<p>bethie, I wanted to congratulate you and your S on a job well done...I'm sure you weren't expecting such success. I'm glad he is re-visiting some of his choices, I think it's a great idea.</p>
<p>Also congrats to camelia who made very sound and mature decision. I'm sure you will enjoy Dartmouth.</p>
<p>D was 9 for 9, which makes me wonder whether we could have shot a little higher for your but oh well, it's all good...her first choice since December is still her #1 choice (flagship state U; deposit's already there, and she's done with pre-admission testing already) but she is re-visiting her #2 choice in 4/21/07 (my alma mater :) which makes very happy!) but something tells me she will not be changing her mind.</p>
<p>Many of our kids will be making tough decisions in the next few weeks. As my brother-in-law advised my D; they should go with their gut instinct; they're usually right.</p>
<p>So I just received my official Dartmouth acceptance in the mail, and enclosed with the financial aid package was a letter stating that I'm "one of a select group of entering students assigned to one of Dartmouth's need-based endowed scholarships," and that "While Dartmouth College does not award merit-based aid, the more generous packaging of these endowed scholarship awards represents our modest attempt to recognize the significant achievements of those most highly recommended by the Admissions Office." (I've posted the full letter and some questions here</a>). I had no idea that this existed, and I'm even more shocked that I was one of the students chosen to receive one. I think I'll take that as a sign that I made the right decision. :)</p>
<p>I was not expecting this. I could have saved myself months of agonizing mailbox scrutiny if I only had a brain. There were times I thought about flying to the campuses and shaking the decisions out of them. Now my son only needs to come up with one; they're all good.</p>
<p>Okay, everyone ... I really need support today! As some may remember from earlier posts, my D finally decided where she wants to go to school -- out of 8 good choices. We attended a scholar event and she just fell in love with the school. We thought everything went so well, and she asked if she could go even if she didn't get the good scholarship.</p>
<p>So, here's the problem. She didn't get the good scholarship ... and what she was offered was a smaller amount than any other school that offered her a scholarship. I am heartbroken for her. Simply put, the cost to attend is $4400 more this year than another school she likes, and that will increase by $4000 next year due to a freshman-only scholarship in the package. A couple other schools come in at quite a bit less per year after this year, as well.</p>
<p>I am disappointed about the low scholarship amount, after feeling so good about things. What's even more important, though, is that finances are definitely a factor. If I could go back in time, we never would have attended the scholar event. In addition to the time & money we spent on it, that is where she became so enamored of the school. I can't bring myself to share the news with her. Help me get some perspective on this so I can be the adult & help her get through this!!</p>
<p>mstee--
I have a stepson who graduated from Kalamazoo and it was a great experience for him. It's an interesting place--small campus, great faculty, good academics and some excellent foreign study programs. My stepson spent a year in France.</p>
<p>D's final list (all already on the board): UVM (Honors College), Muhlenberg College, University of Rochester, University of Richmond, Union College. Rejected from Wesleyan and Amherst; waitlisted at Vassar. </p>
<p>She's now choosing from Rochester (Trustee Scholarship), Union (President's Scholarship) & Muhlenberg (President's Scholarship & dance scholarship).</p>
<p>Kelsmom: I think it may be worth communicating with the school about your dilemma since it is sometimes possible for schools to increase awards by incremental amounts for desired students (well, all are desired if accepted--but they also like to draw students with particular strengths and she has obviously been recognized for something already). As it gets closer to May 1, there will be students withdrawing whose funds could become available. It is very iffy--so no one should get hope too far up; on the other hand it probably doesn't hurt to ask. If you daughter wants this enough, she may be able to effectively ask for the $4400 dollar difference. And once she is on campus she may be able to leverage other options for future years. There is obviously some risk--but this is an opportunity to educate her about a lot of hard facts of life--and those include both the reality that she may not be able to afford this education now--and that she may be able to actively negotiatte and pursue her dream. In any case, good luck...</p>
<p>kelsmom-another area to explore with FA is whether the school has specific named scholarships for continuing students which are meant to replace the freshman only ones.</p>
<p>I did investigate the scholarship that I thought was freshman-only & it turns out that it is renewable. That helps a bit. There is still enough of a difference to be concerned about, though. D is on spring break for the next week, though, so guess we'll have to hang tight for awhile. Hopefully, things will work out.</p>
<p>S was admitted to Chapman University's Dodge College of Film and Media Studies for a B.A. in Screenwriting. </p>
<p>I feel pleased and amazed, because admit rates for film conservatory programs are only 8%. I deconstructed that to discover the stat reflects competition for directing and acting spots. For screenwriting hopefuls, admit rates are around 25-30%. </p>
<p>Also, I do feel very unsettled. Still awaiting financials...inexperienced re:
California...not used to such distances. </p>
<p>Ah well! Last child's the charm. Let the rumpus begin!</p>
<p>p3t: Have you been there or did your S visit on his own? I have a soft spot for Chapman as my boys used to attend Cyber Camp there when they were younger and I love the small-town vibe in Orange. The Cuban restaurant has great food, check it out. And that new building for the film school is gorgeous. Congrats to your S.</p>
<p>Well good (she was accepted) and bad (too many choices with no clear cut advantage) - D was 10 for 10 on acceptances and the $$ is all over the map. And as stated in other posts, the schools are in different fields too as she doesn't know what she wants to do. Recruited athlete also makes a difference as opportunity to play varies by school.</p>
<p>Bowdoin - no funding
Michigan Engineering - no funding
Michigan State - $
Vermont - $
Rensalaer Engineering - $$
Queen's Commerce - $$
Queen's Science - $$
McGill - no funding
Toronto Commerce - no funding
Western Ontario Business - $</p>
<p>Looks like its down to Bowdoin & Queens', but there are still a couple of dark horses in there.</p>
<p>jazzymom, thanks,
Actually he applied without ever setting foot in California or on the campus, all from recommendations from the Screenwriters Guild of America as to which were the fine film schools. And then, all based upon the university's website.</p>
<p>He was judged entirely based upon essays and the supplemental arts portfolio. Because it involves writing, not acting, the "audition" could be done on paper. So nobody has met anybody...yet.
To me, it feels like a mail-order bride and I'm trying to learn more about what Orange looks, sounds and tastes like. I reread your sentence about the Cuban restaurant over and over...so I thank you. Will get on the job now and order up more info from the Chamber of Commerce. I hear only good things about the quaint town, the dynamic new film school building. In fact it might be the exact right way to be in L.A. because the town will be the "there" that
he enjoys. Gertrude Stein once said "The trouble with California is there's no there there..." and that stuck in my memory. My S read a criticism of Orange from a USC student that Orange is "boring, nothing but antique stores" and he laughed, "that sounds perfect; I love antiques..." One man's trash is another's treasure.</p>
<p>This must be what international students feel like, to go to a place sight-unseen. It's a little too far to afford a family trip. I think I'll send him out there; after 2 weeks the fares go down to an affordable level for one traveller. Perhaps he could come and go through LAX and visit the campus, without a car and without me. I'm sure he could handle it.
It does make me a bit crazy not knowing the financial package...is anyone else facing that at this moment? I left word there before the weekend asking when it could be expected. I hope that was okay.
Above all, I'm HAPPY for him and that's what I'm focussing on. We're supposed to give our kids roots and wings, and somehow with this kid the wings are here within his grasp.</p>
<p>paying3tuitions congratulations to your son. If you fly him out here you might want to consider Orange County Airport (SNA) it is about 10 miles from Chapman and LAX is about 40 miles. Good Luck!</p>
<p>paying3 - I live just on the edge of the City of Orange and find the downtown area of Orange and the Chapman campus charming. The college is very well respected by people in our area, especially the film school. The location provides easy access to SO MUCH, the beach, awesome shopping at South Coast Plaza, first class music and theater performances at the Performing Arts Center and the new Segerstrum Music Hall, Disneyland, skiing in local mountains and that is before you make the one hour jaunt up to LA where many more opportunites present themself. I don't know what your son is looking for but there is just about everything in SoCal. The school itself is on the small side which offers alot of personal attention and feel but not the big Div 1 sports that he would find at a larger school. Just thought I would share a few thoughts from a local perspective.</p>
<p>thanks, orangeco,ca; i'm delighted there are alternatives to LAX</p>
<p>OC Mom, infor in your post was all news to me, much appreciated. Our older kids all preferred attending small schools (attention hounds). This child says big or small, he doesn't care, as long as the film school is the real deal. Sports are a non-item on his radar screen, so that's really going to be okay. He'll love the people, the landscape, the arts opportunities. He even skis, so that's rather wonderful. Since our move from the foothills of the Catskill Mts. to flat Buffalo, he's missed skiing. I'll google up Segerstrum and the performing arts center. Many thanks.</p>