@droppedit How does your D know this early she’s not doing ED anywhere, 10 months out? Has she visited all the schools and got her list already? I have no idea if my D will ED either (although most kids at her school do), but we’re still in the “Looking Around” phase.
I’m so sorry to hear that, @droppedit! I hope 2017 is better.
My D will likely EA schools, but no ED as we need to shop prices.
Happy new year everyone!
We are not the typical cc family and DS 18 will only be applying to two schools, UT Austin and UT Dallas, and he’s and auto admit at both so no drama for us there 
Our handwringing will be about merit aid, honors programs and scholarships.
@droppedit, what a Christmas! So sorry.
@odannyboySF, many families know they will not ED anywhere because of finances. We are full pay, and not willing to commit to paying upwards of 70k/year without seeing what the other options are. Those who are potential NMFs have even more reason to apply RD (and EA) to shop for the best value.
Another non-ED family here.
@droppedit , So sorry to hear all of that! May 2017 be peaceful for you.
@ShrimpBurrito I’ve heard that ED shouldn’t affect your FA. Now, granted, you can’t shop around/barter using other offers, but (in theory anyway) ED isn’t just for full payers. But if you’re a full payer trying to get a deal, I guess that would opt you out.
@3scoutsmom I can relate (lack of drama). Not completely settled, but right now I could see a scenario shaping up to where DS18 only applies to one school (University of Kentucky), where he could have an automatic full ride waiting for him. After so much mental energy expended in learning about schools and the process, it is actually a bit hard for me to accept that it could end up being so simple and anticlimactic. At this point, he still seems open minded to few more schools (Alabama, Georgia, Clemson, and maybe Emory), but that is about it.
I’ve been out of the loop for the last two weeks and have not caught up on this thread. Just got back last night from a trip to California to see my parents for Christmas, then off to London, Paris, and Brussels.
Well actually, 2 out of 4 of us made it to all three European destinations. DD18 is allergic to pine nuts and accidentally ate something with pesto in it in the airline lounge as we were waiting to board our flight. We were already on board when she started to feel quite ill. Luckily United was able to rebook her and my DH straight to Paris the next day and even managed to keep them in first class just as on their original flight. Some lucky couple on our flight to London got upgraded to first because of DD’s illness so at least something good came out of it!
DS14 and I flew to London and them met them in Paris later to resume our scheduled itinerary. I’m glad London was first on our schedule as we have been there many many times and she was not too sorry to miss it.
It was actually quite nice to be unplugged from college stuff and it was a fantastic trip with our near-adult children. With different academic calendars and work schedules it’s difficult to find a time when all 4 of us can go on a trip together. And we figured we can’t go on a trip next winter break as DD will be working on college apps.
DD is scheduled for the January 21 SAT and she hasn’t done any prep other than PSAT and some practice tests over the summer. She gets what she gets. She has a challenging schedule with decent grades, lots of ECs but nothing spectacular, and her current test scores are decent. She will get into a good school somewhere and we are lucky enough to be able to afford to pay so all is good!
@odannyboySF I think the part of the ED picture you may be missing is that there are many families who are “full pay”, meaning the NPC of the school shows that they would not be eligible for financial aid, OR for whom the NPC figure, while showing some financial aid, the number that they must pay is far greater than what they realistically can afford. Many families fall into this category, unless the NPC for a school shows a number you can actually afford (with financial aid not merit money in the calculation as unless stated explicitly merit money is not guaranteed), ED is not a good move for any family.
For us, NPCs are going to show us as full pay. And I accept that as a reasonable thing, but we are also not in a financial position to be able to pay in full a 70k tuition bill annually and still have a secure retirement, pay for sibling to go to college, etc. The college formula would say loans are the answer here, we would emphatically disagree.
And so, ED is out, we shop for merit within our budget, and she will likely apply EA most everywhere. NBD honestly, as she won’t have settled on a place firmly yet anyway.
I hope this made sense. It’s not simply a matter of “trying to find a deal.” For many, there is no other option.
@1822mom, I wish I could like your post twice. You nailed it.
Anyone else putting together a big list of schools to start whittling down over the next 6+ months?
Right now our son has:
Virginia Tech
Gonzaga
John’s Hopkins
Northwestern
Purdue
University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
University of Wisconsin Madison
University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Duke
Georgia Tech
Questions for everyone here. He wants to do engineering (mechanical or aerospace), but he loves lots of other subjects. A school like Gonzaga where they require you to take philosophy and history classes is perfect. He can study engineering, but can also explore other options.
Any other schools out there like that? We suggested Dartmouth, but he was not at all interested.
Notre Dame is like that, @RoonilWazlib99, and I know a young man there in engineering (soph) who love it. CAVEAT: my D15 is a sophomore there so I have a bias toward ND.
Hi everyone – Joining this thread if you’ll have me!
I am a Parent of a DS18 – and a DS17 - 2 very different kids.I am starting to think about DS18’s college search heating up. (DS17 is sending his final app in tonight - has 3 acceptances and now will be waiting to see what happens on his other 10 apps.) DS18 is a strong B / B+ student at a competitive private school (NY suburb). So far DS18 has a 31 ACT composite - will try to improve some. DS18 is a writer, like hip hop/rap music, takes film/video making classes - has 3 APs this year (Latin, AP Lang and AP Physics 1) and solid math (will at least get to AB Calc). He says he prefers cities and NOT really small classes - 15-25 or 35 could be good for him and I think enrollment of 3000-10,000 perhaps. Smart but not really competitive, quality of teaching matters though he does not typically go to “office hours” or seek out help. Seems he could do well in marketing - natural salesperson and pretty funny too. May well change his major & a looser curriculum – without heavy “core” requirements might benefit him. NYU might be a possibility and I am wondering where else to look - he seems not to want to be across the county from home. Boston U maybe? Would love help with a few suggestions. He is not a “grind out” work type – thrives on interacting with others. Not preppy. Eats healthy - no drugs or alcohol (so far thank God!) Really appreciate your suggestions!
@CA1543 A little far from home but you might look at Eckerd College in St. Pete. It’s a city although not a huge one but near Tampa and a little smaller than he’s looking for but they have a great Arts department and a wide variety of classes. I think it would be a great fit for a creative artsy kid that might like business/marketing.
@3scoutsmom – thanks – I’ll check out Eckerd!! Appreciate the suggestion.
@CA1543 - Maybe look into some of the Jesuit schools? Great teaching, ability to explore different options, and most it doesn’t matter if you are religious or not.
Our family isn’t religious and my husband attended Georgetown and Boston College and loved both. In fact, for graduate school he sought out another Jesuit school because of the teaching style.
Our son is now looking and Gonzaga is by far his favorite school and he said he especially likes the philosophy of educating the when person.
@odannyboySF - Wow, that was an eye opener…you are right many of us will know by the end of 2017 where our kiddo will be going to university, where did the time go?!
“DD is scheduled for the January 21 SAT and she hasn’t done any prep other than PSAT and some practice tests over the summer. She gets what she gets. She has a challenging schedule with decent grades, lots of ECs but nothing spectacular, and her current test scores are decent. She will get into a good school somewhere and we are lucky enough to be able to afford to pay so all is good!”
@2014novamom - Same, girl, same!
Only my D18 is doing the February ACT too. I am not expecting either set of scores to be stellar this go around as the tests are smack dab in the middle of her sport’s competition season and between the 2 teams (HS and “Club”) she literally has a competition every weekend (except for those 2 test weekends) from now until spring break in March. So, she will likely be taking one or both again in April/May/June. D18 is eagerly waiting for Junior year to be over, it is a high stress year for sure!
We are a full pay family…but are actually thinking about ED for one school (non IVY) but only because I am 99% positive that D18 will be denied and because it is not restricted ED she can still apply to the other schools on her list. I am insisting that she apply EA to all other schools, if it is available. (I secretly think it is ridiculous to have to wait until March 1 to receive an admissions decision, particularly if an application is completed before December 1. We had an uncharacteristically LONG wait for D16 for Ithaca College even though her app was submitted by Nov. 1. It took so long she could have cared less by the time she had the acceptance in hand. I thinking rolling admissions policies are fantastic!) I have a hard and fast rule that D18 must have all admission applications finished by October 15, there is no reason to have applications hanging over your head if you know where you want to apply and you don’t have any particular circumstance that would preclude getting it done.
@CA1543 - What about Drexel in Philly? (They have an interesting Fine Arts program) or Case? or University of Pittsburgh?
@RoonilWazlib99 - What about Marquette in Milwaukee? or University of Rochester? or Rice? or Case? or Carnegie Mellon?
@labegg We too plan to set an arbitrary early deadline for college apps. My D also has a club and HS sport that keeps her very busy from Nov-March (is yours a swimmer, too?). We hope to have at least one acceptance in hand by Christmas, so D can enjoy her final swim season and senior year.
Welcome @CA1543!