Sharing College Info

[Mary Anne]

Is anyone else waiting for tomorrow SAT scores to be released online. We're hoping for a 30 or 40 point gain, it'll mean the difference between a $5000 a year grant or a $7500 a year grant from one of the schools.

 

[Feralpeg]

We are waiting also. If DD brings her score up, it could mean the difference between Florida Bright Futures paying 75 percent or 100 percent. I'm not holding my breath. She gets wonderful grades, but isn't great at standardized tests. Oh well, I sure can't complain about 75 percent.

Mary Anne, I hope you get the increase your looking for!

 

[horseshowmom]

Besides the Presidential Freedom Scholarship (federally funded) that I've already mentioned, you might also want to check out the Robert Byrd Scholarship (Robert S. or Robert C., I can't remember which) if your student has a high ACT/SAT score, very good GPA, extracurricular activities, and community service.

The Byrd Scholarship is also federally funded and is administered through the state department of education (at least it is in our state). It's worth $10,000 ($2500 per year). We found out about it by accident just days before the deadline (an article in the newspaper), and DD wound up being one of the students who received it. There are several awarded in each state.

Your high school counselor would probably know about it. DD was homeschooled, so we didn't know about it until we saw it in the newspaper. You could probably also google it for information.

 

[MrsPete]

I have a question that is probably going to sound really dumb. If they were going to offer a scholarship, would they have done so when they sent her acceptance letter.

I teach high school seniors, so I'm fairly up to date on this topic. The answer is NO. There's no telling at this point whether a scholarship will come through or not.

A private school that's going to offer a tuition-type scholarship will usually make the offer early -- probably with the acceptance letter.
A public school that's going to make the same offer probably won't do it until later.
Many, if not most, scholarships do not come from the colleges themselves but rather from outside groups; thus, they wouldn't show up until later.
Kids who're going to get athletic scholarships usually know well in advance, and they usually sign their paperwork making it official in January.
Financial aid and need-based aid won't announce decisions until later.
MANY students learn that they've won scholarships in May-June; sometimes the really big scholarships are kept secret until the big-deal awards night, and the students are surprised when their names are called.

At this point, I'd have her accept both colleges (assuming that she's really interested in both) and wait to see what happens. Having options is a good thing.

 

[MrsPete]

Living in the dorms is great! I've made fabulous friends by living in them. <y friend lived off-campus with his Grandma for his first year and ended up moving in the dorms for his second. Dorms give a great sense of community, plus there are so many activities you can do with them.

I agree. It's a nice half-way step between living with mom/dad and really being completely out on your own. There's also a measure of security with resident advisors and security that aren't present in an apartment complex. Also, it's a great way to meet lots of people and really be submerged in college life.

On the downside, it's often chaotic, there's little privacy and little space. Still, it's an experience that she can have only at this point in her life. She has the rest of her life to live in an apartment or a house!

 

[MrsPete]

One more note: My school offers several financial aid workshops every year in January-February to help parents of seniors go through the process for the first time. All the high school counselors are involved, and they're held at the public library.

If your school has something like this, it'd be well worth your time.

 

[Feralpeg]

Well, SAT scores from December 3rd were published today. DD brought her Critical Reading up 20 points, but dropped her Math by the same number of points. She did up her Writing score, but more schools are not considering that. So, all in all, it was a wash. For those of you waiting to hear, you can look your scores up today on the College Board website.

 

[Sandy V.]

This is a great thread. I'm learning a lot by reading it.

DD has applied to 3 schools thus far, with 4 more applications to go. She was accepted by Georgetown University a week ago, and we are very proud of her for that. No scholarship offers made in the letter, but I'm really not surprised. She did get a call from the admissions office the day after she got the acceptance letter, but I didn't think to have her ask financial aid/scholarship questions. Think I'll contact the office and see what they have to say.

She is a Boettcher semifinalist, which is a Colorado scholarship program. 40 winners receive scholarships to any Colorado university and it pays for 4 years of tuition, room & board, and also a book stipend. She won't find out if she's a finalist until the end of January. That would be a nice benefit, as the cost of college these days is mind-boggling!!

Good luck to all of the seniors in their college application ventures!!

 

[sharbear]

Feralpeg, sorry about the SAT score. Has she taken the ACT? Maybe she would score better on the ACT than the SAT. My DS scored 150 points higher on the ACT (according to the conversion chart). How long does she have to raise her score, if it's until school starts, she might want to take the ACT just to see.

 

[Feralpeg]

Feralpeg, sorry about the SAT score. Has she taken the ACT? Maybe she would score better on the ACT than the SAT. My DS scored 150 points higher on the ACT (according to the conversion chart). How long does she have to raise her score, if it's until school starts, she might want to take the ACT just to see.

She has taken the ACT twice. She just isn't a great test taker. Since she has already been accepted to two schools, it is not a huge deal. With Florida Bright Futures, you have to have a 1270 on the SAT or a 28 on ACT to reach the 100 percent level on funding. She is at the 75 percent level. I'm certainly not upset about that. I asked her if she would like to take either test again. She said she didn't want to take them again.

 

[msdznyduck]

Does anyone know anything in NJ similar to Bright Futures in FL, ? sounds really good, and we are hoping DS gets in his 1st choice. He only applied to 2 colleges, and has been accepted to 2nd choice......both are in NJ, neither of my kids wants to go too far away from home

 

[horseshowmom]

Does anyone know anything in NJ similar to Bright Futures in FL, ? sounds really good, and we are hoping DS gets in his 1st choice. He only applied to 2 colleges, and has been accepted to 2nd choice......both are in NJ, neither of my kids wants to go too far away from home

I can't answer for NJ, but if anyone's from MS, the state of MS has the Eminent Scholar Program. If you have at least a 29, the state gives you $10,000 ($2500 per year).

 

[Feralpeg]

DD just received an email from FSU saying that she is being considered for their Service Scholar Program. She must submit an application by January 6th. If chosen for the program, she will receive $2000 a year for four years. If chosen for the program she must commit to earning 50 community service hours her first semester and then 75 additional hours each semester. I think it would be a great program. DD is not home, so I don't know what she will think about it. She earned 96 community service hours while in high school. I don't want her to take on more than she can handle, but she might find it a fun thing to do. I'll let you all know what she says when she gets home and has a chance to consider it.

 

[Jennifer S]

I used to be an Admissions Counselor for a private college in Philadelphia. We had merit based scholarships as well as need based. Neither one came with the acceptance letter. Feb-March was about when we gave them out.

 

[Sandy V.]

Congratulations, Ferelpeg. The scholarship sounds like a great thing. I agree with the part about not overextending, though. But $8,000 is nothing to sneeze at, either.

I would like DD to get a small part-time job in college, but I'm worried about it taking too much time away from school. On the other hand, she needs to be more aware of what things cost and contribute financially towards her "extras". I think she may wait until second semester.

 

[FSUGrad97]

DD just received an email from FSU saying that she is being considered for their Service Scholar Program. She must submit an application by January 6th. If chosen for the program, she will receive $2000 a year for four years. If chosen for the program she must commit to earning 50 community service hours her first semester and then 75 additional hours each semester. I think it would be a great program. DD is not home, so I don't know what she will think about it. She earned 96 community service hours while in high school. I don't want her to take on more than she can handle, but she might find it a fun thing to do. I'll let you all know what she says when she gets home and has a chance to consider it.

When I was at FSU, I was in a sorority, and we did at TON of community service projects. That could help her meet the requirements. We did a lot since our Nationals had service requirementsand our main philanthropy was the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Is your DD interested in majoring in Theater at FSU?

 

[Feralpeg]

When I was at FSU, I was in a sorority, and we did at TON of community service projects. That could help her meet the requirements. We did a lot since our Nationals had service requirementsand our main philanthropy was the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Is your DD interested in majoring in Theater at FSU?

I think doing community service sounds like a great way to make friends and have fun. Since I really don't want her to hold down a job while in college, this would be a great alternative.

No, she wants to major in history. As much as she loves acting, she loves history more. Her goal is to become an expert historian and perhaps produce historical films. She'd like to do films directed toward children that would make them more interested in history. She currently is a student assistant to the history teacher at her school. She just doesn't understand why the kids don't love history the way she does. She wants to correct that situation.

 

[Mary Anne]

We are very pleased with the released SAT scores today. My son scored 50 points higher on the Reading and 120 points higher on the Math!!! He also did slightly better, 20 points higher on the writing, which we are told is being looked at but not being focused on this year. Overall he did 250 points higher then the first time he took them last March. He did not take any of the classes just studied on his own.

 

[FSUGrad97]

I think doing community service sounds like a great way to make friends and have fun. Since I really don't want her to hold down a job while in college, this would be a great alternative.

No, she wants to major in history. As much as she loves acting, she loves history more. Her goal is to become an expert historian and perhaps produce historical films. She'd like to do films directed toward children that would make them more interested in history. She currently is a student assistant to the history teacher at her school. She just doesn't understand why the kids don't love history the way she does. She wants to correct that situation.

Cool! She sounds like she has a good head on her shoulders!

 

[Feralpeg]

We are very pleased with the released SAT scores today. My son scored 50 points higher on the Reading and 120 points higher on the Math!!! He also did slightly better, 20 points higher on the writing, which we are told is being looked at but not being focused on this year. Overall he did 250 points higher then the first time he took them last March. He did not take any of the classes just studied on his own.

Wow! Congrats to your son. That is awesome!