Parents of the High School Class of 2017/College 2021

[punkin]

I'm sorry about Minnesota, mamacatnv. That's a very high price. Way out of my budget. I really don't want to spend over 30k. However, looking at niece's current possibles, we may need to stretch it a little bit. Rice and beans for the next 4 years.

 

[robinb]

DD got her "offerings" from Minnesota - Tuition went up 9%, housing went up and they offered zero - the price tag is now $41K, too high IMO for what one gets. When we first looked the price tag was $33K DD is off to Hofstra next week to tour and attend accepted students day. Their offerings have brought the price tag into the somewhat reasonable range for a private school and under the in-state with housing of UT Austin.

Crap. I'm really sorry to hear that since she liked Minnesota so much. I agree that $41K is too much for a state school.

It's my feeling that the money offered by state schools is very specific: ACT/SAT + GPA + Deadline = $. You mess one thing up and you get a big fat $0. Have you called the department at Minnesota? Or the counselor for the college within the university (or the one for Texas)? I would reach out to them and see if they can give you some advise on finding more scholarship money. Women in STEM is a big these days and they may be able to help you find more money for her to attend. Some departments and colleges offer scholarships that are not included in the university's offering.

 

[mamacatnv]

There is a lot of talk over on College Confidential about the OOS tuition increase for Minnesota. I believe they intend to phase in a large increase each year for out of state students until they reach a certain amount.

I hope your DD enjoys her trip to Hofstra!

I stumbled onto the conversations just the other day. Yes, the skuttle is that the OOS cost will jump another $10K over the next three years. This year was 9%ish to $26K from $23K. I was reading the goal is $35K for fall 2020 - that is a huge jump and something we really needed to consider looking down the road.

While I would love her to attend a "science" heavy school I know she is going to love Hofstra - its right up her emotional alley and has enough science to keep a STEM student challenged.

She really just wants to bake LOL I suggested the local community college's pastry arts program again this morning. Its well rated, she would get at AA and it would not put her in debt for a lifetime.
I'm so ready for this decision process to be over.

 

[sksjasams]

I stumbled onto the conversations just the other day. Yes, the skuttle is that the OOS cost will jump another $10K over the next three years. This year was 9%ish to $26K from $23K. I was reading the goal is $35K for fall 2020 - that is a huge jump and something we really needed to consider looking down the road.

While I would love her to attend a "science" heavy school I know she is going to love Hofstra - its right up her emotional alley and has enough science to keep a STEM student challenged.

She really just wants to bake LOL I suggested the local community college's pastry arts program again this morning. Its well rated, she would get at AA and it would not put her in debt for a lifetime.
I'm so ready for this decision process to be over.

Sounds like she has some big decisions to make. Two different ends of the spectrum, for sure! It really is overwhelming - so much more complicated than 30 years ago.

I'm ready for the decision process to be over too - but then on the other hand, I think my gosh, May 1st is almost here. How will that be enough time to make such a big decision?

 

[mamacatnv]

I'm sorry about Minnesota, mamacatnv. That's a very high price. Way out of my budget. I really don't want to spend over 30k. However, looking at niece's current possibles, we may need to stretch it a little bit. Rice and beans for the next 4 years.

Mac and Cheese on Fridays as a treat!
Thanks, we knew Minnesota might be a stretch but that tuition increase and no merit aid sealed up the box. We are shooting to stay mid 20's as there will be substantial traveling involved.

 

[mamacatnv]

Sounds like she has some big decisions to make. Two different ends of the spectrum, for sure! It really is overwhelming - so much more complicated than 30 years ago.

I'm ready for the decision process to be over too - but then on the other hand, I think my gosh, May 1st is almost here. How will that be enough time to make such a big decision?

Its making my gray very pronounced! My oh so agreeable DD has turned into a major teenage pain in the keester the past year or so when the college subject is on the table.

DD started this road wanting to go to a 4 year culinary school - Now, that is just stupid expensive and her summer job boss (the head of the kitchen for the Girl Scout camp) talked her out of this endeavor, too high of a price with little to no return on the investment.

Then it was a AA pastry arts program at the "Art Institute" $75K for an AA and the ability to make cupcakes.
Tried to get her to look at the community college for pastry arts, she refused. ( I swear, she is not an entitled Princess, I really do not understand her or where this attitude of hers has come from)
Then back to looking at 4 year colleges, her strengths are her math and sciences. Then her criteria - had to be out of state, somewhere "cold" in a big, liberal city. (not Texas or the south)

This morning I suggested the Community College for a year or so, add all her AP/IB credit and she could then transfer to her "dream" school. Her response, "if I am going to a CC, then I'm taking pastry arts"..........well, she opened the door.

 

[mamacatnv]

Crap. I'm really sorry to hear that since she liked Minnesota so much. I agree that $41K is too much for a state school.

It's my feeling that the money offered by state schools is very specific: ACT/SAT + GPA + Deadline = $. You mess one thing up and you get a big fat $0. Have you called the department at Minnesota? Or the counselor for the college within the university (or the one for Texas)? I would reach out to them and see if they can give you some advise on finding more scholarship money. Women in STEM is a big these days and they may be able to help you find more money for her to attend. Some departments and colleges offer scholarships that are not included in the university's offering.

She has an ACT of 34 and a weighted gpa well over 5.0. I suggested DD contact her admissions adviser at Minn, we did have lunch with him so he is not a "stranger" but my gut tells me that coming down $15K would be a stretch - then add in the rumored/actual tuition hikes and its really not meant to be. IMO We move along

Remember, she did this to herself by refusing to listen to anything we had to say and refusing to apply to anything in-state, assuming she could borrow huge amounts of money and mosey off to the school of her choice all at her whim. We are trying to work with her, we have made several concessions but at the end of the day the final result, whatever it is, will be of her own doing.

 

[robinb]

She has an ACT of 34 and a weighted gpa well over 5.0. I suggested DD contact her admissions adviser at Minn, we did have lunch with him so he is not a "stranger" but my gut tells me that coming down $15K would be a stretch - then add in the rumored/actual tuition hikes and its really not meant to be. IMO We move along

Remember, she did this to herself by refusing to listen to anything we had to say and refusing to apply to anything in-state, assuming she could borrow huge amounts of money and mosey off to the school of her choice all at her whim. We are trying to work with her, we have made several concessions but at the end of the day the final result, whatever it is, will be of her own doing.

I totally understand. It's probably best that she move on but it still makes me sad for her ... even if she brought it on herself.

 

[aprilgail]

DD got her "offerings" from Minnesota - Tuition went up 9%, housing went up and they offered zero - the price tag is now $41K, too high IMO for what one gets. When we first looked the price tag was $33K DD is off to Hofstra next week to tour and attend accepted students day. Their offerings have brought the price tag into the somewhat reasonable range for a private school and under the in-state with housing of UT Austin.

Hofstra in Hempstead, NY? College is good there but area is SO not good! Its in Hempstead

 

[mamacatnv]

Hofstra in Hempstead, NY? College is good there but area is SO not good! Its in Hempstead

Is Hempstead a bad thing? DD is going next week with her BFF to check it out - I am not going with her but the BFF's parents are along for the ride

 

[gemini2727]

Hofstra in Hempstead, NY? College is good there but area is SO not good! Its in Hempstead

Have to step in here, Hofstra's campus is beautiful (my kids did many summer programs there, we never felt unsafe!) Yes, Hempstead isn't a great neighborhood, but Garden City, which is right nearby as well, is very upper middle class. Roosevelt field mall and Nassau Coliseum are also right next door, which is great. I know many who have attended Hofstra and have loved it. Many colleges are in or near lower-income areas, no reason to panic and rule them out. MamaCatNV, I hope you go and see for yourself. It's a really nice school.

 

[mamacatnv]

Have to step in here, Hofstra's campus is beautiful (my kids did many summer programs there, we never felt unsafe!) Yes, Hempstead isn't a great neighborhood, but Garden City, which is right nearby as well, is very upper middle class. Roosevelt field mall and Nassau Coliseum are also right next door, which is great. I know many who have attended Hofstra and have loved it. Many colleges are in or near lower-income areas, no reason to panic and rule them out. MamaCatNV, I hope you go and see for yourself. It's a really nice school.

Thank you for the "balance" if this is where she ends up, I will accompany here to move her in, she will need my suitcase allowance to get all her t-shirts to college! I am not attending the tour next week as I just took her to Minn and only have so many vacation days and dollars. Her BFF was accepted to a school in New York as well so the parents are taking the girls over spring break to visit.

 

[punkin]

Hempstead has better and worse areas. It's not that bad, really. I'd be more worried about hofstra being a commuter school.

 

[gemini2727]

Thank you for the "balance" if this is where she ends up, I will accompany here to move her in, she will need my suitcase allowance to get all her t-shirts to college! I am not attending the tour next week as I just took her to Minn and only have so many vacation days and dollars. Her BFF was accepted to a school in New York as well so the parents are taking the girls over spring break to visit.

Hope they have fun! My daughter was considering Hofstra for a while, but ended up in our state school. Our friend's niece is a freshman there now and is very happy. Good luck to you!

 

[bjscheel]

She really just wants to bake LOL I suggested the local community college's pastry arts program again this morning. Its well rated, she would get at AA and it would not put her in debt for a lifetime.
I'm so ready for this decision process to be over.

That might not be a bad idea, especially if that is what she loves to do! Honestly as I watch you guys agonize over the decisions and acceptances and aid, I'm relieved to know DD is going to CC for their graphic design program. It's nice that we know what she's doing and that it's affordable with no debt. We can just focus on senior year and track season, etc. (But don't worry, I'll probably be struggling with the college options for DD15 in two years since she does not want CC...)

Speaking of track season, DD was worried about keeping up her after-school job now that practice has started. She talked to the counselor and principal about dropping Meal Prep class to work instead. She can't drop it, but the teacher actually agreed to let her go to work during that block as long as there is not a cooking lab and as long as she keeps up the bookwork. DD is thrilled! She basically already took the class last semester as Foods anyway.

 

[aprilgail]

Have to step in here, Hofstra's campus is beautiful (my kids did many summer programs there, we never felt unsafe!) Yes, Hempstead isn't a great neighborhood, but Garden City, which is right nearby as well, is very upper middle class. Roosevelt field mall and Nassau Coliseum are also right next door, which is great. I know many who have attended Hofstra and have loved it. Many colleges are in or near lower-income areas, no reason to panic and rule them out. MamaCatNV, I hope you go and see for yourself. It's a really nice school.

The campus is beautiful but the surrounding area is not- it may be near garden city but it also borders Roosevelt and Uniondale- it is not unsafe on campus but the area is not great. My daughter did a Saturday program at Hofstra and was fine- I drove her and her friend and the other mom picked them up there is no way should would be walking anywhere outside of campus. It has nothing to do with a "lower income" area- the crime rate in Hempstead is very high.

 

[mamacatnv]

That might not be a bad idea, especially if that is what she loves to do! Honestly as I watch you guys agonize over the decisions and acceptances and aid, I'm relieved to know DD is going to CC for their graphic design program. It's nice that we know what she's doing and that it's affordable with no debt. We can just focus on senior year and track season, etc. (But don't worry, I'll probably be struggling with the college options for DD15 in two years since she does not want CC...)

Speaking of track season, DD was worried about keeping up her after-school job now that practice has started. She talked to the counselor and principal about dropping Meal Prep class to work instead. She can't drop it, but the teacher actually agreed to let her go to work during that block as long as there is not a cooking lab and as long as she keeps up the bookwork. DD is thrilled! She basically already took the class last semester as Foods anyway.

My DS was so easy - we went on two tours - Oregon State (would have been out of state) and Univ Nevada Reno. He was not interested in anywhere else, had access to a lot of Western Schools via the WICHU Exchange etc. By mid October of his Sr. year, his application to Nevada was in (he didn't like the food at Oregon State), he was accepted, housing deposit paid and the rest of his Sr. year was a breeze. Even graduate school did not cause this angst.

Honestly, I would be perfectly happy with her going to the CC pastry arts program. I just wish she would stop the waffling and the unrealistic views she seems to have of higher education.

Yeah that your DD's teacher was willing to be flexible. Teens are so dang busy, they need flexible!

 

[gemini2727]

The campus is beautiful but the surrounding area is not- it may be near garden city but it also borders Roosevelt and Uniondale- it is not unsafe on campus but the area is not great. My daughter did a Saturday program at Hofstra and was fine- I drove her and her friend and the other mom picked them up there is no way should would be walking anywhere outside of campus. It has nothing to do with a "lower income" area- the crime rate in Hempstead is very high.

I really don't think students are taking walks through Hempstead though.

Would you discourage someone from going to Fordham, U Penn, Yale, Johns Hopkins, U Chicago, and Duke, to name a few? They all have "bad neighborhoods" adjacent to them, depending on which direction you go. I'm not saying it's not a concern, but your tone sounded a little alarmist to me, and I wanted to give my perspective.

 

[punkin]

I really don't think students are taking walks through Hempstead though.

Would you discourage someone from going to Fordham, U Penn, Yale, Johns Hopkins, U Chicago, and Duke, to name a few? They all have "bad neighborhoods" adjacent to them, depending on which direction you go. I'm not saying it's not a concern, but your tone sounded a little alarmist to me, and I wanted to give my perspective.

Let me tell you the South Side of Chicago makes Uniondale and Roosevelt seem like a walk in the park. lol. Anyway...the area around Hofstra does have its issues and I wouldn't minimize that, but the campus itself is perfectly safe, and even if you wanter off campus, you can actually walk around Hempstead most hours of the day with absolutely no issues. I've done it.

 

[mamacatnv]

I really don't think students are taking walks through Hempstead though.

Would you discourage someone from going to Fordham, U Penn, Yale, Johns Hopkins, U Chicago, and Duke, to name a few? They all have "bad neighborhoods" adjacent to them, depending on which direction you go. I'm not saying it's not a concern, but your tone sounded a little alarmist to me, and I wanted to give my perspective.

Let me tell you the South Side of Chicago makes Uniondale and Roosevelt seem like a walk in the park. lol. Anyway...the area around Hofstra does have its issues and I wouldn't minimize that, but the campus itself is perfectly safe, and even if you wanter off campus, you can actually walk around Hempstead most hours of the day with absolutely no issues. I've done it.

These types of conversations always remind me of the first time I ever saw USC - the hoity toity private school in COMPTON, CA - Compton for goodness sakes, Compton.........

I appreciate the heads up, its always good to know perspective of areas. When DD toured Univ of San Francisco, they were very specific to the students of the BART stations that they should NEVER get off at. With every experience comes the need to be aware of ones surroundings - this is a concern of mine and DD has never lived anywhere but a suburb but things happen in the burbs too. Be smart, be aware and don't go anywhere by yourself has been pounded into her head.