We have tons of kids (including my own) in our HS wearing athletic shorts and, what I consider, shirts that don’t match at all. I had never heard the term ‘norts’ either. I’ll see tonight if D17 has heard the term.
“Norts” may be regional. I’d never heard the term until we started looking at colleges, although the Nike shorts look is extremely popular here. But students here are not supposed to wear them to school because they are considered too short and worn without underwear. Still some do. On the weekends, you’ll see most kids in them. Since I’m a runner, I live in Nike shorts when I’m not at work; I just have so many of them and they’re comfortable. D felt right at home with the look at Ole Miss since that’s what she wears often. I don’t like the big shirts though.
OMG…trying to chat with Kentucky advisers is worse than getting your teeth pulled. What the crap?
I have never heard the term norts, but we are not an athletically-inclined family.
@itsgettingreal17 We must be looking at different colleges, or else I just never notice how students dress. The only school where I noticed what students were wearing was CMU. Everyone there looked either very sophisticated or else had jeans and old t-shirts on.
QOTD: 4-6 year plan. So, UT did a really good job of showing the flowchart of classes for a Radio, Television and Film major so you could plot out a four year plan. Part of the reason he likes the big state flagships is that they take his AP/Dual Credit and they are affordable so he has some wiggle room on changing majors. As long as he goes to a school in budget, I’m not worried about an extra semester or two since he is an only and we don’t have any other kids going to college after him.
Maybe the “norts” and t-shirt look is regional since that is all the girls wear on weekends around here. I also see the yoga pants and big t-shirt look in the fall.
One of my S17’s least favorite looks for guys is a long sleeve button down with rolled sleeves and khaki shorts. Definitely saw this as almost a uniform at SMU. I don’t mind it and don’t know why he cares.
Most schools we toured had a mix of styles for guys. My S17 will grab whichever t-shirt is at the top of the pile, some jeans, and these disgusting shoes that he wears every day. Unfortunately, the shoe store will not stop selling this style and he has worn this style of shoe since Freshman year. That reminds me, he is due for a new pair. Maybe they will finally be out of stock. 8-|
@stlarenas, I think big U v. small LAC is pretty dependent on where the student will feel the most comfortable (and what’s affordable!) I would go for schools that have a more open curriculum. That will give your D plenty of time to explore different options without falling behind on a bunch of requirements in areas she’s definitely not interested in.
So norts are actually running shorts, not the baggy basketball type shorts? Even as a runner I only wore those for running. Back in the day, Dolfin shorts used to be the thing for the sorority girls. Sounds like norts may be that style coming back around.
QOTD: no planning beyond getting into college. Most people I know have changed careers multiple times, most kids changed majors, so I’m planning not to plan. D17 has always been responsible and driven so I think we will be okay. I myself graduated early thanks to APs and summer school.
I have never heard the term Norts. My very athletic kids wear lots of Nike so apparently they’ve been wearing them, we just call them shorts!
Hi All, longtime lurker with a D17 with stats not nearly as high as the majority here, so a little shy about jumping in. Nothing like a pressing question to cause a body to throw caution to the wind!
My D has a clear first choice, but it comes in above our cost threshold. We are not going to qualify for any financial aid; D could still file the FAFSA and get the guaranteed loan that would cover the gap, but I’d really like to avoid having her start of her adult life with any student loans and my husband and I are not willing to take out loans. My D17’s stats for this school make it possible but probably still a bit of a reach–the school does give merit aid, but my guess is that D wouldn’t be a great candidate to get much if any. Because this school is so clearly her first choice, and because the acceptance rate for ED applicants is so much higher than for RD at this school (87% vs. 23%), she wants to apply ED. I’ve told her plainly that it was unlikely to be affordable, so she’s resigning herself to an RD application. My guess is that she will be denied in RD.
Most of what I’ve seen on CC (and elsewhere) says that if you can’t afford it, don’t go ED. And while not getting the financial aid you need is considered a valid reason to break the ED contract, I was under the assumption that you would be held to your EFC, and if you didn’t know what your EFC was going in, well, you should have. However, I just unearthed an article from the NY Times (“The Case for Early Decision”) from 2010 (so very old information) that contained the following nugget (which is simply the opinion of an admissions officer at Lafayette, so not sure if this is a YMMV sort of thing or if this is how ED works everywhere):
“Here’s what colleges typically don’t make clear: Although early decision is binding, no college will hold a student to a contract if a family determines that the financial aid package is inadequate, regardless of how much assistance the college offers or what the needs analysis-scholarship eligibility criteria suggests. That’s right. If the family says they can’t afford it, files an appeal and the college still doesn’t meet their expectations, they can withdraw their child’s application without penalty.”
This makes me want to just go for it, see if she gets in, see what the school offers, and then if it doesn’t work, just walk away, no harm, no foul.
When I run the NPC for this school, it shows grant aid of $10,000 (which seems like a lot, for this school, and for my D’s stats), which leaves a gap of just $3000. (I can’t remember if the NPC calculator asks for stats or not–I just have the results saved.) Before someone suggests that D get a job and cover that $3000 herself, know that our threshold already assumes a contribution of about $2500 from D from working. I don’t know if I trust the NPC, and even if I did, factoring in inflation over four years, the gap could grow by more than what D could cover through Stafford loans.
This is such a first-world problem, I know. D should have plenty of options that are affordable. I just hate not being able to give her her heart’s desire and at least according to this very old article, maybe we should just try it and see. Anyone care to weigh in and show me the error of my ways?
@CT1417 Yes, most “Grad school in physics or CS will be funded by the program.” Tuition plus stipend affording living like a grad student (small apartment and simple meals.)
Most good Math program is also fully funded.
They do different things though.
Physics grad students do funded research after couple of years of doing TAs (grading, leading physics 101 labs, recitation sections) if unaffiliated with research groups initially. CS and engineering grads do TAs and funded research as well as interning with local companies (e.g. at banks, corporations, etc - almost a part-time industry job). Math grad students do mostly direct teaching as there are less funded research projects except in Applied Math or Computing where there might be large research grants. The math grads become really good lecturers as years go by and teach higher level math classes (Topology, Number theory, etc) as funded teaching fellows.
@Tgirlfriend wrote: “Does anyone know anything about University of Kentucky OOS scholarship if you are a NMF? I am trying to figure it out and not for sure what all it pays for.”
Our D16 is an OOS student at UK on the incredibly generous Patterson Scholarship. Our bill for the first semester was $280. We did pay a couple hundred at Merit Weekend for registration/fees/something. She is living in a two bedroom suite (two doubles that share a bathroom between them) in the dorm that currently houses the Honors Program.
I am not 100% positive, but our D might have upgraded her meal plan. I’ll confess I don’t pay much attention because we are not talking about thousands or tens of thousands of dollars, for which I shall be forever grateful for our good fortune.
We will be on the hook for taxes on the room and board stipend. I was told that if she moves off-campus in future years, the room and board stipend will simply be deposited in her student account. In other words, you do not need to live in university housing to receive the stipend. But the dorms are amazing, and there are new dorms, apartment style for upper classmen. The new Honors College dorm is being built right now, as well as new housing for graduate and professional students.
We had our scholarship questions answered by email, and also by returned phone call, from the UK Office of Academic Scholarships. Last year, that was Jessica Tincher, and she had quick, clear answers for us. I don’t know if she is still the go-to person. There was minimal paperwork involved for securing the Patterson.
Word is the renewal GPA has changed from 3.3 to 3.0, although I have not seen this in writing. Maybe D has?
Go Wildcats!
@Tgirlfriend Ha, that was my experience too with the UKy chat. Their whole website makes me want to poke myself in the eye with a fork.
QOTD3: What schools has the best website? Worst?
USCar had the worst website. UKy’s is pretty bad as well. Those 2 stood out for me. I dislike the fact that the UMD website opens every link in a new tab.
Miracle in the Land of Procrasti-nation! :))
2 draft Essays produced after elephantal labor of pusing! :D/
There is hope! <:-P 8->
QOTD: We were firm with our DD (college class of 2019) that she’s on a 4 year plan. However, we are not involved in any of her planning. Thankfully, she got interested in a particular major 2 months into her freshman year and is off and running. Her school has a system that allows them to track their progress towards their major(s) and minor(s). Not sure if a system like this is common elsewhere. But, she can look ahead and see what classes she needs if she adds a minor, when a class is going to be offered, what has she taken that will count, etc. She’s totally into it.
I am concerned, however, about studying abroad. I know that some classes don’t transfer and some do. Often not towards any major requirements. While I want her to be in charge, I’m reminding her to be mindful to not “waste” that time abroad such that it delays graduation or makes it so that she doesn’t have time to double major or minor.
But, my DD is a total planner all on her own.
S17 (High School) - I have also not be involved in his HS planning. However, the track is fairly set in his school and he is motivated. He is a math and science kid and purposely took summer school so that he could get extra math in. Not my doing at all. (Though I did pay for summer school. 
) When it comes to college, the schools he is looking at SHOULD help to keep him on track. He is going into Computer Engineering which will be a fairly prescribed plan (from what I see on his interested schools’ websites). The only thing I’ll try to be involved in, is making sure he speaks up about AP credits and skipping ahead (OR NOT). He is one to just let things happen and not speak up. That will take a little coaxing from me.
“…This is such a first-world problem, I know. D should have plenty of options that are affordable. I just hate not being able to give her her heart’s desire and at least according to this very old article, maybe we should just try it and see. Anyone care to weigh in and show me the error of my ways?..”
We had some financial reaches on our short list last year. Reality came crashing in when we added in 3% inflation for each year, added in estimated books and personal expenses, added in travel…and reality blew everything to pieces when we factored in the NPC for future years…taking older D out of school, using H’s projected raise and bonuses, adding in a temporary but maybe not temporary increase in income for me.
What looked like a stretch we might have been willing to do for our snowflake (said with love!) for her dream school, suddenly looked financially foolish and completely out of reach.
My suggestion is to be tough with yourself re: what you are really willing and able to pay, for FOUR years. What if she goes to her dream school, that you sacrifice for, and doesn’t like it, or doesn’t appreciate it? A lot can change in a year or two. How YOU feel about it might change a lot in a year or two, when the frenzy passes.
Good luck!
Adding to the above…
This was also our experience: we allowed D to apply to schools that we suspected would come in as too expensive. She was hell bent on applying, and to tell the truth, I thought the schools might do the dirty work and not accept her.
Well, she DID get accepted. And we could not afford it (see post above about re-doing the NPC, carefully this time).
There was a TON of pressure from the peanut gallery. But she got accepted! You HAVE to find a way to make it work.
It was not fun, and those were some dark days in the winter months when we pulled that band-aid off.
@Momtaro One of my son boy scout buddies goes there and has been very happy there.
@Midwest67 …thank you …thank you…thank you!!! That is the absolute best information I could have gotten. I emailed the recruiter however I have not heard back yet. I was just trying to figure out the real out of pocket cost for UK. Now I will have to talk to my S and let him know his options.
@rtidwell …I think I figured out about the chat stuff on UK website. It is just for financial aid. I was not getting the information I needed because I wanted to know about scholarships. I have emailed the recruiter and I have a feeling things will be better with her. …fingers crossed.
Agree with @Midwest67, I would ask the tough 4 year questions now…getting the acceptance in hand for a dream school for the 17 year old will only make it harder to walk away from the opportunity…I would feel bad for not nipping it earlier if it’s already not a reality based dream…she must find others to love…they’re out there