In-laws for the weekend. They have no college savings and their high school senior is signed up for

[Anonymous]

Over $100K as a UPS driver? I'm in the wrong business as a teacher!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Over $100K as a UPS driver? I'm in the wrong business as a teacher!

Those Verizon techs that come to your house make good money, and with overtime at time and a half easily six figures. I never frown on labor jobs. My plumber has a nicer house and car than me.

[Anonymous]

They will qualify for some fiancial aid. That plus loans, kid works, etc., they should be able to make it through.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the parents are really broke, the kid will qualify for good need based aid

They make solid money. BIL makes over $100k as a UPS driver. SIL makes $30k answering the phone at an insurance agency. They blow every cent.

You know too much about their finances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the December 10th ACT.

- Wednesday he watched basketball games, netflix, goofed on his phone all night.
- Thursday watched NFL and managed his fantasy football team all day.
- Thursday at dinner he and his parents talked about how excited they are about college. Hope he can do well on ACT to earn merit scholarships.
- After dinner, back to football, fantasy football, college basketball.
- So far today shopping, netflix, sports, goofing on phone.

ACT prep books collecting dust in the kitchen. I no longer feel sorry for families who can't afford college.

So based on one child's behavior over Thanksgiving, you have lost sympathy for every family everywhere who can't afford college?

Correct. I looked up merit awards at low tier colleges and they're ridiculously easy to secure. That's before even all the outside scholarships kids can apply for with just some volunteering and a short essay, if that. Easier to sit on your ass like a slob and bitch about how things ain't fair, how the immigrants took all your scholarships.

My kid didn't study for these tests and was a National Merit Finalist and earned a National Merit scholarship. He has a full ride merit scholarship for four years at a top ten STEM university.

Please share his stats.

1550/1600, TJ grad, involved very deeply year round in sports and a music group. Didn't need to study for standardized tests. Some people just do well without prep books and such.

What will be on your relative's college applications? Activities, interests?

1550/1600? What's his stat for all three subjects combined?

2310/2400. Took the SAT just the one time.

Most of the schools he applied to told us they were only interested in the math and critical reading scores.

A full ride from a top 10 STEM college? I doubt that. Maybe U Bama or Kentucky, U Oklahoma.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the December 10th ACT.

- Wednesday he watched basketball games, netflix, goofed on his phone all night.
- Thursday watched NFL and managed his fantasy football team all day.
- Thursday at dinner he and his parents talked about how excited they are about college. Hope he can do well on ACT to earn merit scholarships.
- After dinner, back to football, fantasy football, college basketball.
- So far today shopping, netflix, sports, goofing on phone.

ACT prep books collecting dust in the kitchen. I no longer feel sorry for families who can't afford college.

So based on one child's behavior over Thanksgiving, you have lost sympathy for every family everywhere who can't afford college?

Correct. I looked up merit awards at low tier colleges and they're ridiculously easy to secure. That's before even all the outside scholarships kids can apply for with just some volunteering and a short essay, if that. Easier to sit on your ass like a slob and bitch about how things ain't fair, how the immigrants took all your scholarships.

My kid didn't study for these tests and was a National Merit Finalist and earned a National Merit scholarship. He has a full ride merit scholarship for four years at a top ten STEM university.

Please share his stats.

1550/1600, TJ grad, involved very deeply year round in sports and a music group. Didn't need to study for standardized tests. Some people just do well without prep books and such.

What will be on your relative's college applications? Activities, interests?

1550/1600? What's his stat for all three subjects combined?

2310/2400. Took the SAT just the one time.

Most of the schools he applied to told us they were only interested in the math and critical reading scores.

A full ride from a top 10 STEM college? I doubt that. Maybe U Bama or Kentucky, U Oklahoma.

Believe what you want. We do not need to write any checks to the school for tuition, room, or board. We don't qualify for financial aid; our child applied for and won a specific four year merit scholarship. The application took into account his scores, grades, activities, and community service, so it wasn't just one aspect, such as SAT scores, that impressed the selection committee.

And no, it is not one of the schools listed in the last post above.

[Anonymous]

Believe what you want. We do not need to write any checks to the school for tuition, room, or board. We don't qualify for financial aid; our child applied for and won a specific four year merit scholarship. The application took into account his scores, grades, activities, and community service, so it wasn't just one aspect, such as SAT scores, that impressed the selection committee.

And no, it is not one of the schools listed in the last post above.

NP - Your bragging is breathtaking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Believe what you want. We do not need to write any checks to the school for tuition, room, or board. We don't qualify for financial aid; our child applied for and won a specific four year merit scholarship. The application took into account his scores, grades, activities, and community service, so it wasn't just one aspect, such as SAT scores, that impressed the selection committee.

And no, it is not one of the schools listed in the last post above.

NP - Your bragging is breathtaking.

Also NP - I don't think that's bragging since it's directly relevant to the thread and in response to previous posters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the December 10th ACT.

- Wednesday he watched basketball games, netflix, goofed on his phone all night.
- Thursday watched NFL and managed his fantasy football team all day.
- Thursday at dinner he and his parents talked about how excited they are about college. Hope he can do well on ACT to earn merit scholarships.
- After dinner, back to football, fantasy football, college basketball.
- So far today shopping, netflix, sports, goofing on phone.

ACT prep books collecting dust in the kitchen. I no longer feel sorry for families who can't afford college.

So based on one child's behavior over Thanksgiving, you have lost sympathy for every family everywhere who can't afford college?

Correct. I looked up merit awards at low tier colleges and they're ridiculously easy to secure. That's before even all the outside scholarships kids can apply for with just some volunteering and a short essay, if that. Easier to sit on your ass like a slob and bitch about how things ain't fair, how the immigrants took all your scholarships.

Just go choke on some leftover stuffing. You will not be missed by anyone here, or most likely by anyone in your family, either.

[Anonymous]

Meh...they might have screwed their kid in one way, but I guarantee that OP's attitude and demeanor will screw up her kids too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is literally zero evidence that "prepping" for standardized test improves your score.

Prep does improve. For sure.

I agree. My DC scored in the 550'd for each section of the SAT. She hired an SAT tutor. Her scores on the second exam where 650+ on two parts and 730+ on math. So, for her, prep mattered. My other DC was also tutored and I think her score went up three points. So, it just depends.

The plural of anecdote is not data.

[Anonymous]

The social skills the kid is cultivating with regard to the fantasy football stuff will take him far in life and at college. And yes, I'm being completely serious. Don't worry about this kid - he's doing what he wants - he's enjoying life - he's probably got a posse and is athletic and has friends - he will be just fine wherever he goes. And I'm being completely serious. It's the kid working on ACT prep on Thanksgiving night tearing his hair out that I'd worry about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Believe what you want. We do not need to write any checks to the school for tuition, room, or board. We don't qualify for financial aid; our child applied for and won a specific four year merit scholarship. The application took into account his scores, grades, activities, and community service, so it wasn't just one aspect, such as SAT scores, that impressed the selection committee.

And no, it is not one of the schools listed in the last post above.

NP - Your bragging is breathtaking.

Also NP - I don't think that's bragging since it's directly relevant to the thread and in response to previous posters.

Thank you. I was illustrating the fact that it is entirely possible to get the scholarships the OP's family was talking about without studying for the SATs/ACTs at all, let alone on Thanksgiving. Not trying to brag at all.

[Anonymous]

It is not the prep books that help, but going to tutoring schools for a period, not a few classes.
I know several people who started with lower 20's in their ACT's and went up 8-10 points.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The social skills the kid is cultivating with regard to the fantasy football stuff will take him far in life and at college. And yes, I'm being completely serious. Don't worry about this kid - he's doing what he wants - he's enjoying life - he's probably got a posse and is athletic and has friends - he will be just fine wherever he goes. And I'm being completely serious. It's the kid working on ACT prep on Thanksgiving night tearing his hair out that I'd worry about.

Any kid with semi-decent ACT/SAT scores can go to State U. for not too much money and have a nice career in comp sci, nursing, engineering, etc. They won't be elite but they will do just fine, with 5% of the stress of OP's kids.