Love reading all these stories. I think my D is close to a decision, but every time I think that, something else comes up. I am pretty sure she has ruled out all her LACs, but I saw on her email the other day that she has been talking to some coaches there (she is a DIII-type recruit, who decided not to play the recruitment game–except a few coaches found her anyway). In my opinion, this school would be a great match for her and she could continue her sport, but I am not pushing that, just waiting.
We are down to 2 final colleges out of the original 12. One small LAC in TX, UD and Villanova. Visiting Dallas next week. She seems very relieved to have 2 good choices. So happy we are finally at this point. Congrats to all that have committed.
My favorite show as a kid was The Love Boat, and I promised myself when I was old enough I’d go on a cruise. USS Indecision you have ruined my childhood dreams.
@NUwildcat92, I really enjoyed reading your summary and breakdown of costs. It sounds like Tulsa was the logical conclusion. How great to have found a home!
@Midwest67, thanks for sharing your story. It’s so hard not to “drink the Kool-Aid”, isn’t it? Especially when the NPC spits out a figure that raises your hopes because it closes the gap a bit, you find yourself dreaming that somehow the school will offer a little bit more and make it all possible.
In my case, when I first ran the NPC I used my 2014 tax info. What I didn’t realize is that things like 401k contributions get added back to the top. I had been simply entering Adjusted Gross Income as the answer to the question “what did your parents earn”.
The other thing–and I expected this–was that the PROFILE reveals how much you have socked away in tax-deferred retirement accounts. In my case, that was probably the death knell for our chances at a need-based aid. At one level, I understand it because those savings are indeed a family asset. However, when you run the numbers and factor in the ~40% tax hit, you realize that to net $180,000 from your IRA you actually have to withdraw $300,000. And, looking forward, that that $300,000 could have grown to over $850,000 by the time you retire in 18 years (assuming 6% CAGR). So there’s the decision in a nutshell: Northwestern now vs. a taxable $850,000 at retirement.
Anyway, congrats to you and D for the phenomenal Patterson scholarship at UK–what at a great deal! And as an added bonus, she’ll get to see four years of powerhouse basketball!
@catholicmom3 Good luck with the decision! I’d get all swept up in Villanova basketball fever! Amazing game Monday night!
@catholicmom3 I have so many friends with kids at UD and many of them are alums. My friends have such positive experiences. You have some great choices!!
Looking for opinions. My son does not have a passport. Do you think that he should pursue it before he goes off to school or wait until he actually needs one?
@carolinamom2boys Personally I think he should get it before he needs it. I’m pretty sure they are good for ten years and this way if something comes up, he has the freedom to go without the stress of applying and rushing, or just not being able to get it in time. Even if it’s an invitation from a friend - this happened to my friend’s D - it’s nice if they can just up and go without that one extra chore. All that said, of course it’s a YMMV thing. 
@carolinamom2boys - is there the slightest chance he might study abroad?
They are not cheap but, if you have to expedite the process they get more expensive!
Also- if he is over 16- it will be good for 10 years. (DS got his first one prior to 16 & they are only good for 5 years…)
@bookmom7 He’s 18. How long does it take to get one?
@carolinamom2boys - about 6 weeks.
I was also thinking that it would be good to take care of it while he is at home & he would have access to the documents that he would need.
D14 goes to school in New York…and has travelled to Canada twice already. Not sure if they are required for Canada travel, but she used it. I think it is nice to get before they go away to school…just to have it.
Passports are needed for travel to Canada now. Good idea to have it just in case. Allow extra time because this is a big renewal year and the closer we get to summer the longer it will take. We renewed in January and it was done in less than 3 weeks.
@carolinamom2boys We just renewed both kids’ passports in February. They arrived in less than 3 weeks.
I also got them both a Passport Card since neither have a license yet and I wanted them to have a government issued ID.
Thanks everyone . Sounds like I need to add it to my ToDo list.
They are required for travel in Canada and Mexico now. Back in the day they were not. I used to live near the Canadian border and would go all of the time. It’s a handy thing to have as it gives you some more freedom to travel on the spur of the moment.
S SIR’ed to UCLA today. We are officially Bruins…
Congrats @Mysonsdad
Great news @Mysonsdad !