<p>Curious if anyone got an email from Questbridge College Prep Scholarship. My son got one today saying they received the info from College Board. He did take the February SAT but scores aren’t out yet.</p>
<p>Re: school size - I’m in the mid-sized school camp myself. I really don’t like the big city schools that are so integrated into the city that there’s no real “campus”. I definitely like the ones that are a bit more isolated. My d seems to be more interested in the small to mid-sized schools. </p>
<p>We attended that college fair last night. D spoke to 8 reps and had her bar code scanned by them. We went focused almost exclusively on one major field. She’s worried that she’s wasting time looking into it when she’s not sure what she wants to do. I told her no time is wasted if it helps you choose or eliminate a career path. The 8 schools ranged from a couple state schools (not the big one) to OOS private schools (very small to quite large). I think it was good practice for her to talk with the reps to have these conversations with someone besides me. We did learn something new (and important) about a school I had been reading quite a bit about. I know many of you think these are a waste of time, and I know they’re not for everyone, but I’m glad we went.</p>
<p>My daughter received that email. She received it about a week or two ago. </p>
<p>I wonder if all juniors got it. Is your DD applying, 3girls?</p>
<p>Sorry, been busy, and quite a bit behind on the thread.</p>
<p>Welcome to new members and warm thoughts to all the snowbound. When I asked my D if she had given any thought to the type of college she wanted, she informed me " Small, coed, rural area, Catholic…preferably Jesuit…within 5 hours of driving time." Well this really narrowed the choices. She also was decisive about her major (I always believe could change) and we needed a place that would offer a 6/7 year straight to doctorate program. </p>
<p>She has loved all the LAC visits so far but the price tags worry us. Have saved for many years and although comfortable (won’t qualify for aid) can’t imagine how we will pay $60 K a year. She works hard and grades are good, but probably not high enough for merit. I did ask her to at least visit one state school (smallest with her interest) just for comparison.</p>
<p>D is packed and ready for Paris 
Most students have heard from their host families, but not us so far. Was worried but teacher not concerned. There are all sort of contingency plans since we just got the call that school closed tomorrow and now we have to get the students to the school for bus to the airport. Just hoping that flight is able to leave. :-S When her class returns next week, we have another college visit…making 7 with 5 to go!</p>
<p>Best of luck and safe trips for all venturing out in the snow! </p>
<p>Safe travels tomorrow as your daughter heads for Paris. She will have a great time!! My friend’s son is in New Zealand. We also got the call that school is closed tomorrow. I suspect we will also have a delay or closure on Friday. </p>
<p>Eerboco your D really seems to know what she wants!! I am hoping that after the next 2 trips ( Feb and April) mine can at least tell me something… anything!!! </p>
<p>re: “unaffordable schools” i just wanted to add that the cc merit aid guru, curmudgeon, suggests that kids should apply to a school that they can’t afford, just to get their target schools to sit up, take notice, and make a serious offer. he talked about how every college wants to be able to brag that a kid passed on a hyps-type school to attend their school…</p>
<p>That is interesting, but how would a financial safety school know that you are applying to a school that you can’t afford? Do they see where you are applying? </p>
<p>My D got the quest bridge invitation last week, and another one today. We really didn’t read it carefully, though, since I believe quest bridge is for very low income students only. </p>
<p>@eerboco – I hope your D has a fantastic trip. My D was in Paris earlier this year with her French class and had a fantastic time. It was hard for me, though, to have her so far away. My friend’s child is Catholic and has applied to a good number of Jesuit schools this year – most have been VERY generous with merit aid, so take that into consideration when you are looking at that $60K/year tuition they list. In fact, they seem to be the most generous schools on her list, and most have non-binding EA (so they already have the acceptances and offers in hand). </p>
<p>I don’t understand how getting into HYP is going to help someone get a scholarship at a different school, but then I don’t know anyone who has successfully “bargained” for more aid, either.</p>
<p>I wasn’t even aware that students/parents could “bargain” for more aid until last year. One of my students had several acceptances, but even with the merit aid, his top choice was still out of the comfortable range for his family. The guidance counselor suggested calling the school and explaining that this was his first pick but without add’l money it was a no go. She told him there was nothing to lose. He received an add’l $8000 per yr. in merit and now attends. We should all keep this in mind.</p>
<p>And thanks MamaBear16 for the encouraging words about Jesuit schools. I also agree that I am so grateful for my D to have this opportunity but like all good mama bears, I will worry and miss her terribly.</p>
<p>I don’t think D would qualify for Questbridge so she is not planning to apply. </p>
<p>Eerboco, I hope your daughter gets out successfully and has a wonderful trip to Paris. It sounds fantastic. My D’s orchestra traveled to Spain last summer and they thoroughly enjoyed themselves. </p>
<p>Oh I get it LOL - you are actually telling the school and trying to bargain with them 
Thanks for the tip!</p>
<p>Trying to catch up with all the posts, slowly making progress. Spent all day yesterday trying to change our flights out Thurs to today. Got us on a flight to Iowa today out of BWI and added another college to visit since we would be spending one more day out there. Made it as far as the airport, only to be told we could get to Detroit, but no farther. Briefly toyed with the idea of flying to Chicago renting a car and driving to Iowa, but common sense prevailed at the last minute. So entire college trip is cancelled, I want to cross hard to get to schools off son’s list, he does not.</p>
<p>Hope everyone else has better luck and stay safe and warm.</p>
<p>Mom24, that is terrible. It’s too bad because the weather in the midwest is pretty calm right now. Must be problems getting the planes TO Detroit (from places on the east coast where the weather is bad) to fly farther west.</p>
<p>@twogirls - yes, you can tell the school the other places your child is applying, but also the FAFSA reveals all the schools you are applying to…supposedly it’s a good idea to list your schools in alphabetical order, so that there’s no way to reveal what your first (and last) choices are. many people just automatically list their schools in order of preference, and it was tipping the schools off… <a href=“A Dirty Little FAFSA Secret”>http://www.thecollegesolution.com/a-dirty-little-fafsa-secret/</a></p>
<p>@Mom24boys – if it’s that hard to get to those schools just to visit, consider carefully the travel hassles if your kid were to actually go to college there. Would it be worth it??</p>
<p>Hi all, am checking in after a very long absence on this thread - too much to do in too little time, and age slowing the good old grey cells down;). Welcome to all new members, and hello again to the established ones. Good luck to all - I really love catching up on here, it is so helpful and informative:)</p>
<p>Researchmum, I feel the same way!</p>
<p>Good news for my son. He retook the SAT earlier in the month and got his scores and broke 2200. I was surprised since he thought he’d done terrible on the CR. The biggest thrill is the 750 in math since he has a math disability. His essay score was still bad, a 6 instead of a 5 (and that’s with keyboarding), but since he didn’t miss any MC questions, it was ok! :-)</p>
<p>I don’t know if he’ll end up going anywhere to college because of his health issues, but I am glad he can feel good about his efforts on this one test at least.</p>
<p>Excellent score sbjdorio.</p>
<p>Congrats to your son, sjbdorlo!</p>