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

[Bluestars]

elgerber, you should be able to cover him until he is 26. It shouldn't matter if your dependent is a student, has access to other insurance, or is married. I am sorry to hear he lost his job. I hope he finds something quickly. At least he is in a good field. That is a bummer though.

That's great that your daughter likes living on campus. My son likes it too. It's very convenient.

 

[elgerber]

elgerber, you should be able to cover him until he is 26. It shouldn't matter if your dependent is a student, has access to other insurance, or is married. I am sorry to hear he lost his job. I hope he finds something quickly. At least he is in a good field. That is a bummer though.

That's great that your daughter likes living on campus. My son likes it too. It's very convenient.

I can cover him medical but not dental. Found that out the hard way after his last cleaning which ended up costing me $250! I hate to add him to my medical then remove. I have had sooooo many insurance plans and changes in the last 12 months it's just ridiculous!

 

[njmom47]

Went for a visit to see ds today. He's doing well this semester in all classes. He is also changing his major and is really psyched about that. Spring break in 2 weeks. I told him he needs to job search for the summer. He won't be a bum like last year!!!

 

[IDoDis]

I am so jealous of the spring-like weather...as here in the NE it I'm not sure we even have grass anymore. LOL

I must have jinxed the weather here by posting about how nice it was, because the weather changed hours after my last post! It was 18 degrees this morning with a dusting of snow. It had been REALLY nice before that for most of the month. One of our trees looks like it's going to flower very soon. After tomorrow we'll be in the 50s which is more typical for this time of the year.

People are having spring like weather?? We didn't hit zero today LOL.
Dd was home for a quick weekend, and I got some inner ear thing and was half functioning. I haven't been sick in forever, why this weekend? At least it was easy to binge watch some stuff on Friday, but Saturday during the day I wasn't up for much since I had to save my strength up for our theater tickets that night. Today she went back, will I ever not cry when she leaves? Even though she'll be home in 3 weeks, I still cried. Not that much this time. This was a tough stretch, it was the longest ever without seeing her.
She has decided for sure to live in a single room on campus. She really doesn't want to move off campus. She doesn't like to cook and she really likes the convenience. Her room next year is in the only dorm thats on the same block with all the academic buildings, student union, dining hall and wellness center so she will be super close to everything. She is only across a street now, but this will be even closer LOL.
Crazy to think our kids are in the home stretch for the first year. It's all whizzing by!

IDoDis, glad the professor was able to work with your daughter. That is scary though, that TA's are grading and making mistakes that can drop a whole letter grade! Wonder how many others might have mistakes that don't question.

On a non freshman note, my 21 year old son lost his IT job today. They called him at home, how rude. No reason given. Isn't it weird he wouldn't have to sign papers or anything? He has benefits through there. Now he has no insurance and I can't cover him, since he's not a student. Oh, I guess I can medical, but not dental. Grrrrr.

I hope you feel better soon! That sounds miserable.

My DD feels the same way -- for one more year, at least. Her roommate tried talking her into moving off campus, but DD loves being able to walk to class from her dorm. Parking is a HUGE headache on campus and not even possible for most students who commute. They either take the city bus to school (free for college students), or have to park a few miles way for a hefty fee and take a shuttle to campus. DD gets covered parking right by her dorm though.

Sorry to hear about your DS's job loss. Hopefully his search for a new job will be fruitful. That is strange that it happened over the phone without warning.

Went for a visit to see ds today. He's doing well this semester in all classes. He is also changing his major and is really psyched about that. Spring break in 2 weeks. I told him he needs to job search for the summer. He won't be a bum like last year!!!

That is exciting! Lots of major changing goes on about this time. Better now than later.

DD has a throat issue again. She sent me a text photo of her throat very red and swollen. No white spots yet. Here we go again! I hope this time it's just a viral thing that will clear up, but DD says the symptoms seem to be starting the same just like last time.

 

[elgerber]

I must have jinxed the weather here by posting about how nice it was, because the weather changed hours after my last post! It was 18 degrees this morning with a dusting of snow. It had been REALLY nice before that for most of the month. One of our trees looks like it's going to flower very soon. After tomorrow we'll be in the 50s which is more typical for this time of the year.

. DD gets covered parking right by her dorm though.

DD has a throat issue again. She sent me a text photo of her throat very red and swollen. No white spots yet. Here we go again! I hope this time it's just a viral thing that will clear up, but DD says the symptoms seem to be starting the same just like last time.

50? Oh how I wish!!! Woke up to -15 yesterday. 50 seems like a lifetime away
Covered parking?? That is so cool!!!!
Oh dear, I hope she feels better soon!! I am lucky, my dd hasn't even had so much as a cold this year, knock on wood.

 

[Pembo]

Ds is on his third cold I think. He just gets over a cough when another one hits. Nothing serious just enough to be annoying. He is enjoying his spring break in these negative temps. LOL

 

[Bluestars]

My son has covered parking too, right by his dorm. He said that it's a pain to go off campus for anything because the traffic is horrible.
He was wait listed for the study abroad scholarship and was very bummed about it. Then someone dropped out of the program and he got the scholarship. He was very excited. They changed the destination from Tunisia to Morocco. He thinks it's because of the cost. He doesn't care where it is. He just wants to study Arabic in a place where it is spoken.

I hope those of you who get to have your kids home for spring break have a wonderful week! Maybe the cold weather will go away by then.

 

[IDoDis]

50? Oh how I wish!!! Woke up to -15 yesterday. 50 seems like a lifetime away
Covered parking?? That is so cool!!!!
Oh dear, I hope she feels better soon!! I am lucky, my dd hasn't even had so much as a cold this year, knock on wood.

Brrrr! That's too cold for my bones! I feel for you!!! DD made it through the first semester with no illnesses, but got strep 2 days befor classes started, but didn't get any meds until a week later. She was miserable.

Ds is on his third cold I think. He just gets over a cough when another one hits. Nothing serious just enough to be annoying. He is enjoying his spring break in these negative temps. LOL

Coughs are the worst when they linger. It's hard to sleep and the roommate can't sleep, either. Spring break in the frozen tundra? That's an early spring break.

My son has covered parking too, right by his dorm. He said that it's a pain to go off campus for anything because the traffic is horrible.
He was wait listed for the study abroad scholarship and was very bummed about it. Then someone dropped out of the program and he got the scholarship. He was very excited. They changed the destination from Tunisia to Morocco. He thinks it's because of the cost. He doesn't care where it is. He just wants to study Arabic in a place where it is spoken.

I hope those of you who get to have your kids home for spring break have a wonderful week! Maybe the cold weather will go away by then.

Wow, that is wonderful news! Congrats to your DS! He is a scholarship magnet! Is he going this summer? You will have to keep us posted with the details. The closest I've ever gotten to Morocco is at Epcot! LOL! We love the food at Marrakesh!

 

[disneymom2one]

Brrrr! That's too cold for my bones! I feel for you!!! DD made it through the first semester with no illnesses, but got strep 2 days befor classes started, but didn't get any meds until a week later. She was miserable.



Coughs are the worst when they linger. It's hard to sleep and the roommate can't sleep, either. Spring break in the frozen tundra? That's an early spring break.



Wow, that is wonderful news! Congrats to your DS! He is a scholarship magnet! Is he going this summer? You will have to keep us posted with the details. The closest I've ever gotten to Morocco is at Epcot! LOL! We love the food at Marrakesh!

That is awesome. And sorry about the colds. Ours had one as well and is over that now but has an appointment today at the health center for an issue with the area where her ear is pierced. I'm a little worried about what's going on with it. As far as I know, she's still going to be out of town for spring break volunteering. They had a second meeting last night and I'm curious to see what she found out (considering they leave in about ten days).

She also had a bump in the roommate thing. The roommate for next year was offered a position within the honors program where the "pay" is to be able to get a single. The girls had lunch together yesterday and our daughter was mature enough to encourage the roommate to take the position so she did. Our daughter was a little upset about it but it may actually work out better in the long run. She really needs down time sometimes and having the single this semester has been a really good thing. She talked to the hall director and should be able to get approved for a single again next year and remain in the same room. She sounded more upbeat in some texts to my husband last evening.

Hope everyone has a great day!

 

[elgerber]

My son has covered parking too, right by his dorm. He said that it's a pain to go off campus for anything because the traffic is horrible.
He was wait listed for the study abroad scholarship and was very bummed about it. Then someone dropped out of the program and he got the scholarship. He was very excited. They changed the destination from Tunisia to Morocco. He thinks it's because of the cost. He doesn't care where it is. He just wants to study Arabic in a place where it is spoken.

I hope those of you who get to have your kids home for spring break have a wonderful week! Maybe the cold weather will go away by then.

That's fantastic, congrats to him!!! Morocco, that sounds so exciting!!

 

[IDoDis]

I have a question... The school's priority FAFSA deadline is today. I submitted a FAFSA in early January using last year's info and the "will file" status. Is that considered filing a FAFSA or does that deadline mean a finalized FAFSA? We don't get any financial aid, but DD does have a presidential scholarship. I am a teensy bit worried that I should have had the final documents in by now, but then my logical side says that merit aid doesn't matter and is not financial aid. Is the "will file" status good enough for now?

 

[elgerber]

I should have knocked on wood when I said my dd has not been ill yet. I should have known that was a jinx. I got a text after I went to bed last night, that she has a fever and feeling, um, well I cant type the word that she used to describe how she felt LOL. I don't like having a fever when I can't check on her :-(. This is probably the worst time to be sick. She is only scheduled to work one weekday this week, today. And my mother in law finally passed away this week, so she will need to miss more class to come home for a day for the funeral. Just a little more added stress :-(

 

[IDoDis]

I should have knocked on wood when I said my dd has not been ill yet. I should have known that was a jinx. I got a text after I went to bed last night, that she has a fever and feeling, um, well I cant type the word that she used to describe how she felt LOL. I don't like having a fever when I can't check on her :-(. This is probably the worst time to be sick. She is only scheduled to work one weekday this week, today. And my mother in law finally passed away this week, so she will need to miss more class to come home for a day for the funeral. Just a little more added stress :-(

I'm so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time. I'm also sorry your DD is sick. I hope she feels better soon! It's just awful being sick and having to trudge to class. My DD called me at 3:00am Friday morning saying she couldn't stop throwing up. So on top of her bad cold, she got a stomach bug. She was worried about missing classes on Friday because mid-terms are this week. She planned to skip her first class and drag herself to her chem class with a bucket in tow if need be. But then luck shined her way and it snowed 8 inches that night and the next morning (the most we've had in 9 years), so all classes were canceled. So you see I also jinxed myself by saying we were having spring weather. Well, the snow all melted in 24 hours and you'd never know it snowed because the temp climbed close to 60 the following day.

 

[Bluestars]

I should have knocked on wood when I said my dd has not been ill yet. I should have known that was a jinx. I got a text after I went to bed last night, that she has a fever and feeling, um, well I cant type the word that she used to describe how she felt LOL. I don't like having a fever when I can't check on her :-(. This is probably the worst time to be sick. She is only scheduled to work one weekday this week, today. And my mother in law finally passed away this week, so she will need to miss more class to come home for a day for the funeral. Just a little more added stress :-(

I am very sorry about you MIL.

I know how you feel about not being able to check on your daughter when she has a fever. It's an adjustment to not be there when they aren't feeling well. I hope she feels better soon. It definitely sounds like a lot of stress right now.

 

[Bluestars]

I'm so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time. I'm also sorry your DD is sick. I hope she feels better soon! It's just awful being sick and having to trudge to class. My DD called me at 3:00am Friday morning saying she couldn't stop throwing up. So on top of her bad cold, she got a stomach bug. She was worried about missing classes on Friday because mid-terms are this week. She planned to skip her first class and drag herself to her chem class with a bucket in tow if need be. But then luck shined her way and it snowed 8 inches that night and the next morning (the most we've had in 9 years), so all classes were canceled. So you see I also jinxed myself by saying we were having spring weather. Well, the snow all melted in 24 hours and you'd never know it snowed because the temp climbed close to 60 the following day.

That was lucky for her! That's the first good thing I've heard about the snow this year.

 

[Gina]

Hi all!! So sorry I haven't been around here much... We were busy planning our cruise, then going on our cruise, and now trying to settle back into "real life," lol. I sure miss that room service button on my phone!!

Sorry to hear about the sick kiddos.. :-( Hope this winter finally eases up soon for everyone. Ours here has been our typical SE Texas winter -- all over the place. Mid-upper 70's today and tomorrow, back to low 40's on Thursday. Pick a season, Mother Nature!!

Glad to hear the second semester is going well for everyone! Bluestars, the Morocco thing sounds so amazing!! What an incredible opportunity.

Mine is doing well. He is enjoying his classes so much more this semester, since he has history and chemistry behind him. I talked to him briefly last night, and he said "Gotta go Mom, I'm meeting with my group for our Mid-Air Collision Project." (!!) It's for his intro Engineering class, and he sounded pretty dang happy about it, lol.

Hope everyone thaws out soon! Hang in there, winter can't last forever!


-gina-

 

[elgerber]

I think my dd's cold was brought on my too many work hours. I was fearing it was too much (they work 9 to 9 1/2 hour shifts), and today she told me she thinks she needs to quit. I am kinda sad since it was good for her, but now I can quit worrying she has too much to handle, and now she will want to eat at Chipotle again with me

 

[Pembo]

Hey Everyone - the first year is almost over and we survived! When does summer break start? What are our college kids doing for the summer??

DS is done April 28, yes a Tuesday. We are going to move out most of his stuff next weekend and my parents will go pick him up on the last day. He is taking a class at the community college this summer, taking guitar lessons and working at his old job. I'm sure he'll find more to do once he gets home. I can't believe the first year is almost over!

 

[elgerber]

April 28th???? Oh my that is so early!! How exciting. I don't get my baby back until May 15th. Well, she's done with finals on the 13th, but I will drive up the evening of the 14th to help pack, and then the 15th we will pack up 3 cars and bring her home. I have to say, I'm a bit concerned about where all her crap is going to sit for the next 3 months.
She needs to get a job, hopefully she can, but it's hard to find someone willing to hire for 3 months.
She is taking an online writing course over the summer. She decided even though she dropped her English Writing to a minor from a major, that she wants to get a publishing certificate and this class is for that.

I can't believe we survived the first year, and I did go by pretty fast, even if it didn't seem to at first. Of course I'm sure the summer will as well. I can't wait for our mother daughter trip in August.

 

[bittybabygrower]

I go to get our girlie on April 30th! I went for Moms weekend and brought stuff back and DH is going on Saturday for more. She will be down to absolute basics. She lives above where graduation will be held on May2nd so she has to be out by May 1st.

Can't believe one college year is almost in the bag!