<p>expatme - </p>
<p>I’ve learned that it’s OK to just ask the public schools. When we attended an open house at University of Maryland, the dean was very honest. She said retirements, budget cuts, and a hiring freeze will reduce course offerings and increase class size through 2010. At least. </p>
<p>Privates may or may not be in the same boat, but why not just ask. </p>
<p>Good luck. And welcome!</p>
<p>FindAPlace,
Great news about fixing up that transcript. Isn’t it always a shock when these issues are handled more smoothly than we can imagine?<br>
expatme-I have been reading various College Presidents’ recent statements about how the “meltdown” may affect their schools. Lots of “spin” going on, so I don’t know how we will find a straight answer. It’s a great question you raise, though.</p>
<p>Expatme:</p>
<p>I’m not sure folks like us can know the answer to your question with any level of specificity at this stage in the budget game. I say this based on the ruminations I hear from DH, who by now is a fairly senior member of the math dept faculty at USC. In the case of USC, it’s not only how the budget impacts the university as a whole, but internal politics related to whether it will be, say, the math dept that teaches a certain class versus the engineering dept. In the case of USC, they use cost centers (and associated “revenue streams”) sometimes to determine which dept will offer a class, or whether it will be offered. Right now, there’s a strong discussion going on regarding the requirements for a course that Computer Science wants. If CS doesn’t get what they like from the math dept, they could conceivably offer said class on their own, if it’s a high enough priority for them.</p>
<p>Sorry that the answer isn’t more simple than that, but this is just a snippet of real decision making going on. I expect the “negotiations” have got to be more difficult in these economic times.</p>
<p>I am reading so many stories about colleges’ financial woes, that I wish sometimes I did not know about them.
Frankly, after reading of a particular college (S was considering it) financial problems, I am now wondering, whether S should apply.</p>
<p>ontheedge:</p>
<p>What an appropriate screen name for these times! I told my H a few months ago, when this recession was in its infancy, that it was so nice to know he was a senior, tenured faculty at a major university. When universities start shedding positions, it absolutely is time to look at things with a more critical eye. Decisions that seem to be mired in secrecy all of a sudden come down very fast, but it may take some time for not only the word to get out, but for the effects to be known.</p>
<p>We here in the 10’s are looking at this from two directions, as well. What’s going to happen to the HS our kids attend, and what about college x, y, z that they may want to apply to?</p>
<p>One of the best medicines for these anxiety producing times is to gather knowledge from a like minded group of people, within your local community or a virtual one, like this.</p>
<p>I do think that you have to consider the school’s viability as a factor in making the final decision. The downturn has impacted schools very unevenly - with some having portions of their endowment invested in some of the ponzi schemes that have collapsed - and others having a more conservative approach. This thread - warning it is a very detailed thread and not an easy skim read - I found really helpful.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/652526-will-admissions-stats-lacs-actually-decline-year.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/652526-will-admissions-stats-lacs-actually-decline-year.html</a></p>
<p>By the way - ignore the title of that thread - like many threads on CC it takes a few twists and turns - but does get into some really interesting and thought provoking stuff.</p>
<p>FAP, I agree with your last paragraph (that’s the reason I am reading CC) but I do think sometimes that indeed ignorance is bliss. 
Scualum, thanks for posting that post. I will definitely read it when I get back from my walk.</p>
<p>ontheedge, I have twins in the class of '10 and I am also thinking hard about one school in particular that we planned to look at. It’s a terrific university, but has been particularly hard hit from several angles. I’m not sure I can ask any of these questions at an info session and get a straight answer, and I don’t even know if that would be the right setting. In one sense we are more fortunate than the class of '09. We might have more time to figure out what the longer range implications are.</p>
<p>Yes I agree we are actually in a bit of a better position in relation to knowing what some of the fall out and longer term responses of different institutions will be. I feel like this is another area that is going to require diligence of keeping up with news on schools that are on our lists for major changes, or even minor changes that may effect the interests of our students.</p>
<p>Momof3sons, I do agree that the class of '09 is in limbo. I hope I am wrong.
I think, the best time to ask an Adcom about finance, is when they come to visit HS in the fall. Unfortunately, since parents can’t attend, our kids should be the ones asking.
Just a thought, Do you think the college counselor might have a better idea?</p>
<p>I don’t think the admissions office will even know… we are going to have to make an educated guess…</p>
<p>I agree with you scualum.</p>
<p>Finally submitted the FAFSA just ahead of a scholarship deadline for S1 of March 1st. There’s good news and not-so-good news. Our EFC went down $23,000 from last year. Guess which one that is…</p>
<p>The not-so-good news is that…for that to be accurate means that our savings and college savings and income have also been seriously reduced from 2008-2009.</p>
<p>Looking forward to filing for both S1 & S2 next spring…</p>
<p>Archiemom</p>
<p>Ouch</p>
<p>Imagine my shock to log on and find us off the front page!</p>
<p>DS just got his six weeks’ grades. Argh. The good news is he had a blast at the baseball tournament, has his Eagle Review set for less than two weeks from now and is headed to a rockin’ party tonight.</p>
<p>Love the kid on the couch, even as his GPA drops. He’s so happy and healthy – what’s not to love???</p>
<p>I will say, however, how discouraging some of this college mail is. He was invited to apply to a weeklong summer camp at a school, no doubt based on his good SAT scores and perhaps his minority status (though the camp says nothing about it being for minorities). However, it’s only for top 10%ers. I wish rank wasn’t so important. Oh well.</p>
<p>There are times I’m very happy our school system does not rank!!</p>
<p>Youdon’tsay, I agree that we have to “love the kid on the couch.” Could you kindly remind me of this on an hourly basis? I have one who has spent almost the entire day “playing” on the computer. I mean playing. Bowling games, simulated baseball games, etc. It would really be nice if for once he would tackle his (immense) workload before Sunday and before stressing me out. And believe me, I know that he is the one headed off to college, not me. Nonetheless, having stressed that it is important to do as well as you possibly can so that you have more choices, it’s hard at times to watch him “operate.”</p>
<p>Oh, I know it! ^^^ Also in the mail was a brochure from his no. 1 choice school, a reach. I’m hoping he gets the ironic juxtaposition between the brochure, the camp for which he’s not eligible based on rank and the less-than-stellar report card. But probably not. Harumph.</p>
<p>And he IS in the office working on his Life Purpose Statement for Eagle right now and DID pitch in his tournament game this morning. He’s a great kid, really. We splurged after the game and went out to eat, and the four of us (ds2 was there) had the most WONDERFUL lunch, just sitting and talking for a long time. Usually, ds1 is the first to finish, looks up from his plate and says “Everyone ready to go?” while we’re still in midbite. But today, maybe because he’s been gone from the house since Wednesday, he just lingered over his food and we reminisced about the boys’ past sports teams and the guys talked about their favorite music and it was just so damn pleasant! I don’t want to ruin the mood! And maybe I’m feeling optimistic about the NYT story today about how colleges might increase financial aid in this economy. And, really, he’s worked hard to bring up that BC Cal grade, staying in to do homework at lunch with the teacher.</p>
<p>Wow, I feel so chill right now. I should have grilled shrimp for lunch more often! 
I need to remember this feeling for the bumpy months ahead!!</p>
<p>momof3sons - I have a son like that too. He’s only 12, but he’s so relaxed about things, and into having a good time. It’s hard to make him understand that he’s reducing his choices for things in his future by taking it a little too easy now. I can’t really blame him - he’s 12 - but I hate to see options slipping away.</p>
<p>Youdon’tsay - thanks for getting us off of p. 2 - I noticed that we had slipped behind a little, but just had nothing to say - for a change.</p>
<p>Thanks for the reminder about loving the kid on the couch.</p>