What regrets to you have to the 2023 college cycle?

[Anonymous]

I’m advising my child to enjoy school and not over worry about stretching themselves too much because it’s all a scrap shoot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No ragrets.

None whatsoever? 😂

None.

--PP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I should never have given in and let my child apply to a school that was beyond our financial means. Four of the school they applied to were within reach and one is close to $20K more a year. I honestly didn't think they'd get into the expensive one based on Naviance, and so I gave in. Well, they got in to all five and of course it's the crazy expensive one that my child has become totally fixated on. They are willing to borrow a fortune to go and nothing I say about not starting life in so much debt is sinking in. But I think that if I had put my foot down during the application process they would have looked elsewhere.

You will have to pay the extra $20k yearly, not them. Are you going to take parent plus loans? You can still put your foot down! I did - it was hard, there were tears and silence, but now that kid is almost done, I am so happy we went with least expensive option.

+1

The loans will be on the parent. Say no. That's it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We reached on ED1, got the memo, and played it safer for ED2, which worked out. I think DC is in at the best possible school and most importantly a great fit. If we had reached again for ED2, it probably wouldn’t have worked and DC would be obliterated in RD, just looking at all these kids with 35s and 4.0s getting rejected. Nothing wrong with playing it safe sometimes when you can lock in a very good outcome with high probability! If you’ve got a school that you really like and it’s a target, don’t hesitate to pull the ED trigger

we did same but i am feeling threw in towel. was your dc deferred or rejected ed 1?

Rejected. Actually think DC will be better off and happier at ED2 school, notwithstanding a few slots down in USNWR

Why on earth are you using the rankings as the measuring stick for whether your kid will be better off and happier and at a given school?

[Anonymous]

No regrets, really. Learned from college-aged sibling's experience. Both were interested in SLACs, but for #2 we identified more solid targets (or at least lower reaches) and also applied to a few more of the most selective schools. #1 ended up very happy in a school that's a great fit, but #2 will have a few more options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I should never have given in and let my child apply to a school that was beyond our financial means. Four of the school they applied to were within reach and one is close to $20K more a year. I honestly didn't think they'd get into the expensive one based on Naviance, and so I gave in. Well, they got in to all five and of course it's the crazy expensive one that my child has become totally fixated on. They are willing to borrow a fortune to go and nothing I say about not starting life in so much debt is sinking in. But I think that if I had put my foot down during the application process they would have looked elsewhere.

How will your kid be borrowing a fortune? Kids are only able to borrow around 5k a year. After that, it’s the parents borrowing.

+1. The FAFSA limit is $5500. Kids can’t take out loans because they have no collateral. It’s parents who must take out loans, refinance etc for undergrad

Just a minor quip: it’s a little more than that. $27k total is the limit.

It’s $5500 the first year then jumps a bit tge second and third both of mine took them out and finished all four years with about $26,000 each in loans

[Anonymous]

Essentially no regret. DD has
Many acceptances and no outright rejections (a waitlist that is probably a soft rejection). She went TO and cast a very wide net. I feel like maybe we undershot a little.

[Anonymous]

We hired a Test prep tutor. Big waste.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We reached on ED1, got the memo, and played it safer for ED2, which worked out. I think DC is in at the best possible school and most importantly a great fit. If we had reached again for ED2, it probably wouldn’t have worked and DC would be obliterated in RD, just looking at all these kids with 35s and 4.0s getting rejected. Nothing wrong with playing it safe sometimes when you can lock in a very good outcome with high probability! If you’ve got a school that you really like and it’s a target, don’t hesitate to pull the ED trigger

we did same but i am feeling threw in towel. was your dc deferred or rejected ed 1?

Rejected. Actually think DC will be better off and happier at ED2 school, notwithstanding a few slots down in USNWR

Why on earth are you using the rankings as the measuring stick for whether your kid will be better off and happier and at a given school?

Well I’m not. I’m acknowledging DC will be better off at lower ranked ergo “less prestigious” school. Obviously everyone is influenced by rankings to some extent

[Anonymous]

My daughter will say she regrets studying and taking the SAT since she ended up going TO. But we didn't know at the time she took them that all the schools she'd apply to would be TO. C'est la vie.

Otherwise, no regrets. Got into all 4 schools she applied to (large public colleges ranked in the 50-100 range) with exactly the merit we expected. Now she needs to pick one!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter will say she regrets studying and taking the SAT since she ended up going TO. But we didn't know at the time she took them that all the schools she'd apply to would be TO. C'est la vie.

Otherwise, no regrets. Got into all 4 schools she applied to (large public colleges ranked in the 50-100 range) with exactly the merit we expected. Now she needs to pick one!

.
Great outcome. Would you share what her gpa was?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m advising my next kid to fight for every half grade in every class. Not a lot of room for error with grades.

Teachers will hate your child.

Not a smart thing to teach them for college either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m advising my next kid to fight for every half grade in every class. Not a lot of room for error with grades.

Teachers will hate your child.

Not a smart thing to teach them for college either.

Agree! The professors cannot stand the grade grubbers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I should never have given in and let my child apply to a school that was beyond our financial means. Four of the school they applied to were within reach and one is close to $20K more a year. I honestly didn't think they'd get into the expensive one based on Naviance, and so I gave in. Well, they got in to all five and of course it's the crazy expensive one that my child has become totally fixated on. They are willing to borrow a fortune to go and nothing I say about not starting life in so much debt is sinking in. But I think that if I had put my foot down during the application process they would have looked elsewhere.

Good advice. Thanks for sharing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We hired a Test prep tutor. Big waste.

How much was it, and why a waste?