<p>SteveMA - I SO sympathize with you. Sounds kind of like my D1 X 2!!! LOL</p>
<p>Hang in there. We’ll look the other way while ya slap 'em. ;)</p>
<p>Steve- so if you take the loans out during UG and put the money in savings won’t that lower your financial aid the following year? Maybe in the long run it makes sense but it would be interesting to see how that extra cash changes FA. Will you put it under the kids names? Just trying to figure this all out. Makes really good merit scholarships at tier 2 schools look more and more appealing!</p>
<p>GC update: apparently the school offices are being renovated now. Secretary was nowhere to be found today and guidance counselor is off recruiting students for next years class. Another days delay in obtaining transcripts.</p>
<p>ahsmuoh–to be honest, I only read about this last week or a couple weeks ago and haven’t really thought the entire process through, however, you can only take $5500 out the first year so it won’t make that much difference really. We would probably put the funds in our names, but again, would have to run numbers.</p>
<p>I just had a conversation with some parents that left me EXTREMELY stressed out. I have to say catching up on a few pages of this thread though has calmed me down. lol. Stevema - glad you didn’t send off any angry letters yet about the GC!</p>
<p>6:15pm - Its definitely Wednesday Wine tonight. Let me know if you need me to have your glass for you :)</p>
<p>Several, if you can manage it, Carla. I’m hanging out with the DH tonight and he doesn’t drink…and I could sure use one.</p>
<p>ahsmuoh - if one takes the student loans out each year and puts them in parent’s savings, it will be “tagged” at 5.64 or 5.46 percent (not sure which)…$5,500 = about $310.00, which isn’t bad at all, as additional EFC from the $5,500. If it’s in the kid’s name it’s tagged at 20%, right? That’s $1,100…I’m liking putting it in parent’s savings idea more and more! Besides, it’s easier to have it in case you need it than to have to find it when you need it. AND - the kids have some skin in it, too :)</p>
<p>Sorry for so many posts…found this on the NY Times site, re - checking the box about filing for financial aid…IMPORTANT - READ IT ALL!!</p>
<p>[Part</a> 1: Answers to Readers’ Questions About Scholarships - NYTimes.com](<a href=“http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/01/guidance-office-scholarships-1/]Part”>Part 1: Answers to Readers' Questions About Scholarships - The New York Times)</p>
<p>Not Eligible for Financial Aid</p>
<p>Q.</p>
<p>We have saved for our childrens education and will not qualify for any financial aid. If we check off the box indicating that no financial aid is being requested, will my children still be considered for merit money from colleges and universities?</p>
<p> Audrey</p>
<p>A.</p>
<p>Never check off a box that says that you are not applying for financial aid. You can turn down the specific types of aid later. Some colleges will not consider your child for merit-based aid if you indicate that you do not need financial aid.</p>
<p>Most colleges practice need-blind admissions, so checking the box will not increase your chances of getting in. The main exception is when a student is admitted off the waiting list, when the colleges financial aid budget has already been exhausted. But if you need financial aid to afford college and do not apply for financial aid, you will be in a difficult financial situation. Some colleges will not award institutional grants to students who did not apply for financial aid as freshmen unless there is evidence that the familys financial circumstances have changed.</p>
<p>Congratulations to all that have already received acceptances and scholarships as well as to all that have applications submitted!</p>
<p>Just a quick comment on COA - if your child plans on attending a school in an urban area, add 30% to their allocated spending money. We underestimated the amount of spending money D11 would need and ended up having to supplement her. We really didn’t take in to consideration the occasional cab fare (for safety reasons) or that even sundries are marked up in the local stores as compared to the suburbs/rural areas. The occasion meal out (pizza, Thai, sushi) is much more expensive even though I found the kids do a good job at using coupons and finding the deals. Since parties are not n campus in the city, cover charges are the norm. At most, the girls do not pay a cover but the boys do. Even the movies cost more.</p>
<p>momofboston:</p>
<p>SOMETIMES netgrocer is a cost-saver. We used it a lot with D1. If you shop for sale item sundries it can be pretty cool.</p>
<p>[Netgrocer</a> - Online Groceries and more, delivered straight to your door!](<a href=“http://www.grocer.net/]Netgrocer”>http://www.grocer.net/)</p>
<p>An Amazon Prime account is also a good idea for any college student but especially those in high COL areas!! It’s a great way to get stuff, fast, toothbrushes to whatever else you might need.</p>
<p>Oh my gosh…if you read a story about a GA mom strangling her future theatre tech daughter, it will be me!! I couldn’t figure out why I wasn’t able to register her for her interview/portfolio at CMU during her Sleeping Bag Weekend. I put in the Common App ID thinking that was the number they needed. It kept telling me “no student found.” Well…THAT would be because Ding-a-Ling Daughter filled out the entire app, submitted supplementals, made me pay fee, assigned school officials, made me sign my part about ED, and then FAILED to submit her application! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR…</p>
<p>I am so glad her older sister and I started really looking at the Common App info page and figured it out. Now, we have to wait on the number assignend by CMU to be emailed to us and THEN I can get her registered for the interview. Very, very frustrating because there are only seven production/design slots showing for that November date. She has to have that date because she’s ED and I only plan to be in Pittsburgh ONE time! I could really throttle her right now. :(</p>
<p>At least the GC has finished his part. Now, the teachers have to get their forms done. I’m trying not to pester them, but this is kind of important and has to be done really soon. I will be so glad when all the apps are done and she is left in charge of sprucing up her portfolio and prompt books. That will be much less stressful for me.</p>
<p>ugadog99–sounds like you need to get in line for the head slappage!!!</p>
<p>It’s either going to be head slappage, or I’m going to need a whole LOT of alchohol to make it through this year!</p>
<p>Re: the Stafford Loans…I didn’t realize that a parent could take it and park it in an acct. My D11’s loans are automatically split and applied by her school each semester top her tuition bill. Because she has skin in the game she has only missed one class in three semesters and that was because she was sick. D13 will also be taking loans…</p>
<p>It’s official…DS got his 2nd acceptance to University of Colorado! That’s his #2 school and he has to wait till 01/07 for his #1 choice. He’s excited but I really don’t think the whole idea of leaving home in a year has hit him!</p>
<p>terinzak…WOOOO HOOOOOO…Congradts!!!</p>
<p>terinzak: Congratulations!!! </p>
<p>We have a long wait ahead of us for any acceptances. The life of the theatre major is just a different world.</p>
<p>I’ll have another glass of wine in your honor 
that is super frustrating ugadog99</p>
<p>It may be the wine, but I have enterred a nice - don’t worry, it will all work out somehow kind of a place. I have beaten DD over the head with my advice and warnings, so now if she is disappointed, well, it really will be all her own doing. I have done what I can. And I love her safety - its the one school that I got on the computer and set up an interview so I knew it would get done. I know she will be disappointed if that is the only school she is accepted at - but its a good school and a good fit.</p>
<p>Wow, this thread is moving fast.</p>
<p>As for meltdown - S is still having writers block when it comes to the Personal Statement. He is in full dress rehearsal for the play and has no time for anything but the play and school. All Oct 15th deadlines are no longer achievable. The last performance is the 14th. He will have to buckle down to meet the Nov 1 deadlines. <<parent vent="">>If this keeps up, he will be living at home and going to the near by University. It is a good school, but I refuse to pay for dorm if he doesn’t even apply for a scholarship.</parent></p>
<p>Good news, I took your advice and had Matt send an email to Bama scholarship. They said his scholarship offer was mailed in Sept. So it was probably lost in the mail.</p>