Parents of the High School Class of 2017/College 2021

[McKelly]

Well our first college visit is done. I don't know if we'll visit others or not! The private colleges are so expensive, the other public universities are so big, and she doesn't want to go too far away. This is a public university, but small and in a small town, which makes our country girl much more comfortable than the big spread out schools in the cities. Love that it's compact and you can walk to every building easily. I also liked that they could tell us the automatic scholarships based on ACT score, rank, & GPA so we already have a good idea of cost. Plus all books and a laptop are included. Need to raise her ACT by 2 points this fall to step up to the next level of scholarships but I think she can. Of course she liked the newer dorm, which is $900 more but we'll see.

When we got home there was a letter from the one private college she applied to, offering what sounds like a huge scholarship per year, but it still costs $10,000 more per year than the one we visited.

This sounds like my DD. There is a small, private university close to us that I think she is leaning towards because, like your DD, our DD is a small town girl and the bigger colleges seem to intimidate her. It's more expensive than the state schools, but with all of the scholarships they are offering her, it brings it to the same price as the state school. State schools don't seem to give out many scholarships. Plus, this school has a lot more music opportunities for her as a hobby, not a major. And she would like to continue to play her oboe for fun. We shall see. She comes home from Costa Rica this weekend and she will begin applying....kind of makes me sad.

 

[Poohforyou]

Well our first college visit is done. I don't know if we'll visit others or not! The private colleges are so expensive, the other public universities are so big, and she doesn't want to go too far away. This is a public university, but small and in a small town, which makes our country girl much more comfortable than the big spread out schools in the cities. Love that it's compact and you can walk to every building easily. I also liked that they could tell us the automatic scholarships based on ACT score, rank, & GPA so we already have a good idea of cost. Plus all books and a laptop are included. Need to raise her ACT by 2 points this fall to step up to the next level of scholarships but I think she can. Of course she liked the newer dorm, which is $900 more but we'll see.

When we got home there was a letter from the one private college she applied to, offering what sounds like a huge scholarship per year, but it still costs $10,000 more per year than the one we visited.

I'm confused, your daughter already applied to a college?

 

[bjscheel]

I'm confused, your daughter already applied to a college?

Yeah, she's been getting emails and letters from colleges asking her to apply...this one was the college I went to for two years so we just decided to try it out and see what it was like...no fee, no essay. Today we got an email from the college we visited asking her to apply- "Don't delay, submit today!" Though the admission counselor said if we wait till school starts it'll be easier to get her transcript from the school. (She just entered her grades manually on the app for the other school.) Guess I don't know when it's normally done?

 

[Poohforyou]

Yeah, she's been getting emails and letters from colleges asking her to apply...this one was the college I went to for two years so we just decided to try it out and see what it was like...no fee, no essay. Today we got an email from the college we visited asking her to apply- "Don't delay, submit today!" Though the admission counselor said if we wait till school starts it'll be easier to get her transcript from the school. (She just entered her grades manually on the app for the other school.) Guess I don't know when it's normally done?

Are you in the states? If so, I'd take all those emails and letters with a grain of salt as far as claiming scholarships and admittance. I can't even tell you how much mail my dd gets every day. I'll believe actual scholarships and admissions after the application process is complete.

I'm not trying to be mean, I just don't want your dd or you to get your hopes up. Or worse, be conned by a less than scrupulous school.

 

[McKelly]

I'm confused, your daughter already applied to a college?

There are a few private schools around here that have opened up their admissions on July 1st. Most are after September 1st.

 

[McKelly]

Are you in the states? If so, I'd take all those emails and letters with a grain of salt as far as claiming scholarships and admittance. I can't even tell you how much mail my dd gets every day. I'll believe actual scholarships and admissions after the application process is complete.

I'm not trying to be mean, I just don't want your dd or you to get your hopes up. Or worse, be conned by a less than scrupulous school.

I agree with this. There is a school that keeps calling my daughter, all hot and heavy after her, promising her all these scholarships, etc. It's making me angry and suspicious - it's way too early to be making those promises. And then she gets mad at ME, questioning my faith in her abilities. Sigh...

 

[punkin]

I don't like my niece's college list. It's too heavily weighted to reaches and expensive private schools where she is unlikely to get any money. She is a bright, capable child with really good writing skills, but she has a mediocre GPA and test scores. She does have a compelling personal story which will make for great essays, but I'm very worried about the money.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

I don't like my niece's college list. It's too heavily weighted to reaches and expensive private schools where she is unlikely to get any money. She is a bright, capable child with really good writing skills, but she has a mediocre GPA and test scores. She does have a compelling personal story which will make for great essays, but I'm very worried about the money.

@leebee wrote a PSA back in March about financial safety schools. Maybe you could get your niece to read it. It could open her eyes and save her some heartache.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/psa-safety-schools.3494398/

 

[punkin]

@leebee wrote a PSA back in March about financial safety schools. Maybe you could get your niece to read it. It could open her eyes and save her some heartache.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/psa-safety-schools.3494398/

I've told her numerous examples of kids we both know who couldn't go to schools they got into due to finances, but she's 17. She's invincible. I'll have her read the thread. I'm looking for schools which come in at about $20k per year including everything. There's only one on her current list that's close to that at $25k.

 

[aprilgail]

Yeah, she's been getting emails and letters from colleges asking her to apply...this one was the college I went to for two years so we just decided to try it out and see what it was like...no fee, no essay. Today we got an email from the college we visited asking her to apply- "Don't delay, submit today!" Though the admission counselor said if we wait till school starts it'll be easier to get her transcript from the school. (She just entered her grades manually on the app for the other school.) Guess I don't know when it's normally done?

Arcadia has been emailing us to apply now (if you apply before Sept the application fee is free to there and a few others) and they sent a letter two weeks ago and called the other night- my daughter is not even interested in going there but they keep trying to get her to apply- and I don't get it,.... she is not that good of a student where they would pursue her like they would a valedictorian or star athlete -she is neither of those!

 

[Poohforyou]

Arcadia has been emailing us to apply now (if you apply before Sept the application fee is free to there and a few others) and they sent a letter two weeks ago and called the other night- my daughter is not even interested in going there but they keep trying to get her to apply- and I don't get it,.... she is not that good of a student where they would pursue her like they would a valedictorian or star athlete -she is neither of those!

She may not be a valedictorian or star athlete where she is but for many colleges she'd probably be a feather in their cap to get.

We dump most of the college stuff that comes in because it schools dd has no interest in or locations she has no interest in. I'm sure many are enticing her with stuff and she ignores it.

 

[wannabee]

Tuesday is the start of DS's senior year. He goes to a Catholic High School where a lot of the families have much more money than we do. I've been getting emails from one of the moms the last couple week about a senior trip to Punta Cana. No idea how much this would cost but it is. 5 star all inclusive. This is crazy to me. First, I don't like the idea a senior trip at all but then add in an expensive all inclusive. He's my only and senior trip never even crossed my mind. I'm I out of touch or is this way over the top?

 

[aprilgail]

Tuesday is the start of DS's senior year. He goes to a Catholic High School where a lot of the families have much more money than we do. I've been getting emails from one of the moms the last couple week about a senior trip to Punta Cana. No idea how much this would cost but it is. 5 star all inclusive. This is crazy to me. First, I don't like the idea a senior trip at all but then add in an expensive all inclusive. He's my only and senior trip never even crossed my mind. I'm I out of touch or is this way over the top?

I wouldn't be happy with the location they picked or the cost- most kids I know that do a "senior trip" do it after graduation with friends- my daughter is talking with friends about a road trip for "senior trip"

 

[wannabee]

Yes, it's a large group of kids with a few chaperones. Sounds crazy to me.

 

[punkin]

For my oldest, her senior trip was a family vacation to Hawaii. My younger one is currently in Japan visiting her best friend. Niece hasn't decided what she wants for senior trip, but if I can swing it financially, I'd like a family trip to the UK.

 

[laughinplace199]

How many schools have you and your kids visited? We started visiting some in the spring and have seen more this summer, with a few more to go. I've recently talked to some parents who aren't taking their kids to see any schools until they know where they're accepted.

We're trying to see all of the schools on DD's list, hoping that seeing them and taking a tour will help her figure out what she likes and what she doesn't, and that will help her narrow down her list. But now I'm wondering if we should just wait and see where she gets in before visiting the rest. What are your thoughts?

 

[SmallWorld71]

How many schools have you and your kids visited? We started visiting some in the spring and have seen more this summer, with a few more to go. I've recently talked to some parents who aren't taking their kids to see any schools until they know where they're accepted.

We're trying to see all of the schools on DD's list, hoping that seeing them and taking a tour will help her figure out what she likes and what she doesn't, and that will help her narrow down her list. But now I'm wondering if we should just wait and see where she gets in before visiting the rest. What are your thoughts?

DS has 5 on his current list. We've seen 2 and are checking out 2 more later this month. One we will only visit if he gets in; just don't have the time. I did not visit schools when I was a prospective student and wished I had.

 

[punkin]

We visited 2 that wound up on her list, 1 she went to with friends. 2 we're visiting in November, and one I'll try to fit in September. That's a lot IMO.

 

[laughinplace199]

Thanks. I think we will try to fit in a few more this summer. DD's list is long right now (14 schools!) and she is having a hard time narrowing down the list. I'm hoping that visiting them in person will help in that process.

 

[aprilgail]

How many schools have you and your kids visited? We started visiting some in the spring and have seen more this summer, with a few more to go. I've recently talked to some parents who aren't taking their kids to see any schools until they know where they're accepted.

We're trying to see all of the schools on DD's list, hoping that seeing them and taking a tour will help her figure out what she likes and what she doesn't, and that will help her narrow down her list. But now I'm wondering if we should just wait and see where she gets in before visiting the rest. What are your thoughts?

We are doing that with the bulk of them- waiting to see if she is accepted and what they offer her. We are going to Barnard to visit next week because she has an interview not long after that and she wants to be able to say in her interview what she liked about the college so it is good to tour that first! But I am not flying to Scotland or California until she is accepted and we see what they offer first.

Thanks. I think we will try to fit in a few more this summer. DD's list is long right now (14 schools!) and she is having a hard time narrowing down the list. I'm hoping that visiting them in person will help in that process.

That is like my daughters list!