Parents of the High School Class of 2017/College 2021

[mamacatnv]

An old fried from grad school recently started a gofundme page for his son, a senior cellist who has a bunch of college auditions all over the country, he has to buy a plane ticket for his son each time plus one for the cello. He already has $1,8050 out of $5,000 requested! I don't personally like the idea but whatever floats your boat!

Maybe its a way to reach out to family. I used to tease DD that I was going to have a gofundme page for all her IB tests - then she dropped out of the IB diploma program and I only had to fork over $300 for a couple of tests that she will most likely benefit from instead of the anticipated $1000 for the tests required for the diploma.
When DS was in college and applying to Graduate school, my boss at the time forked over some substantial AMEX points for airfare for my son to attend a couple of PT School interviews. I am eternally grateful

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

I have missed so much! Congrats to all of those who have received acceptances, it sounds like it is creating hard choices, but isn't it nice to have choices.

Another concern with attending a private school that is a financial stretch for the family and student is the social life at the college. I have many friends that kids attended/are attending private schools and they feel alienated sometimes. One kid was all excited to go fishing with friends, called mom and asked to get his fishing poles, tackle, etc organized. He then called back and said to forget it. The fishing trip would be $400!!! The friends idea of fishing was to rent a charter, not just go to the lake. Another friend (with grown children) wanted her kids to go to private Christian college so they would marry 'well'. Well, she now feels left out since the baby present from the other set of grandparents was a new car, etc. So not only does she worry that she can't keep up with the Jones's she had to refinance the house to include the college debt. No way would I be willing to do that. While I want my kids to get the best education, I also want them to learn the value of a dollar and to live beneath their means.

My DS sometimes feels this way at his flagship state university. He is able to attend with no loans because we have a prepaid tuition 529 plan. We pay for room, board, books and his fraternity dues ($2200 a year) with a payment plan and cash. He saved all his summer job pay for school year spending money. I feel like we are managing this pretty well. Then a bunch of his fraternity brothers decided to go to Punta Cana, DR for Spring Break this year. I recently found out DS told them he couldn't go. He didn't have the money himself and was not about to ask us for any more money when we are paying for everything else. I wish we could afford extras like that, but we can't. We are saving what we can for DD's college expenses, which will start in a few months. I asked him if he'd thought about getting a small job at school, so he could pay for trips like that. He and his roommate are both musicians. His roommate plays music regularly at a couple of college bars. He and DS are looking at forming a group and getting bigger/better gigs. So maybe he'll earn enough money to travel for Spring Break next year.

 

[J'aime Paris]

Buzz was going around social media tonight. Online notice of decisions for UWMadison came out, finally!
DD was accepted!!!!
Now the big decision between Marquette and UWMadison.....

 

[robinb]

Buzz was going around social media tonight. Online notice of decisions for UWMadison came out, finally!
DD was accepted!!!!
Now the big decision between Marquette and UWMadison.....

Congratulations! It's a good decision to have . Both are really great schools!


Sadly, my DD was deferred . She's crushed. I was expecting it because of her ACT scores, but it really doesn't make it any easier.

 

[J'aime Paris]

Congratulations! It's a good decision to have .

Sadly, my DD was deferred . She's crushed. I was expecting it because of her ACT scores, but it really doesn't make it any easier.

Big Hugs to your DD, robinb!!!
This whole college process, search, waiting has been extremely emotional and at times downright heart wrenching. These kiddos are really feeling the pressure of "adulting".
Our neighbor was "postponed" to his top choice, and was really upset as well.

 

[mom2rtk]

Congratulations! It's a good decision to have . Both are really great schools!


Sadly, my DD was deferred . She's crushed. I was expecting it because of her ACT scores, but it really doesn't make it any easier.

I'm so sorry for your daughter. She'll find her place. It's hard to see them disappointed though.

 

[Tinijocaro]

On the topic of giving gifts for letters of rec. My initial gut reaction is that it shoudn't be done. A thank you note is sufficient. DH writes college letters of rec every year for music students and has never received a gift, even after decisions have been made. It would seem weird, almost like bribery. Just my thoughts.

 

[v.t.]

Buzz was going around social media tonight. Online notice of decisions for UWMadison came out, finally!
DD was accepted!!!!
Now the big decision between Marquette and UWMadison.....

Congrats!!!!!

Sadly, my DD was deferred . She's crushed. I was expecting it because of her ACT scores, but it really doesn't make it any easier.

So, sorry to hear that. Reading letters like those are so difficult. I hope she finds the perfect fit for her.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

On the topic of giving gifts for letters of rec. My initial gut reaction is that it shoudn't be done. A thank you note is sufficient. DH writes college letters of rec every year for music students and has never received a gift, even after decisions have been made. It would seem weird, almost like bribery. Just my thoughts.

I agree with you. I write 20 to 25 recommendations every year for my 8th graders who are applying to private high schools and public high school specialty centers. A rec from both the English teacher (me) and math teacher is required. It is just part of my job. I don't expect nor have I been given anything in return. Although one family did give me a $100 gift card to a very nice restaurant as an end of the school year gift. I had encouraged their son to apply for and written him special rec letter for a huge 4 year scholarship months earlier. He got it! I was very thankful for the gift, but I didn't expect it.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

Congratulations! It's a good decision to have . Both are really great schools!


Sadly, my DD was deferred . She's crushed. I was expecting it because of her ACT scores, but it really doesn't make it any easier.

She could still get good news. Deferred doesn't mean rejected. I am keeping my fingers crossed for you guys!

 

[3smithboys]

OMG, my DS called DH and I earlier today to tell us that he was accepted to Penn State today! We already put his deposit in at Temple. He's was excited and torn at the same time. I think he was afraid to tell us that his heart was really at Penn State. I told him not to worry about the deposit- we can get back the some of it - not the housing ($250) but at the end of the day, that should not be the deciding factor in his future.) He was under review for so long, he figured he wasn't getting in!

 

[robinb]

Big Hugs to your DD, robinb!!!
This whole college process, search, waiting has been extremely emotional and at times downright heart wrenching. These kiddos are really feeling the pressure of "adulting".
Our neighbor was "postponed" to his top choice, and was really upset as well.

Thanks. I didn't intend to take anything from your DD or bring the thread down. I'm sorry {hugs}. The UW Madison is a VERY hard school to get into (only 49% acceptance rate) and you should be VERY proud that she might be a Badger. Both my DH and I are alumni and it's really a great school. My advise is for you to get your housing request in ASAP or her options will be limited. My DD's boyfriend ended up in one of the Lakeshore dorms and doesn't like it, mostly because his major is all the way over near the Southeast dorms. It can be a pretty long walk, especially in the winter.

 

[robinb]

OMG, my DS called DH and I earlier today to tell us that he was accepted to Penn State today! We already put his deposit in at Temple. He's was excited and torn at the same time. I think he was afraid to tell us that his heart was really at Penn State. I told him not to worry about the deposit- we can get back the some of it - not the housing ($250) but at the end of the day, that should not be the deciding factor in his future.) He was under review for so long, he figured he wasn't getting in!

Awesome!!! Congratulations to your DS .

 

[J'aime Paris]

Thanks. I didn't intend to take anything from your DD or bring the thread down. I'm sorry {hugs}. The UW Madison is a VERY hard school to get into (only 49% acceptance rate) and you should be VERY proud that she might be a Badger. Both my DH and I are alumni and it's really a great school. My advise is for you to get your housing request in ASAP or her options will be limited. My DD's boyfriend ended up in one of the Lakeshore dorms and doesn't like it, mostly because his major is all the way over near the Southeast dorms. It can be a pretty long walk, especially in the winter.

No worries robinb! I very much hope that your DD will still get that "yes"!

Thank you for the advise! DD is kinda torn on which to choose, but maybe we should put down a deposit at Madison just in case.

She wants to into dentistry, and Marquette is a natural fit. But 8 years at the same college is a long time.
She likes that Madison has a football team and soooo many clubs and extra curricular activities. She likes the size of the city, but the college is a bit too big she feels. And yes, that campus is large!
Marquette is a good student body size and smaller class size. The Marquette campus is compact and has many beautiful buildings. But the area of the city of Milwaukee just outside of campus can be sketchy.
So many factors to consider!

 

[aprilgail]

On the topic of giving gifts for letters of rec. My initial gut reaction is that it shoudn't be done. A thank you note is sufficient. DH writes college letters of rec every year for music students and has never received a gift, even after decisions have been made. It would seem weird, almost like bribery. Just my thoughts.

I know here it is customary for the kids to give something to teachers that write them letters. We are going to do gift cards with a thank you letter-especially to her guidance counselor.

 

[sk!mom]

Buzz was going around social media tonight. Online notice of decisions for UWMadison came out, finally!
DD was accepted!!!!
Now the big decision between Marquette and UWMadison.....

Congratulations! Friday was the day here too. My nephew got his acceptance to the College of Natural Sciences at the University of Texas (his first choice) so his decision is made.

My nephew seemed very cool and unworried throughout the process but his level of relief and excitement on getting the acceptance gave away how much he must have actually been stressing about it.

Best wishes to those who are still waiting.

 

[AustinTink]

Congratulations! Friday was the day here too. My nephew got his acceptance to the College of Natural Sciences at the University of Texas (his first choice) so his decision is made.

My nephew seemed very cool and unworried throughout the process but his level of relief and excitement on getting the acceptance gave away how much he must have actually been stressing about it.

Best wishes to those who are still waiting.

Congrats to your nephew. This was a very small wave of acceptances, so he should be very proud and relieved. The majority of UT applicants are still waiting and will hear mid-February. This applies to auto-admits waiting for majors and non-autos waiting for admission. My son is in the large pool of applicants that remain in wait. It truly sucks.

 

[IDoDis]

Anyone's kid apply for the Coca Cola, Burger king or Elks scholarships? Two kids in my daughters school moved on as Coco Cola Scholars. My daughter just moved up to State in the Elk one but wont know until the end of Feb if she moves on from there. Its just wait wait wait with everything LOL.

My DS didn't apply, but my DD who is now a college Junior received 5k from the Burger King Maclamore Foundation. We thought she had a good shot at getting a 1k scholarship from BK, and were thrilled when she was awarded 5k. At that time there were only twenty 5k scholarship awards given throughout the country. It paid for her student housing her first year of college.

 

[sk!mom]

Congrats to your nephew. This was a very small wave of acceptances, so he should be very proud and relieved. The majority of UT applicants are still waiting and will hear mid-February. This applies to auto-admits waiting for majors and non-autos waiting for admission. My son is in the large pool of applicants that remain in wait. It truly sucks.

He was an auto-admit but the department acceptance is another layer of stress. He is thrilled. Austin, and UT, was his strong first choice and it truly seems a great fit for him.

A&M accepted him into the the department he wanted (don't remember the title there) immediately so for a while it was his backup plan but recently he had begun to doubt going to College Station and had started to research a path at UT that would allow him to transfer into Natural Sciences later if he didn't get in now. I love A&M but it really didn't seem like a great fit for him.

He did a research internship at UT last Summer in the Science department. Not sure if that helped or not.

Good luck to your son!

 

[v.t.]

Anyone's kid apply for the Coca Cola, Burger king or Elks scholarships? Two kids in my daughters school moved on as Coco Cola Scholars. My daughter just moved up to State in the Elk one but wont know until the end of Feb if she moves on from there. Its just wait wait wait with everything LOL.

We did not apply for those, I was not good about researching scholarships since we were concentrating on West Point.
But, we are working on it now. For those who are applying for multiple scholarships, do you have teachers write a generic letter, "I would like to recommend Joe for this scholarship" or do you ask them to specialize each letter? The teachers my sons are using don't mind (I have done a lot of volunteering for them) but we don't want to take advantage either.

Also, did anyone's student apply for the Terry Foundation Scholarship? Have they heard anything yet?