Parents of the HS Class of 2018 (Part 1)

Parents of HS Class of 20xx
11661

So many good news. Congratulations to all of you. Is it possible that I am seeing an end to this process? My Daughter just posted on her Facebook page

“The Ohio State University Class of 2022. Go Buckeyes”

Say what?

If we were playing the odds prior to this unpredictable process, I would have guessed Miami University, UGA or Mizzou just because of the transparency of their acceptances and scholarships. She loved OSU, but she was not sure she was going to be considered for a major scholarship. Both Miami and Mizzou offered acceptances and generous scholarships. Was accepted to Pitt and Minnesota but was never offered any Merit. All great choices Between all the second guessing, changing of the flavors, and what if scenarios maybe SHE just saw the light at the end of the tunnel There is still time for her to change her mind, (17 year olds!) but I am just really thrilled for her that she can see it for herself

I have learned so much from all of you .and incredibly thankful… I am an expert now! LOL! I get to do it again with my S20 a year from now but with more wisdom and more knowledge.

11662

@AmyBeth68 and @Booajo congratulations on the U Miami merit! I love the city of Miami - so much fun! And with the weather today (I’m up North on vacation) at a balmy MINUS Seven, Miami looks pretty good right now! It will be so much interesting to see where your kids wind up.

@1917souci congratulations to your D for having so many nice choices. I think it’s great you’re giving her room to commit, or to change her mind.

11663

@melvin123, I think the Miami they are referring to is Miami University in Oxford, Ohio where the current temp is likely in the teens. :slight_smile:

11664

@melvin123 yes, unfortunately it’s the Miami University in Oxford, I tried in vain to get both of my daughters to apply to U Miami in FL but neither one did, now that’s a place I would like to be right now rather than these freezing Temps!
@Booajo congrats on Miami!

11665

An enrollment deposit is very likely in the near future, and probably should have been done weeks ago for reasons of housing. There are still unknowns, which make a final decision still pending.

The Odds:

50% Alabama
20% ASU
20% Texas A & M
10% The Field

11666

Still waiting on acceptances but I’ll play…

NCSU 50%
UNC 20%
Va Tech 20%
Field 10%

11667

Haha yes @melvin123 Oxford Ohio! 16 there now, which is actually toasty compared to our current-7.
S18 wants to go warmer than home. Other than Minnesota, Miami U is his northernmost college.
@AmyBeth68 I tried to get him to apply to U Miami, and Delaware, but he didn’t.

11668

I’ll be so happy when U Chicago’s final application deadline has passed so that they will stop sending my S rejection bait. Naviance scattergrams indicate U Chicago doesn’t care for S’s school, and I’ve seen the stats and profiles of the many many deferred and rejected applicants over on CC’s U Chicago ED thread. My S never expressed any interest and never had a chance even in ED, so why on earth would U Chicago persist in mailing things all the way up to the RD deadline?? Oh yes, USNWR rankings boost.

11669

So, what are your NYE plans? We are hosting a party at our house. We’ve invited a bunch of long-time family friends. D will have four of her favorite 18’s here. It’s sort of a “This is your life” thing for all of them, as D has known some of these kids since preschool. They all have big plans for next year. It’s bittersweet to think of the role these kids have played in each other’s lives. :((

11670

@Booajo don’t get me started on UDel lol! I’m so frustrated with them right now. Fortunately my daughter is long over it haha.

@ShrimpBurrito headed to visit mother in law today then home tomorrow and out to dinner with the kids. We’re hosting a New Years Day brunch with lots of friends and family so we’re low key for NYE. Your party sounds fun!

11671

A few pages back there was a very good discussion on the prestige school vs. cost and financial value.

I have been so torn on this subject. First let me say when I was planning for the cost in no way did I expect the prestige schools to be in the 65000-70000 a year range so my saving plan for my dd18 and dd21did not account for the ridiculous inflation of college education. Also we will not be eligible for any financial need based money.

However, all along I told my girls if they worked hard and got the grades and stats I would pay for their college of choice.

As an older wiser person we have all seen peers, friends and neighbors that went to the state schools get great jobs, and make more money than folks who went to the higher prestige schools. On the other hand we have all seen the doors being opened, connections and alumni support among the Ivy’s, ND Stanford etc.

Another factor that makes it difficult is I think among these high performing kids their friends are usually also high performers and there is no doubt some competition and peer pressure to go to the prestige schools like their friends.

I feel like I made a promise (that in retrospect I wish I wouldn’t have) so that I feel I have to honor my commitment to pay for the entire cost of wherever she goes college.

This worrying of mine may all be moot as the high prestige schools are all a crap shoot even for the high scorers. So it is a stretch that she will get into Princeton, Brown or Vandy. I hate to root against her getting in to one of those but a part of me does. (Is that bad?). Don’t get me wrong I would be so proud and happy for her as that would be a tremendous accomplishment.

Next we have unc and uva which are also both crap shoots for oos high scorers. Better financially with unc checking in at about $48,000 and UVA at $57,000 but still high and no merit or need money.

Then we have Clemson and Delaware were she has been admitted to both with $15,000 merit so the cost is comparable for our in state schools of Pitt and PSU neither of which she wanted to apply to.( Pitt to urban PSU too big.)

As with everyone else it is going to an interesting and life changing couple of months us.

I thank you all for the great insights and collective wisdom and wish you, your students and your family a great 2018.

11672

How are our wisdom teeth patients? My daughter finally decided to re-join the living about a week after hers. I think it was about time I started vacuuming in the living room while she was still sleeping on the couch. 8-}

11673

@AmyBeth68 congratulations to your daughter on Miami. I tried hard to get mine to go take a look but she wouldn’t. I think part of her reluctance was that her cousin went there. Essentially any place any of her cousins went was off limits as I think she wants to have her own unique experience.

My nephew loved it and it looks to be a beautiful school. Happy New Years.

11674

Very well said @burghdad!

11675

@burghdad Your post resonates. We’ve also said we’d pay for whatever school my daughter wants to go to - no need-based financial aid here. If she gets into her dream Ivy, we’re looking at $70,000+/year. If not, the least expensive school she is looking at right now will come out to about $34,000 (factoring in merit scholarships). Half price! So yes, if she gets in - great, much celebration! If not, also, much celebration! :wink:

Indeed, it feels like a long wait until March 28. Trying to go with the flow and just enjoy these next few (in limbo) months…

11676

@burghdad I remember when my D16 applied to Columbia (and S18 to Stanford), I had half a hope they would be rejected so we didn’t have to find 250-300k! I was going to try and find the money, but…

Now my question for this kid is what level prestige am I willing to pay for? Spouse graduated from aNESCAC and his opinion is that it was in no way worth what it now costs. Hmmm

11677

@burghdad - I didn’t know my husband was on this board! Your entire post resonates with me as well. H always said he didn’t have the opportunity to apply to the kinds of colleges he would have liked to because of cost so he wanted our kids to have the chance to go to any college they wanted that they could get into. Sadly, D18 called his bluff, applied to Vandy ED, and got in. We are beyond excited for her but it is painful to be seeing all these great merit packages discussed on here and know what she is passing up other than the 5k national merit she will get. She applied for Vandy merit scholarships but not holding out a lot of hope for those. Actually kind of glad she had to withdraw the other applications because I don’t want to see what else she may have gotten!

We feel incredibly fortunate to be able to pay for whatever school she wants to go to; I know many are having to weigh the financial packages and may mean their child doesn’t get his/her first choice. So please don’t take this as a “woe is me” post because it certainly isn’t that.

11678

@bearcatfan glad to hear you daughter is doing better. My son is 3 days out. He still a little swollen on the right side and is having difficulty chewing. His jaw was sore the next day and still cannot open his mouth completely. I think he’ll try to chew real food today. He’s tired of eating mac & cheese. I think he may have had an easier recovery due to only one tooth having a root, the rest didn’t.
Yesterday we did venture out for most of the day and he wasn’t in pain. We are out again today with D16 and her friends, took them for a boat ride (didn’t want you guys to think we are allowed to hang out with them, ha). He stayed behind to finish his last 2 apps.

11679

@burghdad I hear you! We didn’t make such a promise, and can’t afford full pay, but it would also be a struggle for us to pay our portion of what a lot of these schools think we can afford. Similar to @Booajo I want D to get accepted but part of me doesn’t want her to if we can’t afford it.
In for a long wait till late March. Hoping to enjoy my time with D and not obsess over what may or may not happen.

On a positive note D submitted another a couple of hours ago and is working on last supplemental for second to last. Will be a big relief when this one is done. Only one remaining not due until Jan 15 and only one one supplemental essay

11680

@mominaz congratulations to your daughter. Like an idiot I took mine there the first week of December for a hope we didn’t miss one visit. Loved it as did I. On Christmas Eve when asked by her uncle where she would go if money was not a consideration she said Vandy. Of course there is still issue of getting accepted after the ed1 and edII kids take the majority of the spots.