I was just kidding, it does really sound like fun and something my daredevil would really enjoy. Given some of the things he enjoys (rock climbing, ski racing, caving, sailing) it sounds like it’s probably safer. And he could probably benefit from a defensive driving course - but not a BMW!
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My nephew did the BMW test track thing and loved it.
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For parents still evaluating options, a suggestion: If you’re still using spreadsheets you created earlier in this process, I’d encourage you to copy the relevant columns over to a new spreadsheet, and to make sure the new spreadsheet doesn’t have irrelevant columns, like “% admitted” stats. The job that the earlier spreadsheet had to do — exploring opportunities, ensuring enough schools at different rejectivity levels — is now done, and the job the new spreadsheet has to do — exploring the options in front of your student — is a bit different and requires different tools. The fact that School A admits 12% vs School B’s 22%, or that School C admits 42% vs School D’s 72% isn’t as relevant, and your student should be focusing on different columns to pick the best fit for them.
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Did I miss the post on how the interview went and if it influenced his perception of…Furman, I think?
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Thank you for asking! Yes, Furman. He really liked it. Maybe a little stuck on the prestige of some of his other choices but nothing but lovely things to say about Furman. He finds out about the scholarship by April 1.
Does your daughter have a final decision yet?!
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Thanks for mentioning this! Our C25 and we are setting up their college spreadsheet for comparing college offers and features (financial columns and some college specific columns - impressions from tours, academic major details, flexibility to switch between colleges within a university, dorms, food, weather, signature programs, study abroad, etc). Any topics for spreadsheet columns that you would suggest, or templates/topics that anyone has found that were helpful for them? Thanks in advance!
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Final decision? Ha! More seriously, she has seven schools left on the trello “under consideration” column, not including the four schools outstanding. Now that she has what she has and has good options in them, I think she would be perfectly happy to not add any more to the mix. Of the seven, I think five are still at play. I thought she was down to three, but two reappeared when we chatted.
She has not actually cut loose the other schools. Grr. I don’t think she’s nervous about doing so, but there’s enough on her plate to get done right now that this doesn’t feel important to her. I get it, but, D25, you, too, were nervous about schools last week and loved when you got an unexpected scholarship. C’mon, kid!
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They are here to drive us crazy one last time before they leave the nest 
We’re in a similar boat, four decisions coming this week and realistically down to 3 or 4 schools. Today. Who knows what tomorrow brings?
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I would love to also hear everyone’s spreadsheet columns. We have a master spreadsheet and then a decision one.
Some of the columns on the decision one are: actual total cost, avg class size, GPA needed to keep merit, retention rate, 4yr grad rate, 6yr grad rate, fraternity %, residency requirement # of years, starting salaries for finance majors.
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What you’ve got in the works sounds great so far! I think one of the great things about people making their own spreadsheets for evaluating schools is that they can make them so personalized.
One column that I carried over from our earlier spreadsheet that I think might be more useful after we visit schools during Admitted Student Days is a subjective “Has friendly, happy students?” column. Right now, it’s based on general reputation, but after visits, we’ll hopefully be able to fill it in with some more concrete observations.
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There are technically a few more to allow the calculation to be made, but at this point C25’s spreadsheet has the following columns:
- College name
- Net price
The end. What more do you need?
(Acknowledging that this only works if the firm nos have already been removed.)
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We have a spreadsheet with three tabs.
Tab one has the basics for each school - name, location, size, quality of life score from Fiske’s + comments on student body vibe observations, cost.
Tab 2 is the cost calculation sheet - this has, based on the cost information received, tuition + room and board + other costs for major - annual merit aid. Then total times four. That number feeds back and fills in the cell on the first page.
Tab 3 compares the courses required for his major, and notes which ones are covered by an AP exam.
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My kid keeps waffling so much I’m having a hard time keeping track. Cost and prestige keeps getting in the way a bit. I know where he should go and I try to softly nudge, but the shinny schools and the low cost schools keep distracting him from deciding. He has also refused to decline any admissions even from schools he has stated flat out are off the list. Drives me crazy but I try to bite my tongue.
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My spreadsheet (and it’s mine, my kid wants nothing to do with it) I’ve progressed to creating a four year plan for him. He looks at it and says something like “I only need to know one semester at a time …”. Yadda Yadda, let my OCD do it’s thing. Really, I think mapping out the course work and where AP classes come into play does have an impact, both on how feasible a school is and the cost as some classes your APs help a lot and others very little. Many of my kids APs are mostly helping to eliminate general ed classes, but some SLACs don’t allow APs to waive gen eds. But some SLACs have less required classes for your major. It’s hard for me to see until it’s on paper.
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I only have a C26 so ours is in its infancy, but as part of the “fit” decision it includes what fun clubs they have, and (this is individual but others may have similar type wants) what opportunities there are for non music majors to join ensembles etc.
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I fully admit, I’m OCD about spreadsheets. I love spreadsheets. In our case the APs were important, because his major, at both schools, has very little extra room around the requirements to graduate in four years. I think at one school there’s room for two other electives and at the others only three. He really wants to learn Spanish - which has nothing to do with his major. So being able to knock out some of the lower level courses or gen eds with APs means he can do some Spanish and also maybe a class or two of something fun.
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It’s hard to squeeze it all in. My son want’s to get a Spanish minor as he is nearly fluent in Spanish now. I told him the only way that works it will a Spanish study abroad, and now he is all on board for that.
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The biggest factors for S23 (after cost and strong reputation in his major) were distance from home and number of GE classes as a % of total. Less was better for both.
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Major (applied for) w/ link to curriculum
if that schools major requires chemistry (my kid hates chemistry)
No. of kids in major
Starting salary for major
major/minor links for their other big interest w/ link to program (if switch from major #1)
EC1 availability w/link (These are all kid of unusual ECs, so only like 1-2 schools have all 3)
EC2 availability w/link
EC3 availability w/link
Any other special stuff to note
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I also have % graduate in 4/6 years, % that live on campus and 1st year retention
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