Have questions re: college tuition/loans for DD

[punkin]

Yes, there is less competition for girls athletics and with Title IX colleges have to be equitable with their scholarships. You see it more in the 'minor' sports, swimming, soccer, golf, softball then you do in the big ones like basketball and volleyball.

Next time you see that soccer player's parents, ask them how much they spent so he could get that scholarship (that is the part parents don't get). There is a girl on the golf circuit that DD ends up playing with quite a bit. Her parents will talk to us about how much they spend on her swing coach, her putting coach, etc. We just laugh because in her one year of playing high school golf they have already spent more then they will EVER get for a scholarship-that and we don't have a swing coach or putting coach for DD and she kicks her butt. We had 2 girls from our athletic conference go to a Division I college. They were heavily recruited from places all over the country-they both finished top 5 in our state last year. They got tuition only scholarships, which is GREAT, but that is about the best you can expect in girls golf. This other, younger girl, probably won't get anything because she is such a snot (and that gets around to the colleges).

For DD11, I pay for group lessons and private lessons and practice time at the club...but (and this is a big but) not because I expect a scholarship. I do it because DD loves it. She rushes through homework so she can go practice. She schedules her play-dates around practice. We schedule vacations around her sport. Scholarships would be nice, but that is not the purpose of spending all that money.

 

[MrsPete]

Next time you see that soccer player's parents, ask them how much they spent so he could get that scholarship (that is the part parents don't get) . . . This other, younger girl, probably won't get anything because she is such a snot (and that gets around to the colleges).

I probably won't get a chance to ask. I'd know his mom if I saw her, but since he was the youngest child she isn't likely to be around the high school.

I completely agree with the concept that it's better to save the money than to spend on equipment or private lessons. The athletic scholarship thing is a remote chance, and most parents tend to over-estimate their child's chances of earning one! "Best on your high school team" is light years away from "We'll pay you go play for us".

Another thing about the snot kid: It's fairly common knowledge which kids were suspended for smoking in the parking lot, whose parents were called because of drinking at the dance after the football game . . . and colleges put significant effort into finding out which athletes are, um . . . indulging. Those kids never have a chance at the few athletic scholarships that're out there.

 

[MrsPete]

For DD11, I pay for group lessons and private lessons and practice time at the club...but (and this is a big but) not because I expect a scholarship. I do it because DD loves it. She rushes through homework so she can go practice. She schedules her play-dates around practice. We schedule vacations around her sport. Scholarships would be nice, but that is not the purpose of spending all that money.

If it's money you'd spend anyway, that's fine. She's enjoying herself, and you're not looking for a financial return on your costs.

 

[testifyoncruises]

Although at most colleges we have checked and the FAFSA is NOT required for purely merit/talent scholarships. I'm just not comfortable divulging financial information for no good reason, confidential or not.

I feel sorry for those people who have been brainwashed into thinking that FAFSA is a requirement. Many of those who think that way are being led to believe this by college admission/aid staff that receive a healthy back-end bonus for those who apply for and receive aid.

Quite shameful really. We will never fill it out for our DD and there will absolutely be no limits on her options unless she brings it on herself.

 

[punkin]

Although at most colleges we have checked and the FAFSA is NOT required for purely merit/talent scholarships. I'm just not comfortable divulging financial information for no good reason, confidential or not.

I feel sorry for those people who have been brainwashed into thinking that FAFSA is a requirement. Many of those who think that way are being led to believe this by college admission/aid staff that receive a healthy back-end bonus for those who apply for and receive aid.

Quite shameful really. We will never fill it out for our DD and there will absolutely be no limits on their options unless she brings it on herself.

5 colleges that DD17 applied to this year require FAFSA for awarding merit aid. 6 do not. I did not want to limit DD's options so I filled out the form.

 

[golfgal]

I probably won't get a chance to ask. I'd know his mom if I saw her, but since he was the youngest child she isn't likely to be around the high school.

I completely agree with the concept that it's better to save the money than to spend on equipment or private lessons. The athletic scholarship thing is a remote chance, and most parents tend to over-estimate their child's chances of earning one! "Best on your high school team" is light years away from "We'll pay you go play for us".

Another thing about the snot kid: It's fairly common knowledge which kids were suspended for smoking in the parking lot, whose parents were called because of drinking at the dance after the football game . . . and colleges put significant effort into finding out which athletes are, um . . . indulging. Those kids never have a chance at the few athletic scholarships that're out there.

I totally agree. After many years of coaching at the high school level you BET the college coaches call the high school coaches and ask what kind of kid they are. We had one girl that had all the talent in the world but was the LAZIEST kid-NEVER practiced hard. She could have gotten a VERY nice scholarship but got nothing because of her attitude. We were just talking to some friends over the weekend and apparently a freshman girl and 2 freshman boys were pulled out of school on Friday MORNING because they were drunk. The girl is a very talented basketball player and just gave up any hope of getting a scholarship or even playing college ball.

For DD11, I pay for group lessons and private lessons and practice time at the club...but (and this is a big but) not because I expect a scholarship. I do it because DD loves it. She rushes through homework so she can go practice. She schedules her play-dates around practice. We schedule vacations around her sport. Scholarships would be nice, but that is not the purpose of spending all that money.

This is pretty much how DD started. We, obviously golf, so the kids have grown up going with us. DD has some natural talent in the sport and started playing varsity golf as a 7th grader. With the coaching she gets at the high school and then in the summer with the high school golf coach she gets enough training-all of which is free so we are lucky (well, we have to pay a $70 fee for the high school team). We get a family golf membership to a course but we would get that anyway.

 

[golfgal]

Although at most colleges we have checked and the FAFSA is NOT required for purely merit/talent scholarships. I'm just not comfortable divulging financial information for no good reason, confidential or not.

I feel sorry for those people who have been brainwashed into thinking that FAFSA is a requirement. Many of those who think that way are being led to believe this by college admission/aid staff that receive a healthy back-end bonus for those who apply for and receive aid.

Quite shameful really. We will never fill it out for our DD and there will absolutely be no limits on her options unless she brings it on herself.

Oh, give me a break. We are NOT brainwashed but at DS's college it IS required for the scholarships he got. I really find it hard to believe that you are looking into this information for a 6 year old anyway.

 

[testifyoncruises]

Here is where my hero Dave Ramsey addressed this very issue. Such sound advice about this:

http://www.daveramsey.com/radio/highlights/?urlVars=2010/2/4/Rein-in-College-Costs

 

[ms.yt]

The people who hold this country together get screwed every time.I am a RN and to get my license renewed next year I have heard it has gone up to $125, that is ridiculous! Another way the working people pay, pay and pay!!!!!!!!!! Who gets the AMERICAN DREAM????????? Not the hard working AMERICAN!

Makes us very angry, in case no one could tell.

DD did get the Stafford for $5500- big deal though.

Linda

Your child has as much opportunity for the AMERICAN DREAM as any other child. Any high school graduate in this country can go to college. They may not be able to attend the pricey school of their choice and/or they may have to get loans, but that's the reality for everybody. As many people have said, it won't matter a hill of beans if she gets her chiropractic training at a private school or state school. This is about what you and your child want, not what she needs.

Did it just occur to you that you might need some money to pay for college? It sounds like you were expecting the somebody, be that scholarships or grants, to foot the bill while you took multiple vacations every year. No reasonable person would be that upset about the realization that if you can afford all those trips, you should be expected to contribute to your child's education. To think otherwise sounds like you possess that ugly "entitlement mentality" that so many people like to refer to here.

 

[punkin]

This is pretty much how DD started. We, obviously golf, so the kids have grown up going with us. DD has some natural talent in the sport and started playing varsity golf as a 7th grader. With the coaching she gets at the high school and then in the summer with the high school golf coach she gets enough training-all of which is free so we are lucky (well, we have to pay a $70 fee for the high school team). We get a family golf membership to a course but we would get that anyway.

DD's school (middle school) does not have a team and the high school team in our district is not up to DD's level (no real coach even) so we are stuck paying.

 

[bballmom56]

Although at most colleges we have checked and the FAFSA is NOT required for purely merit/talent scholarships. I'm just not comfortable divulging financial information for no good reason, confidential or not.

I feel sorry for those people who have been brainwashed into thinking that FAFSA is a requirement. Many of those who think that way are being led to believe this by college admission/aid staff that receive a healthy back-end bonus for those who apply for and receive aid.

Quite shameful really. We will never fill it out for our DD and there will absolutely be no limits on her options unless she brings it on herself.

That may be that "most" colleges you have checked do not require the FAFSA for merit money. But the colleges my kids applied to all required it for merit money. We were not "brainwashed" into thinking it is a requirement, we were told it was a requirement and if it was not furnished no merit money would be credited. They are private colleges and can do as they wish with their own institutional funds.

 

[bballmom56]

Here is where my hero Dave Ramsey addressed this very issue. Such sound advice about this:

http://www.daveramsey.com/radio/highlights/?urlVars=2010/2/4/Rein-in-College-Costs

That article is talking about filling out the FAFSA for student loans, not merit money. That's fine if you are sure she won't want or need loans or work study or any of that kind of financial assistance. Dave wasn't addressing merit money because that was not what the woman was asking about. He didn't sound like he had an aversion to the FAFSA form, he is just not in favor of loans. I'm sure if he was aware a student could get merit money from an institution, he would say go for it!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

That article is talking about filling out the FAFSA for student loans, not merit money. That's fine if you are sure she won't want or need loans or work study or any of that kind of financial assistance. Dave wasn't addressing merit money because that was not what the woman was asking about. He didn't sound like he had an aversion to the FAFSA form, he is just not in favor of loans. I'm sure if he was aware a student could get merit money from an institution, he would say go for it!

Of course he would, TOC is completely clueless.

 

[golfgal]

DD's school (middle school) does not have a team and the high school team in our district is not up to DD's level (no real coach even) so we are stuck paying.

We are just the opposite, there isn't such thing as 'team golf' out side of the schools so that is our only choice. Not all schools have a golf team either. We are lucky that the golf coach is a talented golf instructor too (he is the high school geometry teacher as well).

 

[punkin]

Oh, give me a break. We are NOT brainwashed but at DS's college it IS required for the scholarships he got. I really find it hard to believe that you are looking into this information for a 6 year old anyway.

It always strikes me as funny when people who believe that their way is the only way accuse others of being brainwashed.

 

[testifyoncruises]

That may be that "most" colleges you have checked do not require the FAFSA for merit money. But the colleges my kids applied to all required it for merit money. We were not "brainwashed" into thinking it is a requirement, we were told it was a requirement and if it was not furnished no merit money would be credited. They are private colleges and can do as they wish with their own institutional funds.

If you are rolling over and letting an institution "tell you" it is a requirement for merit/talent money, I feel sorry for you. I would not darken the hallways of any institution that would require me to fill out a FEDERAL form for aid for something that has nothing to do with Federal or state aid at all.

We are the types who question everything and would certainly want to know the reason this was required when we can find quite a few institutions that do not make such a requirement. Of course there are those who think that a child can only get a college degree with a school loan. Sad...very sad I tell you.

 

[golfgal]

It always strikes me as funny when people who believe that their way is the only way accuse others of being brainwashed.

Especially when they have been brainwashed buy some internet self proclaimed money guru that they interpret what he says as never fill out the FAFSA because you shouldn't take loans-not knowing that it isn't really about the loans at all.

 

[punkin]

If you are rolling over and letting an institution "tell you" it is a requirement for merit/talent money, I feel sorry for you. I would not darken the hallways of any institution that would require me to fill out a FEDERAL form for aid for something that has nothing to do with Federal or state aid at all.

We are the types who question everything and would certainly want to know the reason this was required when we can find quite a few institutions that do not make such a requirement. Of course there are those who think that a child can only get a college degree with a school loan. Sad...very sad I tell you.

Since it's the institution's money, they can attach any strings they want to it.

 

[testifyoncruises]

Since it's the institution's money, they can attach any strings they want to it.

After some internet know it all claimed on here in January that you could NOT get a scholarship without it, we began to do research and found out that this was just not true at all. There are several scholarships for both talent and merit that do not require the filling out of this form.

Go ahead fill it out if it makes you feel better, but we have found several institutions and grantors of these scholarships that do not require it. We certainly won't be doing it. The fact of the matter is we can afford to pay for college for our DD, but our decision was to put money into a UGMA and let her make her own decisions without how to spend the money. With compounding, she will be able to more than pay for her schooling if that is what she wishes to do. If she decides to travel the world and stay in Hostels, she is still getting an education. She could blow it all on drugs and live on the street too, but we do not live our life based on what-ifs.

We believe we are giving her the foundation to do what is best for her even if we disagree with it. She also might take that money and become a VC and invest in others. She won't however be going to college counting on us filling out some form. There are people who believe you can't even get into college without filling out the FAFSA. Sad but true. Those people are truly brainwashed and I promise you those who are telling you it is a requirement have never been challenged on it and they do in fact receive a great deal in kickbacks for their respective universities for pushing loans and aid in the first place.

 

[punkin]

After some internet know it all claimed on here in January that you could NOT get a scholarship without it, we began to do research and found out that this was just not true at all. There are several scholarships for both talent and merit that do not require the filling out of this form.

Go ahead fill it out if it makes you feel better, but we have found several institutions and grantors of these scholarships that do not require it. We certainly won't be doing it.

Like I said earlier in the thread, of 11 schools DD17 applied to, 5 required it and 6 did not for merit aid. Why should I limit DD's choices to those 6?