I would just like to say thanks again to everyone on this forum for being so supportive, encouraging and respectful of people’s opinions. Unfortunately , not everyone on CC is as courteous. A response of “duh” and "you’re irrelevant " hardly sounds respectful to me.
Thanks!
MSU offers a limited number of competitive scholarship for NMF which cover about half the cost of attendance at in-state cost. We went ahead with the deposit while holding our breath for hope of getting at least that scholarship. Getting the higher award made her decision easy.
I feel for you and everyone else still going through the application process. This whole thing has been one of the more challenging things that I have faced. It is made even harder because a parent just helps the process along, but has no real control of the process as they do with their own life challenges. At our house, I researched the Universites that offer good merit aid for her situation and narrowed it down to ones she might like and then further narrowed the list down geographically. I kept track of all due dates and gave pointers and reminders. She did the rest and would not even allow me to double check or aid in entry of basic info on the apps. She made some mistakes along the way that were very frustrating for me to watch. She also procrastinated more than I wanted (although not to the last minute). The procrastination was surprising and I was not sure what to do about this since she completes all school work with no involvement from us.
Good luck and virtual hugs to help you along with this difficult, lengthy process.
Yesterday at 10:59 am
@momofsmartdancer Congrats to your daughter. She had the benefit of knowing what her first choice is , and it sounds like her attending her first choice was not dependent on her receiving the top merit award. My son has two choices that are neck and neck with the other 2 close behind. Hopefully after his next overnight visit the first weekend in Feb, his top choice will become much clearer. I’d love to be on your position right now. He has 5 more essays to write for scholarship opportunities at one of his schools which is most likely out of reach unless he receives higher merit. It is not his top choice and I’ve asked him if he really wants to continue with this application , and he assures me that he does. So we wait. Ugh.
Popping back in to the forum after a massive two-week trip to Israel (with short layovers in London and Helsinki). For those talking about a blow-out trip before college many pages ago, this was it for us. My husband lived in Israel for years and we finally decided, if not now, when … plus spending money before FAFSA deadline, amirite?
The trip was amazing and we saw the Old City, swam in the Dead Sea, were in Nazareth for Christmas, among many other things … a once in a lifetime trip for sure, with NO major travel hiccups. It did take us three flights and 32 hours of travel to wend our way back home, and we are happy to be back!
My D has had no more college news and doesn’t really expect any until late March – unless she gets very lucky indeed with a scholarship (and admission) notification for USC at the end of the month. Otherwise, it’s just the long wait for final three RDs and updated/final word of merit and financial aid.
Congrats to all on the admissions and final touches on apps. I actually did go back and read them all!
@carolinamom2boys I’ve stepped into some of those mean-spirited threads on CC too. It almost convinced me get off this site altogether. It seems to me like a “pile on” mentality where “leaders” (often long-time posters) start with the bashing and everyone else follows. The good news is this thread is pile on too, but in the opposite direction where the good vibes build off each other. 
@Mysonsdad D’s plan actually has been to teach in low-income schools all along, so she’s well aware of the TEACH grant, among other options. Another of the requirements is that the post-college teaching position must be in a state-listed shortage area, and all but one of the locations D is looking at considers ALL elementary teaching to have a shortage right now, she would be perfect for the grant, if she needs it.
According to the NPC at D’s 2nd choice school, we should get about the amount of FA that with the TEACH Grant or similar, plus her scholarship, it would be doable for us, but it’s stressful to not have all the details yet.
Like so many of you, I appreciate the bond we have here and the support. My H thinks I’m a little nuts talking to all my imaginary internet friends, but it’s been so helpful to me, especially since D jumped ahead a full year and I don’t know many people IRL going through this.
@MidwestMomTo2 That sounds like it was a wonderful trip!
We are in the midst of trying to plan a summer vacation. Right now we are thinking of Iceland. We’ve put off a big trip multiple times due to cost and schedules. We really need to do it this time! My last passport had one sad stamp in it for Juarez, Mexico for work. The kids’ passports, which had been renewed once already, never had any! Open to any suggestions for itineraries, lodging, restaurants (D18 is veg), etc for Iceland.
@asleepatthewheel Availability of classes can be a concern, but at some schools (but not in others) AP credits can bump you up in priority. My RIT son always gets to sign up a day ahead of his peers and has never had trouble getting his first choice classes. In fact, more than once he and his friends have decided what sections they all will take together, and then he ends up alone because everyone else gets shut out. It works out.
I forget about those mean CC threads because I always just spend my time on the “favorites” where I actually can get good information and support.
Just had a conversation with a friend whose two kids have graduated. Both of them realized in their first year they were in the wrong place and successfully navigated getting to the right place. His son ended up getting certified as a high performance auto mechanic (think, BMW) and is now “making more money than a 21 year old should.” Helps put into perspective that this decision that seems so critical now is not immutable.
Congrats to your son, @RyanG1207! A very well considered process, @dyiu13. Congrats to you and your daughter.
Loved your story, @fretfulmother! Hurray for parents who ignore sulky kids!
@MidwestMomTo2, your trip sounds amazing. Since I have one already in college, I will say that you are very smart to travel now. We did a lot of traveling with all our kids, and I’m very glad because now we are traveling -1. Next year, it will be -2. I always feel like the family photos in front of landmarks are less complete…because they are! Silver lining: surprise, surprise, it IS less expensive to travel with fewer kids.
I also had that experience a couple of times, @palm715 and @carolinamom2boys, when I first joined CC three years ago. There are a few folks here who are territorial and a little mean. (You have to wonder what is missing in their lives when their posts top 10,000!!!) I am also grateful for these parents’ lists–and for all of you.
I’m a little behind the times, but welcome to @lifegarding! Thanks for all your interesting contributions.
Thanks, @RyanG1207 and @EastGrad … We haven’t done anything like this in 12 years. The time was definitely right. We tried to save costs where we could with airBnB flats in Israel and cheaper flights by driving quite a ways to Chicago to fly out. (Luckily, we have family there and could leave car and get rides to airport.)
It was an unforgettable trip and despite the double layover and long journey home, we loved having that one day in London on the way there. Priceless memories.
What a trip @midwestmomto2 - I have always wanted to go to Israel.
Welcome @lifegarding !
We are still in limbo as the last decisions will not come out until March and then we will weigh the pros and cons! Very envious of those that have made decisions already.
@MidwestMomTo2 _ wow what a trip. A former student of mine is currently in the Israeli Army and another current student of mine is Palestinian. Last year they were both on the same campus, both really sweet kids and respected each other. Makes me wish the whole world was like this.
@sseamom, sorry, I didn’t realize that the program I was talking about is now called TEACH. Your D is right though, there is a severe shortage of elementary teachers right now.
I agree about how some people on CC can be so rude. I was actually a little hesitant to join this thread 4 years ago, but everyone has been so nice. Another thing I enjoy is going and looking at discussion threads in regards to where people are applying and then seeing where they end up. My curiosity gets the best of me sometimes I go into stalker status and I look to see when they last posted. I am always curious wondering where they are now. A former thread from 2013 was “Class of 2003’ it’s been 10 years, where are you kids?” I’m paraphrasing here, but it was interesting. I imagine people with 10,000 or more posts have had a lot of kids go through this process.
@MidwestMomTo2 - what an amazing trip!! I really want to squeeze in an Israel trip before next fall. If DS picks any school but his favorite, we could even afford it. 
Meanwhile, I will enjoy vicariously!! Tell us more about the Helsinki bit?
FAFSA question. DS is in his junior year at CUA, - is there a way to migrate last years FAFSA over to DD’s FAFSA? My husband is self employed so I wanted to at least get 2014 info in for DD & then as the accountant works his magic updated both with 2015 info.
@carolinamom2boys I went to UMCP and my husband went to UMBC so both of my S’s choices were schools we’d never seen before. It’s so tough now to get into UMCP (and neither of my kids liked the campus much after the tour) and he was deferred to RD on UMBC, so both of his acceptances seem pretty in line with his motivation level. Since we live in MD, he wants part of his decision to be based on where his friends go, since he likes seeing familiar faces on campus. I have a feeling many of his friends are going out of state, though.
If you have any input on your alma mater, I’d much appreciate it! He’s going into computer science/information systems.
I have found everyone in this thread kind, encouraging and helpful. The nice thing is bc this thread is aimed at folks who have 2016 kids, we don’t get those folks who have 20,000 posts poking around in here, and for that I’m grateful. Pass the cookies please!
@fretfulmother we purposely planned the trip with longish layovers to maximize new experiences, plus I figured the kids – at 14 and 17 – could handle the complicated travel. The trip had an 18-hour London layover (noon-7:40 am next day) AND an 8-hour Helsinki layover on the way there. In Helsinki, we had time for a bus into the city center, a walk around the Christmas market, by the cathedral and for a meal at the fairly well known restaurant Ainos – reindeer meat and fish soup! Then, back on the bus to airport. In London, we actually returned to Heathrow and spent the night at the pod-style Yotel in the terminal to more easily make our early flight out.
I’m pretty type A about planning and spending money (says every CC parent ever) so if anyone wants tips on the trip or Israel sites, feel free to PM me.
Kat2013, I think when you finish one kid’s FAFSA there is a question somewhere, do you have to do another FAFSA for another child, but I think it only brings in demographic info, not financials, but I might be wrong.
Also the student that has done a FAFSA before can do a “renewal” FAFSA I think, but I don’t know if financials from previous year will be brought over.
We have only done the FAFSA last year and haven’t started this year’s yet. And won’t have two in college until 2018.
@lifeguarding I’d love to give you some input, but it would be quite dated. I graduated from TU 30 years ago with a degree in Occupational Therapy and back then I did all my papers on an electric typewriter. 
I was a commuter student, but I can honestly say it was a great experience. Sorry I couldn’t offer more info,but I did notice a way back on this thread that 3scoutsmom( I think) posted this link for scholarships for students interested in cybersecurity ( I don’t know if that applies to your son or not) and Towson was one of the schools that offered it. My son wants to specialize in cybersecurity , but also wants to attend a school instate , but unfortunate there are no participating schools instate for us. The link is https://www.sfs.opm.gov. Good luck.
So you could choose “renewal” for ds, do his FAFSA with estimated income and then after you submit his do a FAFSA for another student for dd snd hopefully it will all transfer.