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

[bittybabygrower]

My DD is going into wildlife biology/conservation. She chose a school that offers a master's in this field because if she continues there she is more likely to get grants and scholarships and internships to continue on. And they can pick up scholarships their sophomore year, ones they weren't eligible for their freshman year. So maybe your daughter would benefit from the pricier school to start. We can have 2 years free tuition at our community college, but she has almost all her gen reqs done and it would not benefit her at all, and the don't offer classes that will transfer into her major except for a few. It is a rock and a hard place when they are going into specialized things.

 

[Bluestars]

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 think community college is a great option in many situations. There are several advantages. Good luck to your son! My mother attended community college before moving on to a university and eventually getting her Master's degree. Every situation is different and the important thing is that each person finds what works for them.

 

[Bluestars]

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.

Congratulations! It sounds like things are moving along well for him. I hope he gets into the one he likes best.

 

[Bluestars]

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 )

Madge, I didn't realize your son had so many acceptances. That is wonderful!! I am sorry that he didn't receive a major scholarship yet. It sounds like you are waiting to hear from some of them. Good luck to your son!

 

[IDoDis]

Full disclosure here -- DD has applied to our two largest state schools and received top scholarships from both schools for full tuition, fees, books, and a few hundred extra to put towards the first month of her dorm. This may sound like a lot of money, but our state schools are pretty inexpensive. We also have a lottery scholarship which means that any high school senior with at least a 2.5 GPA gets their tuition paid for at any of our state universities. Fees are not covered, just tuition for 7 semesters and a $1000 or $1500 Bridge Scholarship to help with the first semester. Then the lottery scholarship kicks in 2nd semester for 7 semesters as long as the student has and maintains a 2.5 GPA.

So DD already had that, but was able to double the amount and is covered for 8 semesters. This is not a prestigious ranked school, it's just a state school, although the medical school is ranked quite well, which is DD's primary motivation for staying here. She is avoiding debt in undergrad because she will have major debt in med school, assuming she gets in down the road.

Now the big prize would be acceptance into the BA/MD program which she's applied and interviewed for and won't hear back until March 31st or April 1st. I have to keep telling myself that it's probably not going to happen because the competition is fierce and only 8% of applicants are accepted with 70% of those applicants being from rural, underserved communities where they want to grow doctors and then send them back into their home communities to practice medicine. So her chances while possible, are slim. I try not to get my hopes up about it for fear of a big letdown, and I'm happy for the scholarships she's received.

The purpose of this thread is to celebrate the good news, lift up those who need it, provide encouragement, and just be there for each other. We are not CC parents who are crying because our kid got a 35 instead of a 36 on the ACT. I don't think anyone here got a 35. No one here has a child getting into an Ivy or even close, really. We are just parents (who love all things Disney) who are all going through a similar process, be it good or bad. You can come here to celebrate or vent. Either way, all are welcome.

 

[heartsy77]

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 understand how you feel! As I posted before my DD is going to the bunk in program at CC. She has a learning disability and could never start in a state university, luckily for her State universities wouldn't offer the bunk in program anyway. I am hoping because she wants to be a fire fighter so badly this passion will lead to good grades in college!

Not everyone is made for college let alone a university; I have an LPN degree and will finish my CC degree in Human services in May. I have a great GPA and am hoping this will get me in to a Binghamton University for BA in nursing. Around here it's actually harder to get into a CC nursing program then it is BA program at a university.

 

[Pembo]

IDoDis and Sanchez - great posts!

My senior is dual enrollment at the CC. He is taking all his classes for senior year at CC. Yesterday he texts to say he needs to drop a class, which means we have to pay for it. Turns out he over slept, thought he missed an exam and is a bit stressed about all his time mgmt. Why we suggested the cc for the first year(s). Last semester, about 4 weeks in, (where we are now) - he was stressed about time mgmt.

Good news - he contacted the prof and found out the exam was moved to Wed. We talked about his time and how he could better maximize it by getting up 1/2 hour earlier. And I reminded him he felt this way last semester. We also had a conversation about the pressures of going away to school as opposed to the cc. He thinks it will be easier to study when he is away. I'm not so sure about that.

Anyway, the pressures of the nonperfect senior...

and heartsy - our CC program for nursing is VERY competitive and it is a very large program.

 

[sk!mom]

I'm completely willing to disclose more info. DD also wants to study something more specialized so the State Flagships were out as they do not offer it. She is in the top 8% of her class so all State schools would be an auto admit except for UT.
In a nutshell, DD hasn't had any rejections because she didn't apply for any place that was a reach.

After her initial research of programs, she was convinced that Baylor was the place for her. Baylor would not have been a sure thing and she would have needed major scholarship money so I insisted that we visit a couple of safety's- Texas Tech and University of North Texas. She hated Tech and it was a bad tour and visit. Then in a surprising twist, we visited UNT and she fell in love. Their programs and offerings for artisitic students blew us away. Thankfully for our budget, it became her top choice. With a 61% acceptance rate, it isn't a selective school. She has received one academic scholarship from the school and we're waiting to hear on others. She may well have some scholarship rejections because some of those are very competitive.

I've enjoyed this thread and I'm sorry if anyone feels like there has been bragging. Fingers crossed as we all continue down this path.

 

[tajz90]

I'm completely willing to disclose more info. DD also wants to study something more specialized so the State Flagships were out as they do not offer it. She is in the top 8% of her class so all State schools would be an auto admit except for UT.
In a nutshell, DD hasn't had any rejections because she didn't apply for any place that was a reach.

After her initial research of programs, she was convinced that Baylor was the place for her. Baylor would not have been a sure thing and she would have needed major scholarship money so I insisted that we visit a couple of safety's- Texas Tech and University of North Texas. She hated Tech and it was a bad tour and visit. Then in a surprising twist, we visited UNT and she fell in love. Their programs and offerings for artisitic students blew us away. Thankfully for our budget, it became her top choice. With a 61% acceptance rate, it isn't a selective school. She has received one academic scholarship from the school and we're waiting to hear on others. She may well have some scholarship rejections because some of those are very competitive.

I've enjoyed this thread and I'm sorry if anyone feels like their has been bragging. Fingers crossed as we all continue down this path.

My son graduates from UNT this May. He loved it there. Studied Rhetorical Comm. He is heading to Syracuse University on full funding for Grad school.

He was accepted at Baylor. We didn't receive enough funding to be able to afford it. Turns out, I think he would have been unhappy.

 

[elgerber]

I don't think I have ever hidden the fact that my dd chose a basic state school. This school doesn't have the highest admission standards, and certainly aren't ranked anywhere in any way. However, they are one of the only schools anywhere near us that offer the program she wanted (there is another, but it's 62k a year with no merit aid at all).
And she did receive the highest merit scholarship they offer, and yes it's a scholarship, not a grant. BUT, I have no claims that she would have done so at a more competitive school. She is in the top 2% of her class of 326, and had great ACT scores, but she also has no community service or any other type of stuff on her school resume, only arts stuff. Our high school is pretty run of the mill I think also, compared to some of the stories I have heard from you guys. If you recall she was temporarily wanting to look at Yale, but I know there would have been no chance of her getting in there. I think she probably would have gotten admitted to any of the schools in our state, private or public, but I am not sure she would have gotten any of the higher competitive scholarships at several of the school. And I don't believe she would be a shoo in for admittance at many of the out of state competitive schools. And even though I am not employed at the moment, based on last years income, we won't be offered any need based aid (unless maybe we picked the 62k school, which would just be silly).
So, I don't want to feel I was bragging, just sharing our excitement with people who are in the same boat. I have had it very easy with her in school, it's been very easy for her so far, but I fear college will bite her in the butt, because she hasn't had to work for it in high school.
Also, as I said previously, her brother was a whole different story. Equally as smart, but with mild Aspergers and working issues, school did not agree with him past middle school. He got a 2 year degree, and that is as far as it goes. And high school was soooooooooooooooooo very stressful for all of us, and even in college, I knew he wasn't doing all he should be, and his grades showed it. And I have no idea where he will end up in life, with the lack of drive he still has, at almost 21.

Now, the person who suggested dorm packing tips from those of you with older kids, I would love that. I have the older kid, but he hasn't left yet, so I have no experience yet in the dorm area.

 

[bittybabygrower]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with going to CC...believe me, if it wasn't for the fact that she has almost all of her gen reqs done she would be going there on the free tuition we are eligible for they the county. There are so many bridge programs now. I have told several if DDs friends, who cannot go away to college, to go to CC and bridge over...especially for nursing since a BSN is pretty much entry level around here now. No matter where our kids go, we are all proud that they are getting an education. And several of her friends are going the vocational route, nothing wrong with that either!

 

[sk!mom]

My son graduates from UNT this May. He loved it there. Studied Rhetorical Comm. He is heading to Syracuse University on full funding for Grad school.

He was accepted at Baylor. We didn't receive enough funding to be able to afford it. Turns out, I think he would have been unhappy.

Very good to hear. Since DD made the decision to go there, we have met several people who went, loved it, and felt well equipped for their chosen careers.

Actually DD may haver a rejection coming from Baylor. She had decided not to even apply after her visit to UNT but then Baylor contacted her with an offer to waive the application fee and waive the essay. Basically just fill the app out so she did. This resulted in a letter, later in the Fall, telling her that she wasn't being given early acceptance but could increase her chance if she did the essay. As I said, by then she had already decided on UNT and was busy with various scholarship apps so she didn't do it. I was happy for her to let that go as UNT fits her and our budget much better. It really feels like the right place for her.

 

[madge]

since I'm the one who led us down this path ... here's how we got to where we are right now (and I say right now, since our situation is still evolving )

DS is in top 15% of his class, his class rank is in the upper teens out of a class of 150. He is not NMSF/F, nor did he participate in our state's Governors Scholars Program. He applied to 6 schools, all located in our home state of Kentucky: 2 private, liberal arts schools and 4 state schools, including our flagship school, the University of Kentucky.

Being admitted was not a concern with his GPA/ACT score. Accepted at all 6, into honors program at 3 of the 4 state schools. He is waiting to hear about the University of Kentucky honors program, but that one is going to be a long shot, I'm afraid.

He is still strongly considering 4 of the 6 schools he applied to. School #5 may come back into play, depending on scholarship/aid package. School #6 is completely off the table.

He applied/interviewed for major scholarship programs at 4 of the 5 schools on the list. Have heard from 3 so far -- not under consideration for any of the 3. Particularly disappointing was not being invited to interview for the Presidential Fellowship at the school where he participated in an honors program last summer. Adding insult to injury, two of the rejection letters came within 3 days of each other. Ouch.

As of today, he has one generous scholarship offer from a state school. (auto award with his GPA/ACT) We will likely make a visit there over spring break.

Scholarship/Financial Aid offers from the others schools will come within the next few weeks. I have no idea what to expect from any of these offers ... hopefully they'll be strong, in spite of DS not being considered for the major awards. Accept/reject letters from the UK Honors College should arrive by Friday. Again, expectations are realistic for that. LOL

 

[IDoDis]

I forgot to mention that my DD's scholarships have all been merit-based. She doesn't qualify for any needs-based $. She is in the top 5% of her class of almost 400. She has worked her bootie off with EC's, too. She's a teen ambassador to the Ronald McDonald House, collects and hands out clothing and blankets to the homeless for a local grass-roots community outreach program, volunteers at a no-kill animal shelter, and has been a weekly hospital volunteer since the summer of 2012. That's on top of her school clubs which she's active in, and her part-time job of 16 hours a week. She was a competitive figure skater for 10 years and stopped competing and doing shows at the end of 2012 so that she would have more time for stuff like this. She misses skating and will go back to it for fun (but won't compete) when the timing is right. Now my DS who is almost 15 will probably go to a CC after he graduates, and we'll be doing good if he does that! He is very capable, but he doesn't like school. He doesn't study and is fine with being average. I am not throwing in the towel with him though. We still push and have high expectations, but I don't think he'll be getting scholarships like DD. Every kid is different. I will be happy and proud if he goes to CC!

There are also lots of smaller scholarships out there, too!. DD applied for less than a handful. They are just one-timers, but every little bit helps. Check with your local credit union associations because they typically have a scholarship fund. I checked just a couple of weeks ago and found one here just in time for DD to submit the paperwork before the deadline. I just googled "credit union scholarship" and the name of my state.

 

[madge]

I forgot to mention that my DD's scholarships have all been merit-based. She doesn't qualify for any needs-based $.

same. in fact, our FAFSA is pretty darn entertaining.

PS. we "might" eek out a little bit at the private school, but it won't be much.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

same. in fact, our FAFSA is pretty darn entertaining.

PS. we "might" eek out a little bit at the private school, but it won't be much.

That's the same reaction I had to ours.

The merit scholarship my daughter received was $7k per year at a state school, so nothing major. Still leaving approx. $18k-$20k per year for us to pay toward tuition, board, etc. And I learned no matter how much they say they take everything into consideration for scholarships, it's all at the SAT score. DD is in top 5% of her class of 627, has tons of ECs, community service, etc. and at the end of the day they based her merit scholarship on her SAT score. Thankfully she was only 20 points away from the next level and they increased it (from $5 to $7k) when her score went up.

And, according to our FAFSA, I am rich beyond belief. I knew we wouldn't qualify for anything but I only filled it our because the school requires it. Good chuckle though.

 

[tajz90]

same. in fact, our FAFSA is pretty darn entertaining.

PS. we "might" eek out a little bit at the private school, but it won't be much.

I just finally quit filling out FAFSA. Ridiculous amount of work to find out that I was required to pay WAY MORE than I ever could.

 

[elgerber]

I just finally quit filling out FAFSA. Ridiculous amount of work to find out that I was required to pay WAY MORE than I ever could.

I agree. My dd got an email that we hadn't submitted it yet, so I guess I better get it done. Maybe next year, if I can't find a job this year it will look better, but with my severance pay, probably not.
I know we would never get aid, but my son at least got a couple of subsidized loans for his community college, I would like for her to get that, but not sure we'd even get that right now. I like them because they build great credit, and we just pay them off before the interest actually accrues. I paid off all but $140 of my sons, and he is making a $12 a month payment for a year, to have some more credit history on his credit report.

 

[madge]

I just finally quit filling out FAFSA. Ridiculous amount of work to find out that I was required to pay WAY MORE than I ever could.

in Kentucky, there are a few grants (mainly for private schools) that require FAFSA. that's the only reason we bother. older DS utilized some of his Stafford Loan, that wouldn't have been available without FAFSA.

other than that, I find it an absolute joke. not even other than that. I find it a joke, but necessary. bah.

 

[bittybabygrower]

I told hubby we were rich and didn't realize it! If I had the amount if money they said I could contribute, I wouldn't be filling this thing out!!!