<p>Typo above-- meant post 567 not 527.</p>
<p>It is a shame that schools and students that atttend some of these very fine schools are being unfairly stereotyped as rich, snotty kids.</p>
<p>
Obviously, you don’t understand the concept of a parent who is paid on commission. </p>
<p>I grew up in a setting like EC describes. The money comes in bursts, and eventually you get used to the rhythm. The dad isn’t unemployed or idle – he probably has a pretty good idea at any given moment what commission-based projects he is working on, and when he can expect to be paid. But depending on industry, it could sometimes be several months before money already earned and owing is actually paid. For my ex-husband, that average wait is anywhere from about 45 days to 4 months. He’d habitually fall 3-6 months behind in child support, and then catch up all at once. I learned to budget accordingly.</p>
<p>Based on past earnings history, ec’s dad knows what he can reasonably expect to net in a year. He just doesn’t know from one month to the next when it will all come in. He doesn’t get a pay check, he just gets sporadic and uneven payments. Some may be quite large – I’m making up numbers here because I don’t know the situation, but I’m guessing it’s quite possible the family could go 3 months without dad earning anything, and then a check comes in for $25,000. </p>
<p>To EC: I know that your parents don’t want to borrow for your education, but given your dad’s situation, he might want to consider using the parent PLUS loan for short-term financing. There’s no law saying that he has to take 10 years to pay it back. The only downside is that there is a loan origination fee, which might be pricey for a loan that will be paid off in a matter of months rather than years. Many colleges also offer other forms of financing, such as tuition management system – but if your dad is in the position of knowing that a big check is on its way, but not there in time for the fall deadline… there’s probably a way of working that out.</p>
<p>One reason my mother refuses to cosign or take out any loans is the following: My father got my mother and himself into very bad credit. He took out some credit cards in her name without her knowledge. My mother now has good credit and my father got himself out of it, but then decided to get some more credit cards so it isn’t the best again. He got us into debt because of some stock failings as well in the early 2000’s. Part of the reason we moved from our FL home in 2004 was because we couldn’t afford it anymore. Georgia is much cheaper and you get much more for your money. They also wanted a change in season. My mom refuses to cosign or go into any more debt for ANYONE because of the past.</p>
<p>Post 581 hit our family situation right on the DOT. There are months when we get nothing and then one month my dad will get paid $12,000. He can make placements, but it takes months for him to get the money at times.</p>
<p>
This may be a lesson learned from hard times in the past – it’s easy to fall into the trap of building up credit card debt instead of paying off the loans when the money comes in. Something else always seems to come up. </p>
<p>Sometimes it’s better to just juggle. You alternate which bills you are late on and figure out pretty quickly which can be stretched and which can’t.</p>
<p>My mother has always used money very wisely. She has a credit card, but hates to use it. She balances the check book, my father does not. My father has the tenancy to use his credit card whenever he wants fast food, etc. His credit card was so full, he didn’t have room for me to charge an application fee. But now credit card companies will not give him credit cards as well. My mom is very anti-credit cards. My dad is probably more willing to cosign and the likewise, my mom won’t do any of that.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I don’t see where it says automatic, only where it says “a minimum total score.”</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>This was what I was trying to express in post 578.</p>
<p>Once you have the required freshman index at Valdosta, you’re in.</p>
<p>“And you are below the 25% in both the SAT and the ACT”</p>
<p>Just looked at college board at VSU’s SAT’s:
SAT Critical Reading:470 - 550<br>
SAT Math:460 - 540<br>
SAT Writing:450 - 540 </p>
<p>Only my math is lower then the mid-50%, I got a 520 on the writing and a 470 on the reading.</p>
<p>Have a look at their students GPA:
10% had h.s. GPA of 3.75 and higher
12% had h.s. GPA between 3.5 and 3.74
15% had h.s. GPA between 3.25 and 3.49
19% had h.s. GPA between 3.0 and 3.24
32% had h.s. GPA between 2.5 and 2.99
12% had h.s. GPA between 2.0 and 2.49</p>
<p>Re post #579-- I think your dad was mistaken to veto your application to SLC – but probably right on his overall take. My kids did not feel all that comfortable attending schools filled with the “rich and snotty” kids that jym thinks don’t exist. The kids aren’t “snotty” – they are just often clueless and insensitive, and it can be extremely hard for kids who actually need to work to earn money while in school. It was somewhat easier for my daughter being in an urban setting – at least she was in a different mix when she left campus and traveled around the city. My son was much more in his element socially when finished college at that not-so-selective in-state public.</p>
<p>Yeah, I really loved SLC but there was nothing else I could do to convince him. He had his mind made up even before the alumni interview. He told me, “I don’t even know why I’m waiting my time taking you, you’re not going there.”</p>
<p>BTW, I emailed two admission rep’s at Cornell saying: “Hello, I decided to withdraw my application from Cornell. Happy Holidays!” She replied, “Thank you for letting us know, EC. We wish you luck!” Is that official enough for withdrawing my application? Watch me still get a rejection letter, lol.</p>
<p>I wish I would have applied to Alfred U or Whittier instead of Cornell. Oh well, too late now. Like I need any more applications, lol :)</p>
<p>I never said " rich snotty kids don’t exist". Please try to read more carefully before launching the snott-o-meter, calmom.</p>
<p>“Congrats on Ursinus’s scholarship e_c”</p>
<p>Thanks everyone, I appreciate the encouragement. ~_~</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Obviously, you don’t know anything about me. I am self employed and understand how income can fluctuate from month to month. I also know that if ec’s father is waiting on a commission check to come in a month when a large tuition check is due, ec won’t be able to register and attend classes.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>If ec’s dad cannot qualify for a credit card, will he be able to take out a Parent Plus loan if needed? </p>
<p>ec, I sincerely hope everything turns out well for you come spring. Calmom is NOT your only cheerleader, maybe just captain of the squad.</p>
<p>Jkiwmom is also co-captain of team early_college. She has been very supportive and helpful behind the scenes in PMs. I call her my adopted CC mother :)</p>
<p>Does anyone know anything about this program:
[Kennedy-Lugar</a> Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program](<a href=“http://exchanges.state.gov/youth/programs/yes.html]Kennedy-Lugar”>http://exchanges.state.gov/youth/programs/yes.html)
[YES</a> Abroad Scholarship](<a href=“http://www.afsusa.org/study-abroad/scholarships/yes-abroad/]YES”>http://www.afsusa.org/study-abroad/scholarships/yes-abroad/)
<a href=“http://yesprograms.org/yesabroad[/url]”>http://yesprograms.org/yesabroad</a></p>
<p>I could do it this summer and it’s a free program.</p>
<p>Rather than spending your summer traveling, you may want to consider getting a summer job. Start putting some money away for your expenses: books, supplies, clothes, travel expenses, food, entertainment, personal expenses, etc.</p>
<p>And rather than getting distracted looking into summer programs, perhaps you should stay focused on getting that spreadsheet for your colleges FA deadlines and procedures put together.</p>