Sharing College Info

[MaryAnnDVC]

Yes! Great thread. Let's keep it going!

DD has received two acceptances so far, including UMASS Amherst Commonwealth College (pretty much her first choice). Included with the acceptance was a $1000 scholarship award. It will help! We're out of state, so the cost is pretty high...not the highest, but high. And that just kills me...living in RI, there's a lot of world out there that's out of state!

For the next 10 years or so, we'll have at least one, and more often two, kids in college. Oy.

 

[msdznyduck]

I am hoping that from this thread, I will become 'less clueless'...

 

[chrissyk]

Yes! Great thread. Let's keep it going!

DD has received two acceptances so far, including UMASS Amherst Commonwealth College (pretty much her first choice). Included with the acceptance was a $1000 scholarship award. It will help! We're out of state, so the cost is pretty high...not the highest, but high. And that just kills me...living in RI, there's a lot of world out there that's out of state!

For the next 10 years or so, we'll have at least one, and more often two, kids in college. Oy.

It seems like the MA kids want to go to URI and the RI kids want to go to UMass I don't get it! Last weekend, Boston.com did an article that basically said that UMass works on attracting the out-of-state kids because they pay twice as much in tuition. Yikes

 

[Feralpeg]

I will change the title of the thread to "Sharing College Info". I will try to keep it bumped up.

 

[OhMari]

Hi,

FYI,

My son (now in grad school) was #1 in his class of 500 in hs.. DD also had good grades. She is nnow a senior at UM.

We are a one income middle class family who never got a dime from FAFSA. Very disheartening.

herc.

Same here, but my kids did get unsubsidied loans. FAFSA cannot be sent in for the 2006/2007 until Jan. 1, 2006.



My husband got laid off my when dd was a sophmore. We had to wait 90 days to reapply for fianancial aid for her school for "unplanned circumstances". I just wanted my dd to get a job on campus-she received some grants and scholarships after that. So the key is to stay in touch with the school's financial aid office.

 

[Zurealsoon]

I'll be so glad when everthing is finalized and I can get down to missing my baby when she goes off to college!

Is she going out of state?


We have a TOPS tuition program in Louisiana (almost 100% tuition)-no matter what the parents income, but I still filled out that darn Fasa form every year.

 

[MEG&MINNIE]

Yes, it's sad when I have to tell someone they didn't qualify. Can I make a suggestion to all of you Parents? Read the FAFSA carefully. Just answering one question wrong can make the difference. For example, if you fill out a 1040 tax return, but qualify to fill out a 1040a form, make sure you answer that quesiton on the FAFSA.
The government uses a formula when determining eligibility. Some of the questions that have an impact are # of people in the household, # of people in college, whether or not you can file a 1040a/ez (even though you may have filed a 1040). There are other questions too. It's all very complicated. But the formula does come from the government.
You know the situations that really make me want to cry? The parents who make a good amount, but who refuse to sign the fafsa so their child can take out a student loan. Or the foster children coming into college with no family to support them financially or emotionally. I've seen it all, and it's so hard not to cry for some of these kids.

What would make a difference to the financial aid people if you filled out a 1040a/ez form or the regular 1040 form. We always fill out the 1040 form ,but would it help us out financially if we filled out the1040 ez form instead. I'm confused. My DS 1 is a Junior @ UMASS and then I'll have DS 2 applying to colleges/financial aid next year. Thanks for any extra help !!!

 

[Feralpeg]

Is she going out of state?


We have a TOPS tuition program in Louisiana (almost 100% tuition)-no matter what the parents income, but I still filled out that darn Fasa form every year.

No, she will be in Florida. We are actually very lucky. Florida Bright Futures will cover a good portion of her expenses.

 

[Mary Anne]

The 1040a/ez form is for those with limited income and no deductions. If you've got a house with a mortgage or pay property taxes you need to file the 1040 form or you cannot take deductions.

 

[MEG&MINNIE]

The 1040a/ez form is for those with limited income and no deductions. If you've got a house with a mortgage or pay property taxes you need to file the 1040 form or you cannot take deductions.

Thanks... I guess that answers my question. I also have another question... after DS 1 finishes his 4 yr. degree and stays on in college to obtain his Masters Degree and DS 2 is a Freshman ,undergraduate ...does that still qualify our family as having 2 children in college (at the same time) or do both students have to be in Undergraduate classes? I hope this counts as having 2 kids in college @ the same time !!! Please let me know....Thanks.

 

[Lynn CC]

DS got his acceptances starting and January, some in February and the merit scholarships came about a month after acceptances. They all have their own timeline they work by. Some will negotiate, others will not.
DS ended up getting 20k a year as long as he keeps up his GPA 3.0 or higher it will be renewable each year. Not bad out of 35K, I think it was better than we had hoped for! He just finished his first semester, so far so good!

 

[Nik's Mom]

The 1040a/ez form is for those with limited income and no deductions. If you've got a house with a mortgage or pay property taxes you need to file the 1040 form or you cannot take deductions.

That's a good explanation. But for those of you who own a home, don't think it's counted against you for financial aid. Your primary residence should not be listed as an asset on the FAFSA. Only properted that is a source of income (like a rental) would be counted as an asset. Also, many people do file a 1040 even though they can file a 1040a.
Someone mentioned that they appealed with the financial aid office. Yes, this is so true, especially if there is a change of income (like a job loss). Make sure you speak to a financial aid counselor about that.
What a great thread! Let's keep it up.

 

[FSUGrad97]

Thanks for the info. She received the acceptance letter from UCF. They didn't mention any type of scholarship. I did do a search on their website that said scholarship notifications would be out by March 1st. We got an email acceptance to Florida State. It said her acceptance letter would be coming in about a week. We'll see what it says. DD has a 4.328 GPA. Her SAT and ACT scores were okay, but not over the top. I was hoping for a little something. Thank goodness we have Florida Bright Futures!

Congrats to your daughter!! Has she decided which one to go to?

I would suggest she go to FSU, but I *might* be a bit biased!

 

[MEG&MINNIE]

Thanks... I guess that answers my question. I also have another question... after DS 1 finishes his 4 yr. degree and stays on in college to obtain his Masters Degree and DS 2 is a Freshman ,undergraduate ...does that still qualify our family as having 2 children in college (at the same time) or do both students have to be in Undergraduate classes? I hope this counts as having 2 kids in college @ the same time !!! Please let me know....Thanks.

Any Financial Aid experts out there know the answer to this question?THANKS

 

[buddy&wooz]

Great thread! My oldest is a senior, and we're right in the middle of all this as well.

I've been trying to figure out the FAFSA, I think (hope) I'm starting to get it. I did find the 06-07 version of the FAFSA online:
http://ifap.ed.gov/fafsa/0607FinalFAFSA.html.

It's too early to send it in but I've printed it out just to make sure any questions I have get answered, so I can send it in as early as possible after Jan 1.

 

[Equidae]

When I went through this several years ago I did so on my own without parent's help. You can fill out the FAFSA and have that info sent to any and all schools you are applying to. I went to a small private school in Florida and the tuition/room and board costs were high, about $20,000 a year or so (more now, it went up every year). I come from a very lower middle class family and with the help of the FAFSA I received subsidized loans, eligibility for work study, pell grant as well as bright futures, some school merit based grants and the Florida Resident Access Grant (for students attending private schools) and with that my entire freshman year was paid for except for some really small amount under $100. I was very fortunate and will say that many school (especially smaller ones) have financial aid offices that will work with you to get $$. At one time or another in college I also got monies from various places such as being an RA (free board) and various grants/scholarships. Another place to check out for scholarships is www.fastweb.com They have plenty listed for all sorts of things. I have noticed since I have started grad school at a large university that the larger schools do not seem to be as helpful sometimes as my small, private college did. Definitely contact your school of choice (or choices) finaid office and talk with the counselor.

Congrats to your daughter Feralpig on getting into both FSU and UCF! Does she favor one over the other?

 

[Feralpeg]

Congrats to your daughter!! Has she decided which one to go to?

I would suggest she go to FSU, but I *might* be a bit biased!

She hasn't decided yet. Of course, I'm leaning toward UCF because it is close to home. Even if she decides on UCF, she wants to live in the dorm. I think it is a good idea, but I hate the thought of her being far from home. It's just been the two of us for the past 17 1/2 years. Sigh!

She is leaning toward FSU at this point. In January, we will go to FSU to tour the campus and meet with the financial aid folks.

I'm not sure what I'll do with myself once DD goes away to school. I guess I'll have to spend more time in the theme parks!

 

[FSUGrad97]

She hasn't decided yet. Of course, I'm leaning toward UCF because it is close to home. Even if she decides on UCF, she wants to live in the dorm. I think it is a good idea, but I hate the thought of her being far from home. It's just been the two of us for the past 17 1/2 years. Sigh!

She is leaning toward FSU at this point. In January, we will go to FSU to tour the campus and meet with the financial aid folks.

I'm not sure what I'll do with myself once DD goes away to school. I guess I'll have to spend more time in the theme parks!

Hugs to you!

I will say that Tallahasse is about 4 hours away from Orlando, and not a bad drive. It is beautiful in the fall when you go up there for Parent's Weekend.

If you need suggestions about where to stay, let me know, since we go up there at least once a year for football games and to visit friends.

 

[nmudisneyfan]

She hasn't decided yet. Of course, I'm leaning toward UCF because it is close to home. Even if she decides on UCF, she wants to live in the dorm. I think it is a good idea, but I hate the thought of her being far from home. It's just been the two of us for the past 17 1/2 years. Sigh!

She is leaning toward FSU at this point. In January, we will go to FSU to tour the campus and meet with the financial aid folks.

I'm not sure what I'll do with myself once DD goes away to school. I guess I'll have to spend more time in the theme parks!

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. They'll really help her grow as an individual, I know that I did.
I hope she hears about some scholarships from the colleges. When I applied to Northern Michigan University, I got a letter with my acceptance letter saying that I qualified for one of their scholarships due to my ACT scores. I ended up retaking the ACT and was able to get a better scholarship because my score went up some! They sent me another letter letting me know.

 

[Feralpeg]

I know that living in the dorm is a great experience. I did not get to do that when I went to school. I attend the University of Missouri at Kansas City, so I lived at home with my parents. It was a big shocker when I finally moved out on my own. I was very sheltered.

DD is so mature in some ways and so immature in other ways. It scares the you know what out of me at the thought of her being on her own, but it is time to let her grow up. She is very ready to do this. I'm the one having a problem. It is particularly hard because we have a different relationship than a lot of girls have with their moms. We are best buddies. I guess I need to do some growing up as well!