I agree with others that finding a program with good professors you can get close to and who’ll be able to offer a credible recommendation is important. That can be achieved at either a good college or a college that is strong in your major.
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Did the NPC not show the correct cost before applying?
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Congratulations/I’m sorry. It’s a bummer to have something both within her reach and too far away. But still, she can feel good about having gotten in (C24 was deferred but they’re cool with that, as they never expected to get admitted).
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Okay educate me what is a P and what is a J?
Myers Briggs Type Preferences Perception Judgment. P is perception, J is judgement.
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It is hard to find a selective school that includes merit with their NPC - since all the admitted kids have high stats, most all would be worthy of merit if it was a gpa/test auto situation.
NPC’s are need based for the most part and so families keep their fingers crossed about the merit as there is usually no reason as to who gets it.
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True. Which is why merit awards (especially at schools not known to give much merit) should not be counted upon to determine affordability.
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True, but neither should the possibility of merit awards be dismissed. I think it’s perfectly reasonable to allow a kid to apply to a school they like, with the understanding that actually getting to go there will depend on whether they get a big enough discount. And yeah, it sucks to have to say no to a kid that got in for a higher price than you can pay, but it’s at least worth a try. There are people in the NEU thread that are reporting very large discounts.
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We used the color coding the same way on our original spreadsheet when we were using it to pare down our original long list of schools to consider.
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@sbinaz I love your posts and all of the communication you have with your daughter about her application journey. I can’t wait to find out where she ultimately chooses!
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Exactly - set a budget up front.
Apply only to schools that “can” get you there.
But ensure two of them actually will (and are assured).
We did this - $50K budget - only schools that could get us there were on the list. Sorry Cornell.
Not all did get us there (they could have but chose not to give enough or any merit) and those that didn’t were eliminated with no emotion.
Those that made budget made the final selection list.
If Northeastern could have gotten the student there, then it’s a fine add - as long as (and it seems it was) the student was aware money was needed. Hopefully they have an affordable acceptance - and then they’ll still become an architect.
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Relied on no, but hoped for
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D24 said something interesting about the “not too cold in winter” thing. At first, I thought she thought it was a high priority, but she said, “No, it’s medium because if everything else about the school is good and the only thing that’s negative is that it’s colder in the winter than AZ or TX, then I’d still seriously consider it. It isn’t a deal breaker.”
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C24 and I stumbled across this article as we were getting to know Muhlenberg, and I thought it did a good job of explaining financial aid to prospective students. I like how blunt it is. The Real Deal on Financial Aid | Muhlenberg College
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Another round of illness has hit D26. That kid can’t catch a break! this time, stomach flu but she’s isolating from D24, since D24 leaves tomorrow a.m. for a 3-day senior trip to CA to go to the beach and Knotts Berry Farm.
This morning while getting ready to head off to school, D24 said some things that were amusing:
- “Mama, Daddy…get this…so my friend, BFF2, keeps asking school for a packing list for the senior trip. I mean, how hard can this be? The trip is only for 2 nights.”
- “Oh my gosh, her mom is doing all of her packing for her!”
- “I mean, dude! She’s going to be 18 at the end of April, that’s in just a couple of months! Let her pack her own overnight bag!”
…this from the mouth of The Child who poured the remains of her instant ramen down the drain of the bathroom sink in the hotel room in Danville, Kentucky earlier this week on Sunday evening and pouted, “But you guys never told me to not put food down the drain in the bathroom!” 
that’s my kid for you…pretty intelligent and ‘with it’ with some stuff, looks like a total idiot with other stuff. LOL!
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Agreed, if the student is aware of the merit money caveat, it’s fine. But yes, it’s tough to get accepted and not be able to go.
@bronzerfish, best wishes to you and your daughter. Hope she lands at some place great that she loves.
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I am sorry, and I understand the feeling. That sentiment is what guided me to discourage my kids from applying to schools where they didn’t have an excellent shot at enough merit to make it doable. That said, I think my D24 is also feeling like she could/should have applied to more competitive schools, “just for the flex, if accepted.” So…I really do think you are damned if you do, damned if you don’t.
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Basically, Js like things to be decided/finalized. They like the “judgements” to get made, and move on. Ps prefer to keep options open. They see a finalized decision as cutting off possibilities.
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That was a great article!
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