Parents of the High School Class of 2017/College 2021

[Mrs. Ciz]

Now I am officially being driven crazy! Above I wrote about the Oct SAT score issues and Early Action application deadlines. DD is almost finished with her EA applications. Last year she investigated all the nursing programs at our state universities. We visited schools and talked with nursing program coordinators over the summer. DD has been focused on something in the heath care industry for years now. Occupational therapy and speech therapy have also been investigated. Her first choice match school and reach school both have all 3 programs.

She has finished completing the Common Ap, written all her essays but one, including the nursing specific essays, ordered her March test scores, and has all her recommendations added to the Common App and to the regular applications for non Common App schools. We are just about ready to send them off. Working on one last essay...there is light at the end of the tunnel!!!!

And then yesterday she texts me - "I don't know about nursing."

Seriously???!!! She says she may be interested in marketing and advertising now and thinks she wants to get a Business degree. When I talked to her about job opportunities in that field, she doesn't like most of the jobs I mentioned. I don't know what is going on in her head. Cold feet maybe? Afraid of being locked in to one thing at 17?

Her guidance counselor just sent out an email about taking the ASVAB. I signed her up this morning. Hopefully the ASVAB test will give her a better idea about possible career choices that fit her personality and natural aptitude. She has tried taking online career guidance quizzes over the last 2 years or so. Almost every one comes back with......wait for it......bartender!

This whole process is stressing both of us out!

 

[mamacatnv]

Now I am officially being driven crazy! Above I wrote about the Oct SAT score issues and Early Action application deadlines. DD is almost finished with her EA applications. Last year she investigated all the nursing programs at our state universities. We visited schools and talked with nursing program coordinators over the summer. DD has been focused on something in the heath care industry for years now. Occupational therapy and speech therapy have also been investigated. Her first choice match school and reach school both have all 3 programs.

She has finished completing the Common Ap, written all her essays but one, including the nursing specific essays, ordered her March test scores, and has all her recommendations added to the Common App and to the regular applications for non Common App schools. We are just about ready to send them off. Working on one last essay...there is light at the end of the tunnel!!!!

And then yesterday she texts me - "I don't know about nursing."

Seriously???!!! She says she may be interested in marketing and advertising now and thinks she wants to get a Business degree. When I talked to her about job opportunities in that field, she doesn't like most of the jobs I mentioned. I don't know what is going on in her head. Cold feet maybe? Afraid of being locked in to one thing at 17?

Her guidance counselor just sent out an email about taking the ASVAB. I signed her up this morning. Hopefully the ASVAB test will give her a better idea about possible career choices that fit her personality and natural aptitude. She has tried taking online career guidance quizzes over the last 2 years or so. Almost every one comes back with......wait for it......bartender!

This whole process is stressing both of us out!

Now we know why some species eat their young! Bartender, thats a good one!

My DS was completely undecided, we had an inkling what direction he would go (Physical Therapist) and he did, he is now a licensed PT, BUT he spent the first 3 years in college exploring as an undeclared major. It took him 5 years to get his undergrad in Health Sciences but honestly, in hindsight that one extra year was time well spent.

DD is clueless, we know her strengths, so we are looking at schools with decent programs in her strengths and then lots of other options for her to explore WHEN (not if but when) she changes her direction.

DD gets really stressed, the schools here in Central Texas really push "choose your path" I personally think that making a life long decision at 16-18 years of age is an unrealistic expectation and encourage DD to continue to explore her options.

This whole growing up, what do I do next thing is very stressful!

Example of DS's friends group, what they started college as and what they are doing now:

L just knew she was going to be a pediatrician - She has a masters in Speech Pathology
M wanted to be a journalist - he is the sports anchor for some middle of nowhere tv station
P was going to be an orthopedic surgeon - He is a nurse (RN)
K was going to be a geriatric physician - Masters in journalism, works in marketing
C teacher - just finished her MBA in business works in HR/Banking
E music was her passion - now its her hobby, she has a business degree and works for an entertainment company

 

[robinb]

Her guidance counselor just sent out an email about taking the ASVAB. I signed her up this morning. Hopefully the ASVAB test will give her a better idea about possible career choices that fit her personality and natural aptitude. She has tried taking online career guidance quizzes over the last 2 years or so. Almost every one comes back with......wait for it......bartender!

I'm sorry, but that's really funny.

Actually, that means she likes people. Nursing fits right in with that.

Does she want to go into the Military?

 

[robinb]

My DD still has one essay to finish and she needs to have her English teacher read and proof the ones she has done.

The one that she is stuck on is:

Consider something in your life you think goes unnoticed and write about why it's important to you.

She has NO CLUE what to write. I've read what other kids have written online and I just roll my eyes at some of them. I suggested a couple of things. I suggested that she write down a list of things that are important to her. One website suggested the question is really asking "what do you like to do?" and that you shouldn't overthink it.

I suggested that she talk about how much she gets done in her head while at swim practice. Once her body gets moving it allows her brain to go to town, kind of like when you fall asleep on a problem and wake up with the answer. She daydreams, she does homework, she thinks about life. She tells me that she speaks to herself in French sometimes! She goes into the practice from a physical standpoint but comes out with mental and academic advantages. I think it would be a great essay to set her apart.

 

[sksjasams]

Consider something in your life you think goes unnoticed and write about why it's important to you.
I suggested that she talk about how much she gets done in her head while at swim practice. Once her body gets moving it allows her brain to go to town, kind of like when you fall asleep on a problem and wake up with the answer. She daydreams, she does homework, she thinks about life. She tells me that she speaks to herself in French sometimes! She goes into the practice from a physical standpoint but comes out with mental and academic advantages. I think it would be a great essay to set her apart.

I think you have a great idea for her! It would be unique to her and let admissions get to know her.

I did read on College Talk this:
"something in your life" does not have to mean your efforts. It can be something that YOU notice that no one else does.

I'm not sure I buy into that though, unless you are a really creative writer. You still have to have the essay represent you.

 

[bjscheel]

Robinb, I think your essay idea is perfect.

Sorry Mrs. Ciz, about possibly being back to square one! I think nursing/therapy would be good degrees for finding a job anywhere, but it takes a special person! It is hard to figure out what you want to do and nursing isn't something you can go into without that exact degree.

I'm hoping my DD comes back from her 11/4 Career Discovery visit day still excited about Graphic Design and the school. It's been a relief ever since she felt she had come to a decision on a major and an affordable school and I don't know what Plan B would be. Possibly Multimedia Journalism at the first school we visited but she thinks she didn't get a good vibe from that visit. I looked at classes for Business as she does enjoy her office job a lot, but I honestly don't see her getting along well with Macroeconomics, Business Statistics, etc. She's very much a creative/communications type and not science & math.

DD tried for the Wendy's High School Heisman scholarship. She is a school winner (most likely the only entry from her school) but not a state winner so that's over. She gets a certificate and a patch- woohoo. I've found some more to try for, probably after the musical is over. I think most of the local ones won't get going until after the first of the year.

 

[robinb]

DD tried for the Wendy's High School Heisman scholarship. She is a school winner (most likely the only entry from her school) but not a state winner so that's over. She gets a certificate and a patch- woohoo. I've found some more to try for, probably after the musical is over. I think most of the local ones won't get going until after the first of the year.

I started to help my DD on that one but quit we got to the "service" part of it. She swims 15-20 per week. There is no extra time in her day to do anything else but swim and study. I passed it on to my friend and her DD was the school winner but also did not advance as a state winner.

 

[mamacatnv]

DD has finally gotten her hiney into gear. She informed me last night that her application for Minnesota is due the end of October and she is almost done.
She opted to drop out of the IB Diploma program but is still taking all IB classes so now we are investigating whether or not it is beneficial for her to take all the test.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

I'm sorry, but that's really funny.

Actually, that means she likes people. Nursing fits right in with that.

Does she want to go into the Military?

Believe me, we are all getting a kick out of bartender!

Last year she seriously considered applying for a Navy ROTC scholarship to study nursing. Two of her close friends are in their first year of college on Navy and Army ROTC scholarships. In the end, she decided not to do ROTC, but to still study nursing...until now. Her school offers the ASVAB to anyone who wants to take it. I am hoping it will give her some direction or confirmation or something.

The last common app essay she needs to work on is the one that talks about an event in your culture, community or family that marked your change from childhood into adulthood (or something like that). She is writing about her 2 years as a camp counselor at our county summer camps for k-5th graders. She was just 15 when she started working the camps, but she was seen as an adult in charge by the children and parents.

 

[lucky978]

I've been away for a few days I see everyone is feeling the same way we are right now! Such a busy time!!!

I have another FAFSA question hoping you all can help. When I completed the application we received notice that out expected family contribution was 062924. The other day my daughter was comparing this figure with some of her friends and their results were much lower (she tells me that one was 006000 and that both of that student's parents are employed). both my husband and I are employed full time and we make decent salary. My kids are convinced I've entered something wrong (however that's not really possible since we used the IRS option to populate the metrics).

Thoughts?

 

[bjscheel]

I've been away for a few days I see everyone is feeling the same way we are right now! Such a busy time!!!

I have another FAFSA question hoping you all can help. When I completed the application we received notice that out expected family contribution was 062924. The other day my daughter was comparing this figure with some of her friends and their results were much lower (she tells me that one was 006000 and that both of that student's parents are employed). both my husband and I are employed full time and we make decent salary. My kids are convinced I've entered something wrong (however that's not really possible since we used the IRS option to populate the metrics).

Thoughts?

Our EFC was roughly 25% of our AGI, but I guess they ask for asset info too, and student info so maybe it's based on more than income. Here is a quick calculator you could try and see if you get about the same result:
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/...share/expected-family-contribution-calculator

 

[robinb]

I've been away for a few days I see everyone is feeling the same way we are right now! Such a busy time!!!

I have another FAFSA question hoping you all can help. When I completed the application we received notice that out expected family contribution was 062924. The other day my daughter was comparing this figure with some of her friends and their results were much lower (she tells me that one was 006000 and that both of that student's parents are employed). both my husband and I are employed full time and we make decent salary. My kids are convinced I've entered something wrong (however that's not really possible since we used the IRS option to populate the metrics).

Thoughts?

Do you have a 529 set aside for her? Our EFC is even higher because we have a healthy 529 for her and our own savings that are not part of a retirement plan. ETA, sadly it is more than 25% of our AGI .

ETA2: Top FASFA Mistakes
http://blog.ed.gov/2016/09/12-common-fafsa-mistakes/

 

[lucky978]

Our EFC was roughly 25% of our AGI, but I guess they ask for asset info too, and student info so maybe it's based on more than income. Here is a quick calculator you could try and see if you get about the same result:
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/...share/expected-family-contribution-calculator

Wow - I just did the estimator you provided in the link and the result was VERY different than what i'm getting on the FAFSA. After some digging around it appears that one of the data points that was pulled over from the IRS (something to do with taxable pension and retirement plans) was incorrect. The number from the IRS included a large roll-over and when I filled out the FAFSA I did not see that note to "remove rollover funds". Ugh! I just made an adjustment to her fafsa and the new EFC is 21000. Quite the difference! Thank you for sending me this link, which then forced me to review every question over again!

Do you have a 529 set aside for her? Our EFC is even higher because we have a healthy 529 for her and our own savings that are not part of a retirement plan. ETA, sadly it is more than 25% of our AGI .

I wish we had set one up but we never did. Hindsight is 20/20 I guess. That is sad though that it impacts the EFC so much for you. They should be rewarding you for planning ahead!

Thanks again to you both!

 

[mamacatnv]

Filed out taxes Monday night, yes I am the ultimate procrastinator
now off to begin the FAFSA - Ugh, I hated the dang thing when son was in college, can't imagine its gotten better

DD submitted her first application yesterday - she needs to sort out transcripts and is good to go.

Meanwhile, DD has a part time job and whomever it is that does their scheduling must not know she is still in high school, she is scheduled for 38 hours this week as well as scheduled on the two days she stated from the beginning she cannot work due to Athletic Training obligations. She's telling me all this last night and I looked at her and said "well, you better get on the horn and talk to your boss, this is not something I can do for you, you must sort it out"
It was kind of funny because she looked disappointed that I won't help out with this one. Adulting is hard

 

[robinb]

I wish we had set one up but we never did. Hindsight is 20/20 I guess. That is sad though that it impacts the EFC so much for you. They should be rewarding you for planning ahead!

Yes, good news is that we have money set aside. Bad news is that they expect us to spend it all and THEN SOME. There is no way she's going to a school that costs as much as what our EFC is.

 

[lucky978]

Meanwhile, DD has a part time job and whomever it is that does their scheduling must not know she is still in high school, she is scheduled for 38 hours this week as well as scheduled on the two days she stated from the beginning she cannot work due to Athletic Training obligations. She's telling me all this last night and I looked at her and said "well, you better get on the horn and talk to your boss, this is not something I can do for you, you must sort it out"
It was kind of funny because she looked disappointed that I won't help out with this one. Adulting is hard

Sounds so familiar. My DD's complain when they are scheduled on days that they have told them they can't work, or when they put them on for 6.5 hours after school on a weeknight. My only advice is "talk to them". Nothing I can do to help!

 

[kydisneyfans]

Our DS was set to enter the Engineering program at the University of Kentucky next fall. There is no financial aid as we make too much $$(or so they say). He has a high 20s score on the ACT and is running close to a 3.8 GPA. UK announced earlier this week that starting next fall they are basing more aid and scholarship money on income, and reducing money based on grades. We received a text during school this morning that he is no longer going to attend UK due to the change, he is now reopening his search as some of the aid planned is now gone. There are 2 other schools, along with a community college on the list. Off to visit some new schools.....soon.

 

[bjscheel]

My daughter is lucky to not have scheduling issues with work. One job is cleaning an office one hour every weekend and she can choose which evening to do it. The other job is light secretarial work in another office after school- it's just her and the attorney and they discuss the next week's schedule together. Track season will make it hard to get many hours there but hopefully they can get through because we really want her to still have the job in the summer. She loves it but unfortunately probably won't get to do it once college starts. Been trying to get DD15 interested in taking both jobs over when the time comes since they're both a pretty sweet deal on pay and schedule but at the moment she's not interested in cleaning or office work. She may have to change her tune.

 

[bjscheel]

Our DS was set to enter the Engineering program at the University of Kentucky next fall. There is no financial aid as we make too much $$(or so they say). He has a high 20s score on the ACT and is running close to a 3.8 GPA. UK announced earlier this week that starting next fall they are basing more aid and scholarship money on income, and reducing money based on grades. We received a text during school this morning that he is no longer going to attend UK due to the change, he is now reopening his search as some of the aid planned is now gone. There are 2 other schools, along with a community college on the list. Off to visit some new schools.....soon.

That stinks. Hope you find something that works and maybe it will end up being for the best. We are visiting one more tomorrow even though she's 95% sure where she's going. Definitely give that community college a look, it can be a great savings.

 

[robinb]

Our DS was set to enter the Engineering program at the University of Kentucky next fall. There is no financial aid as we make too much $$(or so they say). He has a high 20s score on the ACT and is running close to a 3.8 GPA. UK announced earlier this week that starting next fall they are basing more aid and scholarship money on income, and reducing money based on grades. We received a text during school this morning that he is no longer going to attend UK due to the change, he is now reopening his search as some of the aid planned is now gone. There are 2 other schools, along with a community college on the list. Off to visit some new schools.....soon.

That does stink! He can't make it work with in-state tuition? It's only about $11K and I don't think you'll find many schools that are a whole lot cheaper.

I would look to private schools. They are more expensive but they can often put together good merit scholarships to help bright kids like your son.