Extra Insight - AP courses Senior Year

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I want to thank everyone for all the replies and concerns. I am very grateful for the links they will be helpful. I also have taken in all the different views on choices we have made, and places and people who we now need to see.

For the posters who continue to question what choices my DD and I made regarding finances (and those who are adament that I have cursed her for life), while I do agree that it may not seem the best thing that we have done, its over. First, I am not taking her out of her school for Senior Year, and I am not throwing my daughter out the door the day she graduates and telling her she is on her own. While we haven't budgeted for any loans or expenses for college, if we are able to help we will. I also know that via the FAFSA there will be a family contribution. I need you to trust me that this amount will NOT be the breaking point on which college my daughter goes to. Even if she has to go to a community college because of the choices made, she will persevere and come heck or high water, she will work til she gets what she wants. That is the way she is.

Please, keep the information coming. It is very helpful since this is all new to me. I am making an appt with her guidance counselor and also with a financial company that offers free counseling to the students at my daughters school. So the PSAT's are over, we are awaiting the SAT's and will determine if she needs another course if they are not up to her standards. Her actual grades this year continue to be within very high standards and she is in the top 5% of her graduating class. I am personally going to check out the degree she is planning on persuing. This will be a lot of work for me, and yes the "Dis" will be my release from this world. As for the AP classes we are keeping an open communication and will make the decision after the meeting with the GC and surfing the websites for information.

The most important thing I learned is that no matter what anyone says, College is definetely not cut and dry. No ones situation is the same as their neighbors, schoolmates, and or friends. So I am confident that there is a school out there that wants her and one that she will be able to afford at the same time.

Thank you again, and please keep the information coming. Diane

 

[allison443]

I just want to add to what the poster above said- SUNY Binghamton (or Binghamton University as they now call themselves) has a very good School of Management (their business school). My dd applied there although we do not live in NY. Their applications were way up this year due to the economy!

Good luck!

 

[sbell111]

... For the posters who continue to question what choices my DD and I made regarding finances (and those who are adament that I have cursed her for life), while I do agree that it may not seem the best thing that we have done, its over. First, I am not taking her out of her school for Senior Year, and I am not throwing my daughter out the door the day she graduates and telling her she is on her own. While we haven't budgeted for any loans or expenses for college, if we are able to help we will. I also know that via the FAFSA there will be a family contribution. I need you to trust me that this amount will NOT be the breaking point on which college my daughter goes to. Even if she has to go to a community college because of the choices made, she will persevere and come heck or high water, she will work til she gets what she wants. That is the way she is. ...

That post just makes me sad.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

That post just makes me sad.

I didn't post for pity and or to make anyone sad. All parents make decisions that they think are right at the time they are being made. My daughter will not be any less of a person if she has to start at a community college. I learned that much so far. We (DH and I) realize that we will go on from today forward. I am sure it will work out.

**Not sure if you are sad that I stated DD might need to start out at a community college like it is a bad thing or our decision is a bad thing. In MY opinion community college is not a bad thing at all. But I am not sure if you were sad by our decisions or the community college information...

 

[bluesaturn]

I didn't post for pity and or to make anyone sad. All parents make decisions that they think are right at the time they are being made. My daughter will not be any less of a person if she has to start at a community college. I learned that much so far. We (DH and I) realize that we will go on from today forward. I am sure it will work out.

**Not sure if you are sad that I stated DD might need to start out at a community college like it is a bad thing or our decision is a bad thing. In MY opinion community college is not a bad thing at all. But I am not sure if you were sad by our decisions or the community college information...

If your daughter is really doing that well in school, she probably has a good chance at an academic scholarship. Now I wouldn't exactly count on it, who knows what might happen, but there's a good chance I think. What I recommend she does is find out what schools give out the money, and then start courting them as soon as possible.

Find out if there are any Catholic colleges that are founded by the same order as her Catholic high school. Often certain colleges and high schools within the same order will have a sort of partnership - with the colleges offering one high school student per year a very good (sometimes full) scholarship. My Catholic high school did that with St. Edwards in Austin, Texas, and one of my friends received a full scholarship. She started telling the guidance counselor from the beginning she was interested, and the counselor actually set her up to meet the administrators when they visited and such. So definitely find out now if your high school has a relationship with any colleges. My boyfriend received a sizeable scholarship to a Catholic college this same way. Many of these colleges are small, and they are very excited to have interested students. They will likely work with you, especially when your high school administrators have a good relationship with the college's administrators.

Look into which state schools offer large academic scholarships. I would recommend looking at the University of Maryland College Park, which offers many purely academic scholarships to students every year. Many of these students are from New York and New Jersey. See what kind of money the schools in your state are offering. Talk to current seniors, or to the guidance counselor about current seniors, to find out who is getting what and from where. In my state, students with a certain GPA can apply to any state school for free. If that is the case for you, then apply everywhere. It's free, and you never know what you will get.

Of course private schools also offer large academic scholarships, often much larger than state schools, so look for those too. But I think people sometimes forget that many state schools have well established scholarship programs purely based on merit.

 

[blissventure]

If your daughter is really doing that well in school, she probably has a good chance at an academic scholarship. Now I wouldn't exactly count on it, who knows what might happen, but there's a good chance I think. What I recommend she does is find out what schools give out the money, and then start courting them as soon as possible.

Find out if there are any Catholic colleges that are founded by the same order as her Catholic high school. Often certain colleges and high schools within the same order will have a sort of partnership - with the colleges offering one high school student per year a very good (sometimes full) scholarship. My Catholic high school did that with St. Edwards in Austin, Texas, and one of my friends received a full scholarship. She started telling the guidance counselor from the beginning she was interested, and the counselor actually set her up to meet the administrators when they visited and such. So definitely find out now if your high school has a relationship with any colleges. My boyfriend received a sizeable scholarship to a Catholic college this same way. Many of these colleges are small, and they are very excited to have interested students. They will likely work with you, especially when your high school administrators have a good relationship with the college's administrators.

Look into which state schools offer large academic scholarships. I would recommend looking at the University of Maryland College Park, which offers many purely academic scholarships to students every year. Many of these students are from New York and New Jersey. See what kind of money the schools in your state are offering. Talk to current seniors, or to the guidance counselor about current seniors, to find out who is getting what and from where. In my state, students with a certain GPA can apply to any state school for free. If that is the case for you, then apply everywhere. It's free, and you never know what you will get.

Of course private schools also offer large academic scholarships, often much larger than state schools, so look for those too. But I think people sometimes forget that many state schools have well established scholarship programs purely based on merit.

Great suggestions. Generally when applying for aid a completed FAFSA is required. If a student is accepted, the school will offer a package that includes a variety of aid, including PLUS loans. It's very, very rare to get a "full ride". Even if the school offers tuition and books, there are still living expenses.

If OP's DD does need to pay 100%, she may need to wait until after she's 24. At that point, she can fill out the FAFSA on her own.

 

[Green Tea]

Don't forget the SAT II subject tests. She can take these in areas she feels particularly strong academically. Not all the schools my DS applied to required them, but the top schools generally require 2 from different subject areas. Id she takes a course her Jr. year, take the subject test in May. Don't wait until fall of Sr. year. Take it while fresh.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Don't forget the SAT II subject tests. She can take these in areas she feels particularly strong academically. Not all the schools my DS applied to required them, but the top schools generally require 2 from different subject areas. Id she takes a course her Jr. year, take the subject test in May. Don't wait until fall of Sr. year. Take it while fresh.

Can you explain this more for me? It is something I am not familiar with. DD did take the PSATs and she took the SATs 2 weeks ago. She said she can take it again in June, and twice during her senior year, but she wants to have this done and over with by June. Is there another set of tests she should take?

 

[claudia]

Can you explain this more for me? It is something I am not familiar with. DD did take the PSATs and she took the SATs 2 weeks ago. She said she can take it again in June, and twice during her senior year, but she wants to have this done and over with by June. Is there another set of tests she should take?

Here is a great site that will help you with all the info you will need.
http://www.collegeboard.com/
You can create and account for her and it will give you all the info you need on SAT, SAT subjects tests, AP's etc. Take time and go over all of this with your daughter...there is a ton of info. Also, your daughter could consider taking the ACT w/writing in addition to the SAT....http://www.act.org/
Here's a link for the subject tests.....the next registration deadline is March 31. http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/calenfees.html

 

[Green Tea]

The SAT II is a groups of tests in specific subjects. For instance if she is taking Chemistry this year, and US History, she might opt to take those tests this year. And a math. They have level 1 and level 2 math. DS took both after junior year, and then went on to Calculus in Sr. year. They are scored to 800, just like each SAT component. I know Duke, Pomona and Washington & Lee required them for admission. I think Wash U did as well, but not sure about that one.

The language ones offer the test with listening or just the written part. SOme colleges will use these scores for placement. If they are strong enough in a subject area to do well on the test, you ought to consider having her take the AP exam even if she didn't take the class as AP.

 

[sbell111]

I didn't post for pity and or to make anyone sad. All parents make decisions that they think are right at the time they are being made. My daughter will not be any less of a person if she has to start at a community college. I learned that much so far. We (DH and I) realize that we will go on from today forward. I am sure it will work out.

**Not sure if you are sad that I stated DD might need to start out at a community college like it is a bad thing or our decision is a bad thing. In MY opinion community college is not a bad thing at all. But I am not sure if you were sad by our decisions or the community college information...

I didn't really want to get into this, but here goes.

I wasn't sad for you. I was sad that your daughter has been negatively impacted by your decisions that you don't see the need to revisit.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I didn't really want to get into this, but here goes.

I wasn't sad for you. I was sad that your daughter has been negatively impacted by your decisions that you don't see the need to revisit.

Thank you for the concern my daughter. I didn't nor do I want you to feel sad for me, nor did I even get that feeling that you did from your post. Everyone makes mistakes in their lives and still the sun rises every morning. I guess after all is said and done and she is out of college we will find out if the decisions impacted her life in the negative. Plus, never did I put an absolute NEVER on anything in life. Hey, I could win the lotto tomorrow (probably not since I don't buy the tickets) and send the whole neighborhood to college! I posted originally re: the AP courses and if they are a step ahead for people who are or have attended college. I still have no regrets of my post and have learned valuable information from posters here. Mostly I am still hoping to get more information for her.

 

[sbell111]

I guess after all is said and done and she is out of college we will find out if the decisions impacted her life in the negative.

That is certainly one way to go. Personally, I try to avoid potential problems prior to the point that they become irreversible.

 

[blissventure]

Thank you for the concern my daughter. I didn't nor do I want you to feel sad for me, nor did I even get that feeling that you did from your post. Everyone makes mistakes in their lives and still the sun rises every morning. I guess after all is said and done and she is out of college we will find out if the decisions impacted her life in the negative. Plus, never did I put an absolute NEVER on anything in life. Hey, I could win the lotto tomorrow (probably not since I don't buy the tickets) and send the whole neighborhood to college! I posted originally re: the AP courses and if they are a step ahead for people who are or have attended college. I still have no regrets of my post and have learned valuable information from posters here. Mostly I am still hoping to get more information for her.

My hope is that a kindly admissions officer will sit down with your DD and explain the facts to her. Should she not be offered a huge merit scholarship package for all 4 years, she needs to know how the system works. Parents file the FAFSA, a package is offered based in part on parents income, you accept or decline. That's pretty much it, unless there is a big job change/layoff and then the parents can revisit the issue. No guarantees. Schools are less likely to offer huge merit packages these days.

What she will need to know is this: There are options for her. After the age of 24 she can file the FAFSA on her own. Her parent's income is not part of the picture at that point. There are other exemptions before that age--marriage, military, that sort of thing. She certainly could work part time, go to community college, and then at 24 head off to a university.

Schools have heard all the well thought out ways around the system. They expect families to play by the rules, or they just go to the next applicant and make them an offer.
Families certainly have choices. I think it's important to be truthful with students about how the system works.
FWIW, It would be wonderful if your DD is one of the very, very few that is offered an amazing package. She seems to have worked very hard in HS. I do wish her the best of luck in her future.

 

[onelilspark]

I just want to say, my Dad worked his way through college, I have friends that put themselves through college or had parents that helped in limited amounts. They're doing quite well for themselves.

 

[MsAmerica]

After reading this entire thread I must repeat, you really need to talk to your daughter's guidance counselor. Her GC should be giving her a list of schools they feel she could be accepted to. Your daughter might love Northeastern but only your GC can tell you based on your school's stats if she has a chance at being accepted there.

Until you have a list of suggested schools from your guidance counselor, you could be wasting a lot of time looking, even online, at different schools.

As others have mentioned, Collegeconfidential is a great place to start searching. You put in your SAT scores, what type of schools you are interested in, what program you are interested in studying, how far from home a student feels comfortable being away from, etc. The computer will give you schools that your daughter's grades and scores predict she can get into.

Again, Good Luck

MsA

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

After reading this entire thread I must repeat, you really need to talk to your daughter's guidance counselor. Her GC should be giving her a list of schools they feel she could be accepted to. Your daughter might love Northeastern but only your GC can tell you based on your school's stats if she has a chance at being accepted there.

Until you have a list of suggested schools from your guidance counselor, you could be wasting a lot of time looking, even online, at different schools.

As others have mentioned, Collegeconfidential is a great place to start searching. You put in your SAT scores, what type of schools you are interested in, what program you are interested in studying, how far from home a student feels comfortable being away from, etc. The computer will give you schools that your daughter's grades and scores predict she can get into.

Again, Good Luck

MsA

We have an appt next week with the guidance counselor and we can't do the search as her SAT scores aren't due back til the end of this week. We will definetely do this when we have more information. DD is aware of and has been searching some of the sites though. I am the one who needs to start doing it now.

 

[bluesaturn]

Great suggestions. Generally when applying for aid a completed FAFSA is required. If a student is accepted, the school will offer a package that includes a variety of aid, including PLUS loans. It's very, very rare to get a "full ride". Even if the school offers tuition and books, there are still living expenses.

If OP's DD does need to pay 100%, she may need to wait until after she's 24. At that point, she can fill out the FAFSA on her own.

I agree that seems like a full ride is rare, but it does happen, and probably more than people think. The Maryland scholarship I mentioned is a completely full ride, room and board included. I'm sure other schools have similar programs. I know these programs take very few applicants, but I guess I just want to let people know that full rides are out there. I wouldn't get my hopes up, but also if you know which schools offer these scholarships and then apply to them, that's a better chance than not applying at all.

I guess I just want to give the OP a little bit of hope lol. Also, if I could do it over, I would have applied to more schools with established scholarship programs. I didn't look at things like that, and I feel I should have. Of course you must also take into account FAFSA, loans, etc.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Yes, check out collegeboard all your info will be there.

Here is the scholarship site called FastWeb....certainly have a look.

http://www.fastweb.com/

 

[PenguinWaiters]

Secondly, smart students get much more money at less selective schools than highly selective schools.

I think you have recieved some great advice already on this thread. I just wanted to highlight this advice because it is the first thing that I thought of too. Your daughter should talk with her GC about looking at additional schools that are not a "reach" for her but where she would be one of the top candidates for a few reasons.

1. As MsAmerica states, they will give her much more in school aid/grants. I work at a less selective school also in New England. We do get students who have applied to and been accepted at Northeastern and other more selective schools. Sometimes they choose to come to our school where they are in our Honors program and recieve $10,000 scholarships whereas they would be average students at more selective schools and would not have received much in the way of merit aid.

2. AP and other credit policies tend to be more generous at these schools as well. We accept all AP exams with a score of 3 or higher. My school also accepts college credit through high school programs if the participating college will produce a transcript and if the student earns a C- or higher.

Okay so DD went for her meeting with the guidance counselor. She would like to go into management with a high accent on math and music. She would not personally play the music but would eventually like to own a music studio and or work for a music company in the offices... She is a math wiz but because of the grammar school she was in she will not be able to take AP Calculus in HS. She will take Pre-Cal at no additional cost to us..

Here is the list that her guidance counselor suggested:

English AP - (6 credit hours) American Writers taught by a University in our area $450.00 course fee. (Free course English IV Honors - British and Western Writers)

Pre-Calculus Honors - N/C will prepare her for Calc in College.
Accounting - N/C

Earth Science Regents - N/C or AP Biology (6 credit hours) $450.00 charge - She is not a science kind of gal.

MacroEconomics or US Govt and Politics - $200.00 per course (credit hours not disclosed) or she can do the minimum required N/C Economics/Participation in Govt.

AP Spanish - (6 credit hours) $450.00 or no language and she would have to pick an elective for this spot.

Dance IV or transfer to fitness class - Dance fee $200.00

World Religion (6 credit hours) $300.00 or Senior religion - Living the Christian Challenge

Entrepreneurship (3 credit hours) $300.00 or an other elective within the school.

It sounds like if she came to our school she might be an Arts Management major. In that case, if she took the AP or College Partner courses you listed, she might earn 6 credits for the English, 8 for the Biology (and place out of 3 freshmen year requirements), probably 3 credits each for the Economics and US Govt (if they are through a college program partnership - sounds like they are) and the Econ would fulfill a freshman year requirement in her major, 6 credits for the Spanish, and 3 credits each for the World Religions and Entrepreneureship (again if they are through a college program partnership). That is 32 credits for all - an entire year plus of college.

For comparison, students pay $800+ per credit at my school, so $450 for an AP English course that could bring 6 college credits is a pretty good deal. BUT I also agree with the PP who said to talk to your daughter - she needs to decide which or how many AP courses she would be comfortable taking. In my opinion, if she thinks she can do well in them then the English, Biology and Spanish ones would bring her the most for your money as they will typically fill college requirements. Economics would be my next choice since that is a basic course in most Business degrees.

Good luck!