<p>yeah like,
I was shocked to see any apartment here comes with giant two doors fridge that you get to keep icecream, the two headed faucet that hot water comes out like magic and the toilet that flushes clean with water !! (I am not kidding, really)
I came to realize now, CC folks living standard are rather high.
Though, those fish eyes fishy internet sites are handy, you get sort of ideas what how much where then once you go to the realtor or the owner, the place you eyed on is usually taken, or maybe never existed, then the person usually have “real” deal (that with window doesn’t open, someone just died in there, pluming so bad you can not go without plunger a day)
These are sacrifices normal folks take, if want to be legal and get printed pile of paper of lease.
I repeat, you can do this. Ok, lower the standard.</p>
<p>Bears,
It’s really not a case of high living standards, now that I’ve lived out of New York I realize why friends and family used to be a little shocked at what we got for the money. Our apartment was mid-sized, not large at all but we had fixed it up and felt pretty good about what a good deal it was. Then family would come and look around and ask what we paid and get this funny look on their faces whereas New Yorkers would go Wow that’s a pretty good deal. I do not come from a wealthy family with huge houses either…</p>
<p>Brooklyn is generally the better deal. Only three of the teachers at my kids public school lived in our neighborhood or, I believe, in Manhattan. Two because they’d been there forever (two of the older teachers) so had great deals and the other come to find out had a very wealthy family. I’m not trying to discourage anyone, just give a realistic appraisal of rents so that parents/kids realize that it will be pretty expensive and probably better that they realize they will be commuting.</p>
<p>But as I say the rents right now seem to be better and until those co-ops they’re renting because they couldn’t sell them start selling it will probably be better than in the years when we were there.</p>
<p>Has anybody had any luck getting FA reconsideration yet? Just got off the phone with MICA and I’m not feeling optimistic.</p>
<p>Bleh.</p>
<p>Glutenmom: Never heard back from Pratt. After requesting an appeal, SAIC offered 2K more in grants. And PNCA never budged and insists daughter is maxed out on possible aid from them, though they have agreed to add a small work study grant. So, that’s the results of our reconsideration appeals. We didn’t bother to ask anyone else, because really, they’re going to give daughter 20K more? If they were going to be that generous, they would have to start with. <em>sigh</em></p>
<p>Well just when I was feeling optimistic that we could swing this if kid takes deferment for a year (for other issues besides financial, but also financial is a piece of it) I realize that if she’s not in school next year and does a gap year that health insurance won’t be covered.
That is not good at all.</p>
<p>So back to the drawing board I think. MICA is waiting for another letter from us.</p>
<p>Glutenmom, my understanding is that when the reform law goes into effect, students will be covered until age 26 even if they’re not in school, as long as they don’t have a job that offers health care. Did I misunderstand? The federal law will supercede any state limits. Here’s some info: </p>
<p>"One could almost hear the collective cheers of parents and students across the US when healthcare reform passed. Previously, children over 18 continued to qualify for coverage under a parent’s plan only as long as they remained full-time students and had not reached age 23. This left many high school and college graduates uncovered as they searched for jobs that became ever more elusive with the start of the recession.</p>
<p>One provision of reform that went into effect immediately after passage was the continuation of coverage under a parent’s plan for any young adults under 26 who were not offered coverage by an employer. However, this may not be as good as it sounds. It appears that instead of being included in the employee/child rate or the family rate, they will be charged at the rate for an adult individual.</p>
<p>This could add considerably to the cost of a parent’s plan, especially if they have more than one needy child in that category, and it seems doubtful employers would fund the entire cost. Relatively healthy young people may find private insurance purchased on the open market a better deal or still the best they can afford."</p>
<p>So, not quite the same as child coverage, but there you go. Does this help?</p>
<p>Hi Trin
What I’m not sure of is when that provision in the Health Care Reform act goes into effect. My kid isn’t 18 yet, so it’s not urgent, but I don’t want her to be without coverage if she has a year off. I’ll have to do some more research into this. I’m not sure how the health care reform bill impacts flexible spending accounts and mental health services either. Kid has ADD and depression which is part of the reason for putting school off for a year maybe so that she has a little more time to grow up and gain more independence.</p>
<p>I just wish this was over and decided already…</p>
<p>MICA advisor did say that getting a deferral for a year was probably not a problem and that they do sometimes roll over the scholarship award – so we wouldn’t have to worry about losing or getting less in the way of scholarships next year.</p>
<p>Good point for a reality check about the gap year…same issue came up for us at one point…gap year had all types of issues but biggest was dropping off the parental health insurance plan. DS has a preexisting cond so he is going to need to be in school for health insurance purposes and then, if they don’t stick to a major overhall of the healthcare system, he must either move to Europe (has EU passport) or get a job with the government so he can’t be denied health insurance. It is what it is in the US where an 18 year old has to fear loss of health insurance and chart his future to seek coverage because he may (MAY being a really important word) someday need major surgery.</p>
<p>Glutenmom, drae… I think we are amongst the last to decide…is that right? Anyone else fence sitting in late April? …waiting, and waiting, and waiting. Drae…did you hear back from CMU. We are still in the circling mode. </p>
<p>It is a three way tie between CMU, VCU and MICA. Waiting for CMU to finalize merit aid, if any. Is it worth going to visit MICA or CMU again? Should son do essay for honors at VCU when he may turn them down…? Going to CMU seems cruel for s if they come up with 0. Will another visit to MICA clarify or just confuse? </p>
<p>About health insurance. Glutenmom send me a pm if you want a reference to a broker or website. There are decent private insurance programs for young adults without preexisting conditions and, hopefully, no recored of DWI, etc. Basically, you get a big deductible and cover your kid for really bad events which is sensible since at this age they don’t need wellbaby visits or visits because of unspecific tummy aches which sound like appendicitis…etc. </p>
<p>You make a good point for a reality check about the gap year…same issue came up for us at one point…gap year had all types of issues but biggest was dropping off the parental health insurance plan. DS has a preexisting cond so he is going to need to be in school for health insurance purposes and then, if they don’t stick to a major overhall of the healthcare system, he must either move to Europe (has EU passport) or get a job with the government so he can’t be denied health insurance. It is what it is in the US where an 18 year old has to fear loss of health insurance and chart his future to seek coverage because he may (MAY being a really important word) someday need major surgery.</p>
<p>Glutenmom: I think it goes into effect in September? Some other parents on the Parent section of CC were talking about it. I am not certain, however. But it’s basically this year.</p>
<p>Hi all - I heard from a college counselor that a child can be in community college as a half-time student and can still be considered a “student” for financial aid purposes. It seems to me that that would also work for remaining on their parent’s health insurance. If it’s not too hard to swing, the student can get some pre-req’s taken care of, earn some cheap college credit and still have something of a gap year.</p>
<p>My D is also undecided, as is her sister. I thought I was lucky that they were born early and I had two little Libras. If they were Scorpios, like their due date promised, they probably would have applied ED and been done already!</p>
<p>D is having a tough time deciding. We’re going up to see Pratt again tomorrow. She’s still considering MICA and Kenyon too, with WUSTL and Alfred as more distant possibilities. She’s sad about it, about all these life paths that she could choose but isn’t. Her senior project is finally done so now she can finally focus on this decision but I know it will be agonizing.</p>
<p>Also the provision that keeps insurance companies from excluding kids for pre-existing conditions kicks in immediately so even more reason for them to maybe take a few classes at a community college to maintain dependent status if they have major health conditions. This provision for adults doesn’t kick in until 2014 as written now. So the longer you can keep the dependent status going the better.</p>
<p>Finally got KC’s FA package yesterday, but no surprises there. Same Federal Stafford as offered from MCAD and NHIA. KC offered 7K more in aid than MCAD, but COA of fixed costs is lower, so while it doesn’t quite balance out, its not too bad, and worth the chance to go to MCAD. I gotta crunch all the numbers for DH, but he’s OK with whatever she decides.</p>
<p>Still on the fence about says it all.</p>
<p>Told kid yesterday that basically we’re down to go to SUNY Purchase in the Fall or wait a year and go to MICA. Husband’s insurance will cover until age 19, so I think we’re off the hook with that. But kid is REALLY not happy about waiting a year (nevermind that she was the one that wouldn’t finish the outside scholarship applications). MICA is her first choice, even though she got into RISD, I think she felt more comfortable there. I have been unemployed, but seeking employment, for quite some time. Jobs are hard to get when you take time off to raise your kids yourself – maybe that wasn’t a good decision. But on the bright side a company is flying me out to Boulder, CO for a job interview – so they must be seriously considering me. Employment for me makes the whole situation easier, though we will not have an answer on the that front by May 1 and it doesn’t address kid’s immaturity and other issues that leave us concerned that she’s not ready to handle going away to school yet.</p>
<p>Life is crazy.</p>
<p>Also still on the fence here. </p>
<p>S is down to RISD and CMU. CMU responded to our request for FA review with a few thousand more in scholarship and a bit less in the work study. So financially CMU is the most affordable with RISD close behind. We will take S up to RISD on Thursday so that he can meet and talk to some students. I asked him to make his final decision by next Monday. It’s like watching a cliff hanger. I think his geeky (CMU) and arty (RISD) sides are battling it out.</p>
<p>Son accepted to RISD, KCAI, and a small private liberal arts college. KCAI offered $15k plus fed aid, RISD nothing but fed aid, and small school same as KCAI. Does anyone have experience in appealing to RISD on financial aid? A RISD parent called last week to encourage my son to go there and suggested that we contact the RISD prez directly and explain. Any suggestions or experience in that route? Decision time is running out!</p>
<p>Yes I do have twins going this fall…D has decided and has her aid package set.</p>
<p>We asked but did not receive…but that does not mean you should not. There was a parent a couple of years back who did and was able to swing RISD in the end. The sooner the better.</p>
<p>prize up to 250K anyone over 18
<a href=“http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=37555[/url]”>http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=37555</a></p>
<p>It doesn’t hurt to ask. D had no merit from the school she REALLY like best and 15K from KC. She spoke to the adcom (who has been GREAT thru this whole process) and he came up with 8K, which immediately put the school up to the top of the list and looks like where she’ll be going.</p>