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

[scrapquitler]

An update on us:

You all may remember that my daughter was refusing to even look at schools because her anxiety level was so high. Well, in the end she applied to four schools, three in state public schools and one out of state private school. At this point she has acceptances from all three in-state schools and the private school will be posting decisions online on March 8th.

She has totally ruled out attending in state school #1.

She applied (on parental insistence) for the honors program at the State University closest to home. The honors program provides a full tuition scholarship, renewable for all 4 years. On Thursday, she was notified that she has been accepted into the honors program. She is adamant that she does NOT want to attend that school. If she is going to attend that school, she has to sign the form and pay the deposit by March 5th. (Tuition is about $10K, room and board, about $10K here)

Today we found out that she has also been accepted into the honors program at the state's flagship University, which is her first choice school. However, the honors program does NOT give a full tuition scholarship. They say that ''most" students in the program will receive significant merit awards, but we don't know when the information about how much of an award she might get will be forthcoming. (Tuition here is about $14K, room and board about $10K) I plan to call on Monday and ask about the merit scholarships...it sounds like they all require separate applications, but the website isn't at all clear about that.

The private school is the ultimate dream school for her. Tuition and room and board there is about $57K. I know for sure she will get a $3K legacy scholarship if she goes there. Beyond that, I have no idea. There is no honors program at this school. We still do not know if she is accepted there, and won't have that information until March 8th, which is their notification date. She is likely to be accepted, but it's not a guarantee, that's for sure.

So our dilemma....We will NOT be eligible for need based financial aid. Mom & Dad obviously are in favor of attending in state school with free tuition. We are trying to convince her that getting a BS degree with no loans is VERY SMART when she is likely to major in a field that will require a Masters or more. But if she gets a significant merit scholarship to Flagship school the cost difference might be manageable for us. The big problem is that she needs to commit to the free tuition scholarship by March 5th...and we won't know what the other financial deal is going to look like by then. SO WHAT DO WE DO???

I'm thinking that we should pay the deposit and sign the scholarship award for the Honors Program now, and then back out later if a similar size award comes from the Flagship School. Is that reasonable? What do you all think??

 

[4luv2cdisney]

Sorry to hijack your hijack but just wanted to say that I know two students currently at Belmont who love it! They have had tremendous opportunities.

Very good to hear! Thanks!

 

[Pembo]

Sorry for the hijack, but I was wondering if you could tell me more about what made him think Belmont may not be for him? I have a DD - Class of 2016 - and we are working on a list of schools to start visiting this summer and Belmont is at the top so far. Also, what are the schools within 4 hours he's looking at? (We are in IL, so maybe those should be on our list, too!!) She is considering a degree in music, but not completely sure yet.

Thanks

Honestly, the Christian Identity scared us away. When the Dean started talking about censorship and only allowing art that wasn't "too edgy" and that there was a committee to choose art/music that fit the Christian identity. We knew then that this was not the place for ds. We and ds want him to be at a school that allows for all perspectives of art/music/etc. We don't think college is the place for restrictions.
The school is beautiful. The opportunities seem to be amazing. In our college visit last summer the religion was downplayed but at the audition day it was front and center. If you don't mind the religious stuff, Belmont seems like a great school. Just not for DS at this point in his life.


DS auditioned at Univ of Cincinnati - CCM yesterday. We loved it there. He also has Capital in Columbus and Duquesne in PA on his list. If CCM accepts I think we are done though. He liked the feel there.

 

[Bluestars]

Totally off topic from the usual College plans talk but has anyone thought of graduation gifts. I would love to get DD something meaningful but have no idea what. She turns 18 the same week as graduation which makes it harder as I feel like I need two awesome gifts the same week.

We've considered a new laptop but feel like it would be better to wait until after she's into the first semester since she's going into design and might need something specialized.

Anyone have ideas?

I asked my son what he wanted and he said a cruise. We went on one last year and he loved it. We looked into sending him on one without us, but it turns out that anyone under 21 has to travel with somebody over 25. So I booked a cruise for my husband, my son, and me. We got our son his own room, although we had to book that room with an adult on the books.

We are cruising out of Galveston, so hopefully my son will be able to meet some kids from Texas. He will be attending Texas A & M as an out-of-state student.

I think a laptop is a great gift. If not a laptop, has your daughter mentioned anything that she has wanted? With a girl, something sentimental might be a better gift than a trip. I guess it depends on the person.

 

[Bluestars]

A
So our dilemma....We will NOT be eligible for need based financial aid. Mom & Dad obviously are in favor of attending in state school with free tuition. We are trying to convince her that getting a BS degree with no loans is VERY SMART when she is likely to major in a field that will require a Masters or more. But if she gets a significant merit scholarship to Flagship school the cost difference might be manageable for us. The big problem is that she needs to commit to the free tuition scholarship by March 5th...and we won't know what the other financial deal is going to look like by then. SO WHAT DO WE DO???

I'm thinking that we should pay the deposit and sign the scholarship award for the Honors Program now, and then back out later if a similar size award comes from the Flagship School. Is that reasonable? What do you all think??

Congratulations to your daughter on the terrific opportunities! I am not sure what I would do. If committing and then backing out is an option, I would most likely pay the deposit and sign the scholarship award.

 

[kacaju]

Totally off topic from the usual College plans talk but has anyone thought of graduation gifts. I would love to get DD something meaningful but have no idea what. She turns 18 the same week as graduation which makes it harder as I feel like I need two awesome gifts the same week.

We've considered a new laptop but feel like it would be better to wait until after she's into the first semester since she's going into design and might need something specialized.

Anyone have ideas?

I not only have my HS dd graduating I also have my 8th grade dd graduating. I just bought tickets to Luke Bryan for both of them for June 1st. I will surprise them with the tickets for graduation!!

 

[elgerber]

An update on us:

You all may remember that my daughter was refusing to even look at schools because her anxiety level was so high. Well, in the end she applied to four schools, three in state public schools and one out of state private school. At this point she has acceptances from all three in-state schools and the private school will be posting decisions online on March 8th.

She has totally ruled out attending in state school #1.

She applied (on parental insistence) for the honors program at the State University closest to home. The honors program provides a full tuition scholarship, renewable for all 4 years. On Thursday, she was notified that she has been accepted into the honors program. She is adamant that she does NOT want to attend that school. If she is going to attend that school, she has to sign the form and pay the deposit by March 5th. (Tuition is about $10K, room and board, about $10K here)

Today we found out that she has also been accepted into the honors program at the state's flagship University, which is her first choice school. However, the honors program does NOT give a full tuition scholarship. They say that ''most" students in the program will receive significant merit awards, but we don't know when the information about how much of an award she might get will be forthcoming. (Tuition here is about $14K, room and board about $10K) I plan to call on Monday and ask about the merit scholarships...it sounds like they all require separate applications, but the website isn't at all clear about that.

The private school is the ultimate dream school for her. Tuition and room and board there is about $57K. I know for sure she will get a $3K legacy scholarship if she goes there. Beyond that, I have no idea. There is no honors program at this school. We still do not know if she is accepted there, and won't have that information until March 8th, which is their notification date. She is likely to be accepted, but it's not a guarantee, that's for sure.

So our dilemma....We will NOT be eligible for need based financial aid. Mom & Dad obviously are in favor of attending in state school with free tuition. We are trying to convince her that getting a BS degree with no loans is VERY SMART when she is likely to major in a field that will require a Masters or more. But if she gets a significant merit scholarship to Flagship school the cost difference might be manageable for us. The big problem is that she needs to commit to the free tuition scholarship by March 5th...and we won't know what the other financial deal is going to look like by then. SO WHAT DO WE DO???

I'm thinking that we should pay the deposit and sign the scholarship award for the Honors Program now, and then back out later if a similar size award comes from the Flagship School. Is that reasonable? What do you all think??

How much is the deposit for the full tuition school? Can you back out of you change your mind? If you can, I would go ahead and do that, so you have time to go through the numbers when they are all in.

Finally got my final tax forms today to finish my tax returns. So now I can do the FAFSA. Not a lot of point to it, since it's going to say we made too much. And now I am unemployed, but with some severance, which is probably just too much trouble to bother trying to appeal anything with the financial aid office.

 

[IDoDis]

It is hard, Last Monday we were so tired. I got sick and she got cranky. DH was about to ship us both out the door because we were just a mess. By the middle of the week we had our act back together. DD has a dance competition tomorrow morning so she is at the studio today. She did find some time to go out last night, relax and enjoy herself which is important. Today she is at the dance studio and I think she is getting her nails done. Then meeting some other dancers from other studios for dinner and going to yoga. She has a short dance competition tomorrow from 9-1. Then hopefully she can pack and work on her last arts app and video that she needs to take with her. Monday is pretty booked with filming, physics tutor and studio time. Luckily we do not leave until late Tuesday night. I am sure I will be very tired by the time we get home next week.

It is getting a bit too real!!!!

Hang in there! You both sound really busy, so some crankiness is understandable. The pressure on these kids can be insurmountable. Keep us posted on how the auditions go!

Totally off topic from the usual College plans talk but has anyone thought of graduation gifts. I would love to get DD something meaningful but have no idea what. She turns 18 the same week as graduation which makes it harder as I feel like I need two awesome gifts the same week.

We've considered a new laptop but feel like it would be better to wait until after she's into the first semester since she's going into design and might need something specialized.

Anyone have ideas?

If you want something sentimental and lasting, you might want to consider a Pandora charm bracelet. Of all the different charms out there, I like Pandora the best. There are often specials where you can get the sterling silver bracelet for free if you spend so much on charms. Since Valentine's Day just passed, you may have to wait until it gets closer to Easter for another deal to come up. I bought DD her bracelet and first charms when she turned 16. I've given her charms on special occasions, birthdays, holidays, etc... so now she's got several charms she can use and switch around. I will for sure get her a graduation charm in May. DD loves her bracelet and charms. They will be keepsakes and will tel her life story.

We are also taking DD on a graduation trip to NYC in early June. She's never been there and it's pretty far away from the SW, so it should be a fun trip for her.

An update on us:

You all may remember that my daughter was refusing to even look at schools because her anxiety level was so high. Well, in the end she applied to four schools, three in state public schools and one out of state private school. At this point she has acceptances from all three in-state schools and the private school will be posting decisions online on March 8th.

She has totally ruled out attending in state school #1.

She applied (on parental insistence) for the honors program at the State University closest to home. The honors program provides a full tuition scholarship, renewable for all 4 years. On Thursday, she was notified that she has been accepted into the honors program. She is adamant that she does NOT want to attend that school. If she is going to attend that school, she has to sign the form and pay the deposit by March 5th. (Tuition is about $10K, room and board, about $10K here)

Today we found out that she has also been accepted into the honors program at the state's flagship University, which is her first choice school. However, the honors program does NOT give a full tuition scholarship. They say that ''most" students in the program will receive significant merit awards, but we don't know when the information about how much of an award she might get will be forthcoming. (Tuition here is about $14K, room and board about $10K) I plan to call on Monday and ask about the merit scholarships...it sounds like they all require separate applications, but the website isn't at all clear about that.

The private school is the ultimate dream school for her. Tuition and room and board there is about $57K. I know for sure she will get a $3K legacy scholarship if she goes there. Beyond that, I have no idea. There is no honors program at this school. We still do not know if she is accepted there, and won't have that information until March 8th, which is their notification date. She is likely to be accepted, but it's not a guarantee, that's for sure.

So our dilemma....We will NOT be eligible for need based financial aid. Mom & Dad obviously are in favor of attending in state school with free tuition. We are trying to convince her that getting a BS degree with no loans is VERY SMART when she is likely to major in a field that will require a Masters or more. But if she gets a significant merit scholarship to Flagship school the cost difference might be manageable for us. The big problem is that she needs to commit to the free tuition scholarship by March 5th...and we won't know what the other financial deal is going to look like by then. SO WHAT DO WE DO???

I'm thinking that we should pay the deposit and sign the scholarship award for the Honors Program now, and then back out later if a similar size award comes from the Flagship School. Is that reasonable? What do you all think??

I think your idea of accepting the scholarship and then waiting to see what happens is what I'd do, as well. That's an awesome deal for getting into the Honor's College! Out here, you just get in. There aren't special scholarships tied to it. While you are waiting to hear back from the other school, schedule another campus visit with your DD. Maybe she'll change her mind. Is the campus close to home? Sometimes kids want to choose the farther away school just go get out of Dodge or because that's where their friends are going. Or maybe the other school has a better program for her major. What are her reasons for not wanting to go to the school where she received a scholarship?

 

[erincon23]

Totally off topic from the usual College plans talk but has anyone thought of graduation gifts. I would love to get DD something meaningful but have no idea what. She turns 18 the same week as graduation which makes it harder as I feel like I need two awesome gifts the same week.

We've considered a new laptop but feel like it would be better to wait until after she's into the first semester since she's going into design and might need something specialized.

Anyone have ideas?

No ideas here... watching to see what everybody else comes up with! When DS21 graduated from HS, we gave him $500 toward a laptop. DS18, however, already has a decent laptop, and even if he didn't, the school he'll be going to (in the honors program only) gives him a laptop while he's there, I'm sure so that everyone has compatible equipment. So we'll probably put most of that $500 towards school, but want to get him something that's not just tossing money at something fun, but will be useful and/or college appropriate.

 

[sk!mom]

I not only have my HS dd graduating I also have my 8th grade dd graduating. I just bought tickets to Luke Bryan for both of them for June 1st. I will surprise them with the tickets for graduation!!

I've been watching concert postings to see if anything comes up that she would love to see. We gave her Justin Timberlake tickets for Christmas. The concert isn't until August so I'm now wishing that I'd saved them for graduation. If Macklemore goes back out that would be a good one as she would love to see him.

We are doing a graduation celebration trip to Disney World. Not her first choice destination but she wanted a trip with her three cousins who are also graduating. One has never been to Disney and one has only been once. DD loves Disney so she was happy with their desire to go there. This will be a trip for 10. We vacation every Summer though so that doesn't really seem like a grad gift.

Since we will be doing the trip, we may just end up giving her some nice piece of jewelry (Tiffanys maybe) that isn't too expensive.

 

[powellrj]

we may just end up giving her some nice piece of jewelry (Tiffanys maybe) that isn't too expensive.

That is kind of what I am leaning towards right now. We are having a big open house for her because thats what people do around here and she has been planning it since last year. I also plan to get her a dorm fridge. We got her a lap top for christmas.

We also need to get her brother a gift because he is graduating from college this year. So its going to be an expensive gift season!

 

[sk!mom]

That is kind of what I am leaning towards right now. We are having a big open house for her because thats what people do around here and she has been planning it since last year. I also plan to get her a dorm fridge. We got her a lap top for christmas.

We also need to get her brother a gift because he is graduating from college this year. So its going to be an expensive gift season!

The overall expense of everything is what's slowing me down gift wise. We will also need to set up a dorm room. She has matched with a roommate so hopefully we can coordinate there. One get the fridge while the other get the microwave. But I'm feeling that neither of those seem like a meaningful gift.

I just looked at Tiffany's and see a couple of earring choices that she would like under $200. She has a charm bracelet and wearing something like that is not "her."

The only jewelry she wears much are rings and earrings. She loves earrings so the more I think about it that seems like a good idea.

Any suggestions for good jewelry stores besides Tiffanys?

Still love to hear other's ideas.

 

[coinkc]

For my daughter's graduation gift I'm planning on buying her a computer. Her high school is a laptop school so every student is issued one but when you graduate you have to give it back. So i'm going to get her one to take to school with her.

For a sentimental gift, I'm having a quilt made with all her dance t-shirts that I have saved throughout the last 12 years. She knows about it but won't get to see it until graduation (I wanted to make sure she would want it since they are so darn expensive to get made.) I can't wait to see the finished quilt!

Then for her 18th birthday which is a month after graduation I am planning on getting her a new phone. So she should be all set by the time August rolls around.

 

[Bluestars]

For my daughter's graduation gift I'm planning on buying her a computer. Her high school is a laptop school so every student is issued one but when you graduate you have to give it back. So i'm going to get her one to take to school with her.

For a sentimental gift, I'm having a quilt made with all her dance t-shirts that I have saved throughout the last 12 years. She knows about it but won't get to see it until graduation (I wanted to make sure she would want it since they are so darn expensive to get made.) I can't wait to see the finished quilt!

Then for her 18th birthday which is a month after graduation I am planning on getting her a new phone. So she should be all set by the time August rolls around.

I love the idea of the quilt with the dance shirts! That will be very special to her.

 

[sk!mom]

For my daughter's graduation gift I'm planning on buying her a computer. Her high school is a laptop school so every student is issued one but when you graduate you have to give it back. So i'm going to get her one to take to school with her.

For a sentimental gift, I'm having a quilt made with all her dance t-shirts that I have saved throughout the last 12 years. She knows about it but won't get to see it until graduation (I wanted to make sure she would want it since they are so darn expensive to get made.) I can't wait to see the finished quilt!

Then for her 18th birthday which is a month after graduation I am planning on getting her a new phone. So she should be all set by the time August rolls around.

I'm doing the dance shirt quilt too.

 

[Pembo]

Ds turns 18 in 3 days! I have no idea what to get him! Any ideas of 18 yo BOY gifts for bday or graduation? Already have the laptop and a new ipod.

 

[sk!mom]

Ds turns 18 in 3 days! I have no idea what to get him! Any ideas of 18 yo BOY gifts for bday or graduation? Already have the laptop and a new ipod.

Concert or Sporting event tickets for he and a friend. Maybe for something near enough that they could go alone now that they are adults.

Ipad? Phone upgrade?

For DD's 18th in May, we're getting her a TV. She's the last teen on earth without one and will need it for the dorm room. We never wanted her to have one when she was young and by the last couple of years when we didn't care, she didn't want one. She's not much of a TV watcher.

For graduation her grandma is getting her a bike. DD wants a retro one to ride around campus. When we visited there were bikes every where.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

I think my sentimental gift for DD will be an open hearts pendant from Kay jewelers, but they have a new "waves" collection.

http://www.kay.com/en/kaystore/blue...0-ct-tw-necklace-sterling-silver-211050000--1

Since she is going to college for marine biology, I think it's fitting. She is not really a jewelry kind of girl, but I would like to get her something to mark the occasion. As for everything else, the school supplies the fridge, no micros allowed, my mother is buying her laptop and we will buy everything else, which is more than enough of a gift!

 

[elgerber]

I think my sentimental gift for DD will be an open hearts pendant from Kay jewelers, but they have a new "waves" collection. http://www.kay.com/en/kaystore/blue---white-diamonds-1-10-ct-tw-necklace-sterling-silver-211050000--1 Since she is going to college for marine biology, I think it's fitting. She is not really a jewelry kind of girl, but I would like to get her something to mark the occasion. As for everything else, the school supplies the fridge, no micros allowed, my mother is buying her laptop and we will buy everything else, which is more than enough of a gift!

That necklace is beautiful. For others looking for jewelry have you looked into Origami Owl?

 

[Bluestars]

I think my sentimental gift for DD will be an open hearts pendant from Kay jewelers, but they have a new "waves" collection.

http://www.kay.com/en/kaystore/blue...0-ct-tw-necklace-sterling-silver-211050000--1

Since she is going to college for marine biology, I think it's fitting. She is not really a jewelry kind of girl, but I would like to get her something to mark the occasion. As for everything else, the school supplies the fridge, no micros allowed, my mother is buying her laptop and we will buy everything else, which is more than enough of a gift!

That necklace is beautiful.