<p>^^ I was about to add School-based loan but @mathmomvt already mentioned. I was looking at this last night and Princeton has the most favorable parent-loan/student-loan school base loan amongst the Ivies. </p>
<p>I was enjoying the mom prom posts. I am actually going to Mom Prom next weekend! My DS goes to an all-boys school and a senior tradition is the mother-son Mom Prom! We even attended dance lessons sponsored by the Mothers’ Club last weekend! Been a lot of years since my LAST prom!</p>
<p>@Maryjay60–that sounds like fun! Kind of like Cotillion but they weren’t tall enough to dance with back then.</p>
<p>At least you won’t have to wear a long white dress to this prom.</p>
<p>Re: Declining applicants at some schools- I know my D applied to more “lottery schools” than my S did. I feel like we were smarter about it this time. He even dropped one that sounded great on paper but wasn’t as great when we went to visit- he didn’t like the vibe he got from the students on campus. When it came down to writing those essays, he asked me if it was OK if he didn’t apply there. I asked why and he said he’d go to the schools he’d already been accepted to before he’d go there anyway. I told him that was good insight and was happy to save the $100 or so each application costs (between application fee, sending scores, and CSS fees). Perhaps other kids are realizing that it isn’t worth it when you know the likelihood of getting in is so small- unless you really, really loved it. </p>
<p>Wow! A lot of posts since my last visit.</p>
<p>Congratulations calla and cakeisgreat on the writing awards!</p>
<p>@Barnardmom your prom sounds a lot like ours absent the Mom Prom part. What a fun idea! Around here the Friday before prom is known as “Senior Cut Day.” Every year the administration attempts measures to end this practice but they have been largely unsuccessful. What I find ironic about D’s prom is that after hours of appointments, primping and pictures, the kids usually have dinner at a country club or restaurant then spend about an hour at prom before heading to the after prom beach houses. It seems like a colossal waste of money to make a “showing.” It is so ridiculous that D (who has been to prom before) said that she and her boyfriend have decided to opt out this year. </p>
<p>I too have been reading the Villanova thread and it is hitting uncomfortably close to home. I won’t let D borrow more than 25k (unsubsidized), but I am not sure how I can manage the difference, even after merit aid. Although she is still waiting to hear from several schools, I anticipate similar outcomes (not the big difference in schools applied to like Villanova case). Sadly. D is getting caught in the stepparent and noncustodial parent financial aid quick sand:(. </p>
<p>Congratulations to all on the recent awards!</p>
<p>Prom is not such a big deal around here I guess. Don’t get me wrong – the girls definitely get primped up but since it is a Saturday nobody has to cut school and we don’t have the grand march. Almost everyone goes and if you don’t have a date you just go with a bunch of friends. People do rent limos and party buses because after the obligatory group pictures at someone’s house they all troop down to DC and get some scenic shots at various monuments. Then they use it to get to prom, then afterwards to go to someone’s house for the after-party.</p>
<p>BUT what is a big deal at DS’s school are the prom askings. They are very elaborate and well thought out. In fact, one of them went viral last year and was featured on College Humor and a bunch of other sites. If you Google “prom asking birth” it will be the first result. Many of the askings involve live music, sets, choreography, serenades, sometimes all at once!</p>
<p>One more week of waiting. D has been accepted to 4 colleges, and is waiting on one more. Me, I would have decided already and moved ahead. She wants to know all the options. One more week.</p>
<p>Got some major frustration going on. Son '14 is so tired of hacking, blowing his nose and not getting quality sleep, so he asked that I call the doctor’s office and explain that he is still having all the flu effects but needs something stronger to knock out the infection. Hopefully the new meds will make him better. He is worried that he will be unable to run in his regional indoor meet Saturday. At first, I thought, well that’s nice but you’ve qualified for states later in the month, just relax. Then, he told me that he needed to get better to run on a particular relay team. He could be the difference between two friends being able to go to states or not. Neither will make it individually. This is that important to him. So we need him well.</p>
<p>My S received his acceptance to his first choice school on Friday. After the initial excitement, I started going through the worrying phase. What if they don’t give him enough money to go there? Next was a guilt phase-if they don’t give him enough, it will be my decision to say no, we can’t afford it. I think I am actually entering a calm phase now- at least it’s no longer in their hands, there is something I can do about it if I chose to.</p>
<p>What a range of emotions! I never thought this process would be so draining!</p>
<p>Congrats on all the awards and acceptance.
@jrmama496, well put. I go through the same emotions. At home, I have been purposely downplaying the “love” for any school for that reason.</p>
<p>Yep, can relate to the range of emotions as well. So much seems up in the air right now, & in the end my DD is going to leave home. Waaa! But it’s as it should be. </p>
<p>Anyway - big week around here. We are off on an adventure to Temple U - D is auditioning for the music department & we have 2 full days of visiting classes & choir rehearsals set up. Coming from CA, this will be her one shot to get a feel for the program there. It’s BY FAR the best deal so far, so I’m hoping she falls in love. Also, the Tulane forum is starting to buzz about the full tuition scholarship decisions - everyone should hear late this week if it is the same as last year. Hang in there everyone!</p>
<p>It great to read about all the acceptances and awards! It makes me feel great!</p>
<p>I love the prom stories and wish my son would consider going to the Prom…I tried to explain that it is different than a regular dance but I know he will not end up going…</p>
<p>About loans…I told my son we have x amount of $$ for college and we do not want him to have more than 20K. He wants to go to graduate school and would like to use the college fund for grad school. He is being very practical and will probably attend the college that gives him the best offer. I say good for him but he also has to pick the school that will give him the best odds of getting into a top graduate program…trade offs…</p>
<p>congrats @jrmama – hope the financial aid offer ends up being a pleasant surprise! </p>
<p>@4beardolls, I too am downplaying the “love” for DS’s favorite school, that I think will put us in a similar position (accept him with a small merit scholarship and not enough need-based aid to make it reasonable, especially compared to other schools where he will get NMF money)</p>
<p>Love the mom prom limo idea!
mom reads-hope your son feels better. That’s a lot of pressure to be under for others especially when he has little control on recovering from his flu. I feel for him and am hoping for the best.
Feeling somewhat stressed about what I know is going to be a seasick ride on the USS Indecision. DS applied to over 15 schools. He’s not sure where he wants to go. Of the 10 or so he is still waiting on for decisions, most all are lottery schools. Some he hasn’t visited. If he would get into any of those schools I am not sure what would happen-i.e. how we could visit and help him narrow down. THe reality of having to decide in 4 weeks makes me really anxious. As it gets closer I am really reluctant to send him to a school that requires a plane flight. Ugh, I feel like I am such a bad mom. He is getting a lot of pressure. People think he is going to Harvard or something. (He didn’t even apply) He is feeling a weird pressure of letting these people down by not winning the top scholarships and going to a school that they deem worthwhile. We are stressing that he needs to go to the place that he likes and these people don’t really know anything about him. I think they mean well, but…He is very much his own person so it is unsettling to see him concerned in this way. Anyone make it through that four week process with an undecided kid successfully and have some advice?</p>
<p>That’s the way to do it @onlyonemom We told d we could pay X per year. If she comes in under budget, we have money to buy her a car at graduation (we had to get one for oldest d during her college years). Over budget, and she’ll need loans. Then we left it with her. She picked the full tuition deal and, assuming everybody stays employed, will be car shopping after she graduates. Grad school’s on them. Not opening that can of worms. </p>
<p>@momreads - What a great guy you’ve got there! Hoping new meds can knock the flu out of his system, and he’ll be as good as ever in the next day or two. Wishing everyone on his relay team best and state qualifying times Saturday!</p>
<p>D’14 had a great Regional Champs this weekend and qualified for States in both her relay and individual event! She dropped over 3 secs in both her individual events, and although she didn’t make States in her 2d event, was especially happy as it beat her personal best time from 4 years ago.</p>
<p>@jrmama496 and 4beardolls - right there with you! D’14 has 7 schools with 1 April notification date. Also downplaying the “love” for any school. Would love for her to be able to choose among her acceptances, but reality is financial aid is going to play a huge role.</p>
<p>@GertrudeMcFuzz - best wishes to your D on her Temple audition and Tulane notification!</p>
<p>I can’t believe we did this - sitting here just now D and I started to read about Westminster Choir College at Rider University, which we were sort of aware of but had not researched, and D just up and submitted an application - It is February 17 for goodness sake. Oy! That means yet another trip east to audition in March. We might even try to “swing by” while we are visiting Temple. Nothing like doing things last minute…</p>
<p>@GertrudeMcFuzz - had to chuckle when I read your last post! So glad you’re able to fit in a trip to Rider. Who knows - it may be the one, and may offer great scholarships! Better to apply than not, always wondering whether Rider was the perfect fit.</p>
<p>@1dilecon - that’s what we figured - it sounds silly now, but if she ends up going there, it won’t be so silly! D actually got pretty excited reading about the college. I guess it’s not over until it’s over…</p>
<p>@GertrudeMcFuzz - definitely! Sounds like she has a very exciting month ahead of her with auditions and visits!</p>