I'm going to have a nervous breakdown

[Anonymous]

Have kid join the Space Force & he will probably get a degree while he’s serving. Then he gets out & has enough GI Bill $ to go to law school or 3 yrs of grad school. Costs you nothing, kid does a lot of traveling, and everybody is happy. 🇺🇸

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is in 11th and has special needs. I am also overwhelmed with looking at schools. But since your issues are financial, I think you need to take a deep breathe. Look ant your state schools and schools that provide merit. I assume you aren’t in Virginia? Most kids have 3 schools on their list right there. UVA, W&M, JMU, Tech, Mary Washington.

OP, this right here is the answer.

What are kid's unweighted GPA and test scores? What state do you live in? How much is your annual budget for college expenses? What is kid looking for in a college, generally (major, size, geographic preferences) if those things can be accommodated as well? This is how you come up with a good list. Post these things and many here will be happy to offer potential options for the list.

He has our flagship on his list. He also has a bunch of expensive schools he prefers. He can get into all the schools on his list (theoretically, I realize that's a crapshoot). The list feels very random and expensive to me.

Go for merit aid at the expensive schools.

Many don't even offer it. He loves CA schools especially. Many don't offer merit to OOS, then there are the Claremont Colleges which are too expensive.

Have your kid (and you can look too-your help is good despite what many here think) look at Occidental. My kid got a significant scholarship. (merit)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is in 11th and has special needs. I am also overwhelmed with looking at schools. But since your issues are financial, I think you need to take a deep breathe. Look ant your state schools and schools that provide merit. I assume you aren’t in Virginia? Most kids have 3 schools on their list right there. UVA, W&M, JMU, Tech, Mary Washington.

OP, this right here is the answer.

What are kid's unweighted GPA and test scores? What state do you live in? How much is your annual budget for college expenses? What is kid looking for in a college, generally (major, size, geographic preferences) if those things can be accommodated as well? This is how you come up with a good list. Post these things and many here will be happy to offer potential options for the list.

He has our flagship on his list. He also has a bunch of expensive schools he prefers. He can get into all the schools on his list (theoretically, I realize that's a crapshoot). The list feels very random and expensive to me.

Go for merit aid at the expensive schools.

Many don't even offer it. He loves CA schools especially. Many don't offer merit to OOS, then there are the Claremont Colleges which are too expensive.

Have your kid (and you can look too-your help is good despite what many here think) look at Occidental. My kid got a significant scholarship. (merit)

He likes Occidental. My impression was he is not special enough a student to really get much aid. Did yours have better stats?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have kid join the Space Force & he will probably get a degree while he’s serving. Then he gets out & has enough GI Bill $ to go to law school or 3 yrs of grad school. Costs you nothing, kid does a lot of traveling, and everybody is happy. 🇺🇸

He considered the Air Force for a while, decided that's just not for him. He also tried JROTC and doesn't want to go the ROTC route.

[Anonymous]

Where do you live, OP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do people do all this? I have been researching so many colleges in between work tasks and it is too complicated and overwhelming. I feel like I am not equipped for this, that a wrong decision could have devastating consequences, financially, emotionally...

Your kid should be doing this, not you.

I'm paying for it so I need to be involved. If I could afford full pay 90k/year I wouldn't be stressing out.

It’s your job to serve as your kid’s consultant in the college process, not to ‘research so many colleges between your work tasks.’

You business is to mind your own and not lecture other adults on how they advice, interact, and or guide their kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Many don't even offer it. He loves CA schools especially. Many don't offer merit to OOS, then there are the Claremont Colleges which are too expensive.

Pepperdine generous aid|merit
Santa Clara
Loyola Marymount
Chapman University
Occidental generous aid|merit
Scripps
Pitzer
Claremont McKenna
Harvey Mudd
University of the Pacific
University of San Diego

San Diego State
OOS: $18,244
Graduation Rate: 79.43%
Retention Rate: 89.45%
Median Earnings: $61,522
At its 1897 founding, San Diego State University was dubbed the San Diego Normal School, but it was renamed officially in 1974. Today, the 288 acre campus sees about 23,000 students each year. In state tuition averages around $7084, and out-of-state tuition sits at $18244. The university offers 96 different bachelor’s, 80 master’s, and 21 doctoral degrees. SDSU students take special interest in fields like aerospace engineering, aviation, finance, journalism and media studies, kinesiology, nursing, real estate, and many others. San Diego State University functions chiefly as a research institution, contributing pioneering research on pressing medical concerns such as autism, heart disease, and cancer. Highly esteemed as one of the nation’s premier entrepreneurial institutions, the university also earns widespread acclaim for its exceptional veterans’ programs. The SDSU campus celebrates diversity, with over half of its student body consisting of people of color. Over 60 Fulbright scholars have come from SDSU (a figure topped only by UC Berkely). According to Niche.com, San Diego State University ranks #9 among California’s Top Public Universities.

San Diego state is good (more like 40k with housing) The other ones...I don't think he'd qualify for much merit at all. Unless I am wrong (?) he is not good enough a student to qualify for much.

I’m assuming he’s a rising senior. He needs to shake off USC and Claremont schools, and get excited about next tier CA schools. Needs to hustle to increase SAT score to mid 1400 and superscore. Unweighted 3.9 could easily bump up over 4.0. He’d provide updated transcript for RD schools with January 2025 deadlines. Same for waitlist or deferred apps. Only ED if he loves a school within budget 50k + merit. He should apply to 1 CA safety that he loves and 1 other sure bet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do people do all this? I have been researching so many colleges in between work tasks and it is too complicated and overwhelming. I feel like I am not equipped for this, that a wrong decision could have devastating consequences, financially, emotionally...

Your kid should be doing this, not you.

I'm paying for it so I need to be involved. If I could afford full pay 90k/year I wouldn't be stressing out.

It’s your job to serve as your kid’s consultant in the college process, not to ‘research so many colleges between your work tasks.’

You business is to mind your own and not lecture other adults on how they advice, interact, and or guide their kids.

DP. OP started a thread to ask how people do this. Answer:they don’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^PP, I don't know why you are telling OP that SDSU is 18k. SDSU's out of state cost of attendance is 50k. https://sacd.sdsu.edu/financial-aid/financial-aid/eligibility/cost-of-attendance/cost-of-attendance-tables/undergraduate-non-resident

Sorry, here’s link. I didn’t include housing. Merit can get it under 50k. 50k is OPs cap. https://www.edsmart.org/best-colleges-universities/cheapest-california/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do people do all this? I have been researching so many colleges in between work tasks and it is too complicated and overwhelming. I feel like I am not equipped for this, that a wrong decision could have devastating consequences, financially, emotionally...

Your kid should be doing this, not you.

I'm paying for it so I need to be involved. If I could afford full pay 90k/year I wouldn't be stressing out.

It’s your job to serve as your kid’s consultant in the college process, not to ‘research so many colleges between your work tasks.’

You business is to mind your own and not lecture other adults on how they advice, interact, and or guide their kids.

DP. OP started a thread to ask how people do this. Answer:they don’t.

There is another thread just above or below basically stating parents do the whole process for their kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do people do all this? I have been researching so many colleges in between work tasks and it is too complicated and overwhelming. I feel like I am not equipped for this, that a wrong decision could have devastating consequences, financially, emotionally...

It is really impressive, OP, that you are going back to college now, even though you have a full time job. Why are you doing this? Are you looking to change careers?

What's that?

You say you aren't going to college, but you have a high school student who will be?

Oh.

Why are you such a jerk? It’s easy to
be superior when you’ve got money to burn on the best “fit” for your precious snowflake. Some of us live in the real world.

No one is saying it isn't am important decision, or that parents should have no involvement whatsoever. But Op apparently didn't give her kid a budget to start with, and not is doing basic, ground-level research for schools that fit his preferences and her budget. He should be doing this, in those parameters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do people do all this? I have been researching so many colleges in between work tasks and it is too complicated and overwhelming. I feel like I am not equipped for this, that a wrong decision could have devastating consequences, financially, emotionally...

Like others have said, don't put too much emphasis on the school. Donald Trump wanted to go to USC - but didn't get in. He went on to Fordham and then Wharton and later President. So not getting into your kid's first choice will not doom your kid to a life of failure. I think that there are many other factors that play a MUCH MORE significant role in future success. If your kid doesn't get into his/her first choice, it only means that he/she didn't get into their first choice - and that's it.

[Anonymous]

If you don't love in DC the answer is the best state school they can get into. Chill out

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Many don't even offer it. He loves CA schools especially. Many don't offer merit to OOS, then there are the Claremont Colleges which are too expensive.

Pepperdine generous aid|merit
Santa Clara
Loyola Marymount
Chapman University
Occidental generous aid|merit
Scripps
Pitzer
Claremont McKenna
Harvey Mudd
University of the Pacific
University of San Diego

San Diego State
OOS: $18,244
Graduation Rate: 79.43%
Retention Rate: 89.45%
Median Earnings: $61,522
At its 1897 founding, San Diego State University was dubbed the San Diego Normal School, but it was renamed officially in 1974. Today, the 288 acre campus sees about 23,000 students each year. In state tuition averages around $7084, and out-of-state tuition sits at $18244. The university offers 96 different bachelor’s, 80 master’s, and 21 doctoral degrees. SDSU students take special interest in fields like aerospace engineering, aviation, finance, journalism and media studies, kinesiology, nursing, real estate, and many others. San Diego State University functions chiefly as a research institution, contributing pioneering research on pressing medical concerns such as autism, heart disease, and cancer. Highly esteemed as one of the nation’s premier entrepreneurial institutions, the university also earns widespread acclaim for its exceptional veterans’ programs. The SDSU campus celebrates diversity, with over half of its student body consisting of people of color. Over 60 Fulbright scholars have come from SDSU (a figure topped only by UC Berkely). According to Niche.com, San Diego State University ranks #9 among California’s Top Public Universities.

San Diego state is good (more like 40k with housing) The other ones...I don't think he'd qualify for much merit at all. Unless I am wrong (?) he is not good enough a student to qualify for much.

I’m assuming he’s a rising senior. He needs to shake off USC and Claremont schools, and get excited about next tier CA schools. Needs to hustle to increase SAT score to mid 1400 and superscore. Unweighted 3.9 could easily bump up over 4.0. He’d provide updated transcript for RD schools with January 2025 deadlines. Same for waitlist or deferred apps. Only ED if he loves a school within budget 50k + merit. He should apply to 1 CA safety that he loves and 1 other sure bet.

Aren't the Claremonts TO?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Many don't even offer it. He loves CA schools especially. Many don't offer merit to OOS, then there are the Claremont Colleges which are too expensive.

Pepperdine generous aid|merit
Santa Clara
Loyola Marymount
Chapman University
Occidental generous aid|merit
Scripps
Pitzer
Claremont McKenna
Harvey Mudd
University of the Pacific
University of San Diego

San Diego State
OOS: $18,244
Graduation Rate: 79.43%
Retention Rate: 89.45%
Median Earnings: $61,522
At its 1897 founding, San Diego State University was dubbed the San Diego Normal School, but it was renamed officially in 1974. Today, the 288 acre campus sees about 23,000 students each year. In state tuition averages around $7084, and out-of-state tuition sits at $18244. The university offers 96 different bachelor’s, 80 master’s, and 21 doctoral degrees. SDSU students take special interest in fields like aerospace engineering, aviation, finance, journalism and media studies, kinesiology, nursing, real estate, and many others. San Diego State University functions chiefly as a research institution, contributing pioneering research on pressing medical concerns such as autism, heart disease, and cancer. Highly esteemed as one of the nation’s premier entrepreneurial institutions, the university also earns widespread acclaim for its exceptional veterans’ programs. The SDSU campus celebrates diversity, with over half of its student body consisting of people of color. Over 60 Fulbright scholars have come from SDSU (a figure topped only by UC Berkely). According to Niche.com, San Diego State University ranks #9 among California’s Top Public Universities.

San Diego state is good (more like 40k with housing) The other ones...I don't think he'd qualify for much merit at all. Unless I am wrong (?) he is not good enough a student to qualify for much.

I’m assuming he’s a rising senior. He needs to shake off USC and Claremont schools, and get excited about next tier CA schools. Needs to hustle to increase SAT score to mid 1400 and superscore. Unweighted 3.9 could easily bump up over 4.0. He’d provide updated transcript for RD schools with January 2025 deadlines. Same for waitlist or deferred apps. Only ED if he loves a school within budget 50k + merit. He should apply to 1 CA safety that he loves and 1 other sure bet.

How can unweighted 3.9 bump up over 4.0?