So I need to find a school official that will forge my promissory note? Or identity-theft my own identity?
…This is far too confusing.
One thing to check on when comparing packages is to ask what a school will do in the event of a change in finances that would necessitate an increase in aid in order for a student to continue their education. Or the other scenario is, what happens to my aid package if there is an increase in income? All schools have different policies about that. Some will determine what a student gets all four years based on their financial aid offer in freshman year. So specific grants will remain the same regardless of income changes. Some will re-evaluate the package every year and it could go up or down. In our case, we did not qualify for aid, but since most of our ability to pay is based on our current income, we did ask schools what would happen if our income changed over the course of 4 years in a major way (if my husband was laid off, for example.) At several schools we were told that it was important for us to apply for aid freshman year so that we were at least in the system, and that it would be much harder to get aid even with a change of circumstance if we had never applied.
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My daughter ultimately narrowed her MT choices down to 2: one was well-known and one of the most expensive programs in the country, and the other was a much less expensive up-and-coming program. My daughter actually liked the less expensive one better (and felt the training was just as good) but felt maybe she “should” go to the more well-known one. I contacted everyone I knew in the business (and I do have a few friends who are pretty successful) and THEY contacted their friends and colleagues (including professional directors, agents, casting directors, etc), and we talked to several highly-regarded coaches my daughter had worked with. The opinions were all over the map (including quite a few who actually knew a lot about and highly recommended the “lesser-known” program!), but the general consensus was that any “advantage” you may have from the reputation of any school you attended ultimately wears off, and in as early as 6 months. My daughter did end up choosing the lesser-known program. I personally think that graduating without debt in this business is hugely important, and though I’m sure my daughter occasionally wonders about “the road not taken”, we are all grateful to have the extra financial breathing room for those inevitable “extras” (and there are many).
Another thing to check out is if the tuition is guaranteed for all four years. Son, non MT, attended a school where tuition stayed the same, although it did increase for incoming students yearly. For my MT student, a junior, tuition has been raised every year with this year’s being 4.9% increase. Still waiting for FA award to see if scholarships go up.
@tramsmom, again, I am agreeing with you that nobody should use a post by a lay person on a public message board as the definitive word on anything! People should do their own research and consult experts on the topic of inquiry. I have already stated that the common practice is that Parent Plus or student loans are typically not discharged in bankruptcy and indeed there ARE exceptions. I have read what you posted myself before you ever posted it. However, it is difficult to get these loans discharged and that is common knowledge. But there are surely exceptions and that list you posted are good examples of these exceptions. But they are exceptions to the rule, so to speak.
My sharing what I knew first hand in such a situation was simply sharing it. Not the definitive word. It was NO different than what you shared in a post before mine about BK and student loan credit. You wrote what you have read about or know. This whole message board is full of such things! We all share what we know either first hand or have read about or have knowledge about. Nobody should take public posts on an anonymous forum necessarily at face value. They have to decide on how valid someone’s posts are over time and ultimately do their own research in their own situations, etc.
You, along with others, pose questions all the time. That doesn’t mean that every answer you get is one that is correct. But you do ask, as do others. I shared, you shared, we all share. But it is not always facts or truths or based on knowledge. Some posts are and some aren’t. That is what most hopefully realize about such a forum.
While we are on the topic, when it comes to learning about a school, I typically rely more heavily on those who are currently attending, have attended, have a kid attending or a kid who is an alum, rather than someone who has no direct connection with a school or hasn’t even had their own kid apply there. Everyone who reads CC needs to decide what information seems valid or substantiated and so forth. My post about Bankruptcy in relation to college loan discharge was simply sharing what I know first hand with a case and based on my own reading. I do believe the common practice is that college loans are not discharged in bankruptcy except in some very specific situations. Those tend to be more of the exception than the rule, however. Best if anyone finds themselves in such a situation, to consult a bankruptcy attorney!
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Such a long, long day waiting.
So many contradictions. Difficult to follow. Thanks Transmom for the US Government web page. That, too, is bound to change and probably not in favor of education. I will leave it to the attorneys and pray for the people whose misfortunes bring them to that outcome. Unfortunately there are so many many people who believe in the value of education who will never be able to afford even the least expensive of the schools we speak of here. One’s financial capacity does not prove or disprove one’s valuing of education. There are so many other indicators of valuing education other than the ability to write a check or the ability to qualify for a loan. Peace.
Certainly one could highly value education, but not be able to afford it!
I am thankful at least for public schools K-12 in the US and even public universities and some private and well-endowed colleges that do meet 100% of need and don’t require tuition for low income students. But there is a long way to go with college education in this country, and the very high costs in this day and age!
Hear, hear @Puma69.
Let me start please by saying that I think the experience and generosity of these that came before us is invaluable, and I so hope you guys intend to stick around for another two years, but I sometimes wonder if this particular thread should be restricted to class of 2019 (which would also exclude anxious class 2021 parents like me), so they can truly (and safely) vent, commiserate and rejoice together. I know I would love one place like that when ‘my time’ 
comes.
Safely?
Other years have had closed FB groups for this purpose- but then you lose anonymity.
Yes @toowonderful
And I don’t even think you could do that (restrict the thread) in any formal way - just more of good will on both sides.
But I will shut up and come back to it in two years, when it is actually any of my business
Sorry, @toowonderful, I didn’t realize you added to your post 3371. and my reply totally doesn’t make sense. Posters seem to make clear if they are, or are the parents, of class 2019. I’m not sure I understand the anonymity issue, but I am a newbie here.
I am no expert by any means, but a director does not see you based on where you went to school, at least from what my friends who are on Broadway and those who have children who are currently auditioning in the city have told me. They get in line with hundred of other performers (unless equity) and wait their turn to audition. No one gets to skip to the front of the line because they went to Juillard or CMU.
Why would you want to restrict the thread, @AlphaScorpii? And what made you say that? Since my child is not the class of 2019 (she was 2017) and I posted a few posts upthread, I’m suffering a slight case of paranoia at the moment. :-S
@AlphaScorpii…I hear you and I agree. And I am a 2018 parent. What @toowonderful was referring to is there cannot be any “closed” or private group on CC like there is on Facebook. And of course, on Facebook people know each other’s names and on here we have our pseudo names. Last year, in most respects, this same thread was much more “class distinguished.” More posts purely from 2018 posters with a sprinkling of helpful, supportive posts from “those who came before.” I think your post #3370 was very astute and bravely done. I think many of us wish that it was a place of “more good will from both sides” as you put it so eloquently and astutely. We, as adults, continually need to listen to, respect, and learn from young adults such as yourself. I applaud you, I admire you. And I utmostly hear and understand your use of the word “safely.” Well put. Do not give up on us. I wish you the very very best. You and others like you will indeed change our world for the better. I hope we can do a better job of heeding your words. Thank you.
Thank you @puma69 - you made it worth the potential flogging . I wish i could aspire to the ‘young adult’ designation, but I am a mom of one of those:).
In all seriousness though, thank you <3