If you are at a Yeshiva, I’d also check to be sure you have completed the required coursework for non-secular colleges. Google the common data set for colleges of interest and it will list recommend/required coursework.
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Do parents have to cosign for federal student loans?
Do parents have to co-sign for federal student loans?
No, they do not. That one is the student’s loan.
There is another type of federal loan called a Parent PLUS loan, which is a loan to parents for educational purposes. Parents do sign for that one.
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No, the student is eligible for the Direct Loan in their name only. BUT…the parents and student MUST complete the FAFSA form for this eligibility. And for freshmen, it’s $5500 for the whole year.
And the FAFSA will need to be completed annually for the student to be eligible for the federally funded Direct Loan in subsequent years.
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I agree with everyone else that having your mom with you on a tour will not make a difference in your acceptance decisions and neither will how you dress. Most tours are led by students who have absolutely no decision making power. If an admissions officer is present, they will be leading a large information session and will not know who you are or your name. And even if they did, it wouldn’t matter.
I like the idea of going on your first tour someplace you don’t care about, just so you can get your feet wet about how tours work. That will likely put your mind at ease.
Can you go with your dad instead of your mother, since she’s so busy? And promise her that when you choose your top two or three, you’ll go on an additional/repeat tour with her (same place) so as to respect her time since she is so busy?
Do you have any older brothers? Were they allowed to go to a secular college?
Also, yeshiva university seems to have a good post-college accelerated nursing program. I know you don’t want to be orthodox any longer, but again— the end game. If she thought you were interested in that program (which requires a bachelors degree from somewhere else) would that help make college more possible?
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Also adding, tours are not required for admission. You don’t have to go on any.
My kid was applying during Covid—no tours at all.
In your case, I would recommend a couple just because college is likely to be a bit of a culture shock and it might help you to see what you like —but again, absolutely not required.
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You have many resources now that don’t involve actually going on a campus.
Not so long ago (2020) many kids committed to college without seeing a school. And even before that, it was very common. Do virtual tours, get in touch with students via social media if possible, use the websites Niche, Unigo, and Reddit to get a feeling of the campus atmosphere.
Going on a campus tour without your mom seems unrealistic. NO college is going to ding you if your mom is there asking annoying questions so just get through the tour if you really want to see a campus in person.
Your bigger issue is cost. If you can keep up your grades and get an even higher test score, Binghamton is a good option. It likes high stats students. You might get a really good scholarship which would make it affordable. It has a nursing school, a large and active Jewish community, many activities, and is big enough that you can be whoever you want to be.
It’s also in a small city/large town with plenty of local businesses. I suspect in the summer, there is plenty of work for college students who want to earn money outside the academic year. If you truly have to pay for this all on your own, earning money will be important. And based on your academic interests, you should be able to get the medical experience you need because there are at least 2 hospitals in the area.
I think you need to focus on a college that is going to give you a lot of FA or big scholarships. There are a number of colleges that will give you a full ride for high GPA and test scores. You can Google a list, but it will be incomplete.
I also suggest you start a thread for College suggestions and selection by providing your stats, pertinent information, and college goals. College Search & Lists - College Confidential Forums
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Where do kids from your current school go to college ? Surely some do. Is there any leader at your current school you can talk to - not about not practicing but helping you with college ?
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Agree. I posted above that this student should do a chance me/match me thread and also posted how to do so.
All they have to do is scroll up a bit!
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Psych NP is now recognized and its own schooling. You can go to grad school only for psych NP. However, one must understand that psych NP training is very limiting with job prospects.
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BTW, there is no evaluation of you whatsoever when you do a college tour. You can wear whatever you like.
If you are also doing an interview on campus before or after the tour, just do your best to look neat and presentable. Interviews are primarily a way for you to learn more about the college by asking questions, and show even more interest at schools that consider interviews. Brandeis considers interviews, while Bing doesn’t offer them, as two examples. (That information is from the Common Data Set, section C7, for each college.)
There are also websites such as College Data and Parchment where you can get more information about the percentage of students receiving “gift aid” (scholarships, primarily.)
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In my experience, a student can ask for an interview but it is in no way required. Has your experience differed?
I’m not clear what you mean exactly. Some colleges offer no interviews at all, Bing being one of them. Certainly, you can talk to people in admissions, but it isn’t an interview.
Other colleges offer interviews on or off campus. I am not sure how many colleges require interviews, but I think that number is very, very small and probably confined to niche programs or colleges. Some colleges conduct alumni interviews, others use admissions officers to conduct interviews when they are on the road. At some colleges, interviews are evaluative, but most colleges state their interviews are not evaluative. It varies widely.
Each college will provide information on its interview process on their website, if they offer them.
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Does Bing offer a full ride to OOS?
I’m not clear where this student actually lives. If they are instate for Ohio public universities, they will not receive a full free ride at any SUNY school…unless they are a tippy top student.
This student has been asked a couple of times to do a chance me/match me thread which would give folks here a more complete picture and ability to make better suggestions that might align with costs.
@EastH could you please do that? Or at the very least, post your GPA, class rank, SAT or ACT scores.
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Since they named three Ohio publics, I’m guessing it’s where they are.
It does not seem like the student is seeking a chance me per se but more guidance how they can even get their parent to agree to let them go to college.
A chance me at this point seems premature - they are seeking a way to free themselves.
I’m sure prior students at their school have and they might talk to them or their school themselves. They are not the first in this situation and no doubt some have transitioned.
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OP, you need to play the long game here, so you may need to do some things differently than you’d like.
Let your mom come on the tours. You won’t be judged for this. And do everything you can to make her comfortable with your choice of school, so if that means meeting with the school’s rabbi, checking out Hillel, etc., do it. Talk about your plans in ways she can understand - like wanting to serve and heal, if that matters to her. The first step in your plan is moving out of your home and to college.
Once you’re away, you can begin to work on more independence and choices. You’ll have 4 years to move out of your parents’ orbit, so you can do what you need to in order to appease her and achieve your own goals. Honestly, the 4 years will be good - You’ll get to build your own support network, figure out what kind of spiritual life you want to have, determine how to support yourself, etc. Again, your goal is to succeed, so building and executing your plan brick by brick will serve you well, even if you want to just get away now.
A dear friend’s dad was an orthodox rabbi, and her exit from that life was difficult and continues to have ramifications for her decades later, from the relationships her kids had (or didn’t) with grandparents, to who in her family would talk to her, etc.
Wishing you patience and perseverance.
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Yes, and instate too. Presidential scholarships cover COA. I suspect this student is instate for NY, but if this student gets a good scholarship, that might make COA affordable. They actively court high stats students in and out of state.
Bing does have alumni scholarships too, but I think students need to create an account to see them. Or the OP can contact the FA office at Bing and ask what other scholarships are available.
OP, my son attended Bing. It seems like you want to explore new people and cultures, but you need an option that will satisfy your mother. Bing does have a good percentage of Jewish students, but I didn’t realize for most of the time my son was there that the Jewish community at Bing was so active. In other words, it is not the dominant force on campus, which could be a plus for you.
There are other SUNY’s that offer nursing and scholarships, which might be a bit easier to get into than Bing. Bing is quite competitive, especially the nursing program. New York is a big state and the SUNY and CUNY schools are excellent and affordable.
Your upward trend in grades this past year will help you a lot, but for the very most competitive scholarships, your freshman year grades could be an issue. That’s why you want to get the very best grades you can going forward and try to attain a really high test score. I also suggest you try the SAT, as it has better free test prep materials via College Board. I suspect you might also be able to do well on that test.
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I assumed Ohio - but just based on the 3 schools they named. Good to know they’ll chase you even OOS if they are.
Are you a rising junior or rising senior ?
If you are a rising senior, can you take the PSAT test this fall? If a rising sr, did you take the PSAT test last year?
As for creating a chance me thread, I would only do that if you are a rising senior. Because your finances for college are uncertain, it would be helpful if we knew how much mom could contribute to college and whether you would qualify for need based aid. Your college list will be completely different if you are on your own to pay for college compared to the list if your mom is contributing.
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