That’s just excellent parenting! Particularly if it is loud enough for their friends to hear too . . . .
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Of course I say it loud enough for their friends to hear. Their friends think I’m hilarious…my kids, not so much.
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It can take a while to develop a sophisticated humor palate.
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I have to:
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THIS. Everyone benefits from the most diverse student body possible
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So, we are back from a visit to RIT for an accepted student event. I was really hopeful that this visit would clarify for D24 whether this was the one for her, or not. As a reminder, it is between RIT and Stevens.
Unfortunately, the visit did not make anything crystal clear. She was definitely super impressed by the program, facilities and opportunities. However, she has some concerns about the overall vibe/fit with the students. In her words, “they seem awkward.” 
(as a side note: D24 has very few friends and is a quiet kid. I’m sure plenty of people think she is awkward, but…whatever.). She really needs to think about her priorities and decide what matters most. I think she will get a great education and be set up for wonderful outcomes from either place, so in my mind, it does just come down to where does she think she would fit in best.
I am trying not to influence her decision at all, though my H was completely fan boying over RIT. To the point that I did have to tell her that whatever matters most to her is what matters most in the decision, and she doesn’t need to worry about disappointing either of us if she ends up choosing a school based on her perception of the student body.
We did tell her she needs to make a decision by April 25th, because otherwise, I’m sure she’d be waiting until 11:59pm on the 30th.
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Sometimes, quieter kids are actively interested in having louder kids around to bring them out of their safe place. I think there’s nothing wrong with that. And my kid picked a university based on social atmosphere, and I’m good with that. 
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We are verrrrrry low end donut hole people, not high income, and in your scenario we would be netting <0. Do people really expect to 100% cash flow college?
I find it hard to believe that 300-500K income people with 2 kids don’t save for college and then are suddenly shocked by college prices as their 2 kids get into HYPSM+ schools. Are they ignoring their financial planner? Unaware that many prestigious schools only give need-based aid?
Are people at any non-poverty income level comfortable if they are paying their total SAI out of their after tax income? Not many, I would guess. Is the SAI realistically unaffordable for many people at a variety of income levels? Yes. Are there other options? Yes, and the more income you have the more full-pay or less than SAI options there are. The most a person will ever have to pay is the COA, even if their SAI is much higher.
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Those people are fine. If their kids get in there it’s almost certain they’ll get huge merit other places.
If they have kids with a 3.2 and a 1050 on their SATs they can go to a more affordable regional or state school. They don’t really need to go to Harvard anyway. If I was rich and my kid was full pay at Harvard or full ride to Alabama… Roll Tide!
As per usual, the family making $500k will have more options than the family making $50k. Especially when the family making $50k has the 3.2/1050 kid and can’t afford the regional place.
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I don’t want to live in a world without Princess bride quotes and memes! Post away! 
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My kid might not get the joke. Instead, I usually say “Drive fast. Take chances.” Eyerolls and sighs follow.
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Daughter just made her decision. Syracuse here we come! It’s been my favorite all along. 
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In my state, a 3.2 and a 1050 on SAT will get a student into our community colleges. Even so, some students with higher stats chose to do AA degrees or significant credits at the community college because they have faculty with PhDs now. 20 years ago, they did not.
There’s no doubt that the educational landscape is changing both nationally and locally.
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So attending previews day with S24 next monday. The schedule is packed! He has signed up for two class visits but I am thinking that he should just go to one since the tours and ralks are more important than sitting in on a class. Needs info on where to live and such, right?
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If he can’t take a tour and see both classes, then yes, I’d say the tour is important. But if he’s into the classes and there’s any other way to see the dorms, I’d let him go to as many classes as possible. He’ll be able to get a sense of how rigorous and interesting the classwork is, which seems pretty important to me.
FWIW, at one admitted students day, my kid was allowed to sign up for something like 5 classes, and they’d have chosen more if they could. They’re so excited to visit that school now because the sample classes sound so interesting.
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Congrats! My son is a junior at SU and has had fantastic opportunities!
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Anyone have experience with USC Cinematic Arts?
Is he still deciding? If so, then classes might give him more information.
If he is already committed, then digging into the practicalities of housing/food/etc. might be of more use. Even then, the “official” line on things like housing and food will be sanitized to the nth degree. The kids have their own ways of finding out the real scoop. So…maybe the classes are still more informative even if already committed?
There were certain things I found far more interesting than D24. Is there any way you all could divide and conquer? You take the “boring to him” tours and give him the executive summary later?
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Congrats! My S24 is between Syracuse and University of Denver. I am hoping for Syracuse but my husband wants DU. Can’t wait for S24 to decide. We just went to admitted students day at Syracuse and loved it.
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