<p>I also lurk around this site a lot. My dd has a 3.26 and a 3.47 weighted. She applied to 6 schools and got into all of them except TCU which was a long shoot. She even got into a nationally ranked program to a midwest school that had requirements far above what she had. She has test anxiety and had a panic attack in an ACT test. Both SAT and ACT scores were marginal. She writes very well and we think this may have led to her acceptance of all the schools except TCU that she applied for. She also looks very average on paper in terms of activities. I’m happy to say that she was excepted into her first choice after deciding to change her major and will be attending the University of AZ for F13! So glad we are done with all the waiting.</p>
<p>I’m reading with pain and empathy all the posts by parents who are anticipating that their kids will have to choose the college that offers them the best FA package, which in most cases won’t be their kid’s or their first choice. I hope we all keep in mind that this will likely all work out just fine.</p>
<p>Back in the Dark Ages (early 70s) , I had to choose a college based on money. And I’m guessing many parents here made similar choices. My first choice college (and my Dad’s) just didn’t give me enough dough, and off I went to #2, the Big School, an entirely different experience than I would have had at #2, the LAC, I’m sure.</p>
<p>The difference in the FA packages was fat merit aid, because I was likely above the 75th %-ile in their stats. (I doubt I even realized that then.) It was a wonderful 4 years, I graduated at the top of the class nearly debt-free, and boy did I squeeze every dollar’s worth of education and opportunity out of my scholarship dollars there! With my awesome GPA, I was later able to attend an Ivy league school for both my masters degree and JD, and yes, gathered a bit more debt at those programs but I knew it would be worth it at that stage. </p>
<p>It was one of the first big lessons about the unfairness of life, and the real need to sometimes make tough decisions based primarily on finances. AND that it likely will all work out for the best, college will be what YOU make it regardless of where you go, and there is no shame in going where the money is. In fact, it’s probably a brilliant thing to do.</p>
<p>The hardest part was seeing my Dad’s disappointment when he and I faced the truth that it made no sense to rack-up big debt to go to #1 school. (My family could not give me nor any of my sibs $$$ toward college, although they desperately wanted all of us to attend.) He and I both got over it. </p>
<p>I know we all want to give our kids opportunities we didn’t have. But coaching them in making prudent financial decisions, and modeling how to get over money disappointments is such a great gift. I try to remind myself not to underestimate that. Not easy I know. </p>
<p>Hugs to all of you wrestling with this, and losing sleep over it, in the next few weeks.</p>
<p>Joisymom, add “Not Crazy, Not Snarky” to title, you have so many characters available though…LOL…
I am sure you can come up with something very creative… :)</p>
<p>Agree with the snarkiness, some people have to keep coming back and coming back and always have the last word, because they are right and everybody else is wrong…I usually avoid those threads!</p>
<p>As most of you know, my daughter is holding out for dream school RD Decision. Her web status just changed to ‘Decision Reached’ which means the nail biting begins now waiting for the mail. I don’t think my daughter has logged in to check her status, I will wait to see how many days elapse before she even realizes. She is definitely more laid back about everything than I am.</p>
<p>Still no FA from anywhere. I assume that FA will come in this decision if she gets accepted. She was Rolled to Regular Decision so there the odds are not in her favor.</p>
<p>mdnhmass - my daughter had a melt down right after the EA applications were complete and made some stupid decisions - almost got suspended. Luckily this was ‘after’ the applications had gone in so we didn’t have to report disciplinary action and it hasn’t come up on anything since then. She then pulled out her best term grades ever. So, it’s just crazy for these kids right now.</p>
<p>Jane, thanks for the reminder that we should not get caught up with going overboard to send our kids somewhere that really isn’t necessary. I so want to let my daughter go to dream school (if she gets accepted), but I have to hold back and wait for FA and make a rational decision.</p>
<p>coralbrook, sending positive vibes your way - hope that your D gets accepted with lots of $</p>
<p>@Joisy
You can call your new thread THE RELAXED PARENTS OF 2015, NON-COMPETITIVE FAMILY THREAD or THE SUPPORTIVE COLLEGE THREAD OF 2015.</p>
<p>Alternatively, I’d enjoy reading a thread called The Real Housewives of CC.</p>
<p>Seattle, then “No Boys Allowed”. :)</p>
<p>Got our 1st FA pkg this morning. The internet is a wonderful thing. My DS got an email this morning that his FA info was available online through his UNH portal. </p>
<p>Actually got more than I expected! Hopefully others will start rolling in now so we can make some decisions.</p>
<p>So NPRMom, I’m guessing you’d suggest I steer clear of naming it: “Don’t Be a &*%$ - 2105 Parents”? Maybe I should offer a prize for the best name suggestion…</p>
<p>Got our 1st FA pkg info today. Actually got more than I expected. How sad is it that it is rather exciting getting FA info?! Bring on the rest!!</p>
<p>Question: how does Federal work study work? Does the student go through the regular office for campus jobs? Are some jobs work study and others not work study?</p>
<p>Hey, Joisymom, I think just having 2105 in the thread title would be enough of an attention getter!</p>
<p>ConfusedMom - Work Study is handled differently at each college, but in general, the job postings go up in early summer and they will clearly say if they are for work study students or open to all. At my sons college, for instance, all of the IT and library jobs are work study only. That was not the case at my other son’s college. Every college has some sort of on-line job board.</p>
<p>kathiep-thanks for the info.</p>
<p>I’ve been off the grid <literally> for several days but wanted to throw in one comment re: colleges rescinding acceptances. (Plus that I love the thought of a “Kindler, Gentler Class of 2015” thread, although my '13er is my last.) This topic comes up every year and the consensus is that unless you’re talking about the tippy-top schools (which I assume none of us are), it’s extremely rare for this to happen, even with a fairly substantial drop in final semester grades. Several years ago there was a “Who actually knows someone whose acceptance was rescinded” thread and in just about every case, it had to do with behavior, not grades. (e.g., arrests, kid stopped going to school, . . . .) I agree best not to tell your kids this, but chances are all of our kids will be fine.</literally></p>
<p>Thanks, MyLB, for the info. Glad your power is back on.</p>
<p>Thanks MyLB. Makes me feel better.</p>
<p>yes sirrie</p>
<p>Happy to report DS received $ from Marlboro and, even more exciting, got accepted to Puget Sound! The kid is 9-3-1. I tell you, last year my husband and I were wondering if he was going to have to go to CC because he couldn’t get in to a four year college. And he’s doing better than ever in HS. Late bloomer, indeed.</p>
<p>^^^fantastic news, pkdof13!</p>
<p>Wonderful news about Puget Sound! DS and I are headed there next week for a second visit.</p>