Anyone's kid still undecided?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you commit to two schools if you feel you need extra time to decide or is it frowned upon?

You usually can. It isn't "committing," it's putting down a deposit.

Frowned upon.

You're just kicking the can down the road AND probably affecting some really eager kids on waitlists. It's time to make a decision.

No, it's normal; lots of kids are on moveable waitlists, so deposits are frequently forfeited.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you commit to two schools if you feel you need extra time to decide or is it frowned upon?

You usually can. It isn't "committing," it's putting down a deposit.

Frowned upon.

You're just kicking the can down the road AND probably affecting some really eager kids on waitlists. It's time to make a decision.

Those eager kids on waitlists are also putting down deposits somewhere, right? So who are they to complain?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, we are here as well. She has two options we think are great. However, she is still hung up on two other schools that we ruled out because she didn’t get any merit. I think she will come around soon.

Why why do you people let your kids apply to schools you can’t afford and have no intention of letting them attend? It’s crappy to both your kid and other kids who didn’t get that spot and have parents who can afford it.

Because they thought she might get merit.

Be kind!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, we are here as well. She has two options we think are great. However, she is still hung up on two other schools that we ruled out because she didn’t get any merit. I think she will come around soon.

Why why do you people let your kids apply to schools you can’t afford and have no intention of letting them attend? It’s crappy to both your kid and other kids who didn’t get that spot and have parents who can afford it.

Because they thought she might get merit.

Be kind!

I’m not generally hearing this regarding schools that give big merit. It’s more Ivies or similar, which only give need-based financial aid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, we are here as well. She has two options we think are great. However, she is still hung up on two other schools that we ruled out because she didn’t get any merit. I think she will come around soon.

Why why do you people let your kids apply to schools you can’t afford and have no intention of letting them attend? It’s crappy to both your kid and other kids who didn’t get that spot and have parents who can afford it.

Because they thought she might get merit.

Be kind!

I’m not generally hearing this regarding schools that give big merit. It’s more Ivies or similar, which only give need-based financial aid.

Tens of thousands of kids don't even apply to 'Ivies or similar."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much does saving money play into decisions? This is so hard for DD (& me). DD accepted to great schools. Top 2 choices are NU and Brown. Both offered aid to get within what we would be willing to pay w/ no loans. NU has better major specific program (theatre performance and music theatre composing), but she is not completely sure about major. and is interested in math and music (which would be limited to composing minor at NU). Brown has open curriculum, no limitations and is more her atmosphere, she could triple major, and I think the name carries a little more cache, but theatre curriculum for her interests is thin and grad classes in theatre are not open to UG. Brown is currently $6k cheaper and may be more when we get a final review from FA. I feel like the choice tips heavily to either one based on what she wants, which keeps shifting. Both schools offer great reputations, faculty, and flexibility, so she has win either way. So, how heavily would 6-10k savings per year factor in for others? My thought is that that could buy a lot of area specific workshops or be a nice grad or law school nest egg. Also, if she did want to go into her primary field, Brown has a great MFA program, which I think is free. And, they seem to like their own. But, the NU program seems so cool. I think of cost were equal, she would choose NU.

PS. No need to weigh in on quality if music programs, that's been covered (thanks for all the info), and I think it would drive others crazy! Ha ha

We are currently going back and forth with this with our kid. Though $6,000 for one year does not seem like that much (especially given the yearly cost of these schools), $6,000 x 4 is $24,000. What can you do with $24,000? Buy a car. A years rent. Pay for a year (or more or less) of grad school. It is tough. My kid is deciding between Boston College and Northeastern. Difference is about $7,000 per year.

PP here. Yes, what I was thinking exactly! Which school is offering you the better deal? We looked at BC - great school for overall ed, but NEU might appeal to someone who wants more hands on coop approach (my 2nd will probably look at that one). Does yours strongly favor one over the other?

Better deal is NEU. Likes both, but I think has a preference for BC. I think for major and interests it doesn't really matter which one is chosen. I do agree with PP that they are quite different and kid does have a preference. But is that preference worth an extra $24,000?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much does saving money play into decisions? This is so hard for DD (& me). DD accepted to great schools. Top 2 choices are NU and Brown. Both offered aid to get within what we would be willing to pay w/ no loans. NU has better major specific program (theatre performance and music theatre composing), but she is not completely sure about major. and is interested in math and music (which would be limited to composing minor at NU). Brown has open curriculum, no limitations and is more her atmosphere, she could triple major, and I think the name carries a little more cache, but theatre curriculum for her interests is thin and grad classes in theatre are not open to UG. Brown is currently $6k cheaper and may be more when we get a final review from FA. I feel like the choice tips heavily to either one based on what she wants, which keeps shifting. Both schools offer great reputations, faculty, and flexibility, so she has win either way. So, how heavily would 6-10k savings per year factor in for others? My thought is that that could buy a lot of area specific workshops or be a nice grad or law school nest egg. Also, if she did want to go into her primary field, Brown has a great MFA program, which I think is free. And, they seem to like their own. But, the NU program seems so cool. I think of cost were equal, she would choose NU.

PS. No need to weigh in on quality if music programs, that's been covered (thanks for all the info), and I think it would drive others crazy! Ha ha

We are currently going back and forth with this with our kid. Though $6,000 for one year does not seem like that much (especially given the yearly cost of these schools), $6,000 x 4 is $24,000. What can you do with $24,000? Buy a car. A years rent. Pay for a year (or more or less) of grad school. It is tough. My kid is deciding between Boston College and Northeastern. Difference is about $7,000 per year.

PP here. Yes, what I was thinking exactly! Which school is offering you the better deal? We looked at BC - great school for overall ed, but NEU might appeal to someone who wants more hands on coop approach (my 2nd will probably look at that one). Does yours strongly favor one over the other?

Better deal is NEU. Likes both, but I think has a preference for BC. I think for major and interests it doesn't really matter which one is chosen. I do agree with PP that they are quite different and kid does have a preference. But is that preference worth an extra $24,000?

24k total or each year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much does saving money play into decisions? This is so hard for DD (& me). DD accepted to great schools. Top 2 choices are NU and Brown. Both offered aid to get within what we would be willing to pay w/ no loans. NU has better major specific program (theatre performance and music theatre composing), but she is not completely sure about major. and is interested in math and music (which would be limited to composing minor at NU). Brown has open curriculum, no limitations and is more her atmosphere, she could triple major, and I think the name carries a little more cache, but theatre curriculum for her interests is thin and grad classes in theatre are not open to UG. Brown is currently $6k cheaper and may be more when we get a final review from FA. I feel like the choice tips heavily to either one based on what she wants, which keeps shifting. Both schools offer great reputations, faculty, and flexibility, so she has win either way. So, how heavily would 6-10k savings per year factor in for others? My thought is that that could buy a lot of area specific workshops or be a nice grad or law school nest egg. Also, if she did want to go into her primary field, Brown has a great MFA program, which I think is free. And, they seem to like their own. But, the NU program seems so cool. I think of cost were equal, she would choose NU.

PS. No need to weigh in on quality if music programs, that's been covered (thanks for all the info), and I think it would drive others crazy! Ha ha

We are currently going back and forth with this with our kid. Though $6,000 for one year does not seem like that much (especially given the yearly cost of these schools), $6,000 x 4 is $24,000. What can you do with $24,000? Buy a car. A years rent. Pay for a year (or more or less) of grad school. It is tough. My kid is deciding between Boston College and Northeastern. Difference is about $7,000 per year.

PP here. Yes, what I was thinking exactly! Which school is offering you the better deal? We looked at BC - great school for overall ed, but NEU might appeal to someone who wants more hands on coop approach (my 2nd will probably look at that one). Does yours strongly favor one over the other?

Better deal is NEU. Likes both, but I think has a preference for BC. I think for major and interests it doesn't really matter which one is chosen. I do agree with PP that they are quite different and kid does have a preference. But is that preference worth an extra $24,000?

Depends on your financial position and how strong your DC's preference is. I would probably go with my DC's preference especially if the schools were really different. If my DC was really undecided and could see him/herself happy at either, I would weigh the money more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid just got off the IU Music wait list. So, now it's a choice between IU or computer science at Michigan State. I think he's going to pick IU, but he's indecisive by nature.

That is awesome, and Luddy plus Jacobs = really awesome

I think he will love B-town. Watch all those one-way streets

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much does saving money play into decisions? This is so hard for DD (& me). DD accepted to great schools. Top 2 choices are NU and Brown. Both offered aid to get within what we would be willing to pay w/ no loans. NU has better major specific program (theatre performance and music theatre composing), but she is not completely sure about major. and is interested in math and music (which would be limited to composing minor at NU). Brown has open curriculum, no limitations and is more her atmosphere, she could triple major, and I think the name carries a little more cache, but theatre curriculum for her interests is thin and grad classes in theatre are not open to UG. Brown is currently $6k cheaper and may be more when we get a final review from FA. I feel like the choice tips heavily to either one based on what she wants, which keeps shifting. Both schools offer great reputations, faculty, and flexibility, so she has win either way. So, how heavily would 6-10k savings per year factor in for others? My thought is that that could buy a lot of area specific workshops or be a nice grad or law school nest egg. Also, if she did want to go into her primary field, Brown has a great MFA program, which I think is free. And, they seem to like their own. But, the NU program seems so cool. I think of cost were equal, she would choose NU.

PS. No need to weigh in on quality if music programs, that's been covered (thanks for all the info), and I think it would drive others crazy! Ha ha

We are currently going back and forth with this with our kid. Though $6,000 for one year does not seem like that much (especially given the yearly cost of these schools), $6,000 x 4 is $24,000. What can you do with $24,000? Buy a car. A years rent. Pay for a year (or more or less) of grad school. It is tough. My kid is deciding between Boston College and Northeastern. Difference is about $7,000 per year.

PP here. Yes, what I was thinking exactly! Which school is offering you the better deal? We looked at BC - great school for overall ed, but NEU might appeal to someone who wants more hands on coop approach (my 2nd will probably look at that one). Does yours strongly favor one over the other?

Better deal is NEU. Likes both, but I think has a preference for BC. I think for major and interests it doesn't really matter which one is chosen. I do agree with PP that they are quite different and kid does have a preference. But is that preference worth an extra $24,000?

In the same boat. Our total savings would be about 30k if she chooses Brown over NU. If she chooses Brown, she has more opportunities in a variety of interests but fewer in her primary interest. But, she can also apply for grant money there to do some specialty things. OTOH the program she likes at NU is so attractive. I just hope she feels good about the decision.

[Anonymous]

Still undecided ?

[Anonymous]

When will you make them make a decision? After registering for classes? Going to orientation? Getting a roommate?

Isn't sticking to a deadline something you want your kid to learn to do?

[Anonymous]

Yes, but now of course experiencing the inevitable and immediate buyer's remorse.

[Anonymous]

My kid decided but still doesn’t seem excited.

[Anonymous]

Mine decided yesterday. I was like, just have a decision logged at some point Friday. It's Brown for the win!!!!