Parents of College Class of 2018 (A.K.A., "Is this the line to the poor house?")

[IDoDis]

DD received another academic and artistic acceptance (to the same school). Online it says she was excepted with distinction- not sure what that means. I am happy for her. While she won't hear from her top schools until the end of March each acceptance helps build confidence for the Feb round of auditions. She is working on finishing her last two apps and arts supplements. Then this weekend she has to start her videos. Hope everyone is having a good week.

Yay! Congrats on another acceptance and to everyone else who has received good news lately! No snow or really cold temps here, so the kids were back at school on Monday. DD startled her first dual-enrollment college class today. Other than that, not much else is going on. I still haven't started the FAFSA stuff -- hopefully I will get that done this upcoming weekend. Hold on tight! We are on the downhill slope now heading toward the finish line!

 

[SydSim]

Finished the FAFSA and DD has all of her auditions set up. Number one school is in three weeks and if all goes well, we will cancel the latter ones.

She is really getting excited about college. Before it was mostly me hyping it up for her, but now she's hyping it up for her friends!

She has acceptances from her top safety schools, with merit money (and those with B students, don't be discouraged, there is money available for them!) so getting just one audition acceptance would be the icing on the cake.

I'm really going to miss this next year. We had a lot of fun through this process. Next year it will just be paying the bill!

 

[madge]

I'm really going to miss this next year. We had a lot of fun through this process. Next year it will just be paying the bill!

while stressful at times, I've also enjoyed the process! it's been very different than my oldest DS college search. (he knew where he wanted to go, applied, got his merit money, and that was that )

We start with the first of the "lasts" this weekend. A bittersweet time for sure.

 

[Gina]

DD received another academic and artistic acceptance (to the same school). Online it says she was excepted with distinction- not sure what that means. I am happy for her. While she won't hear from her top schools until the end of March each acceptance helps build confidence for the Feb round of auditions. She is working on finishing her last two apps and arts supplements. Then this weekend she has to start her videos.

Congrats to your DD! This whole application/acceptance/scholarship thing has been exhausting enough -- I can't imagine how grueling it must be for those of you whose kids also have an audition component!

On the scholarship front, we got a very exciting email yesterday from TAMUG... DS has made it to the semi-finalist round for the Terry Foundation scholarship, the full-ride one I was telling you guys about. Now he has just 3 weeks to get 3 letters of recommendation, write an essay on why he wants to attend TAMUG and what the scholarship would mean to him, and write a letter/resume detailing his extracurricular and employment stuff along with my income info. Then if he makes it to the next round, they'll start calling for personal interviews in March. And he still has to finish his essay for the other big scholarship opportunity there, that we need to bring with us to Preview on 2/14. I'm biting all my nails off!!

2014 is off to an exciting, nervous start... lol. Happy New Year to everyone!

 

[IDoDis]

Congrats to your DD! This whole application/acceptance/scholarship thing has been exhausting enough -- I can't imagine how grueling it must be for those of you whose kids also have an audition component!

On the scholarship front, we got a very exciting email yesterday from TAMUG... DS has made it to the semi-finalist round for the Terry Foundation scholarship, the full-ride one I was telling you guys about. Now he has just 3 weeks to get 3 letters of recommendation, write an essay on why he wants to attend TAMUG and what the scholarship would mean to him, and write a letter/resume detailing his extracurricular and employment stuff along with my income info. Then if he makes it to the next round, they'll start calling for personal interviews in March. And he still has to finish his essay for the other big scholarship opportunity there, that we need to bring with us to Preview on 2/14. I'm biting all my nails off!!

2014 is off to an exciting, nervous start... lol. Happy New Year to everyone!

Yay! That is wonderful news! Sounds like your phone call really helped! I will keep my fingers crossed for your DS!

 

[elgerber]

Congrats to your DD! This whole application/acceptance/scholarship thing has been exhausting enough -- I can't imagine how grueling it must be for those of you whose kids also have an audition component!

On the scholarship front, we got a very exciting email yesterday from TAMUG... DS has made it to the semi-finalist round for the Terry Foundation scholarship, the full-ride one I was telling you guys about. Now he has just 3 weeks to get 3 letters of recommendation, write an essay on why he wants to attend TAMUG and what the scholarship would mean to him, and write a letter/resume detailing his extracurricular and employment stuff along with my income info. Then if he makes it to the next round, they'll start calling for personal interviews in March. And he still has to finish his essay for the other big scholarship opportunity there, that we need to bring with us to Preview on 2/14. I'm biting all my nails off!!

2014 is off to an exciting, nervous start... lol. Happy New Year to everyone!

Congrats, a full ride would be sooooooooooooooooooooo exciting!!!!

 

[Bluestars]

Congrats to your DD! This whole application/acceptance/scholarship thing has been exhausting enough -- I can't imagine how grueling it must be for those of you whose kids also have an audition component!

On the scholarship front, we got a very exciting email yesterday from TAMUG... DS has made it to the semi-finalist round for the Terry Foundation scholarship, the full-ride one I was telling you guys about. Now he has just 3 weeks to get 3 letters of recommendation, write an essay on why he wants to attend TAMUG and what the scholarship would mean to him, and write a letter/resume detailing his extracurricular and employment stuff along with my income info. Then if he makes it to the next round, they'll start calling for personal interviews in March. And he still has to finish his essay for the other big scholarship opportunity there, that we need to bring with us to Preview on 2/14. I'm biting all my nails off!!

2014 is off to an exciting, nervous start... lol. Happy New Year to everyone!

Good luck to you son! I hope he makes it to the next round. That's very exciting.

 

[JeannieNM]

Thank everyone for the wonderful congratulations.

Gina we are sending your son good thoughts! That is great so far.

We are envious of those of you that did not have to go back to school this week. One year we had an entire extra week of break due to snow. This year we had early snow and now unseasonably warm temps. It is very hard on the ski areas...

DD submitted her first Common App application tonight. We almost did not catch that she had to submit the application and then the writing supplement. After that she had to submit the arts supplement which required my credit card again. 5 essays and $86 later she was done with application number 10. She is finishing the supplemental essay for school #11 as I type and then she has to decide about #12 which is done but not submitted. She has 4 live auditions left and 1 video audition (though some of the live auditions also require a video) then she is done. I think she only has one arts application left which goes with the last live audition. Now I need to buy the plane tickets and make the hotel reservations. (wanted to make sure she applied to all the schools before I bought the tickets)

I hope everyone is warming up and having a good weekend.

 

[madge]

Thank everyone for the wonderful congratulations. Gina we are sending your son good thoughts! That is great so far. We are envious of those of you that did not have to go back to school this week. One year we had an entire extra week of break due to snow. This year we had early snow and now unseasonably warm temps. It is very hard on the ski areas... DD submitted her first Common App application tonight. We almost did not catch that she had to submit the application and then the writing supplement. After that she had to submit the arts supplement which required my credit card again. 5 essays and $86 later she was done with application number 10. She is finishing the supplemental essay for school #11 as I type and then she has to decide about #12 which is done but not submitted. She has 4 live auditions left and 1 video audition (though some of the live auditions also require a video) then she is done. I think she only has one arts application left which goes with the last live audition. Now I need to buy the plane tickets and make the hotel reservations. (wanted to make sure she applied to all the schools before I bought the tickets) I hope everyone is warming up and having a good weekend.

Missing school is a catch-22. We will have to make up the snow day after Memorial Day, which has a domino effect on everything else .... including graduation. I would've rather they gone to school (2+ weeks was long enough ) than have one random day to make up.

DS is finishing up going over everything that is due on Wednesday - he received his invitation to apply for a presidential fellowship at one of his schools this week, which has renewed his interest in applying for scholarships

 

[JeannieNM]

Missing school is a catch-22. We will have to make up the snow day after Memorial Day, which has a domino effect on everything else .... including graduation. I would've rather they gone to school (2+ weeks was long enough ) than have one random day to make up.

DS is finishing up going over everything that is due on Wednesday - he received his invitation to apply for a presidential fellowship at one of his schools this week, which has renewed his interest in applying for scholarships

Good luck to DS! That is a very nice opportunity. Congrats.

I guess I forget that some schools have to make up snow days. We do not since DD goes to a private school and they already go many more days then is required and their day is longer too. The ski slope near our house just announced they are closing all but the beginner hill and only opening on weekends so we really do need snow! Glad DD got a few days of snowboarding in over break and DH some skiing. There is another slope that is open about an hour or so away but it is just not as simple as going to the one 10 minutes from the house. DD does not really have any time anyway so it is ok.

I made hotel arrangements for two of the 3 trips and plane reservations for one trip....

Hope everyone has a good week. Good luck with FAFSA and all the award applications.

 

[elgerber]

We have to make up snow days, and we had 2 days last week closed do to the dangerous cold, not to snow. Seniors get out of school several days before the other kids, and in previous years, they have not had to make up the extra days like the other kids. I did see in the local paper though, that they may not have the kids make up these two days, but if we have anymore then they will. Not concerned since seniors have not had to do it in the past (knock on wood).

Today is my baby girls 18th birthday!!! Just one more step to reality! I was crying at Target reading birthday cards. I am going to have such a hard time with this whole leaving for college thing LOL.

 

[bittybabygrower]

Our school doesn't make the seniors make up days, once they graduate they are done. We did our paperwork and just have to update when new taxes are done. DD is starting her scholarship essays this week

 

[Bluestars]

We have to make up snow days, and we had 2 days last week closed do to the dangerous cold, not to snow. Seniors get out of school several days before the other kids, and in previous years, they have not had to make up the extra days like the other kids. I did see in the local paper though, that they may not have the kids make up these two days, but if we have anymore then they will. Not concerned since seniors have not had to do it in the past (knock on wood).

Today is my baby girls 18th birthday!!! Just one more step to reality! I was crying at Target reading birthday cards. I am going to have such a hard time with this whole leaving for college thing LOL.

I hope she had a wonderful birthday!

 

[elgerber]

So, how the heck does it affect your FAFSA when you lose your job?

 

[JeannieNM]

So, how the heck does it affect your FAFSA when you lose your job?

Did you lose your job? Sending good thoughts your way.

Happy Birthday to your daughter!

 

[elgerber]

Did you lose your job? Sending good thoughts your way. Happy Birthday to your daughter!

Yes laid off this morning. Not even sure which way is up.

 

[Gina]

Yes laid off this morning. Not even sure which way is up.

So, so sorry... Keeping you in my thoughts.


-gina-

 

[PrincessKsMom]

So sorry elgerber. That's horrible. Hope you are able to find something else soon.

 

[madge]

So, how the heck does it affect your FAFSA when you lose your job?

first off .... I'm so sorry!

to answer your question, the FAFSA is based on taxes, which would be last year's income. with that said, I would contact the FA office of the schools under consideration and the high school guidance office and explain your circumstances. they should be able to give you some solid advice.

 

[IDoDis]

Yes laid off this morning. Not even sure which way is up.

Oh no! I'm so sorry to hear that! I hope you find another job soon!

In answer to your question, I found this. It's from last year, but the info would still apply:

" Changes in Household Income
Q.
If a parent has lost her job or been cut back at work during the previous year, so that income for the previous tax year does not reflect the family’s current income, does Fafsa have a way to disclose this? Will this be taken into account in determining the student’s need?

— Kate

A.
The Fafsa calculates ability to pay based on income during the previous tax year. If you are applying for the 2013-14 academic year, you should provide income information from the 2012 tax year.

The Fafsa form does not have a means for disclosing to colleges significant change in income resulting from job loss, salary reduction, suspension of bonuses, death of a wage-earner or other unusual circumstances.

Instead, the family should ask the college financial aid administrator for a professional judgment review. Some colleges will switch the family from prior year income to an estimate of income during the current calendar or academic year.

Every $10,000 reduction in income will yield about a $3,000 difference in the expected family contribution. If the family normally has volatile income from one year to the next, some colleges will substitute an average of income during the last three to five years.s"

http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/14/guidance-office-fafsa-1/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0