<p>WOW! I guess I opened a can of worms here, and unicameral2013 was the early bird, LOL!!
Yes unicameral2013 I am a loving and concerned parent, and no, I dont’ want to subject my children to a mediocre education for the ultimate goal of making NMF. HOWEVER, there is MUCH more here than meets the eye, and of course if I open this can, it should probably be on another thread, but oh well, here goes…</p>
<p>NMF is critical to us. We are in the “donut hole” of college. Laugh if you will, but we make too much to qualify for need-based aid, but certainly not enough to pay for each of our 4 children full freight. Before you start, yes, it was our choice to have 4 children, and our choice to spend 10 years in the military not making as much money as we make private sector now, BUT the way the current system is set up, we are penalized in a MAJOR way. Without merit aid, much of which is contingent upon NM status, our college choices are limited to 2 years JUCO 2 years in-state school, no help w/ grad school. No, there is nothing wrong with that, but it is not always the best choice for every child, and WHY should that be our only choice?</p>
<p>SO, here in lies the problem:
- A school’s ranking should not be based on the number of students that scored highly on a single test.
- Aid should not be based solely on that test.
- It is common for kids that test, score, and rank lower than others, but demonstrate more need to have higher rates of acceptance to some schools, and significantly more scholarship money. And because this policy, and all the “free federal grant money” college is simply unaffordable for the average citizen.
- An A in a regular class is equally weighted with an A in a college level class at many schools, disincentivizing kids from taking the tougher course load.
- Lastly, in my situation, once you are on an advanced Math track, (determined in 6th grade!) The only way off that track is to repeat the class you just took.</p>
<p>Yes tutoring can be of assistance, but please let me remind you that it may not be affordable, or available in all cases.</p>
<p>Lastly, the jab from unicameral2013
“thankfully my parents had more foresight than 12 year old me did. Very young children should not be making important decisions about their futures. Who cares about 6 years from now? At this moment the kid has a knack for math. It’s so much easier to drop back than to get ahead later.” </p>
<p>This “foresight” could end up making or breaking my DD 6 years from now, it is a chess game, and the move we make now WILL impact the roads that are available to her 6 years from now, that is what I feel is SO unfortunate and frankly unfair.</p>