Need advice for my specific case -- paying for sons college -- what to do/not to do?

Parents Forum
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I already mentioned in other threads my particular case. I have three sons. One is going to college this year, second son next year and the third will be 8 years from now (not yet an issue).

I would like to thank those who already contributed and gave advice. It is already helping me form a decision, or at least giving me many options.

One best thing I’ve learned today is the automatic full-ride scholarships at some colleges (outside California)…I didn’t know that.

Anyway, as I said, I am lucky enough to make good money starting a couple of years ago that I am just starting to save up for retirement and kids college, and not lucky enough for kids to qualify for FA. I promised, and hope I could keep my job to keep my promise, to my first 2 sons that I can afford 15k each/year. That basically cover for tuition.

First son has 4.5 GPA (weighted) and 1900’ish SAT and wants to be a chemical engineer. We live in Bakersfield CA. CSUB is an option but it does not offer chemical engineering. Second option would be UC Irvine or San Diego but we have to take a loan, which could amount to 120k total for 2 sons after graduation.

Options I learned today:

  1. Apply for automatic full-ride scholarships.
  2. Go to community college first, and then transfer to UC later.

Both sound good to me and I will discuss this to my sons.

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Any other option out there?

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[QUOTE=""]
I already mentioned in other threads my particular case. I have three sons. One is going to college this year, second son next year and the third will be 8 years from now (not yet an issue).

[/QUOTE]

I would like to thank those who already contributed and gave advice. It is already helping me form a decision, or at least giving me many options.

One best thing I’ve learned today is the automatic full-ride scholarships at some colleges (outside California)…I didn’t know that.

Anyway, as I said, I am lucky enough to make good money starting a couple of years ago that I am just starting to save up for retirement and kids college, and not lucky enough for kids to qualify for FA. I promised, and hope I could keep my job to keep my promise, to my first 2 sons that I can afford 15k each/year. That basically cover for tuition.

First son has 4.5 GPA (weighted) and 1900’ish SAT and wants to be a chemical engineer. We live in Bakersfield CA. CSUB is an option but it does not offer chemical engineering. Second option would be UC Irvine or San Diego but we have to take a loan, which could amount to 120k total for 2 sons after graduation.

Options I learned today:

  1. Apply for automatic full-ride scholarships.
  2. Go to community college first, and then transfer to UC later.

Both sound good to me and I will discuss this to my sons.

<<<<

Other considerations…

Do you have a spouse that can work?

Your son’s SAT is a bit lowish for a ChemE major in Calif. ChemE is one of the most challenging majors. Many students start in that discipline and then quickly change to something else.

Kids his age rarely have a good grasp about debt. They want what they want. They’re hearing other kids saying that they’re “going to go away to…” Few want to stay home and commute, but that’s what the CSUs were best set up for.

What are his M and CR scores? I would be very hesitant to borrow for a child in this situation in order for him to attend a pricier school. The school is being chosen because of major. What if he’s weeded out quickly and changes to a major that can be easily complete at CSUB?

I think the idea of starting out at a CC is a good one in this case. If he ends up changing his major, then taking on any debt may not be necessary at all.

If he does well at his local CC and transfers to either a CalPoly/CSU or UC, then the debt load will be much less.

I would also tell him that in the meantime, he needs to work/save over summers to help pay as well.

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@dad3sons @mom2collegekids

maybe mom2 can answer this question, but would it be possible to take a gap year, study to bring up the SAT score, and retake it? if this is possible, he can bring his score up enough to qualify for full-tuition scholarships at Alabama, Ole Miss, or Alabama Huntsville.

it would help to know what the SAT scores are for CR + M

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http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/19590116/#Comment_19590116 is the thread where the OP’s discussion of the situation started.

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For the first son, that may be possible (working during the gap year – no school). His stats may qualify (depending on unweighted GPA) for a few of the full rides with chemical engineering listed in http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/ (Florida A&M, Tuskegee), but higher test scores would increase the number of choices available from that list. However, at least one of the full rides listed (Prairie View A&M) does not appear to be offered to gap year students.

The second son will have advance notice to explore merit scholarship opportunities to potentially increase the choices beyond CSUB and starting at CC to transfer to a different UC or CSU.

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How will the new SAT scoring system work for the automatic scholarship? Does any body know?

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GAP year will help me because I will have 2 sons in college that may give about 5k each in FA.

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UAHuntsville doesn’t mind if students retest during a gap year (no school at all during that time) and then apply. UAH will let you retest up until you actually enroll.

I don’t know what Ole Miss’ or Miss State’s rules are. Ole Miss used to let people retest during gap years, don’t know if that’s still true. Ole MIss is more of the eng’g school in that state. Alabama’s deadline for scores is Dec of senior year.

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@dad3sons

gap year offers some interesting possibilities. If Son 1 + 2 earn big scholarships to the same school, they could enroll together and room together and eliminate the possibility of getting a crazy roommate.

also if they live together off-campus, you only have to pay for one place rather than 2.

has son 2 taken the SAT? if not and he is a junior, i think he should.

if your boys are interested in shooting for Alabama, they should try to get their tests done now and scores in before December.

IMO the automatic scholarships for Bama, UAH, and Ole Miss are well worth shooting for.

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So, if my son take a gap year and retest for SAT, which is new SAT, will the requirement for scholarship be the same ? (CR+M) = 1420 plus)

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My second son will take SAT in June.

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Good to take the SAT as a junior, to allow a retry later if not satisfied.

Is he also considering the ACT? Some students do better on one test versus the other, so doing both may help.

As far as the automatic scholarships, colleges do change them from time to time, so it is best to recheck the colleges’ web sites for the scholarships.

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[QUOTE=""]
So, if my son take a gap year and retest for SAT, which is new SAT, will the requirement for scholarship be the same ? (CR+M) = 1420 plus)<<

[/QUOTE]

i would guess so, but just to be sure, i would contact the financial aid office of each school you are looking at, and ask them how the transition to the new SAT will affect the academic scholarships going forward.

maybe Son 1 should take June ACT or SAT too.

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Of all in the lists, Bama, Uah, and ole miss are the good ones? I will research more on these three…I am frustrated sometimes that I feel like I am doing all the researching and my son seems like already decided to go to UC which we can’t afford.

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@dad3sons

well, those are three i am looking at for my son. Bama and Ole Miss are state flagships and UAH has a good reputation for engineering. Temple is good too.

but for now, good ones on the list are ones that offer ChemEng and a big scholarship for Son 1’s current score.

BTW a number of colleges on the list are Historically Black Colleges. is your family African American by any chance?

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No…we’re not African american.

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@dad3sons

Florida A&M:

(NON-FLORIDA RESIDENTS)
Incoming high school senior with an academic core GPA of 3.50 and having a 1900 on the SAT or 29 on the ACT will receive the following over four years:
• A full four-year scholarship that pays for tuition and fees, double-occupancy room rate, and meals. STEM majors will receive a laptop. (Out-of-State value over 4-year period $114,376)

huh. that’s a pretty sweet deal. you could just give your son $5000 a year cash and come out way ahead.

19

It is a touchy subject to talk about race and I apologise in advance if I say it wrongly enough to offend someone…

however it may be something I need to discuss with my son if he is ok with that…meaning, attending historically black university…

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For all of these big scholarships, check with the school to be sure that those on gap year are eligible.