<p>So my big question of the day is…DS is considering three schools, but one of the schools FA offer is 7-10k more than the others. Should I ask for a re-evaluation of the award offer now or wait until he is clearer on his choice. I feel if I wait, there is more likely a chance the funds won’t be available to award any more $$, but is it rude to ask for more $$ when he hasn’t come to a final decision? What do you all think?</p>
<p>@TitanAPBioTchr – You’re definitely missing your calling. You should be doing stand-up comedy. Well, maybe what you do in front of a classroom is similar in some ways . . . I really like the bingo idea. Nothing short of genius. And also relevant for us, as we’re stuck in indecision and will not complete our college re-visits/admitted student day visits for two more weeks. Shoot me now, please.</p>
<p>@student4ever- if your child is considering this school, now is the time to ask for the very reasons you sited. Just make sure you are comparing apples to apples as best you can when you contact them. It is business, so don’t feel like you are being rude. Good luck!</p>
<p>Normally, I love ships and cruises, but this USS Indecision journey has been rough and we’ve only been at sea a few days. My normally very centered, down to earth child has become sulky, moody & indecisive. </p>
<p>Part of the problem stems from not getting enough merit aid to two of her top choices. One may give us enough money to make it work. The other is a lost cause, and frankly not a good fit. Another issue is that many of her friends’ parents either can afford, or are willing to go into debt for undergrad degrees. We are not. </p>
<p>She has two solid options and one potential, but she just wants to focus on the one LAC that she had written off as not really a good fit now that a good friend wants to attend. </p>
<p>@Agentninetynine, understand completely. Hoping turbulent seas turn calm for all of us. </p>
<p>We have a decision!! DS14 is going to RHIT next fall. It’s what he wants and while I see another school as potentially a better fit after much discussion his mind is set. I’m not a big martini fan, so can I have a gin & tonic?</p>
<p>@Agentninetynine, she’ll probably need a few days to grieve her lost options. April is the cruelest month!</p>
<p>Sounds like we are not the only household having it a rough ride on the USS Indecision - see @TitanAPBioTchr’s posts to see how it’s going for our D. I personally managed to form an opinion, finally, which I shared with D & I think it swayed her. Which of course worries me as well - it needs to be her decision. She is having a “pro-con party” with several friends next Saturday & has committed to herself to come out of it with a final decision. </p>
<p>I realized this week that one of her choices is clearly superior to the other, based on the package they are offering & some other factors. The thing that made the other so attractive however were some very kind and encouraging comments made at her audition (vocal performance) by the program director, making it sound like he would take a personal interest in her & her progress. Now to turn that school down almost feels like personally rejecting that person. But after the initial high of hearing his comments has worn off a bit, the first school really has more to offer overall. So I’ve offered my opinion to D & now I will do my best to shut up until the decision is made. </p>
<p>Congrats to those who have docked - sounds like we will be pulling into port next Saturday night either in Long Beach, CA or in Philadelphia!</p>
<p>@GertrudeMcFuzz – basing a decision on one person, i.e., the program director, could be dicey. Who knows? Maybe this summer another institution makes him an offer he can’t refuse, or he wins the California lottery, etc. and then he’s gone. That package that you’ve described earlier, in W.C. Fields’ favorite city, was simply remarkable.</p>
<p>Best of luck either way!</p>
<p>@AsleepAtTheWheel - good point! This particular individual has been there for about 15 years & pretty much built the current program from the ground up, but still - maybe that makes him even more attractive to other schools!</p>
<p>It is great to hear many choosing a final schools and that others are closing in on the final one. This Friday we are visiting Muhlenberg and the following Monday, a revisit to UVM. They are very different and it will be interesting to see which one he chooses. Originally, he wanted a small LAC but I added UVM because I have always heard such good things about it. Two of our neighbors attend and love it! Also, I wanted him to consider one mid size University to compare.
Both schools have a lot to offer for his major and the FA packages are comparable. Muhlrnberg is slightly better by about 2k more but UVM has invited him to join the honors college…I will be glad when a decision is made! </p>
<p>On another note, my nephew is being wooed by Oberlin. He recently received a 15K merit scholarship and on Friday the president of the college called him! Well this has picked up his spirits. It is nice that Oberlin is showing him the love because he was having a hard time with being WL at 6 schools and redirected by just as many. He is considering the 3/2 Cal tech program. Does anyone know anyone who has gone through one of the 3/2 engineering programs at Oberlin?</p>
<p>Captain ! Is it still happy hour? I would love a Guinness ! It is a beautiful day here in Maine - enjoyed a nice walk on the beach. The snow is finally gone from the deck and we are having burgers on the grill and yes Guinness …</p>
<p>Good luck Everyone ! </p>
<p>Ps I love the outfit and bingo story ! Such fun! </p>
<p>Wao, just got here and finally I don’t feel alone anymore:)) DS got 10 crazy acceptances out of 12 applications!! He’s narrowed it down to 3 and today he arrived at Penn for Quaker Days for 2 nights, next Friday he’s flying to NY to visit Columbia for 2 nights and last is Yale for 2 nights…Really? And all the schools are flooding him with emails, phone calls, mailings…Can’t wait for May 1st</p>
<p>@eyemamom My S found all the dorm visits pretty useless. He feels dorm rooms are all the same.
@student4ever
The ones we saw all were lofted. However, the Art House tour guide said you could rearrange the rooms however you want. I didn’t look closely but the 3D tour at <a href=“All About Your Room - Residence Halls | Housing | RIT”>http://www.rit.edu/fa/housing/content/your-room-express-yourself</a> suggests that you can lower the beds and I’ve seen this at other colleges. </p>
<p>My S had previously said that he plans to spend a lot of his time working in his room, but the presentation for his major told everyone pretty clearly to use the powerful desktops in the labs, because they are powerful (duh), because there are tutors right there to help if they have issues, and to foster the community spirit. </p>
<p>We also started visiting libraries, as these are always really good places to study and aren’t always on the standard tours. Of course, I don’t think we’ve ever visited a library we didn’t like :-)</p>
<p>@onlyonemom please keep me up-to-date on the weather in Maine. Our ship will be sailing there in a a little over a week…</p>
<p>Seems like the wheels are still turning, even though we have almost two weeks til the final campus visit. Additional research has bumped UCSC into the “it’s almost 100% official” category. She just wants to see the dorm space-- but really I think that is just a shield so that she can live with the decision for a bit before it is formally made. Today she learned that UCSC will accept more of her DE units, has a major course requirement plan that she prefers, and that the dining plan is a per meal plan – in other words, the value of what you eat isn’t deducted from your account. Instead, you have a guarantee of three meals per day, 7 days a week, as much as you want to eat at each meal. She doesn’t eat a lot, but we already budget everything, every day, and it’s very appealing for both of us that she won’t have to even think about that at UCSC. </p>
<p>And…she loves the Banana Slug mascot, lol</p>
<p>Mrspepper - will do ! Looks like it will be in the 50s all week! I know that seems cold but as long as the sun is ahinning it will be wonderful! Remember your fleece! Well you could always stop at LlBean in Freeport to pick up one! </p>
<p>@PetraElise - plus UCSC is absolutely gorgeous! </p>
<p>@Moonmaid – there is that, but if you can believe it, the woodsy quality of the school is the one thing she doesn’t like! She is a real homebody; not at all athletic or interested in trekking up hill. But literally every other aspect of the school that we have looked at is a perfect fit. D15 is chomping at the bit to hike in those woods, and get down to the beach. Yesterday at UCSD, she said something along the lines of “we need to go to the same school” – made me realize just how much she is going to miss her big sis.</p>
<p>@PetraElise - I had to google the Banana Slug. I’m glad to hear that you are nearing the finish line!</p>
<p>@smakl70 - Congratulations on a decision! </p>
<p>@ crowlady - The library is always the first thing I want to see on a tour. I am especially partial to gothic libraries with lots of dark wood trim. It brings back memories of my favorite study spot in college - a cozy nook tucked in the top floor of the library with an iron spiral staircase leading up to it. </p>
<p>@Agentninetynine - Hang in there! May I bring you another drink? </p>
<p>@GertrudeMcFuzz - Both options sound great, but I agree with AsleepAtTheWheel that making a decision on an individual is risky. </p>
<p>@Student4ever - Does S have any preference among the 3 if cost wasn’t a factor? I understand your hesitation to ask a school to match FA, if additional FA may not change the outcome. Is S going back to visit the schools? </p>
<p>Gin and tonics? Guinness? You name it, we have it onboard. </p>
<p>D is registered for her one remaining accepted student visit to Lehigh next weekend. I hope we get their FA package before we visit but if we don’t, FA will be open while we are there and I will be visiting to check the status. D is Facebooking and reading blogs and other online sources trying to connect with current students at her top two choices. She is having mixed results. She hopes to get a better understanding of the personality of the kids to try and see if she thinks she will “fit in” next fall.</p>
<p>While I will be at the helm all month, I am hoping that D will have her decision made up by the time we are back in port next Sunday afternoon. Only time will tell. </p>
<p>First officer to the bridge please. I need a martini …</p>