Parents of the High School Class of 2017/College 2021

[robinb]

My DD has never held a job (other than working the local elections a couple days a year). We always wanted her to concentrate on school and swimming and she swam 8-10 times per week even though the summer. Well, she's not swimming in college and she quit her club team and the rec team is done with practice by 8:00 am. There is nothing to hold her back. I told her that she was going to have to get a job this summer if she wanted spending money in college. She was certified as a lifeguard last year and that pays well here in Madison. I told her that if she can't find a job as a lifeguard and she had to work at McDonalds for less I really didn't care. We are paying for her education and (I know from personal experience) that she needs some skin in the game.

She is planning to work both jobs if she does the Cutco thing. She's worried she won't make enough with just the ice cream shop job. She'd schedule Cutco appointments around her shifts at the shop. I hate sales jobs, so my whole opinion is colored. DH is a 100% commissioned sales rep, so he loves the Cutco idea.

I think that her plan is a good one. She'll have the money from the ice cream shop and the possibility to make more from the Cutco sales.

 

[sksjasams]

We have a decision!

DS has been trying to decide between Iowa State and Marquette. He has decided to attend Iowa State! He spent the last two days snapchatting with potential roommates and found a match! We are happy and relieved! Go Cyclones!

 

[SmallWorld71]

DS has been down in DC for several days with the high school band at a competition. They should be home in an hour or so. I know I will miss him when he heads to college. But, I am not going to lie; a 3 day break from him was kind of nice, lol. The band did very well, earning a gold award.

 

[J'aime Paris]

We have a decision!

DS has been trying to decide between Iowa State and Marquette. He has decided to attend Iowa State! He spent the last two days snapchatting with potential roommates and found a match! We are happy and relieved! Go Cyclones!

Wonderful news! It's such a relief to "know" the next step of the journey.
Best of luck to your DS!

 

[robinb]

We have a decision!

DS has been trying to decide between Iowa State and Marquette. He has decided to attend Iowa State! He spent the last two days snapchatting with potential roommates and found a match! We are happy and relieved! Go Cyclones!

Congratulations!!! I was just thinking of you and your DS today . I really loved ISU. I think my DD loved it too but it's too far away from the boyfriend. Ugh .

We're still waiting to hear back from the UW. I need to call ISU Housing to find out what the cancellation penalties will be if she doesn't attend ISU. I don't mind losing a deposit but I do mind having to pay a 50% housing cost cancellation penalty just because my DD can't commit. There appears to be certain situations when you don't have to pay the penalty and I'm not sure if "accepted off the waitlist elsewhere" counts. If it doesn't I'll have to cancel the contract today and resubmit it if the UW doesn't come though. Frankly, I think ISU is a much better fit for her in multiple ways.

 

[robinb]

I just called and verified that we would only lose our $125 deposit if she doesn't attend ISU. That's a relief.

 

[sksjasams]

I just called and verified that we would only lose our $125 deposit if she doesn't attend ISU. That's a relief.

That is good news and a big relief!

 

[Mickeyluver37]

Good luck to everyone taking AP exams! DS is only in 4 classes this semester, and 3 are APs, so he will be essentially done this week. He still has to physically go to school, but they won't be doing anything. Last actual day for Seniors is May 18th. If I calculated correctly, and he passes his 3 this year, he should have 22-26 credits going into college! The unknown is Comp Sci Principles, since it is not listed on his school's website, and this is the first year for that exam.

DD had a friend do Cutco a couple summers ago, and hated it. They get paid for each demonstration, not just your actual sales, so they pressure every single person they know to schedule one. There is also additional incentive to give the contact information of everyone you know that would be "interested in a job."

This month is going to be crazy for us, and I can't help but feeling it's going to be so hard to stop and "enjoy the moment" while I'm trying to plan a graduation party and make sure the house is ready for guests for graduation on the 25th! DS's grad party is the 26th, and then he leaves for beach week on the 27th. When the 27th gets here and the house is quiet(er), I won't know whether to cry or breathe a sigh of relief.

 

[bjscheel]

Need some get well vibes around here. Both girls are coughing and sniffling a lot. DD18 went to school this morning in case the track meet was on. When she found out the track meet was postponed, she went home to rest. I'm super happy the meet was moved to tomorrow- supposed to be 20º warmer, sunny, dry- and gives DD another day to get better. But based on the coughing I don't see her being much better in a day

On a positive note, already got her prom dress sold! I'm thrilled because it doesn't seem like many sell on FB and I'd probably have to hang on to it till next year, plus there is the hassle making arrangements to meet, etc. A family friend messaged me about it and bought it even though it's going to be a few years before her daughter is old enough for prom. Hope she still likes it when the time comes but I'm just happy to be rid of it.

 

[Sanchez]

We spent most of April visiting schools.

Atlanta- Georgia Tech
Los Angeles - UCLA
Philadelphia - UPenn (waiting list- highly unlikely)/Temple Honors
Columbia - U. Of South Carolina Honors

Boston U was eliminated so no trip there. He was denied admission to Duke.

I have been following everyone's decision process and we face many of the same issues. The main issue is quality of school versus cost. We all have the highest of hopes and see our children at the best schools. Then two realities hit.

First, top schools are extraordinarily difficult to get into. Good students are not getting into flagship state universities. I hope that future Class of -- thread participants realize this.

Second, there are little to no academic scholarships at the best schools. Almost everything is need based. If you are fortunate enough to get in be prepared to pay the full amount if you make a decent living.

I will add that six months ago I thought that honors colleges were nothing but nonsense. That is probably true at some schools, but the better programs offer great benefits. The aim is to attract students who would otherwise go to top colleges and universities.

In the end, the decision is between UCLA and South Carolina Honors. UCLA has everything. Campus, athletics, top 25 ranking and reputation. The negatives are that he has no ties to California and the cost to us is around $64,000 per year.

Carolina is not a top 25 school (not even close.) The campus is great, athletics very good and the Darla Moore School of Business is well regarded. USC has the number one ranked international business program. The honors college has a few top 10 rankings, offers the best dorms, first choice of classes and individual attention. The overall cost to us is about $5,000 per year after three separate academic awards.

I guess if by some miracle he gets off the Penn waitlist the equation would change. For now, deposits paid to UCLA and Carolina.

 

[punkin]

We spent most of April visiting schools.

Atlanta- Georgia Tech
Los Angeles - UCLA
Philadelphia - UPenn (waiting list- highly unlikely)/Temple Honors
Columbia - U. Of South Carolina Honors

Boston U was eliminated so no trip there. He was denied admission to Duke.

I have been following everyone's decision process and we face many of the same issues. The main issue is quality of school versus cost. We all have the highest of hopes and see our children at the best schools. Then two realities hit.

First, top schools are extraordinarily difficult to get into. Good students are not getting into flagship state universities. I hope that future Class of -- thread participants realize this.

Second, there are little to no academic scholarships at the best schools. Almost everything is need based. If you are fortunate enough to get in be prepared to pay the full amount if you make a decent living.

I will add that six months ago I thought that honors colleges were nothing but nonsense. That is probably true at some schools, but the better programs offer great benefits. The aim is to attract students who would otherwise go to top colleges and universities.

In the end, the decision is between UCLA and South Carolina Honors. UCLA has everything. Campus, athletics, top 25 ranking and reputation. The negatives are that he has no ties to California and the cost to us is around $64,000 per year.

Carolina is not a top 25 school (not even close.) The campus is great, athletics very good and the Darla Moore School of Business is well regarded. USC has the number one ranked international business program. The honors college has a few top 10 rankings, offers the best dorms, first choice of classes and individual attention. The overall cost to us is about $5,000 per year after three separate academic awards.

I guess if by some miracle he gets off the Penn waitlist the equation would change. For now, deposits paid to UCLA and Carolina.

I'm not second guessing you, but how can you justify $63k over a $5k excellent option. Is UCLA actually worth over $250,000 over 4 years? My niece also picked a significantly more expensive school, though the difference was not quite that much. She's happy, but I really don't think it's worth it.

 

[Sanchez]

I'm not second guessing you, but how can you justify $63k over a $5k excellent option. Is UCLA actually worth over $250,000 over 4 years? My niece also picked a significantly more expensive school, though the difference was not quite that much. She's happy, but I really don't think it's worth it.

That's okay . . . question away! No, I do not believe that in this case an extra $240,000 is justified. We'll get there, but the decision is not going to be made by me ordering him to do something. The resentment would linger.

 

[robinb]

We spent most of April visiting schools.

Atlanta- Georgia Tech
Los Angeles - UCLA
Philadelphia - UPenn (waiting list- highly unlikely)/Temple Honors
Columbia - U. Of South Carolina Honors

Boston U was eliminated so no trip there. He was denied admission to Duke.

I have been following everyone's decision process and we face many of the same issues. The main issue is quality of school versus cost. We all have the highest of hopes and see our children at the best schools. Then two realities hit.

First, top schools are extraordinarily difficult to get into. Good students are not getting into flagship state universities. I hope that future Class of -- thread participants realize this.

Second, there are little to no academic scholarships at the best schools. Almost everything is need based. If you are fortunate enough to get in be prepared to pay the full amount if you make a decent living.

I will add that six months ago I thought that honors colleges were nothing but nonsense. That is probably true at some schools, but the better programs offer great benefits. The aim is to attract students who would otherwise go to top colleges and universities.

In the end, the decision is between UCLA and South Carolina Honors. UCLA has everything. Campus, athletics, top 25 ranking and reputation. The negatives are that he has no ties to California and the cost to us is around $64,000 per year.

Carolina is not a top 25 school (not even close.) The campus is great, athletics very good and the Darla Moore School of Business is well regarded. USC has the number one ranked international business program. The honors college has a few top 10 rankings, offers the best dorms, first choice of classes and individual attention. The overall cost to us is about $5,000 per year after three separate academic awards.

I guess if by some miracle he gets off the Penn waitlist the equation would change. For now, deposits paid to UCLA and Carolina.

I was wondering what your son decided! Thanks for the update.

You are so right on your first and second points. My DD is a "good student" and was accepted at only 2 out of the 4 flagship state schools she applied to (Iowa and Kansas) and still waitlisted at two (Wisconsin and Minnesota). We also don't receive any need based scholarships because we've been saving since she was a baby, but we also have not received a lot of merit aid because she's just "good" and not "great". There's not a whole lot of money out there for average students either.

I think you did the right thing by putting deposits down on both and punting the decision until later. It's a huge honor for your DS to be admitted to UCLA and I can understand why you would not want to let that go quite yet. Will you son go to graduate school? If so, then perhaps the reputation is not all that important and the money you would save by your son attending South Carolina could pay for graduate school.

Your list of pluses for each school looks like a parent's list. Which is great, but what does your son think? What's important to him? Obviously athletics is important (as a Badger, I can understand) but what else? Is he keeping UCLA in the loop because he loves it or because it's a top-25 school? Is he keeping USC in the loop because he loves it or because it's cheap? And where does Penn fit in? I understand that kids only have a few days to respond to a waitlist offer so he (and my DD) won't have a lot of time to mull things over.

Good luck with his decision!

 

[LilTinkFan]

My dd sent me a snap at work, their grad boxes came early...announcements, cap & gown, number for lineup at graduation, letter to parents, all of the end of year dates. Sigh. I can't keep it together today.

 

[punkin]

That's okay . . . question away! No, I do not believe that in this case an extra $240,000 is justified. We'll get there, but the decision is not going to be made by me ordering him to do something. The resentment would linger.

Right! I totally get it. Niece picked a choice at $33K (just over our max budget of $30K) and I allowed it because she's going to make up the difference with loans and it is not terrible. I think it's a good school for a decent price, BUT she had an in-state option (good option too) for $6K, which I could have paid out of current income without batting an eye and bought her a brand new car (albeit low end) every year with the difference. Nevertheless, the harder I pushed, the more she hated the school. In the end, I let her make the decision. She stayed almost within the parameters we set, so I will pay the $30K I was going to pay anyway and the fact that I will have nothing to contribute to eventual house, wedding, graduate school is on her.

 

[Sanchez]

I was wondering what your son decided! Thanks for the update.

You are so right on your first and second points. My DD is a "good student" and was accepted at only 2 out of the 4 flagship state schools she applied to (Iowa and Kansas) and still waitlisted at two (Wisconsin and Minnesota). We also don't receive any need based scholarships because we've been saving since she was a baby, but we also have not received a lot of merit aid because she's just "good" and not "great". There's not a whole lot of money out there for average students either.

I think you did the right thing by putting deposits down on both and punting the decision until later. It's a huge honor for your DS to be admitted to UCLA and I can understand why you would not want to let that go quite yet. Will you son go to graduate school? If so, then perhaps the reputation is not all that important and the money you would save by your son attending South Carolina could pay for graduate school.

Your list of pluses for each school looks like a parent's list. Which is great, but what does your son think? What's important to him? Obviously athletics is important (as a Badger, I can understand) but what else? Is he keeping UCLA in the loop because he loves it or because it's a top-25 school? Is he keeping USC in the loop because he loves it or because it's cheap? And where does Penn fit in? I understand that kids only have a few days to respond to a waitlist offer so he (and my DD) won't have a lot of time to mull things over.

Good luck with his decision!

You are correct that the plus/minus list is my creation. The challenge is to get him to comprehend that reputation is not everything and that the in-state option is a good choice and an excellent value. High school students do not always see that and as adults we have the perspective necessary to fairly evaluate these situations.

The major issue for him is that he has worked hard and feels that the in-state option is settling for something less than what he has earned. I understand this point of view but the "anywhere but here" approach is hardly sound. Does he want to live in California? Will contacts made at UCLA help him in other locations? Does he want to/can he afford to go to graduate school after paying a premium for undergrad? Is he certain that his major and career goals will stay the same? Does he want to be one of 29,000 with no special status or part of a small group treated with special care?

There is something to be said for his willingness to go across the country and take the risk, however even if he is successful the burden of that tuition is life changing for everyone involved.

 

[Arkansan]

For what it's worth, @Sanchez, my DD's roommate transferred from UCLA to DD's small, private Liberal Arts college in January.(in MN!) She is not from California, so was also an out of state student. She told my DD that, weather not withstanding, she hated UCLA. Everything was so crowded--food lines, bookstore lines, elevator lines, etc. The walk to class was at least a half an hour and her classes were huge--I don't think she had a class with fewer than 250 students. Now, obviously, some of these things are major-specific (she was/is Computer Science) and some would change with seniority on campus. I have no knowledge of USC.

Congrats on the acceptances and good luck to your son on making a decision.

 

[wannabee]

DS took his last final today. The only thing he has left is AP calculus on Tuesday the 9th. So happy this year is over... it has been rough for him in many ways.

 

[SmallWorld71]

@Sanchez,
This link may or may not help. Good luck!
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/09/opinion/sunday/frank-bruni-a-prudent-college-path.html?_r=1
It's a couple years old, but is about a boy who turned down the Ivys for the Honors program at his local state school.

 

[yeahdisney]

DD AP test is next week. Senior trip is next week, one night at six flags.
FFA banquet is tomorrow I am not sure if any scholarships are presented tomorrow.

Senior Award night is next week when local scholarships awards are given. Students receive a letter to attend if they have received at least one award. She is one of seven who got to apply for a really large award, two are chosen to receive it.
U of IL sent a letter today she can apply for Merit program for her science and math classes. Not much online about this program.

She has not picked/sent for her announcements. Her grad party date is July 4th.
We were able to secure a visa credit card in her name. I dropped off her form for the physicians office to complete for college.

She goes to U of Il in June to sign up for classes. Grad day is May 21, we go to Disney the next day with 3 grads total. We have to find a dress for grad day.

Tonight I signed/paid for our now HS sophomore - for his junior year. He will take civics this summer- first time our HS offered it in the summer. He took Econ class last summer.