<p>mosb - sending you a hug, some chocolate and a massage. SAR is the report FAFSA sends you after they process your FAFSA. You check it to make sure everything is OK and nothing changed like my son’s selective service input. You then make corrections online. I’m guessing I’ll get a new SAR tomorrow to joyously repeat the process. YIPPEE!! And this is the streamlined process.</p>
<p>Another suggestion - before starting the FAFSA or the Profile - read the directions and other articles you can find online. I found the FAFSA much easier altho the Profile has a better help process. Both have good email help depts.</p>
<p>FlMathMom - I totally have your back on the melt down. I was so proud of turning in my Css profile on 12/23 to beat the first college deadline, and after the holidays when my h looked at it he found a TWENTY THOUSAND dollar error - against us, of course. ARRRRGH This is the form that cannot be corrected online.
Just finished calling all the colleges today and will need to fax them all corrections. But in the meantime I was a basket case!
Tonight I finished the FAFSA and hit the submit button.
WOO HOO
I’m not even checking for errors until Sunday, after a glass of wine :)</p>
<p>MOSB, Yes, I can relate in a tiny, tiny way. I really feel for you. I did not have to do this for myself but just for my d who made money babysitting and petsitting. It is a huge endeavor for a business, I am sure.</p>
<p>My h and my kids were totally unsympathetic about how long I worked on all these forms and after that, I reorganized d’s college folders and marked on them what else was needed to be sent or done. The applications are all in but various other forms still need submission including deposits to hold housing, tax returns, honors college applications, etc.</p>
<p>Confession: I have been putting off dealing with the Profile and FAFSA again…
sigh…After getting it done for pre-reads in October–I know its got to be done…</p>
<p>So</p>
<p>Hope everyone is enjoying a quiet January am.
On the travel thing–our kiddo has done a bit of travel alone–
For the last 3 yrs has had to fly alone for summer athletic events etc–I just ask for a text or call between transfers…
ie: I am at the gate for xyz flt
or I have met my ground transportation–talk to ya in 3 days etc…</p>
<p>As long as we know that kiddo made the destination - then we expect we wont hear much until the thing is over and kiddo is on the way back. The exception to that is when kiddo is gone 6-8 weeks during the summer for athletics–then we get texts or calls to hear how its all going (or like when kiddo was sick and wanted to know what to get from CVS etc)</p>
<p>One thing a mom of a current college student said to me that struck home was “There is NO room for mom when kiddo goes to college”…kiddo will have to be able to travel alone, naviagte airports, train stattions, book stores, pharamacies, laundrey etc…
The mom was right–it is a passage to adulthood…and I realize daily how many things kiddo relies on me/the family for that kiddo will be handling alone come next fall.</p>
<p>As for sport vs the couch–
we didn’t have any video games of any kind in our house until the last 3 yrs or so—
Our kids were outside, doing sports or playing etc., hiking in the mts, canoeing etc. Travel etc.
We suddenly realized that it was creating a bit of a “cultural vaccum” so to speak…
Anyhow - so we have a Playstation3 now…which our kids use for probably less than 10 hrs a month on avg—
Some months it doesn’t get used at all–and others (like over the holidays–the kids played many hours over that week)<br>
Part of my reticense (oops, spelling) for the gaming is I have noticed the intesity and anti-social behavior of people’s kids…I remember how obnoxious kids were (with a gameboy in their hands)–how rude they were to their mom/others in social situations. I am not a fan of the intensity/aggitation/and “instant gratification” of the gaming etc.
In our house, it the kids are snippy or whining if I ask for a chore to get done–(and have been playing waaaay too much of those video games (relative in each household) then I restict the amount of time. Frankly though–they have too many other things to do to have time for them (academics, sport etc)
Your mileage may vary.</p>
<p>Damn in-state u gave ds some stupid small scholarship which just ****es me off because it only makes it more affordable which would be what we want for every other college on the list, just not this one. I liked/loved each and every campus visit except for this one. My ds’ exact words were “You can’t make me go here.” Dh says “I am not following you, what is the bad news?” Dh is all about the money - “fit” to him means finances.</p>
<p>Didn’t tell ds, he has regional band auditions this pm so for all those musically inclined, pls send some good vibes this way.</p>
<p>Absolutely wishing him the best luck, Amanda. Hopefully some of the other schools will give near comparable aid so it isn’t such a major difference to your husband. </p>
<p>We think we may (and realize this is just a may) have d getting a full ride to a school where right now she doesn’t think she wants to go. It isn’t on her I am not going there list though and I think her thinking may change. If she did get a full ride there, it would make a lot of sense for her to go there since it has the things she wants except for one thing which shouldn’t be the major focus and that way she would have law school or grad school mostly to completely paid for. THat is a huge savings. Will we make her do that? No. But if she does get that, it just makes sense for her to go there. Now there is another school that hasn’t awarded her any merit aid yet. It does that in mid Feb. SHe has already decided no to that school. I am going to have her send in regrets this week to two schools. She already has five schools that she likes better so there really is no point in keeping these schools guessing.</p>
<p>I am sorry that his financial safety doesn’t appeal to him or to you. I hope things work out with the other schools so that you all don’t have to worry about this. Fingers are crossed!</p>
<p>Amandak: Sending good thoughts to your son! Hoping, too, that the scholarship doesn’t even come into play. We’re not loving our financial safety too much right now, so I know where you’re coming from.</p>
<p>Amanda, I understand what you mean about the state u scholarship. My daughter is applying RD everywhere, so we won’t know anything, but I’m worried that state u (the one school neither she nor I like anywhere near the others) will provide her with “too much” aid and my husband will insist she go there.</p>
<p>Amandak: I hope things work out so your son can choose a school you both like better. Unfortunately, I think that the safety schools always pale in comparison to the matches and reaches.</p>
<p>D has 2 safeties (hasn’t been accepted to the 2nd one yet, but it would be totally shocking if she were rejected). And they are state schools which would come in a lot lower in cost.</p>
<p>She would definitely cry if they are the only schools she is accepted to - I think just from pride, that she couldn’t get into any private Us or auditioned programs (11 rejections would make anyone cry!). We fortunately are not putting any financial pressure on her, but she knows that costing less has many advantages, for us and for her (we have said we’d help with grad school or equivalent if college costs a fraction of what we paid for D1). So she’ll also have a lot of hard choices if they aren’t the only schools she’s accepted to.</p>
<p>It’s fairly rare for a kid to love the school that is the safest admission and lowest cost. What a treat that is for everyone! But most kids can make it work if that’s what turns out to be their best choice, even if it isn’t what they started out wanting. My college senior has said many times in the past couple of years that she could have had an excellent experience at our flagship (her safety). She also knows that we’re lucky to live in a state where you don’t give up much quality by choosing the flagship option. And a friend’s D who transferred from the flagship has also said in retrospect that she really could have gotten everything she needed if she’d stayed. </p>
<p>It becomes apples and oranges after a point. We can say all we want that “college is what you make of it.” But people’s feelings are usually more complicated than that. Kids on this very thread are dying to get into what other kids consider their unwanted safeties … it’s such a personal decision. I hope we all can come out with a reasonable balance of cost and desire.</p>
<p>I am sorry when this becomes a family conflict. While we may see tears at our house when all the answers are in, I know my D would truly love any of the schools on her list once she gets there (or if she doesn’t, it’s because of things no one could anticipate, not because she didn’t like the schools so much when she applied). Some of this is because she researched a ton, used her gut immensely, and hasn’t found out she actually wants something else in the meantime - which is of course very natural and common. </p>
<p>She also very deliberately gave herself lots and lots of choices, so that she wouldn’t be left with just one at the end. I’m sure you all will hear how tough the deciding process will be for her, though. She only has 2-3 of the 13 schools she applied to where she’d say, “Yup, that’s it, I’m done” … but since they’re all the most expensive, I know she’ll still have a lot of thinking to do before she’d commit. So she’ll be in it until the bitter end, for sure.</p>
<p>All three in-state schools that our girl applied to are under $20K…so we won’t have to make a decision based on that, thank heaven. I’m still rooting for the closest one! After having her away for 4 years, I really want her within driving distance (not just down the hall though). </p>
<p>I hope kayakboy gets what he needs! </p>
<p>MilitaryMom – Was your husband ever stop-lossed? If so, did he get the extra money for it?</p>
<p>I am currently a senior and I enjoy reading this thread because I like to see the parent’s perspectives.</p>
<p>I thought I’d share my story.
I’m a girl from an average public school in Pennsylvania.
I applied to 6 schools in mid-October: University of Rochester, University of Pittsburgh, Rochester Institute of Technology, Juniata College, SUNY ESF, SUNY Oswego. I heard back from Pitt first - they wanted my mid year grades. That startled me a little bit, so I kind of freaked out and applied to Penn State and Drexel as well.
I got into Drexel.
I am so relieved to have that acceptance.
Despite living only about an hour away, I still haven’t visited, but it seems to be pretty close to what I’m looking for on paper. I really want to like Drexel lol.
I’m still waiting on decisions for everywhere else. When I first applied, I liked every school on my list. However, now I’m not so sure. Juniata is too rural. SUNY Oswego’s zoo technology program (the one I applied to) seems AMAZING but I think its too much of a party school. University of Rochester was my clear first choice when I applied, and it still is, but I’m not sure it’s worth the high cost, assuming I even am accepted (it’s certainly a reach).</p>
<p>I’m going to have a tough decision to make. :/</p>
