What regrets to you have to the 2023 college cycle?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Test prep was a waste because their score stayed the same.

It does happen with some kids. I have one that had decent tutor and 20 hours of test prep and score was the same. That kid has ADHD/ExFunctioning issues and thus not good at test taking. Got a 26/27 Act every time.
2nd kid is higher stats (better grades) and went up 160 with 4 hours of test prep. The additional 6 hours and 3 practice tests gave same results +/1 20 points. 2nd kid used the tutor to learn the "tricks" and obviously quickly figured out how to take the test.

[Anonymous]

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.

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

But I agree that they should have put their foot down earlier in the process (this is about regrets/what to do differently). Very important to let your kids know the maximum you are willing to pay so they can adjust their list and not fall in love with too expensive schools

FWIW a divorced parent I knew took their dc to the family CPA to explain why she could afford only in-sate Virginia and not the Tony private SLAC DC wanted. I thought that was a smart way to shift the burden of blame

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

Wait- for real?

Federal student loan maximum = 5500 in year 1, 6500 year 2, 7500 year 3 and beyond. Maximum allowed = $31k
https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/subsidized-unsubsidized

There are private student loans that may be in the student's name but they need to be co-signed by a parent so it's still really the parent's loan.

How do people end up with so much debt then? Sorry if this is a stupid question.

Parent loans and graduate school loans.

[Anonymous]

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

But if you hadn't you likely would have regretted that (thinking it would have made the difference).

It is one of those investments that you cant' judge in advance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hired a college counselor which in our case was mostly a waste; definitely should have paid by the hour rather than a package
Maybe undershot given all the hysteria about admissions. DC got in everywhere so far (high stats kid); maybe just a fluke.

College counselors really seem to promote the easier schools and talk you out of the prestige mindset and pound the table on fit. But it makes their life easier if your expectations are adjusted downward and you get accepted into schools anyone with decent stats could get into

At the same time, everyone (except the absolute best applicants) starts the process with overly high expectations, in part because most parents are familiar with a much easier era. So it’s a balancing act. The good news is you can apply to 20 schools so lots of room for reaches targets and safeties

Hop on over to the Big 3 thread to see why counselors recommend a safe list. There are many surprises in this process right now and students and parents prefer more options at the end of the process to less.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hired a college counselor which in our case was mostly a waste; definitely should have paid by the hour rather than a package
Maybe undershot given all the hysteria about admissions. DC got in everywhere so far (high stats kid); maybe just a fluke.

College counselors really seem to promote the easier schools and talk you out of the prestige mindset and pound the table on fit. But it makes their life easier if your expectations are adjusted downward and you get accepted into schools anyone with decent stats could get into

At the same time, everyone (except the absolute best applicants) starts the process with overly high expectations, in part because most parents are familiar with a much easier era. So it’s a balancing act. The good news is you can apply to 20 schools so lots of room for reaches targets and safeties

My kid is a junior and the school counselor just recommended ED1 Boston College, ED2 ... Lehigh. (Surely there is something in between, like Villanova?) I think the counselor just wants to be sure they get in "somewhere."

You think Villanova is better than Lehigh? I think Lehigh has a lot more to offer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hired a college counselor which in our case was mostly a waste; definitely should have paid by the hour rather than a package
Maybe undershot given all the hysteria about admissions. DC got in everywhere so far (high stats kid); maybe just a fluke.

College counselors really seem to promote the easier schools and talk you out of the prestige mindset and pound the table on fit. But it makes their life easier if your expectations are adjusted downward and you get accepted into schools anyone with decent stats could get into

At the same time, everyone (except the absolute best applicants) starts the process with overly high expectations, in part because most parents are familiar with a much easier era. So it’s a balancing act. The good news is you can apply to 20 schools so lots of room for reaches targets and safeties

Hop on over to the Big 3 thread to see why counselors recommend a safe list. There are many surprises in this process right now and students and parents prefer more options at the end of the process to less.

Also, even if a kid is resilient it's depressing to keep getting rejections. It stings. Getting 15 rejections isn't fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Fine but all you read about here is how kids with B’s end up at Bumble*** State

Your problem is thinking any college that accepts students with less than a 4.0 is a "Bumble*** State"

Agree. Also, if your kid earned a B, they should get a B. It’s not fair to the kid that earned the A to have it watered down. This is what causes grade inflation and has messed up admissions. You really need to increase your worldview. There are more than just the T20 schools. Your kid may actually be happier and achieve more at a “lower ranked” school.

Any respectable college will not allow the grade grubbing and test retakes that helped your kid get a 4.0. It will be a shock and wake up
Call.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hired a college counselor which in our case was mostly a waste; definitely should have paid by the hour rather than a package
Maybe undershot given all the hysteria about admissions. DC got in everywhere so far (high stats kid); maybe just a fluke.

College counselors really seem to promote the easier schools and talk you out of the prestige mindset and pound the table on fit. But it makes their life easier if your expectations are adjusted downward and you get accepted into schools anyone with decent stats could get into

At the same time, everyone (except the absolute best applicants) starts the process with overly high expectations, in part because most parents are familiar with a much easier era. So it’s a balancing act. The good news is you can apply to 20 schools so lots of room for reaches targets and safeties

My kid is a junior and the school counselor just recommended ED1 Boston College, ED2 ... Lehigh. (Surely there is something in between, like Villanova?) I think the counselor just wants to be sure they get in "somewhere."

You think Villanova is better than Lehigh? I think Lehigh has a lot more to offer.

It's not that (my child loves Lehigh and is on board with making it their ED2 pick.) Rather, when we look at Naviance (not perfect but the best barometer we have so far) there's a big gulf between BC and Lehigh in terms of GPA/SAT for admitted students. Villanova is roughly halfway in-between. My point is more, why drop down *so* much from BC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hired a college counselor which in our case was mostly a waste; definitely should have paid by the hour rather than a package
Maybe undershot given all the hysteria about admissions. DC got in everywhere so far (high stats kid); maybe just a fluke.

College counselors really seem to promote the easier schools and talk you out of the prestige mindset and pound the table on fit. But it makes their life easier if your expectations are adjusted downward and you get accepted into schools anyone with decent stats could get into

At the same time, everyone (except the absolute best applicants) starts the process with overly high expectations, in part because most parents are familiar with a much easier era. So it’s a balancing act. The good news is you can apply to 20 schools so lots of room for reaches targets and safeties

My kid is a junior and the school counselor just recommended ED1 Boston College, ED2 ... Lehigh. (Surely there is something in between, like Villanova?) I think the counselor just wants to be sure they get in "somewhere."

This is where it should be about fit though. If you are going to ED your kid should really like the school. I doubt outcomes are vastly different at Villanova vs Lehigh. If you really want to get in somewhere ED it probably makes sense to take the safer bet.

You think Villanova is better than Lehigh? I think Lehigh has a lot more to offer.

It's not that (my child loves Lehigh and is on board with making it their ED2 pick.) Rather, when we look at Naviance (not perfect but the best barometer we have so far) there's a big gulf between BC and Lehigh in terms of GPA/SAT for admitted students. Villanova is roughly halfway in-between. My point is more, why drop down *so* much from BC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Fine but all you read about here is how kids with B’s end up at Bumble*** State

Your problem is thinking any college that accepts students with less than a 4.0 is a "Bumble*** State"

Agree. Also, if your kid earned a B, they should get a B. It’s not fair to the kid that earned the A to have it watered down. This is what causes grade inflation and has messed up admissions. You really need to increase your worldview. There are more than just the T20 schools. Your kid may actually be happier and achieve more at a “lower ranked” school.

Any respectable college will not allow the grade grubbing and test retakes that helped your kid get a 4.0. It will be a shock and wake up
Call.

Well, my kid didn’t do all that, wasn’t super focused on grades and his transcript shows that and this didn’t help his application. More attention or assertiveness around getting the best possible grade would have been helpful. I am communicating this to younger sibling.

With all the hooked kids of iffy intellect floating around these schools, I have no worries whatsoever about my kid being academically competitive even if he turned a B+ into an A- at some point

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hired a college counselor which in our case was mostly a waste; definitely should have paid by the hour rather than a package
Maybe undershot given all the hysteria about admissions. DC got in everywhere so far (high stats kid); maybe just a fluke.

College counselors really seem to promote the easier schools and talk you out of the prestige mindset and pound the table on fit. But it makes their life easier if your expectations are adjusted downward and you get accepted into schools anyone with decent stats could get into

At the same time, everyone (except the absolute best applicants) starts the process with overly high expectations, in part because most parents are familiar with a much easier era. So it’s a balancing act. The good news is you can apply to 20 schools so lots of room for reaches targets and safeties

My kid is a junior and the school counselor just recommended ED1 Boston College, ED2 ... Lehigh. (Surely there is something in between, like Villanova?) I think the counselor just wants to be sure they get in "somewhere."

This is where it should be about fit though. If you are going to ED your kid should really like the school. I doubt outcomes are vastly different at Villanova vs Lehigh. If you really want to get in somewhere ED it probably makes sense to take the safer bet.

You think Villanova is better than Lehigh? I think Lehigh has a lot more to offer.

It's not that (my child loves Lehigh and is on board with making it their ED2 pick.) Rather, when we look at Naviance (not perfect but the best barometer we have so far) there's a big gulf between BC and Lehigh in terms of GPA/SAT for admitted students. Villanova is roughly halfway in-between. My point is more, why drop down *so* much from BC.

I’m not sure the difference is that big overall, even though Nova has gotten hit lately. I looked at stats in Naviance for my kids’ HS and not only is Lehigh more selective from our HS (22% vs 30% for Villanova) but accepted student gpa is much higher too. But that’s not the overall trend.

[Anonymous]

I meant Nova is hot, not hit!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hired a college counselor which in our case was mostly a waste; definitely should have paid by the hour rather than a package
Maybe undershot given all the hysteria about admissions. DC got in everywhere so far (high stats kid); maybe just a fluke.

College counselors really seem to promote the easier schools and talk you out of the prestige mindset and pound the table on fit. But it makes their life easier if your expectations are adjusted downward and you get accepted into schools anyone with decent stats could get into

At the same time, everyone (except the absolute best applicants) starts the process with overly high expectations, in part because most parents are familiar with a much easier era. So it’s a balancing act. The good news is you can apply to 20 schools so lots of room for reaches targets and safeties

My kid is a junior and the school counselor just recommended ED1 Boston College, ED2 ... Lehigh. (Surely there is something in between, like Villanova?) I think the counselor just wants to be sure they get in "somewhere."

Maybe you’re underestimating the caliber of Lehigh students?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hired a college counselor which in our case was mostly a waste; definitely should have paid by the hour rather than a package
Maybe undershot given all the hysteria about admissions. DC got in everywhere so far (high stats kid); maybe just a fluke.

College counselors really seem to promote the easier schools and talk you out of the prestige mindset and pound the table on fit. But it makes their life easier if your expectations are adjusted downward and you get accepted into schools anyone with decent stats could get into

At the same time, everyone (except the absolute best applicants) starts the process with overly high expectations, in part because most parents are familiar with a much easier era. So it’s a balancing act. The good news is you can apply to 20 schools so lots of room for reaches targets and safeties

My kid is a junior and the school counselor just recommended ED1 Boston College, ED2 ... Lehigh. (Surely there is something in between, like Villanova?) I think the counselor just wants to be sure they get in "somewhere."

And not a lot of schools offer ED2, right? if ED1 is not an acceptance, seems to me like you would counsel to go a bit conservative on ED2.
You think Villanova is better than Lehigh? I think Lehigh has a lot more to offer.