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

We also file as early as possible because we had heard that the earlier the better... besides I don't like to be last minute on anything... it drives my family crazy...

The verification process was pretty easy for us. We did not know about the retrieval tool 2 years ago.. so we filled it out based off our previous tax year's return and then just need to utilize the IRS tool on FAFSA to import the current tax year's info since they no longer take hard copies of your tax documents (or at least our school did not).. Then we need to fill out a few papers to explain a couple of differences.. It was easy to do and when we had questions we just called the financial aid office at the school and they were a great help.

I hope that helps...

it does! I guess verification is new ... or we got lucky and managed to avoid it when my older son was in college a few years ago.

How long after you filed was it before you could use the data retrieval tool?
 
What my experience has been is our IRS retrieval tool was available after our return was deposited into our account.... So, as soon as I received my return and my kids received theirs I went in the following day and was able to use the IRS retrieval tool for us and them and then resubmit.
 
Madge--- I do hope your DS hears good news soon... :hug:

thanks :) the rejections were for highly competitive scholarship programs. (the ones I wish they'd say to only bother applying if you're a NMF, have a 4.0, and spend every waking moment in an AP class or doing research to cure cancer, LOL) Other university award packages will start coming mid-March.
 

Congrats to the good news people and "that sucks" for those with bad news.
We are in waiting mode around here...waiting to hear from one college that he really likes, waiting to attend 2 more auditions IF that college says no, waiting to receive a K-1 so I can file taxes and import into FAFSA, lots of waiting.

As for graduation - party - just a small thing with his friends, I told him it will be at home, with cake and punch.

gift - none, college is his gift.

trip - considering a mom/son trip to WDW but again, waiting for SW Visa pts, final #'s on taxes

For those of you with older kids already in college - can we start a "dorm needs" list. I'd love to get a head start on buying but I don't even know where to start.
 
Posting to introduce myself (longtime Dis member but I rarely post anywhere).

This thread has been wonderful to me and I've been following (silently) all along. Our one and only is graduating in a few months. Our situation is a little different in that she has Asperger's, multiple learning disabilities, and some other challenges as well. She is, like many kids with Asperger's, a really smart kid but high school has been miserable for her. Only because of a fantastic guidance department will she graduate (and even did it with honors). They've essentially allowed her to make her own schedule over the years and about 20% of her credits are coming from outside of the traditional school (either dual enrollment or online classes). She also has volunteered in guidance all four years which has allowed her a safe place to hang out and decompress.

My husband and I both teach at our local community college and we've given serious thought to keeping her home a couple more years but in the end, she did go to through the college application process. It went somewhat better than expected and after a lot of thinking, she's decided to attend a smaller regional state university (not one of the flagships). It's only an hour or so away from here and they have both a great honors program as well as a very strong disabilities department. She attended the scholarship day there in late January and has all of her tuition paid for as well as some of the room and board. I also have a family member on faculty at this school and I know he and his wife will do anything for her.

So that's us. I think she probably would have been better off at a small LAC but unfortunately, there just aren't any close by. With the Asperger's and everything else, there honestly may be times when she gets overwhelmed and may need us. For a kid on the spectrum, she's really a rock star but she is definitely far from an ordinary 18 year old.

Anyway, we meet with the disabilities people this coming Friday. We have all of our ducks in a row for that so I'm hoping it goes well. She's been accepted into the honors program and they have a dorm where all freshman honors students are required to live so I'm really hoping she'll be able to make some connections. That has not happened at our so very large high school here.

Anyway, this thread has been way more helpful than College Confidential. I've learned a lot and hope you don't mind me joining you.
 
disneymom2one, welcome to the thread. I am glad you decided to join in! It sounds like your daughter worked very hard throughout high school since she is going into their honors program. I am sure you are very proud of her!

I hope she has a great college experience her freshman year and makes a lot of friends.
 
/
I love coming here to read all of the good news!

DS is having SUCH a crappy senior year it's just not even fun anymore. I'm surprised he's even still trying honestly. First his car accident last year, then he got expelled over something amazing stupid and small for first semester (thanks to a new principal trying to make her mark). As if that wasn't all enough, we get him back in school last month and he's doing great, on target for academic honors, and then on his MRI check they found a growth on his pituitary (common after head injuries apparently) and now we are looking at surgery in March which will take him out of school again for 3-6 weeks)

Thankfully he has the most amazing guidance counselor. This poor man has worked his tail off to make sure DS will graduate on time. We're going to have to buy HIM a graduation present :rotfl: He's been in contact with the college and school of business where DS has direct admit. We were afraid he'd lose the direct admit since he will no longer qualify for an academic honors diploma, but we were told that wasn't the case as long as his grades stay up. It's taken such a load off of poor DS as he's no longer trying to take 5 AP classes and deal with all the health issues.

I'm sorry this senior year has turned out to be such a dud! I hope things turn around for your DS and that some good news comes his way soon. That really stinks about the surgery and missed school. Is there some type of "home hospital" program where a tutor can come to your house to work with him and keep him on track with school work? I have a friend whose son had to have surgery in college which meant he had to come home. He was the valedictorian at my DD's school when he was a senior two years ago. He had a medical issue as a freshman also (some type of sports injury??) where he had to take a leave, so now that he is taking another leave, he loses his full ride scholarship. So maybe look at the bright side being that the all of the medical issues are being taken care of BEFORE he starts college. Either way it still stinks. :(

PS. regarding my comment earlier? while I celebrate with everyone in this thread, it's been a disappointing time for DS. 2 rejections from 2 schools AND a no news is bad news response from a 3rd ... all within a week. well, it sucks. and it's hard. and when you read post after post of good news, it makes the bad news harder. does that make the good news any less good? of course not. but as the parent of the one getting turned down ... it makes me want to stomp my feet, whine, and for a brief second, create a thread for the rejected parents like me. :upsidedow

Hang in there! Hopefully some good news will be coming your way soon! pixiedust: How many schools did he apply to?

it does! I guess verification is new ... or we got lucky and managed to avoid it when my older son was in college a few years ago.

How long after you filed was it before you could use the data retrieval tool?

I updated the parent info a week after I filed electronically. DD filed her tax return (for her part-time job) on Tuesday. I logged in tonight (Sunday) and was able to update hers without any problems using the IRS data retrieval tool both times. It only takes a few days.

Posting to introduce myself (longtime Dis member but I rarely post anywhere).

This thread has been wonderful to me and I've been following (silently) all along. Our one and only is graduating in a few months. Our situation is a little different in that she has Asperger's, multiple learning disabilities, and some other challenges as well. She is, like many kids with Asperger's, a really smart kid but high school has been miserable for her. Only because of a fantastic guidance department will she graduate (and even did it with honors). They've essentially allowed her to make her own schedule over the years and about 20% of her credits are coming from outside of the traditional school (either dual enrollment or online classes). She also has volunteered in guidance all four years which has allowed her a safe place to hang out and decompress.

My husband and I both teach at our local community college and we've given serious thought to keeping her home a couple more years but in the end, she did go to through the college application process. It went somewhat better than expected and after a lot of thinking, she's decided to attend a smaller regional state university (not one of the flagships). It's only an hour or so away from here and they have both a great honors program as well as a very strong disabilities department. She attended the scholarship day there in late January and has all of her tuition paid for as well as some of the room and board. I also have a family member on faculty at this school and I know he and his wife will do anything for her.

So that's us. I think she probably would have been better off at a small LAC but unfortunately, there just aren't any close by. With the Asperger's and everything else, there honestly may be times when she gets overwhelmed and may need us. For a kid on the spectrum, she's really a rock star but she is definitely far from an ordinary 18 year old.

Anyway, we meet with the disabilities people this coming Friday. We have all of our ducks in a row for that so I'm hoping it goes well. She's been accepted into the honors program and they have a dorm where all freshman honors students are required to live so I'm really hoping she'll be able to make some connections. That has not happened at our so very large high school here.

Anyway, this thread has been way more helpful than College Confidential. I've learned a lot and hope you don't mind me joining you.

Welcome!! That's great that your DD is going to live in the dorms yet will still have you close by, just in case. I am an elementary special ed teacher and have had several students (especially within the last few years) with autism/Asperberger's. Since my students are young, it's hard to look into that crystal ball and see if they will be college-bound, so I love hearing stories like this! You must be very proud! Will she have some type of roommate matching service? Having a good roommate fit for her is going to be really important.
 
Hang in there! Hopefully some good news will be coming your way soon! pixiedust: How many schools did he apply to?

he applied/was accepted to 6 -- of the 6, he's still seriously interested in 4. (and 2 of those 4 rejected him from their major scholarships :( ) we have a financial aid package for 1 of the 4. the rest will come sometime in the next few weeks. (lord willing and the creek don't rise. see below ;) )



I updated the parent info a week after I filed electronically. DD filed her tax return (for her part-time job) on Tuesday. I logged in tonight (Sunday) and was able to update hers without any problems using the IRS data retrieval tool both times. It only takes a few days.

I was able to use the data retrieval tool this AM ... that all went smoothly, and right after I signed the form, I noticed that there was no check mark in the box designating DS as at least a half-time student. There was some confusion as he isn't sure what school he's attending ... and didn't know how to answer. I wish I'd seen it sooner. :crazy2: Hopefully that isn't a big deal to fix. Ugh.
 
PS. regarding my comment earlier? while I celebrate with everyone in this thread, it's been a disappointing time for DS. 2 rejections from 2 schools AND a no news is bad news response from a 3rd ... all within a week. well, it sucks. and it's hard. and when you read post after post of good news, it makes the bad news harder. does that make the good news any less good? of course not. but as the parent of the one getting turned down ... it makes me want to stomp my feet, whine, and for a brief second, create a thread for the rejected parents like me. :upsidedow

I sort of quit following this thread because there never seems to be anyone getting rejected. Everyone, it seems, is getting scholarships and getting into great schools. I convinced DS to do 2 year at the local Community College then look to transfer to a 4 year state school to finish up. He is very bright and tests in the top 10% in math and science on all the state tests. He GPA however is something around 2.5. He doesn't do homework. So while he really wants to go to an insanely expensive private school to learn video game design, I don't want to blow his whole college fund in that first semester. We don't qualify for financial aid and he hasn't applied for any scholarships... With the low GPA I doubt he would be considered at all.

So I congratulate everyone for the positive results...
 
I sort of quit following this thread because there never seems to be anyone getting rejected. Everyone, it seems, is getting scholarships and getting into great schools. I convinced DS to do 2 year at the local Community College then look to transfer to a 4 year state school to finish up. He is very bright and tests in the top 10% in math and science on all the state tests. He GPA however is something around 2.5. He doesn't do homework. So while he really wants to go to an insanely expensive private school to learn video game design, I don't want to blow his whole college fund in that first semester. We don't qualify for financial aid and he hasn't applied for any scholarships... With the low GPA I doubt he would be considered at all.

So I congratulate everyone for the positive results...

it sounds like your plan of 2 years at CC may be just what your DS needs! if he wants to go to school for his passion, he may need to do some homework along the way, LOL

I often wish we had gone that route with our oldest son (not the one I'm on this thread for) ... he was a bright student, but looking back, a couple of years at the local CC might have changed his focus. Lessons learned. It's what life is all about.

in the end, my DS (the one I AM on this thread for, LOL) may decide to stay here and do CC for a year. it wouldn't surprise me. heck, nothing surprises me anymore. :rotfl2:
 
I sort of quit following this thread because there never seems to be anyone getting rejected. Everyone, it seems, is getting scholarships and getting into great schools. I convinced DS to do 2 year at the local Community College then look to transfer to a 4 year state school to finish up. He is very bright and tests in the top 10% in math and science on all the state tests. He GPA however is something around 2.5. He doesn't do homework. So while he really wants to go to an insanely expensive private school to learn video game design, I don't want to blow his whole college fund in that first semester. We don't qualify for financial aid and he hasn't applied for any scholarships... With the low GPA I doubt he would be considered at all.

So I congratulate everyone for the positive results...

I purposely set a realistic goal for DD in terms of tuition and schools I knew would be a match. And while there were at least two she loved, for many reasons I just can't afford $30-$35k a year. I'll probably struggle through the state school payments, but it's much more doable. She's a great student but not at a competitive high school (very low expectations of their student body) and also not very self-motivating in terms of scholarship searches, etc. I told her I wasn't willing to spend my life paying for a more expensive college if she wasn't willing to spend time studying for the SAT or scholarships. She actually probably spent 10 hours total studying for the SAT. :(

She is finding her friends are very upset because they aren't getting into the schools they want. Their expectations far exceed their scores/pocketbooks. Many are submitting apps to Ivy League schools and then are upset when they don't get in. Forget the fact they thought they'd get huge scholarships too. :laughing: I think sometimes it's a reflection on kids thinking the world revolves around them. I know in my daughter's case she thought somehow the college money would magically appear just because she wanted it. :rotfl:

I honestly feel that it all works out for the best. Maybe it's the wakeup call that will help you son really push for his goals. And CC is certainly NOT the end of the world. Every child who continues their education, whether at a university, CC or trade school should be proud that they are doing so.
 
Forget the fact they thought they'd get huge scholarships too. :laughing: I think sometimes it's a reflection on kids thinking the world revolves around them. I know in my daughter's case she thought somehow the college money would magically appear just because she wanted it. :rotfl:

I honestly feel that it all works out for the best. Maybe it's the wakeup call that will help you son really push for his goals. And CC is certainly NOT the end of the world. Every child who continues their education, whether at a university, CC or trade school should be proud that they are doing so.

We are dealing with the same thing in my house. DD has a full tuition scholarship and tells me she doesn't want to go to that school because it is 'a school for losers and stoners' :( yet the school she DOES want to go to didn't give her a merit scholarship because she's just barely outside of the top 10% of her class.

I can't seem to convince her that she's going to be a science major and will need a master's degree, so a loan free bachelors is a SMART choice, even if it's not at her first choice school.

I"m an emotional wreck right now, and she seems to be oblivious to financial reality. :furious:
 
I sort of quit following this thread because there never seems to be anyone getting rejected. Everyone, it seems, is getting scholarships and getting into great schools. I convinced DS to do 2 year at the local Community College then look to transfer to a 4 year state school to finish up. He is very bright and tests in the top 10% in math and science on all the state tests. He GPA however is something around 2.5. He doesn't do homework. So while he really wants to go to an insanely expensive private school to learn video game design, I don't want to blow his whole college fund in that first semester. We don't qualify for financial aid and he hasn't applied for any scholarships... With the low GPA I doubt he would be considered at all.

So I congratulate everyone for the positive results...

Hang in there. We sent our son off to school last year and in the lead up process I started to participate in the Class of 2013 thread. Like you, I felt that the thread was often not very helpful and, more often than not, took on the appearance of a bragfest. It is easy to get caught up in the achievement stories and while other kids are portrayed as perfect you feel as if your child is doomed to fail. Remember, your child's success will not be affected by comments on a message board.

Consider this:

1. Not many people share the names of the schools their children are considering. It is very difficult to compare acceptances and scholarships for top tier and lower tier schools. My comparison involves SC schools because I am most familiar with them - hope no one takes offense. Is the child applying to Clemson (U.S. News #62 National University), Coastal Carolina (#62 Regional University - South) or South Carolina State University (Unranked with a 92% acceptance rate?)

2. Not many people (if any) disclose economic status. We found that most scholarships/grants are income based. Some of these scholarships you hear about are more related to ability to pay than merit.

3. This is the internet and people are discussing their children. That is a recipe for, shall we say, less than full disclosure. Some people lie. Many people embellish. Everyone tells a story from their point of view. I suspect that you will hear very few stories of failure.

I do not think many people choose to lie or mislead. Rather, I think they portray things in a light most favorable to them. I think what some people consider as scholarships are really dressed up financial aid awards. Consider this profile of Wofford College (a decent private school in SC).

Wofford College Financial Aid (2010 - 11):

Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 95%
Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of Aid
Grants: 92%
Loans: 42%
Average Amount of Aid
Grants: $23,100
Loans: $5,265

92% receive grants at an average amount of $23,000! I suspect that most of these awards are described by parents as "merit scholarships." Also, keep in mind that many states have scholarship programs. You can see what SC has here: http://www.sciway.net/finaid.html. There are SAT and grade requirements but EVERY SC high school graduate is eligible. I think some people do not disclose the relative ease of getting these type of awards.

Do not be discouraged. Hopefully, your son will find his way. That way does not need to be the same as what you read here.
 
I"m an emotional wreck right now, and she seems to be oblivious to financial reality. :furious:

So far, my son seems to understand financial reality. I am thankful for that. He has not ruled out a school that has made a generous offer because he knows it's his best chance at all the opportunities he wants to take advantage of (no debt, studying abroad, honors classes). Once the offers from the other schools come, it will be much easier to decide what to do. At least I hope it does .... LOL
 
We are dealing with the same thing in my house. DD has a full tuition scholarship and tells me she doesn't want to go to that school because it is 'a school for losers and stoners' :( yet the school she DOES want to go to didn't give her a merit scholarship because she's just barely outside of the top 10% of her class.

I can't seem to convince her that she's going to be a science major and will need a master's degree, so a loan free bachelors is a SMART choice, even if it's not at her first choice school.

I"m an emotional wreck right now, and she seems to be oblivious to financial reality. :furious:

I had that same conversation. DD is going for marine science/bio. I told her a Masters is going to be key and I'm not paying for it. And any sort of scholarship is very unlikely for that, so she's on her own. And I'm caught between wanting to support her "dream" and the reality of never making any money with a degree in marine science/biology. I'm just hoping for the best. :)

Hang in there. We sent our son off to school last year and in the lead up process I started to participate in the Class of 2013 thread. Like you, I felt that the thread was often not very helpful and, more often than not, took on the appearance of a bragfest. It is easy to get caught up in the achievement stories and while other kids are portrayed as perfect you feel as if your child is doomed to fail. Remember, your child's success will not be affected by comments on a message board.

Consider this:

1. Not many people share the names of the schools their children are considering. It is very difficult to compare acceptances and scholarships for top tier and lower tier schools. My comparison involves SC schools because I am most familiar with them - hope no one takes offense. Is the child applying to Clemson (U.S. News #62 National University), Coastal Carolina (#62 Regional University - South) or South Carolina State University (Unranked with a 92% acceptance rate?)

2. Not many people (if any) disclose economic status. We found that most scholarships/grants are income based. Some of these scholarships you hear about are more related to ability to pay than merit.

3. This is the internet and people are discussing their children. That is a recipe for, shall we say, less than full disclosure. Some people lie. Many people embellish. Everyone tells a story from their point of view. I suspect that you will hear very few stories of failure.

I do not think many people choose to lie or mislead. Rather, I think they portray things in a light most favorable to them. I think what some people consider as scholarships are really dressed up financial aid awards. Consider this profile of Wofford College (a decent private school in SC).

Wofford College Financial Aid (2010 - 11):

Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 95%
Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of Aid
Grants: 92%
Loans: 42%
Average Amount of Aid
Grants: $23,100
Loans: $5,265

92% receive grants at an average amount of $23,000! I suspect that most of these awards are described by parents as "merit scholarships." Also, keep in mind that many states have scholarship programs. You can see what SC has here: http://www.sciway.net/finaid.html. There are SAT and grade requirements but EVERY SC high school graduate is eligible. I think some people do not disclose the relative ease of getting these type of awards.

Do not be discouraged. Hopefully, your son will find his way. That way does not need to be the same as what you read here.

Coastal Carolina is the school my DD really wanted to go to. But there is very little in the way of scholarship money for out-of-staters. I made the mistake, when looking at schools of not realizing that Coastal shows their tuition/boarding etc. by semester, not year. So it was my fault. I showed her this school. Then she found out a friend a year ahead in school was heading there. But I just can't afford to send her. And it would entail expenses for getting her (and her stuff) back and forth from SC to NJ. I basically had to tell her it wasn't an option. Thankfully she really likes Stockton, where we get in-state tuition. But I know it's her second choice. And a choice she made. She chose not to spend hours studying for the SAT to get higher scholarships. Sometimes it's worth looking at in-state schools because of the price difference. So glad we found Stockton.
 
I had that same conversation. DD is going for marine science/bio. I told her a Masters is going to be key and I'm not paying for it. And any sort of scholarship is very unlikely for that, so she's on her own. And I'm caught between wanting to support her "dream" and the reality of never making any money with a degree in marine science/biology. I'm just hoping for the best. :)



Coastal Carolina is the school my DD really wanted to go to. But there is very little in the way of scholarship money for out-of-staters. I made the mistake, when looking at schools of not realizing that Coastal shows their tuition/boarding etc. by semester, not year. So it was my fault. I showed her this school. Then she found out a friend a year ahead in school was heading there. But I just can't afford to send her. And it would entail expenses for getting her (and her stuff) back and forth from SC to NJ. I basically had to tell her it wasn't an option. Thankfully she really likes Stockton, where we get in-state tuition. But I know it's her second choice. And a choice she made. She chose not to spend hours studying for the SAT to get higher scholarships. Sometimes it's worth looking at in-state schools because of the price difference. So glad we found Stockton.


My wife is a Stockton grad. State schools are becoming highly competitive. They like out-of-state students because they pay much more tuition. Last year our son had it down to Georgia Tech (out-of-state $43,000/US News #5 engineering) and Clemson (in-state $22,000/Top 20-25 engineering). The SC Palmetto Fellows money brought the starting point for Clemson to $15,000. Is $30,000 per year (starting point) worth the difference?
 
It's just a difficult time of year for Seniors, and their parents. Some students know where they are headed in the fall...others won't have any idea until the very end of March. And the bad news always seems to come first.

Hang in there. It really will all work out in the end. I was a stressed mess during March of D's Senior year...
 
2 academic acceptances today!! But he still needs to audition.

So he applied to 4 schools, he has auditioned at 2, been academically accepted to 3 and the one he really likes, we are waiting for word...they tell you academic and music school acceptance all at once.

Oh the stress of it all. :):crazy2:
 
Hang in there. It really will all work out in the end. I was a stressed mess during March of D's Senior year...

oooh. I have a love/hate relationship with March. DS is crazy busy. I think he's at school one full day between March 9-18. Someone thought it was a good idea to schedule the mock UN, state speech, and state academic team back to back to back. :rotfl2:

we've got a weekend thing at UK, senior spaghetti supper, and a few other random things ... and then it's spring break. And that's just DS things, I have a 6th grader at home, too. LOLOL
 

PixFuture Display Ad Tag












Receive up to $1,000 in Onboard Credit and a Gift Basket!
That’s right — when you book your Disney Cruise with Dreams Unlimited Travel, you’ll receive incredible shipboard credits to spend during your vacation!
CLICK HERE














DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest DIS Tiktok DIS Twitter

Back
Top