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

[JeannieNM]

Yay, more college application stress.

I had my ACT application all filled out last Wednesday evening (for the December ACT), and all I needed was my dad's credit card. I had a hair appointment that day, and I left the house with the application open at 4:30PM.

While at the hair appointment, my stylist commented that my hair is really thinning out, and, after I commented that I lost over 60 pounds within the past four months, she recommended that I go down to the urgent care just down the road.

After a few tests at the urgent care, I was rushed to the nearest hospital for a blood glucose reading of well over 560 and having large amounts of ketones in my urine; I was in the middle of diabetic ketoacidosis and needed IV insulin.

Eight hours in the ER, 24+ hours in ICU, and another 24+ hours in a regular room, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. During that time, the regular deadline for December's ACT passed, and I also found out that the ACT could not accommodate for my diabetes for that testing date, because I needed to register during the regular registration period for accommodations.

I was discharged last Saturday, but I decided to miss this week of school in order to have a better grasp on treating my diabetes and to get my glucose levels down to a more normal range.

Now, I am freaking out about all the work I have missed. I only have four classes, but one teacher has been M.I.A for 3+ weeks (and she doesn't have an email I could contact), and I have a ton of examinations I need to make up. I know my teachers are, for lack of better words, such a-holes that they would make me take an examination while I am experiencing a hypoglycemic or hyperglycemic episode, and I 100% do not feel safe in that school.

I have posted on my CommonApp that I was recently diagnosed and that my grades and attendance may not be stellar, so I am not very worried about the college taking the comment the wrong way -three of my classes' grades are above a 99%, and my other class, AP chemistry, was at a 92%.

I am glad you are ok. I am sure this is a very difficult time for you. I am glad you are making your health a priority. I know I am sending good thoughts your way. Call the ACT special needs line. They maybe able to do something for you. Also figure out what you need to do to get through the test if you take it without official accommodation so, maybe you can take the regular test. Doesn't sound like your GC is much help but if you can get them to help you solve the issue it might be easier on you.

Bottom line is you will get into the college and your health is far more important then the ACTs.


Welcome Briarfoxin WA!

 

[JeannieNM]

Silly scare today.

I have been running around helping with DDs last show and DH is out of town so I'm a bit tired and scattered. I looked through the mail today and there was a small, thin, white envelope from a school that DD applied to that we all thought would be a sure bet. I was so nervous I opened it, thinking we can not deal with disappointment like that the night before the show opens...Silly, silly, silly, it was a letter confirming they received the application, that DD was out of state, and a reminder to have her transcripts sent. I could not believe how nervous I got and I am the laid back one in the family. Had to laugh at myself.

Hope everyone is doing well.

 

[Bluestars]

Silly scare today.

I have been running around helping with DDs last show and DH is out of town so I'm a bit tired and scattered. I looked through the mail today and there was a small, thin, white envelope from a school that DD applied to that we all thought would be a sure bet. I was so nervous I opened it, thinking we can not deal with disappointment like that the night before the show opens...Silly, silly, silly, it was a letter confirming they received the application, that DD was out of state, and a reminder to have her transcripts sent. I could not believe how nervous I got and I am the laid back one in the family. Had to laugh at myself.

Hope everyone is doing well.

It is stressful. Sometimes I think whatever happens will happen. Other times I get concerned that my son doesn't have a backup plan.

 

[scrapquitler]

I have finally kicked DD into gear, more or less. She has picked four colleges to apply to (okay, she picked one, DH and mandated the other 3). SAT scores have been sent, transcripts have been requested and we have three applications which we will be submitting this weekend. The last application has to be submitted by December 20, but the essay is not ready yet, it needs a specific topic so that the DD will be considered for that school's Honors Program.

It is what it is. I'm good with any of the 4 choices, I just hope she gets some good merit aid (and hopefully offers for the Honors Program at least at one of the three schools that have an HOnors program). No final decisions will be made until the financial aid packages are presented. I hate that the decison will come down to that, but that's reality.

Now I have to start pulling our tax paperwork together so I can get things ready for the FAFSA. We own a business and I usually don't have everything to the accountant until the end of March, which obviously isn't going to work this year, so I need to get myself working on it.

 

[madge]

DS interest in working on essays/applications comes and goes. January 14 is the deadline for all the competitive scholarships he's applying for, but ideally he'll be finished at the end of this month or early next month. I have visions of a Christmas break spent working on essays, though.

his list is still solidly stuck at 5 schools and will be until we see scholarship offers & financial aid packages from the competitive applications.

 

[TLuvsD]

Scrapquilter, and really everyone, I HIGHLY recommend the book "Paying for College without Going Broke". We have our own business, and this book has saved us a LOT of money. How you answer the questions on FASFA is not the same way an accountant might answer the questions. Nothing shady or iffy, but this book has straight forward advice that makes the whole process easier.

I know I've said this before, but it's worth repeating...local library or pick up the most recent edition for about $15.

 

[pammypooh]

DD received her first acceptance letter on Friday. DH and I were much more excited than she was since it was from her Plan C school as she calls it...but we were thrilled to see it and know it would be a good school if it turns out that is where she will go.
DH also applied for FAFSA pin, so we are gearing up. Her Plan A is a private Catholic school...that would have to be able to get the costs near to price of state school to make it really work...I am going to the library today to look for the book "how to pay for college without going broke".
DD is applying for what scholarships she can find, but so many seem to be scam/fishing sites.
Good luck to everyone as we all await word on acceptances and congrats to all that have received their letters.

 

[sk!mom]

DD got word Friday of a good sized scholarship to her first choice school so I think it is now a done deal. She completed two essays yesterday for a different scholarship from this same school.

She had previously received word of a scholarship to what is her last choice school so Friday's news was a big relief to her. No need now to consider the other school just for financial aid reasons. She can go where she really wants.

Still no word from Baylor but it was her second choice and the early awards from her first choice are pretty much making her more and more excited about going there.

 

[TLuvsD]

Congrats PammyPooh and sk!mom!

 

[IDoDis]

Woohoo and congrats on the acceptances and scholarships!!! That must be a huge relief for everyone. As for scholarships, I agree that there are a lot of "fishy" websites which are perfect avenues for identity thieves to prey on unsuspecting teens, so be careful.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Got our second acceptance letter today, with a $6k per year scholarship. Unfortunately, that would leave me paying about $30 a year. And this is DD's #1 school. Breaks my heart that I just can't afford it.

As I mentioned previously, she was accepted to a state school (her #2) over the summer and that will be about $18k a year. I just can't justified an additional $12k a year for her to go to school in SC, which would cost a lot more and then we have to pay for transportation, etc.

I know she was disappointed when she opened the letter, but it's just one of those things in life. I have to believe she'll be right where she's supposed to be, for one reason or another.

 

[elgerber]

My dd got a letter from her school yesterday inviting her to enroll in their honors program. The letter is so vague, I dont even really know what it means to be part of the honors program, or what it entails/requires.

 

[madge]

My dd got a letter from her school yesterday inviting her to enroll in their honors program. The letter is so vague, I dont even really know what it means to be part of the honors program, or what it entails/requires.

DS has been invited to apply separately to honors programs at 2 different schools, and one of the scholarships he's applied to (at a 3rd school) includes automatic admission to their honors college. I think it means different things at different schools ... but overall, it's my understanding that honors colleges are a way to give a student a more "liberal arts college" education/feel at a big public university.

one of the programs we've looked at has a Disney class. LOL

 

[JeannieNM]

DD received another academic acceptence this weekend. Much to our surprise she received a nice Merit scholarship to one of the schools. She won't hear from anywhere else until March.

We are touring University of Maryland this very rainy day. I skipped the walking tour in favor of staying dry and posting here. Lol. We had a nice performing arts facilities tour and after the standard tour dd has a meeting with the performing arts departmet and DH has a tour of the new physics lab/department with the dean. DH is an alum.

Happy Thanksgiving.

 

[scrapquitler]

DS has been invited to apply separately to honors programs at 2 different schools, and one of the scholarships he's applied to (at a 3rd school) includes automatic admission to their honors college. I think it means different things at different schools ... but overall, it's my understanding that honors colleges are a way to give a student a more "liberal arts college" education/feel at a big public university.

one of the programs we've looked at has a Disney class. LOL

Two of the honors programs my daughter is applying to mean that you have to take one or two specific honors level classes (in a smaller class with the other members of the honors program) for the first 4 semesters, and if you maintain a 3.5 overall GPA each semster you get FREE TUITION (or at one of them if you keep a 3.2 GPA you get half tuition). And those classes fit the general education requirements. I've got my fingers crossed for that.

 

[IDoDis]

My dd got a letter from her school yesterday inviting her to enroll in their honors program. The letter is so vague, I dont even really know what it means to be part of the honors program, or what it entails/requires.

I would also love to hear others' experiences/knowledge about this.

I was going to ask this same question a couple of days ago. The explanation on the invite to apply that DD received assumed we knew what it was all about. DD got the letter a month ago and dismissed it thinking that was not her thing. Well then we went to a fall preview day at the university on Saturday and got more info. It is a liberal arts smaller school within a school which reminded me of how DD's gifted seminar classes have been, especially in high school. The person we spoke with said that kids who thrive on class discussions, writing papers, and participating in group projects as opposed to taking exams to show their knowledge thrive in this setting. She said there aren't any exams. However, those who prefer to sit in the back of the class, soak it all in, and take exams to show their knowledge do not do as well with this approach. DD does like the part about not taking exams. I am still a bit confused though on which types of classes DD would be able to take in place of her core classes. I'm guessing it would be for English, History, and Anthropology types of classes and electives. The benefits are smaller class sizes, priority registration, a dedicated dorm (optional) a dedicated area for hanging out and for studying, advisors who actually know who you are (this school is very large), and opportunities to study abroad while paying the same tuition. There are more benefits, but I don't remember the rest. DD is basically in if she chooses this. She just has to submit the application as a formality. We are still not sure how the whole thing would work as a pre-med student.

 

[TLuvsD]

Every honors program works a little differently. Start with the college website, check prior semester course catalogs for honors courses, search for honors program activities. Then call the campus and talk to someone in the department (not admissions).

It is likely to not be a binding application, but you might ask if you can opt out.

Congrats and good luck!

 

[IDoDis]

DD did some more research on the Honors College and decided she wanted to apply as a "designation" so she submitted the online application. She will be required to take 15 hours of honors courses which will be replacements for other core required classes. As a freshman, she will take one "Legacy" class which will replace a required humanities class. For example, she can take "Legacy of American Drama" for a humanities core class.

Remember how she didn't jive with that AP Psych class with the 100 question tests every 2 weeks? Well, now she can take something else in place of that psych class like, "The Collective Globalization of Human Rights" and demonstrate her knowledge through papers and projects instead. This is right up her alley. Classes are small, like 12 students per class.

In addition to the other benefits I posted about earlier, she will also have an honors designation on her diploma when she graduates. This does seem like a great opportunity, so those who have received an invitation letter to apply should really look into it. DD almost blew it off because she had no idea what it was really about.

 

[elgerber]

Yesterday at dinner they made us say what we are thankful for. After much thought my dd says she is thankful she has found a field of study she wants to go into and how she is so excited for college and to get started with something she is so passionate about ( film\cinema arts and she was almost in tears saying it)
This morning I find this article in yesterday's paper, this is the school she is going too...
http://m.startribune.com/news/?id=233698591

 

[elgerber]

. This does seem like a great opportunity, so those who have received an invitation letter to apply should really look into it. DD almost blew it off because she had no idea what it was really about.

That's fantastic for her!!!