College Questions....lots of questions

[Laura]

Ok, lots of questions coming up:

IF you have sent your children to college in the last 1-5 years:

a) What would be the top 3 things you would have done different?
b) What would be the top 3 things you would have done SOONER?
c) What would be the top 3 things you would have asked?
d) What would be the top 3 things you would have not done at all?
e) What would you have done different on your visit to the school?
f) What would you have investigated deeper given the second chance to do so?

My son has been accepted to 4 different schools. We really have our eye on one. It is expensive.....and I don't know if I can make it affordable?

The school is 15 hours away, so I want to be ready to ask every important question there is when I get there.

HELP!!!!

[Sheila]

Probably one thing I would suggest, is to have your son stay in your state. Hopefully, this should cost you/he less in the long run. It should be easier for him to visit and you to assist him, if he needs it.

Both of my kids went to college and one is still in college. I would also suggest telling him that if he lives at home and commutes, it will be less expensive for him and you in the long rurn. Those resident fees are substantial and I'm pretty sure he'd be better taken care of and get better food at home. Also, one has to keep in mind that those fees (whether for tuition, books, or residence need to be repaid). Therefore, less is better!

I think it also matters what his major is and how long he's going for. In some cases it may not be a possibility to stay in your state and there may be no university offering what he wants near enough to home for him to commute.

As far as books go, I'd suggest half.com. They've traditionally charged ridiculous prices for books to be used for a few months and in most cases never picked up after class completion.

Would suggest him working part-time while attending. Is he eligible for any scholarships - athletic or otherwise?

[Anon001]

I may not have any kids in college, but from personal experience, I can offer a couple things.

First, stay away from student loans. There are alwasy scholarships and grants that don't have to be paid back. If it doesn't cover the cost, have him work part time to help with his education.

Like Sissy said, if he stays in-state, his tuition costs will be a heckuva lot lower than paying out-of-state tuition.

Good luck.

Paul

[Laura]

Being a white male with married parents, he qualifies for nothing. Ok, I take that back, he gets a 'little' subsidised and unsubsidised student loan money.
Went though this w my daughter last year. She qualified for nada, zippo.

We have searched high and low for "scholarships" and unless you are of an alternative lifestyle, you promise to be a NOW member, you have pigment or are from another country......there ain't jack squat out there.

He wants to play hockey, and there are no schools at the level he wants to play in state. I wouldn't send him to IU if it was free.

He's been accepted to 4 schools in MN and one has my eye. His too.

I am lost in the 'housing choices, meal plans, bla bla bla".

We are going to take a trip up in April to try to sort this out......it's all so confusing.

One thing I WILL NOT do is the parent plus loan. I do think my kid would pay me back, but I do not want to tie up my credit. What if my septic tank blows? What if my house falls in a sink hole? Then there I sit with 40K in MY NAME in student loans........in this day and age, no one would touch me with a 10 foot pole.

I didn't go to college so I don't know how to navigate the process, and I don't want to make stupid decisions, or guide him to make stupid decisions!

Thanks for the tip on the used books. I will book mark that now!!

[cinok]

How much did you save for his college or do you have to pay it all out if pockect now. I tend to disagree about the the student loans. I would not use ragular bank loans but the stafford loans from the govermernt generally have a reasonable intrest rate. every one complains about having to pay them back after they get of school. College is not free and someone has to pay for it.

[Anon001]

Laura,

I think if you do more research you will find scholarship money out there. I have three neices and nephews in college now and most of all their tuitions are covered without any student loans and their dads have too much money for them to get grants.

Do they still have the old PELL Grants available?

The reason I say to discourage student loans is because it is really rough for a 22 year old kid to try to get a start in the world with $40K to $60K debt right off the bat. It also doesn't teach them to be debt free.

I know kids of a couple friends that are working and going to school and paying every dime out of their own pocket.

The money is out there for kids without having to go into debt and you don't have to be in an alternative lifestyle or a race other than caucasian.

If he had good grades or if he's going to be playing sports for a college team, he should be able to find enough scholarships to pay his way.

Keep looking.... good luck.

I think you're smart in not going into debt for his college. When small town or rural kids get to college, they sometimes don't stay. It is such a new and exciting world that many of them get caught up in partying and all kinds of things that parents never expected or never found out about. Kids will be kids and you don't want to be stuck as a cosignor or a note that he won't or can't pay.

Paul

P.S. If you have a coop nearby where you do business check with them also. The co-op system has several types of scholarships available for kids from small town and rural families. Check with your local bank where you do business. The fraternal organizations are also good for scholarships. Then there are also a lot of corporations that have scholarship foundations and a lot of private foundations that also have scholarship programs. Sometimes you have to do a lot of digging, but the money is there,... unless he didn't make very good grades in high school.

[cartershan]

Hi Laura
I've looked at this thread a few times and have wanted to answer, but I didn't want to answer either. We have a 25 year old junior in college. He has been in college since he was 17. Things I would do differently now are:
1. Make sure that all grades and mid-term progress reports cometo your address. Make sure that that cannot be changed by anyone but you or your husband. The child will cover for himself and lie like a dog. (never thought ours would and I was very,very wrong). Not saying yours will, but its good to know that they can't change addresses for important info. Your paying for it, so its your business.,

2. If your sun STOPS asking your for additional money, then he has probably taken out a credit card (or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5). They send those deals out like crazy to the college population. I would venture to say that 100% of them are granted.

3. Ask for copies of transcripts of meetings with advisors. They are required to meet and talk with their advisor at least once a semester. But there are no consequences if they do not. Make your child meet with his advisor and require minutes of those meetings. The university will provide it if you ask. Keep on track of the suspected graduation date.

Good Luck to you and your family. I sincerely hope you do not have the trouble that we have had.
Also, you may not want to provide him more spending money per week than he would have if he were out of college and working his first job. Its a setup for failure. Our son for the first couple of years had way more spending money than either my husband or I have per week. That was the problem from the beginning.
Hope this helps in some way. Shannon

[cartershan]

Also need to add that my child went to college on an academic scholarship and lost it within the first year. He is a smart, charismatic, loving, capable child that just went hell fire nuts at school. Good luck!!

[mistyriver]

I don't think I'd do anything different or earlier. My daughter did most of it herself and spent many, many weekends applying for scholarships from which she receives aprox. 15-20K per year. Added to an educational trust fund from her grandparents, she'll graduate next year from an expensive private university with no debt. Plus she qualified for work study so she's supplied most of her own spending money.
One thing I would do differently though: we let her move off campus in her sophomore year and it was just a huge pain in the neck. We should have insisted on her living on campus till at the very least, her junior year...preferably the whole way through.

[mistyriver]

Hi Laura
I've looked at this thread a few times and have wanted to answer, but I didn't want to answer either. We have a 25 year old junior in college. He has been in college since he was 17. Things I would do differently now are:
1. Make sure that all grades and mid-term progress reports cometo your address. Make sure that that cannot be changed by anyone but you or your husband. The child will cover for himself and lie like a dog. (never thought ours would and I was very,very wrong). Not saying yours will, but its good to know that they can't change addresses for important info. Your paying for it, so its your business.,

2. If your sun STOPS asking your for additional money, then he has probably taken out a credit card (or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5). They send those deals out like crazy to the college population. I would venture to say that 100% of them are granted.

3. Ask for copies of transcripts of meetings with advisors. They are required to meet and talk with their advisor at least once a semester. But there are no consequences if they do not. Make your child meet with his advisor and require minutes of those meetings. The university will provide it if you ask. Keep on track of the suspected graduation date.

Good Luck to you and your family. I sincerely hope you do not have the trouble that we have had.
Also, you may not want to provide him more spending money per week than he would have if he were out of college and working his first job. Its a setup for failure. Our son for the first couple of years had way more spending money than either my husband or I have per week. That was the problem from the beginning.
Hope this helps in some way. Shannon

The college (or any of it's employeess) cannot legally reveal any grades or anything else to you unless your child signs a release. They are legal adults and the school cannot violate their privacy. Most likely, everything will be maied to the student at their campus address. It matters not in the least whether we as parents are footing the bill...they legally can't violate the adult student's privacy.
http://www.thinkcollege.net/for-families/privacy-and-the-college-student

[MissouriFree]

The absolute number one money saving tactic is to go the first two years at the local community college. Period. kids don't want to but it will save ton money.

[Laura]

It's getting closer to that time (committing).

He's skating for 3-4 schools this month in Chicago, then if he makes a team he has been nominated for he will skate for multiple teams in Pittsburgh PA. We will make the trip to MN in April......but he will only have a couple of weeks to decide.

I will make sure that he signs off on all his records, allowing me full access to everything.

We'll keep praying. I am sure it will become clearer soon!! :-)

[mistyriver]

The absolute number one money saving tactic is to go the first two years at the local community college. Period. kids don't want to but it will save ton money.

Not if the 4 year college they ultimately decide on doesn't accept the credits from the community college. In that case it was money wasted at the community college.

[Rimfire_Red]

What if my septic tank blows? What if my house falls in a sink hole?

Interesting comment - a 4 foot deep 3 foot (at the surface - larger below) hole appeared over our tank only yesterday.....! (It isn't really THAT far from the house!) We are watching, but it appears the tank is ok, some poorly packed fill over the top of the 25+ year old tank caved.........

The above information is correct, you have no access to information regarding grades, attendence etc., due to FERPA rules UNLESS the college he decides to attend is set up so that when you get him enrolled (or later if you do chose) he fills out, signs and files paperwork allowing you access to this information. Some colleges have a place where this is checked in the advising software so faculty know at a glance that he has given you - (it can specify who) access to this information. This can include companies when he is graduating and applying for jobs. It may be as simple as "if you don't sign you don't go or go to THIS college if one does not offer the option". I personally know faculty who have been threatened by tuition paying parents who want information, but due to FERPA regs their hands are tied. Good luck!

[MissouriFree]

Not if the 4 year college they ultimately decide on doesn't accept the credits from the community college. In that case it was money wasted at the community college.

Thats true but i dont know of many that are not transferable if they are college level course in line with a 4 year curriculum - not technical skill classes like dental techncian etc ( not that there is thing wrong with that as acareer)

[Travis]

Ok, lots of questions coming up:

IF you have sent your children to college in the last 1-5 years:

a) What would be the top 3 things you would have done different?

Scholarships lots and lots of them

b) What would be the top 3 things you would have done SOONER?

Financial Aid
Scholarships
Find my major

c) What would be the top 3 things you would have asked?

I'd ask the school I plan to graduate from what classes they take from the school I am attending rather than listen to the school I am attending.

Can freshmen live off campus, or are they required to live in the dorms.

d) What would be the top 3 things you would have not done at all?

Start at a Junior college to save money
Would not bother taking courses for an AA, go towards an AA that transfer to a 4 year school.
Avoid the bookstore use ebay or amazon for books

e) What would you have done different on your visit to the school?

Look at housing and how to get to and from school. Is there a bus line nearby to avoid driving. How about stores nearby and all other stuff a student needs.

f) What would you have investigated deeper given the second chance to do so?

What the job market looks like for the degree I plan on getting. And where these jobs are.

My son has been accepted to 4 different schools. We really have our eye on one. It is expensive.....and I don't know if I can make it affordable?

The school is 15 hours away, so I want to be ready to ask every important question there is when I get there.

HELP!!!!


Currently an adult returning student. I find money is the big hurdle. I am starting at a junior college. Here its $80 a unit for Junior college or $200 for a 4 year school.

[mistyriver]

Thats true but i dont know of many that are not transferable if they are college level course in line with a 4 year curriculum - not technical skill classes like dental techncian etc ( not that there is thing wrong with that as acareer)

I've had a community college not accept science credits from another community college that was accredited by the exact same accrediting association. Four year colleges frequently won't aept CC credits for academic classes. Often, teh CC classes are just not as rigorous.

[Laura]

Schools are getting "keen" to the notion that kids are doing their pre-requs at a community college cheaper........so they are now not accepting them as credit.
Saying you have to use the same book as they do, and other BS like that.

I will 'find' the money. If I have to work 3 jobs, I will do it......but he wants to play hockey so I have to pick a school, that has a team, that he can make.
I will walk through fire and broken glass to make sure he gets a good education and has the opportunity to reach a goal!

Thanks so much for your ideas!!

[momma_to_seven_chi]

Ok, lots of questions coming up:

IF you have sent your children to college in the last 1-5 years:


HELP!!!!

My only regret is that a couple of the kids didn't take college classes early in their teens. The kids that did had an advantage when they went to college. You can start letting the kids take a night class or two each semester when they are 15 at most jr colleges or earlier at a distance college if you homeschool.

[momma_to_seven_chi]

The absolute number one money saving tactic is to go the first two years at the local community college. Period. kids don't want to but it will save ton money.

I completely agree with this. And you can let the kids start earning credits years before they go full time. Colleges can tell you which classes transfer.... College algebra, composition, social science classes, etc all transfer in most cases. Just stay away from the classes that don't transfer.

[Anon001]

My niece took several classes and by the time she graduated high school, all her credits transferred to the university she started. She started college as a second semester sophomore. That saved her bucket loads of money by already being 3 semesters ahead and not just in tuition but also in living expenses.

Paul

[cinok]

Sometimes the problems with credits transfering is also related to the amount of credits that someone wants to transfer. Most schools have a minimum amount of credits that need to be completed at thier school.

[momma_to_seven_chi]

The University of MO use to give college credit for distance classes if the exams were proctored. Our pastor did that for the boys when they were in their early teens. Back then, the kids were supposed to be at least 15 or 16 to take distance classes, but I just left the age and birth date spots blank. They never questioned it, and we never volunteered the age information. Our two oldest kids college classes from age 13 on along with their homeschool curriculum. They gave a list of acceptable proctors, and our pastor easily agreed because he fit the criteria. Much cheaper than sending the kids off to a dorm somewhere at age 19. And by the time they were over 18, they already had several credits behind them. Many universities do the distance learning now, and almost all jr colleges allow kids to take classes. My youngest started taking some summer classes at a jr. college several years back.

[MelleeRN]

There are some great scholarships out there, it just takes a lot of time to dig through them and apply, but research and time spent applying is well worth it. Fast-web is a great resource. As for student loan, they are good dependant on what degree a person is going for. For example, there is such a shortage on nurses that 99% of employers offer a student loan pay back where they pay it for you. Same goes for teaching. GPA, community service, and even 4H offer great scholarship opportunities. That and the military.
From personal experience, I utilized student loans with the knowledge that health employers are paying them, scholarships for GPA and organizations affiliations, and pell grant. To date, I have my ADN, AAS, and will have BSN in June, plus my APN/MSN is covered without any out of pocket. Some of the funds were 500 here or 200 there, but they all added up. This combined with working full time made going to college doable, not always easy, but it can be done.

[Bondo]

I don't have kids anywhere near old enough for College (both still in diapers), but as a fairly recent college grad, I think I have a couple of good insights.

First, one of the best decisions I ever made was to go to school away from home. (Only five hours away and I got in state tuition). I also made the nearly best decision of coming home after that first year.

Second I avoided debt. Had a lot of scholarship money to help, but graduating with that debt load is not something I would look forward to.

[Laura]

we don't have to worry about getting any scholarships.
as a white male, with married parents, making more than 10K a year, he doesn't qualify for anything!

now, if we were divorced, or he claimed a 'certain' religion, or if he had some pigment......we'd have people throwing money at us.

i have wasted many hours seeking out money for this boy.
he'll have to do it the old fashioned way.
work for it.

[Anon001]

we don't have to worry about getting any scholarships.
as a white male, with married parents, making more than 10K a year, he doesn't qualify for anything!

now, if we were divorced, or he claimed a 'certain' religion, or if he had some pigment......we'd have people throwing money at us.

i have wasted many hours seeking out money for this boy.
he'll have to do it the old fashioned way.
work for it.

That is not totally true. There are thousands of scholarships that have nothing to do with sex, or race. Also, scholarships are not based on parental income or the income of the student. Grants are.

I know you wanted him to be able to go to a school where he can play hockey. Is there no scholarship for hockey players like in other sports?

Paul

[Laura]

I have been on collegeboard.com, fastweb, and 6 other sites just like them, researching 'HUNDREDS' of potential scholarships.....and I am here to tell you if there are 100 possible scholarships, he doesn't 'qualify' for 85 of them.

We went through the same thing with my daughter. Each day she and I would spend 1 hour each, every day, 6 days a week.......so a total of 12 hours a week, looking for scholarships........

For white, hetro children of married parents, that make more than 10K a year, there is very very very little out there. I have spent the time looking.

A lot of the scholarships say "need based" and you do need to turn in your W-2's. A lot of them are 'pet project based' meaning if you are NOW member, or GreenPeace or some other 'group'. A lot of them are for 'gay, lesbian, bi, and transgendered' people. A lot of them are for latino, black, and other people with pigment. When I say I have searched, I have done the leg work, myself and seen it with my own eyes.

No money for 'club' hockey. NCAA is different.......but I know that the amount is 'capped' what ever it is.

I am done fretting about it. What is supposed to happen, will happen! :wink:

[momma_to_seven_chi]

If you are paying for this all out of pocket, I would definitely be looking into local jr. colleges. He can earn the basic class credits (comp, speech, health, college Alg, Geo, some social sciences and humanities) at half the price of sending him to live at a dorm in a university. Go talk to a counselor at the university/jr college to make sure he ONLY takes transfer credits. Then let him work part time to get some extra cash to help pay for the his own expenses at the dorm in a year or two. You would be saving yourselves ten thousand dollars a year or more while giving him a chance to earn all the lower level basic college credits. He won't need his specialized classes for a BA or BS until he is a junior anyway.
If the kid just wants to go live in a dorm and party at a big school, then let him pay for it himself. There is no reason to pay double plus room and board for those first 3-4 semesters of classes. Plus, that way he is home where he is safe until he is a bit older.

At least that is the way we would do it. Why pay more, and send the kid out into the world alone, when you can do it for less, and keep him protected a bit longer.

[Anon001]

I have been on collegeboard.com, fastweb, and 6 other sites just like them, researching 'HUNDREDS' of potential scholarships.....and I am here to tell you if there are 100 possible scholarships, he doesn't 'qualify' for 85 of them.

We went through the same thing with my daughter. Each day she and I would spend 1 hour each, every day, 6 days a week.......so a total of 12 hours a week, looking for scholarships........

For white, hetro children of married parents, that make more than 10K a year, there is very very very little out there. I have spent the time looking.

A lot of the scholarships say "need based" and you do need to turn in your W-2's. A lot of them are 'pet project based' meaning if you are NOW member, or GreenPeace or some other 'group'. A lot of them are for 'gay, lesbian, bi, and transgendered' people. A lot of them are for latino, black, and other people with pigment. When I say I have searched, I have done the leg work, myself and seen it with my own eyes.

No money for 'club' hockey. NCAA is different.......but I know that the amount is 'capped' what ever it is.

I am done fretting about it. What is supposed to happen, will happen! :wink:

There are plenty out there that are not need based. You say you've done the legwork, but it looks like you've only done computer searching. I gave you a couple suggestions earlier that you obviously didn't check on. Those are based on high school performance and nothing else.

I know they are available because I've been through it.

Paul

[Anon001]

Laura,

You might want to do a Google search. I googled "college hockey scholarships". I found several sites that assist in getting hockey scholarships. There are a total of 1188 hockey scholarships in this country. Some are for high school hockey players and some for club players. Some are renewable and some aren't. Most of those are not need based. Most of them are based on high school (and some junior high school) academics and how good a player is.

Maybe that is a place to start. Hope it helps.

[Laura]

thanks for the hot tip! :-)

[mistyriver]

I agree with Paul. My daughter is in an expensive private university and she spent months filling out applications and writing essays for private smaller scholarships. Some were only for a couple of hundred dollars but she won them and they added up to thousands of dollars. Her high school boyfriend did the same and he also got a lot of money.
She also got a hefty scholarship from her college and once she was in, continued to win scholarships because of her grades and achievements. Money is there to be found.
Have you tried scholarships.com?

[Cherokeewoman]

Congradulations Laura! I to have a daughter in college and there are a few things I would have done diffrent. 1st. If he is getting any kind of scholarship money, ask for more. Most people don't reliaze that the money they are offered may be flexable. 2nd. Just take sometime to walk around and listen to the staff. Not prof. and students but the nuts and blots people. After visiting my daughters school and sitting around for awhile I heard a lot of grumbling and complaining about the dean and his staff. Turns out the school is under staffed and the ones that are there are looking for other jobs. We are now looking at other schools for her. 3rd. Start now looking for off the wall scholarship money. If there is a $200. scholarship for a essay about tuna....have your student start writing now....any way u c what I mean. 4th. Make sure the school really is what your student wants.....if she wants to be a nurse, would a local community college be just as good, or if it is a bussiness degree is the school known for its outstanding reputation for that, ect.....Anyway have fun and don't be afraid to ask tons and tons of questions, if they don't give you the answer you want or need keep pushing.....Good luck!

[debbie-bountiful]

Neither of my daughters ever attended school until the first day at their different Universities. We lived oversees so it wasn't even a choice but turned out to be a good one. It seemed all the 4 year colleges wanted my girls and offered large amounts of money. Even out of State Universities. Where I saw a problem were the Junior colleges, for some odd reason they wanted a report card. Now both girls took the SATs and did quite good and that is all the colleges wanted. I had no report cards at all.

Both girls are now graduated and married. One is an RN and had received her BSRN at Oklahoma Baptist University and the other daughter received her degree in Piano Performance and a Organ Performance at Oklahoma State University. No problem

Do not worry about it.

[StatHaldol]

It's a lot tougher than it used to be. I got a Geology degree in 1979 and a Pharmacy degree in 1993. I was able to work during summers and pay my tuition for the next two semesters. That's impossible now. Many of our pharmacy students have $100K in loans when they graduate. That's astounding to me.

I took the CLEP test when I graduated high school. That was in the stone age (1975) and I don't know much about it now; but at that time I was able to "CLEP" about a semester. Some of the other students who prepared for the CLEP test were able to CLEP three semesters. http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/about.html

If I had to do it over, I would get many of the 'core' courses (English, social sciences, speech, humanities, etc...) at a small junior college. It is a LOT cheaper.

My grades were the best when I worked full time and took two classes a semester. There was a lot less stress and I found the classes more interesting.
My grades were average at best when I was a seventeen year old freshman going to school full time; I smoked a boat load of pot and learned that alcohol mixes well with tonic water.
Most of my money was spent on alcohol and pretty coeds...the rest of it I squandered foolishly...

Good luck!!

Mike

[CountryGuy]

I see this is an older post but has been refreshed.

Laura - I'm wondering, what did your son end up doing?

The only thing I'd caution in regards to StatHaldol recommendation of going to a junior college to fulfill you general ed requirements is be careful and look into it first. Many times some schools and universities will not accept credits from other schools. I've even saw where major university systems wouldn't transfer credits from their own smaller branch campuses to their larger campuses and colleges.

My best friend got caught in a situation where he took classes at a branch campus for 2 years that was to be getting their accreditation for a BS RN nursing program. When that campus’ program failed to get its accreditation he was forced to transfer to one of the other branch campuses that already had the 4 yr program to finish up his last 2 years. That’s when he found out he had to repeat more than a semesters worth of classes since they said many would not count since he hadn’t taken them from an accredited program.

[Laura]

I see this is an older post but has been refreshed.

Laura - I'm wondering, what did your son end up doing?

The only thing I'd caution in regards to StatHaldol recommendation of going to a junior college to fulfill you general ed requirements is be careful and look into it first. Many times some schools and universities will not accept credits from other schools. I've even saw where major university systems wouldn't transfer credits from their own smaller branch campuses to their larger campuses and colleges.

My best friend got caught in a situation where he took classes at a branch campus for 2 years that was to be getting their accreditation for a BS RN nursing program. When that campus’ program failed to get its accreditation he was forced to transfer to one of the other branch campuses that already had the 4 yr program to finish up his last 2 years. That’s when he found out he had to repeat more than a semesters worth of classes since they said many would not count since he hadn’t taken them from an accredited program.


He is playing Jr. Hockey.
He tried taking some classes on line (only allowed to take 9 credit hours or less, he took 6)......and it was too much.
We will be better prepared next year.
He will play one more year of Jr. Hockey....with the hopes of college scholarships....and go from there. So he will walk into college an almost 21 year old freshman....which isn't a bad thing.
He will be older and more mature, and focused on what he wants to do, instead of changing majors, partying, and generally horsing around.

We will start the process this summer (applications, contact with the coaches, etc...) and then pray!

Thanks for the advice, I really appreciate it!

[Proud_Poppa]

we don't have to worry about getting any scholarships.
as a white male, with married parents, making more than 10K a year, he doesn't qualify for anything!

now, if we were divorced, or he claimed a 'certain' religion, or if he had some pigment......we'd have people throwing money at us.

i have wasted many hours seeking out money for this boy.
he'll have to do it the old fashioned way.
work for it.

Laura

This is NOT the whole truth. We are white....my son is male (Straight). He's going to a very good state college (Purdue University). I make a little over $100K/year. He got a full scholarship that completely pays ALL his tuition. The only things I pay are room/board/books. I just sent a check to Purdue for $4057 for the coming semester. I'll probably have something like $300 more for books. He got his scholarship because of his academic performance....NOT because of his race, sex, or political affiliation. It's costing us something like $9000 a YEAR to send him to college. The scholarships are picking up about $8000/year. He's a sophomore this year....his gpa for his first year was 3.92!! I am very very proud of him...by the way. But to classify ALL scholarships as something you get because of the color of your skin...or your political/sexual orientation...is absolutely NOT true.

In general...it is the "Grants" that are given poor...or ethnically/sexually favored people.

PS: It's because of the skinny little fart I mentioned in this post that I chose "Proud Poppa" as my login.

[Laura]

Laura

This is NOT the whole truth. We are white....my son is male (Straight). He's going to a very good state college (Purdue University). I make a little over $100K/year. He got a full scholarship that completely pays ALL his tuition. The only things I pay are room/board/books. I just sent a check to Purdue for $4057 for the coming semester. I'll probably have something like $300 more for books. He got his scholarship because of his academic performance....NOT because of his race, sex, or political affiliation. It's costing us something like $9000 a YEAR to send him to college. The scholarships are picking up about $8000/year. He's a sophomore this year....his gpa for his first year was 3.92!! I am very very proud of him...by the way. But to classify ALL scholarships as something you get because of the color of your skin...or your political/sexual orientation...is absolutely NOT true.

In general...it is the "Grants" that are given poor...or ethnically/sexually favored people.

PS: It's because of the skinny little fart I mentioned in this post that I chose "Proud Poppa" as my login.

That is awesome!!
May I ask, was it academic or athletic?

[Proud_Poppa]

That is awesome!!
May I ask, was it academic or athletic?

Academic. We scrimped and scraped for 12 years to send him through a private Christian school (1-12). It is now paying off. His senior year of high school, his class had the highest average SAT score for the whole state of Indiana. He was accepted at Rose Hullman and given a scholarship there as well...but even WITH the scholarship it was still going to be $30K plus per year!!

He's already got a summer intern job lined up that makes darned near as much as I do an hour.....even as only a Sophomore!!

Please forgive me.....I tend to brag on him just a little. I think bragging on your kids might be okay though :)

[Laura]

Academic. We scrimped and scraped for 12 years to send him through a private Christian school (1-12). It is now paying off. His senior year of high school, his class had the highest average SAT score for the whole state of Indiana. He was accepted at Rose Hullman and given a scholarship there as well...but even WITH the scholarship it was still going to be $30K plus per year!!

He's already got a summer intern job lined up that makes darned near as much as I do an hour.....even as only a Sophomore!!

Please forgive me.....I tend to brag on him just a little. I think bragging on your kids might be okay though :)


No need to apologize!! Kid brags are great to read!!
My boy was homeschooled, and did well on his ACT and SAT, well enough to get him into a handful of colleges.
My girl did even better on her ACT/SAT's but she went to a culinary school, that didn't even consider those scores.....most culinary schools don't.

You should be proud! That's a lot of hard work, for a lot of years, to get college for almost free!! Pay off!!!!

[rAcErRicK]

Hi Laura
I've looked at this thread a few times and have wanted to answer, but I didn't want to answer either. We have a 25 year old junior in college. He has been in college since he was 17. Things I would do differently now are:
1. Make sure that all grades and mid-term progress reports cometo your address. Make sure that that cannot be changed by anyone but you or your husband. The child will cover for himself and lie like a dog. (never thought ours would and I was very,very wrong). Not saying yours will, but its good to know that they can't change addresses for important info. Your paying for it, so its your business.,

2. If your sun STOPS asking your for additional money, then he has probably taken out a credit card (or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5). They send those deals out like crazy to the college population. I would venture to say that 100% of them are granted.

3. Ask for copies of transcripts of meetings with advisors. They are required to meet and talk with their advisor at least once a semester. But there are no consequences if they do not. Make your child meet with his advisor and require minutes of those meetings. The university will provide it if you ask. Keep on track of the suspected graduation date.

Good Luck to you and your family. I sincerely hope you do not have the trouble that we have had.
Also, you may not want to provide him more spending money per week than he would have if he were out of college and working his first job. Its a setup for failure. Our son for the first couple of years had way more spending money than either my husband or I have per week. That was the problem from the beginning.
Hope this helps in some way. Shannon

Personally, I was very fortunate, in that I only had to deal with a small portion of this, but It is a story that I have heard from many a parent, and have seen some of the same.

[mistyriver]

He's going to a very good state college (Purdue University). .

Congrats to your son! My husband is a Purdue grad and his degree opened a lot of doors for him, including getting him into MIT for grad school. My MIL taught chemistry there as well...great school!

[Upcycled]

I knew my white, male children would be an endangered species when they grew up, and so I always, ALWAYS chose "OTHER" when asked for race or ethnicity and giggled my arse off as I did so. Their grand parents are African...the Colonial British kind...and so we check "African -American" with amused regularity.

Now that one of them is reaching the college application stage, and until they make it a felony TO SELF SELECT AGAINST THE POLITICALLY CORRECT'S WISHES, he will check "other" on his own. He is very discreet, but has great fun doing this.

I expect there will be a great many scholarships for my "mixed" son. "MIXED"! That is a legitimate choice now. Boy have the social engineers opened a Pandora's box with THAT choice!

That's my shoe for their socially engineered machine. EAT THAT COMMIES!

How easy is that? Who ISN'T "technically "MIXED"!

[Upcycled]

Oh...and incidentally, he is a straight "A" honor student at a private Christian school--- and we have paid a bond (in the top most solvent state) since he was in pre-school to send him to college.

So by checking "other" I am not hoping to scam any money for a scholarship that he does not deserve based on merit. I simply REFUSE to play by the rules laid out by the socialists who control "Big Education".

If you can't beat 'em, cheat 'em.

Social engineers lie to themselves, so they deserve to be lied to.

[farmerj]

My fiance and I both returned to school last year. Me due to job layoff, her because the job situation when she moved 3 hours to be with me.

Pay attention to accreditation. One place you should follow to see if your credits will transfer is here:
https://www.transfer.org/uselect/login.htm

Don't worry about logging in, you can search without an account. This website was given to use by the lady who actually works for the school and says, "You will get credit for this, but not for that." This is the same website that MN State Colleges and Universities uses.

By us having my fiance go to a 2 year community college first, we saved almost $4000 in tuition alone compared to the same classes she would have taken at a 4 year university. 2 year school was $50 per credit less than the 4 year school. Using the above link, we tracked every one of her classes and she took classes that would apply to her accounting degree at the 4 year school. Her first two years of classes completely transferred.

She has been in classes with people who are taking the same class 2-3 times because they took the class from a school that was NOT accredited.


Additionally, we both got accepted into the Phi Thetta Kapa honors society. Now that we are in the process of transferring to the 4 year school next year, we are getting transfer and honors scholarships handed to us. She just received a $1500 scholarship just from transferring. She did nothing other than apply to school.

[Dennis G]

Ok, lots of questions coming up:

IF you have sent your children to college in the last 1-5 years:

a) What would be the top 3 things you would have done different?
b) What would be the top 3 things you would have done SOONER?
c) What would be the top 3 things you would have asked?
d) What would be the top 3 things you would have not done at all?
e) What would you have done different on your visit to the school?
f) What would you have investigated deeper given the second chance to do so?

My son has been accepted to 4 different schools. We really have our eye on one. It is expensive.....and I don't know if I can make it affordable?

The school is 15 hours away, so I want to be ready to ask every important question there is when I get there.

HELP!!!!

I reared three kids...all now college graduates, one with a masters, the other a physician.

a) What would be the top 3 things you would have done different?

1) The two I paid for went to two years junior college then final two years local state University...ODU (Norfolk, VA). I recommend that.

2) The one that went away (to Jackson, MS) was on a full scholarship, including room and board. That was good for her, she became a doctor.

3) I made a deal with my kids, if they live at home, and go to junior college first, I will take care of all costs and on an allowance as long as grades stay up. (3.0 or more). That also includes transfer to ODU.


b) What would be the top 3 things you would have done SOONER?
nothing
c) What would be the top 3 things you would have asked?
explained above
d) What would be the top 3 things you would have not done at all?
not much, it worked out ok.
e) What would you have done different on your visit to the school?
nothing, they done good.
f) What would you have investigated deeper given the second chance to do so?

Deeper? nothing, the school in Ms. was known to us...the local school is good and wife and I had taken night courses there, so knew the professors and plant ...etc.

Dennis G