit aid?

My sons' university (state) does not base merit awards on anything but ACT/SAT scores. GPA, difficulty of HS course schedule and class ranking did not factor in. Merit awards ranged from $10,000 - $25,000. First year expenses are around $32,000. Using ACT since that is most common around here, if you scored a 30 or better on the ACT, you were guaranteed a merit award. The higher the score, the more money. No consideration of anybody lower than a 30. I know some really smart, successful kids that do poorly on timed tests that missed merit awards by a point or two at that particular university.

 

[tzolkin]

I'm right in the midst of all of this with my HS senior and my biggest piece of advice for parents is to relax a little.

I was a top student in HS (1580 SAT, 35 ACT, 5s on AP exams, full scholarship to a top school) and my oldest is on the same level intellectually, but does not feel the same motivation/pressure that I did so she has not excelled (even though it would be easy for her).

I have honestly been a ball of anxiety (sometimes anger and disappointment) over the last few years when DD has allowed her academics to slip due to poor choices (ex. One year she got a C- in gym because she decided it was "a waste of her brain" to learn the information for the final exam. While I can agree with her logic, it was not worth the drop in her GPA over a few hours of studying.) Every time something like that happened I felt a door had closed on her and grieved the opportunity that was no longer be available to her.

While that was true-- ivy league is not an option and neither is a significant merit scholarship at a top ranking school-- she still has plenty of options that are probably better suited to her in the long run.

I think there are some here fueling the stress by saying your child "must" have 30+ ACT, 5s on AP, etc., but that's simply not true. Sure, that would be the ideal goal and there will be more opportunities for students with those accomplishments, but that doesn't mean that there's no hope if your child falls short. If you look for schools where your child will be among the top applicants, you will likely find a more affordable way to fund their education.

Acceptances have already started arriving last week. DD has received a merit scholarship at one school that covers 80% of the tuition with an invitation to interview for additional funds. We know she qualifies for merit scholarships at the other schools as well, but she has not received their award decisions yet.

 

[NewRVLady]

Fretting over college ranking? or how many AP classes your kid has, or doesn't have?

Funny true story-my son and best friend both have the same degree-Industrial Design
Son from the local Uni -his friend from the prestigious SCAD

His friend decided to concentrate on his band after Uni-and now does a little graphic design and local commercials

My son works for a Design Firm outside NYC-he has done design work for some of the biggest companies in USA-his firm redesigned containers of many products you and I use all the time.

So altho college ranking has weight in some careers, its what your kid does during college that is important

 

[rigs32]

I was also a successful student in high school. Went to a top liberal arts college and struggled, because high school never challenged me. I worked for several years before going to law school and it seemed like a breeze to me after my undergrad experience and having years of full time work experience under my belt.

I always thought AP exams weren't fair to NY students. Because our school year started later, we had a month less of instruction than students in other states. Then tried to use the last month to prep for the NY regents exam which often contained totally different material.

As for funding, if you get into many private schools, aid is based on need as much as merit. Keep that in mind.

 

[Hrhpd]

Fretting over college ranking? or how many AP classes your kid has, or doesn't have?

Funny true story-my son and best friend both have the same degree-Industrial Design
Son from the local Uni -his friend from the prestigious SCAD

His friend decided to concentrate on his band after Uni-and now does a little graphic design and local commercials

My son works for a Design Firm outside NYC-he has done design work for some of the biggest companies in USA-his firm redesigned containers of many products you and I use all the time.

So altho college ranking has weight in some careers, its what your kid does during college that is important

That is more about what the person decided to do with his degree rather than the school he went to.

But I agree that in most cases, where you got your undergrad degree does not come into play all that much once established in your career. After a few years, nobody cares where you went since you are judged on your quality of work not what is printed on your degree.

That said, there are some considerations on where you get your degree. Getting an undergrad from a university who has a great reputation for your major can open doors into getting into a better grad school. And where you got your grad degree seems to be more relevant in the work world than where you got your undergrad. It also does help open doors for those first jobs, giving you a leg up in establishing your career. Companies recruit heavier from universities that are top ranked in certain majors, so you have a better chance of getting a better initial job when you graduate.

My children put more weight on the reputation of the degree program they wanted and the quality and availability of internships (those internships often lead to jobs) over merit awards, although finances were also taken into account. They only looked at universities ranked in the top 10 for their degree program and then looked at finances. Worked for them as they had good jobs lined up before they graduated which easily pay for the small loans they took out.