@NCmom14 My advice would be to be patient for a few more weeks. You’ve literally caught the FA office at their absolute worst time. To ensure that the FA awards for all admitees are completed before Mar 31. In my experience, they are highly professional and will attend to the updated info you give them.
Plus, after Mar 31, there will be other families speaking with FA about the exact same subject. They’ll be in complete “update” and “compare packages” mode starting April 1, I guarantee it!
I agree–I’ve gone through a financial aid appeal before (at another school). I took a while, but it all worked out well in the end. Updating FA once actual tax returns come in is standard stuff. I wouldn’t worry too much.
My son is flying out tomorrow to JFK and I was wondering if any of your kids have used the NYC Airporter to get to GCS? and if so, did they have a good experience? one way ride is $17 so its very reasonable. Any imput will be appreciated
The bus will get you there, but is not the fastest or least expensive. Depending on his final destination after Grand Central, he may want to take the AirTrain from the JFK terminal to the subway into Manhattan. $5.75 one-way, well-marked, not hard to figure out.
My daughter has taken the NYC Airporter and similar to what BirdieC said, said that she had to wait for an hour or so before it left for GCT, though it is reasonable in terms of cost.
One other option to consider beyond the Airporter and the subway is a cab, which IIRC is a flat rate of around $50 from JFK to Manhattan.
@NCmom14 - my D’s original package was crazy high too. Did an appeal and it was lowered by $13,000. Look online and find out the process to appeal. Call the Financial Aid Office if you need to. Do not let money be the deciding factor. As others have said, they are kind of busy now getting packages ready for the RD round. You need to submit the appeal in writing with a good explanation of what happened and current documents that bolster your argument. It can be done. Good luck.
Does anyone have experience with disabled seating at Yale commencement? This is our second kid graduating from Yale so I’ve been to graduation before. Last time, grandma was in better physical condition and could walk everywhere. This time, I’m not sure. If necessary, we’ve requested wheelchair rental. I noticed that there is a designated entrance and seating for disabled and frail people and family members on Monday. I’m wondering if this actually makes the day easier or more efficient? Has anyone actually used the separate seating and entrance?
@prefect, yes we did at our DD’s 2015 graduation. My father rented a wheelchair and we did use the disabled entrance. I’m not sure it was significantly faster to get in though. They did have designated seating where you have a nice view of the jumbotron just like most everyone else. Of course since Biden was talking at Class Day the security was no doubt more taxing for us than normal. Note that the sidewalks can be a bit of a challenge with construction, roots etc. Are you staying in a hotel or in the colleges? They were really disorganized with check-in for the college housing, and disabled parking (noted on a map, but it turned out non-existent–thanks so much!) and we did a lot of going here and there; I’d recommend having the wheelchair person hang out somewhere comfortable while you deal with all that. Also note that a lot (most?) of the restaurants in town have stairs to get in; you can request ground floor seating but my father still had to negotiate 5-8 stairs at most of them. It can definitely be a challenge!
Just a heads up that there are now reasonable airfares from the San Francisco Bay Area to the local New Haven airport via Philadelphia on American Airlines. I was researching for our trip East for graduation and airfares of $180 each way popped up! I’ve never seen those before, but wish we had, after years of my son making the long trek from JFK because those were the cheapest flights.
In Philadelphia the traveler changes terminals to a commuter plane - but it’s all under American’s umbrella.
@SpiritManager
That’s encouraging! Will put that one in the memory bank. I was beginning to get a bit discouraged as looking for flights from SFO to Philly for a spring regatta son is participating in and everything is sky high. Was lamenting that we will never be able to afford to visit our son next spring but maybe there’s hope
I love having D fly into Tweed (New Haven) except for price. From SC it is usually cheaper to go other places. But if you get a good deal and consider the extra time and cost of getting to NY airports or Hartford, then sometimes worth it. With my D we have been willing to pay more when she would be coming in late or have checked bags (which I don’t want her to deal with on train/bus in NY).
Just curious if any of the other parents follow the thread of kids waiting on Ivy Day this week. It just reminds me of what we were going through last year and how my kid handled it. What we were dong when they were released and our response. Its one of those things I will forever remember every detail of.
My daughter said that there is a very exciting buzz on Old Campus as all of the freshman wait to hear about their friends and who will be joining them next year as the new “prefrosh”. She has volunteered to take on 10 kids for bulldog days and I think she is just as exited as those that will be
I echo things that @donnaleighg said and will add that if the speaker has any kind of top level security (like Biden did) make sure your senior can handle extended wait periods outside. The wheelchair area was shaded, but Biden’s schedule resulted in over a 1.5 hour delay before the event even started and it got quite warm. Additionally, the increased security requirements added an extra hour to getting there to begin with. Then of course the whole ceremony took quite a while. Afterwards the mass exit of everyone to get to the respective residential colleges made for a lot of delays for anyone in wheelchairs, that group was the last to get out. It is a long tough day for even the hardiest senior. I also was disappointed at the crumbling sidewalks around Yale (along the city streets). Lots of places for the less-than-sure-footed to stumble. Even seniors who don’t use walking sticks in familiar areas around their own homes might want to consider using them while getting from hotels to events on campus,
Thanks @donnaleighg and @yalemom15. We may not use the wheelchair area. It doesnt seem like there’s any real advantage. She went to first kid’s Yale graduation so she’s aware of the circumstances. We keep reminding her that there’s a lot of walking. Not necessarily all at once, but over the course of the day. We’re staying at one of the campus hotels so parking isn’t an issue.
OK- Bulldog days. Are they more of a pep rally, or do they give insight and a chance to experience “the REAL Yale”? Attend classes? interact authentically with students? What’s the scoop? Inquiring minds want to know!
DD has friends at Yale, but in the end, that is only one part of the Elephant. Will Bulldog days give a large context as well as allow individualized probing, or is it an orchestrated production?
Anything goes at Bulldog Days. In an odd way it parallels the Yale experience quite nicely…a million resources available and it’s up to the student to take advantage of as many as possible.
There are a ton of different activities taking place all over campus and many classrooms are available for viewing. Go early for some of the more popular teachers/courses. It’s well organized, so everyone has a map and master list of activities going on. My husband and I went with our son and saw him for approximately 2 hours over two days. Honestly, we had a great time just watching all the other kids have so much fun. They all get key cards and wander the campus like regular students. If your child is still trying to figure out if Yale (or any other school is the perfect fit), I would recommend going to these events. Good luck!
@memsmom Me too! For no good reason, I keep reading and I’m seeing all the nerves in this years’ seniors. I remember March last year so well! I was definitely more anxious than my son, but the actual day I will never forget. Just sending good thoughts to the kids and parents waiting this year!
And I highly recommend bulldog days, even for parents.
@Musicmom2015 my kid is so excited to meet new students and new potential singers/cheerleaders. She loves her school so much that she just wants to share it. I think her excitement is fueling my lurking on the page.
My daughter absolutely loved Bulldog Days. Everyone went out of their way to help them feel like a student. She explored the buildings and went to concerts. Some of her closest friends are people she met then. It’s not an orientation and it’s not a sell the school party. It is really an accurate snippet of life on campus with a big pizza party at the end of it.
just like most everyone else. Of course since Biden was talking at Class Day the security was no doubt more taxing for us than normal. Note that the sidewalks can be a bit of a challenge with construction, roots etc. Are you staying in a hotel or in the colleges? They were really disorganized with check-in for the college housing, and disabled parking (noted on a map, but it turned out non-existent–thanks so much!) and we did a lot of going here and there; I’d recommend having the wheelchair person hang out somewhere comfortable while you deal with all that. Also note that a lot (most?) of the restaurants in town have stairs to get in; you can request ground floor seating but my father still had to negotiate 5-8 stairs at most of them. It can definitely be a challenge!