college admissions process so far, financial aid disappointment

[Anonymous]

There is no magic bullet op. Your kid didn’t pick safeties she wanted to attend. She didn’t pick targets that she could afford. No one can change that now. Either add schools with late deadlines (unlikely to be schools more appealing than her current safeties), take a gap year and do more research next year, or help her come to terms with the schools she can afford, apparently Towson and Salisbury. Alternatively she can go to community college and transfer afterwards to Maryland, or another affordable state school.

[Anonymous]

Since you mentioned that your child had some significant college savings, is this money all in her name vs your name? That would impact financial aid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Short version of this thread: I want people to say nice things to me but the truth is I ignored all advice about affording college and overestimated my kid’s competitiveness as an applicant.

In fairness, I underestimated our ability to pay and underestimated my kid’s competitiveness as an applicant, and this process has still been stressful and horrible.

Yes, lol, that is the truth. Has it been stressful and horrible? No. Do I have some guilt? Yes. Did I make a mistake by giving them hope the finances would work out? Yes. This will not be the last disappointment or facet of life that will not go my child's way. And many other children will be in this boat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just go to UMD. If your kid can’t get into UMD in-state, you are probably leaving out a key bit of information. Perhaps they are not as high performing as you think. Let me guess, SAT under 1500, but just “doesn’t test well.”

Quit being a prick with ears.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is no magic bullet op. Your kid didn’t pick safeties she wanted to attend. She didn’t pick targets that she could afford. No one can change that now. Either add schools with late deadlines (unlikely to be schools more appealing than her current safeties), take a gap year and do more research next year, or help her come to terms with the schools she can afford, apparently Towson and Salisbury. Alternatively she can go to community college and transfer afterwards to Maryland, or another affordable state school.

Yes, what about CC then automatic transfer to UMD. Or a year at Towson, then apply to transfer. Great suggestion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Short version of this thread: I want people to say nice things to me but the truth is I ignored all advice about affording college and overestimated my kid’s competitiveness as an applicant.

In fairness, I underestimated our ability to pay and underestimated my kid’s competitiveness as an applicant, and this process has still been stressful and horrible.

Why is it all so stressful and horrible? Tell your kid to suck it up and go to Towson for one year. Transfer to UMD after one year. I don’t think you should be completely allergic to loans. 5-10k loans per year is completely manageable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is no magic bullet op. Your kid didn’t pick safeties she wanted to attend. She didn’t pick targets that she could afford. No one can change that now. Either add schools with late deadlines (unlikely to be schools more appealing than her current safeties), take a gap year and do more research next year, or help her come to terms with the schools she can afford, apparently Towson and Salisbury. Alternatively she can go to community college and transfer afterwards to Maryland, or another affordable state school.

I think OP is trying to gather ideas for making the safeties more appealing. But few people have any. I actually know several kids who have had great experiences at safeties, but they started out enthusiastic about the schools, usually going there to play a sport or because of a substantial scholarship that made them feel great about the school.

[Anonymous]

She's premed

Safeties are a great place to go to undergrad. Just knock those classes out of the park, same with MCAT and she'll do great

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no magic bullet op. Your kid didn’t pick safeties she wanted to attend. She didn’t pick targets that she could afford. No one can change that now. Either add schools with late deadlines (unlikely to be schools more appealing than her current safeties), take a gap year and do more research next year, or help her come to terms with the schools she can afford, apparently Towson and Salisbury. Alternatively she can go to community college and transfer afterwards to Maryland, or another affordable state school.

Yes, what about CC then automatic transfer to UMD. Or a year at Towson, then apply to transfer. Great suggestion.

Agree, I think aiming for UMD CP makes the most sense. Looks like it's very doable.

"Yes, you can transfer from Towson University to the University of Maryland (UMD). To be a competitive applicant, you should have at least 30 college credits, a solid B average (or higher), and complete math/English requirements by the early action deadlines of March 1 for fall or August 1 for spring."

Also for transfer students SAT scores don't usually matter, since they don't count toward the university's official stats.

I feel for your DD, OP. Be extra kind to her and try to get her to see it as a temporary setback.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Short version of this thread: I want people to say nice things to me but the truth is I ignored all advice about affording college and overestimated my kid’s competitiveness as an applicant.

Another prick with ears.....crawl back under your rock.

[Anonymous]

OP, this is hard no matter what these jerks say.

Here is where you need to explain the difference with your child between what you can afford, and what you should spend. And ultimately let them decide.

You have the savings so technically you can afford for your DC to go there. They can take out modest federal loans to make up the difference if that's the case. This scenario isn't crazy and many people do it. It's not unwise per se.

Or you all can look at undergrad as less about what you can afford, but more what you want to spend. I can technically afford a Lexus but I would rather spend my money on a Honda and have savings. This scenario isn't crazy and many people do it. It's not unwise per se.

I have two children. Each had $125,000 in their 529 for college. One chose to spend it all on her undergrad and take out modest loans to make up the difference. The other went to a state school that the world perceives as "less than" but will graduate with no loans and $25,000 in his account. With the future of the world and AI, who even knows what is best. I am glad however they participating in the deliberations and make their own decision so they didn't harbor misplaced regret.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Short version of this thread: I want people to say nice things to me but the truth is I ignored all advice about affording college and overestimated my kid’s competitiveness as an applicant.

In fairness, I underestimated our ability to pay and underestimated my kid’s competitiveness as an applicant, and this process has still been stressful and horrible.

We all make mistakes, OP. Sorry this one ended up being hard for your kid. I like the UMD transfer idea, think she'd be open to it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She's premed

Safeties are a great place to go to undergrad. Just knock those classes out of the park, same with MCAT and she'll do great

+1 both my kids are at "safeties" but they were also among their top choices because each school had a really good program for their major and other things that appealed to them.

Go to Admitted Student Days at Towson and Salisbury and start looking for the good things about them. Both of them are some other students' first choice school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Short version of this thread: I want people to say nice things to me but the truth is I ignored all advice about affording college and overestimated my kid’s competitiveness as an applicant.

In fairness, I underestimated our ability to pay and underestimated my kid’s competitiveness as an applicant, and this process has still been stressful and horrible.

We all make mistakes, OP. Sorry this one ended up being hard for your kid. I like the UMD transfer idea, think she'd be open to it?

People really can’t parse six syllable words any more, can they. Not even on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Short version of this thread: I want people to say nice things to me but the truth is I ignored all advice about affording college and overestimated my kid’s competitiveness as an applicant.

In fairness, I underestimated our ability to pay and underestimated my kid’s competitiveness as an applicant, and this process has still been stressful and horrible.

We all make mistakes, OP. Sorry this one ended up being hard for your kid. I like the UMD transfer idea, think she'd be open to it?

People really can’t parse six syllable words any more, can they. Not even on DCUM.

Huh?