<p>I hope that you give me a little latitude here; this may be a rambling narrative with no purpose!</p>
<p>I admit I've been a little obsessive with college planning. I might go a little nuts with my friends and start mentioning schools for their kids unsolicited. I gone on more college tours and know more about engineering programs than I even thought that I would. Last night someone asked me about what my S might major in and instead of saying engineering, I gave way too much information even mentioning minors that he has talked about. In my defense it was with someone who has a child majoring in what my S wants to do but others in the group were LOL!</p>
<p>But my S has really good choices. I think that we have gone about things the right way. I see how some of his fellow students have choices that are less than what they expected. Kids who think that they will have to attend a school that they didn't like because they have no other options. Kids who didn't visit schools before they applied and now their parents are pressuring them to go there because that school offered the most money.</p>
<p>This is my big complaint. Some parents have no idea how much college costs and how much they are expected to pay. Kids who have worked hard through HS and now they don't have great options. And I am not talking about kids whining because their parents won't go $100,000 in debt. No, I'm talking about parents who think that because they have these smart, high stat kids, that they are not going to have to pay for college.</p>
<p>My H and I talked to our S and told him what we would be able to pay. I investigated schools that fit what my S was looking for and were within what we could pay (and we told him that we could pay what our EFC is). He now has 3 schools that he could be really happy at and they are all within what we could pay. We didn't tell him that we could only afford a portion of college tuition, even less than it would cost to go to the state U's.</p>
<p>Everything I learned, I found on CC. I knew nothing before I found this site and the knowledge is invaluable. I also feel that I have helped my S find the right fit for him. If I wasn't involved, he, I'm sure, would be in the same boat as many of his classmates. Instead of being surprised and disappointed at this stage of the game, he is very aware of his options and where he is going to be happiest.</p>
<p>I know this is sappy, but really, I thank all of you on CC for making this time (while still stressful) a great experience.</p>
<p>deb, I'm right there with ya', darling. Don't really know how D would have fared without the smart people on this site willing to share , but I doubt it would have been this good.</p>
<p>I also want to thank all the CC's parents for taking the time to post their experiences, guidance, and words of wisdom to students and parents preparing to go through the college application process. I knew next to nothing before finding this forum, and the things I learned here were a HUGE factor, I believe, in my son's fortunate college outcome.</p>
<p>I would agree. I found this forum when we were well into the process, but it sure helped. Other sources of information were not very helpful, including several books. The HS GC's and information sessions were all but useless. I got a little information from friends and neighbors but much of that was incorrect speculation. </p>
<p>About the only good advice I got was from my father. When it came time to decide if we could really afford my D's expensive dream school, he gave me his opinions about the value of education and a love of learning.</p>
<p>Cyberfriends -- D decided yesterday that Lawrence would be her college choice. We are very happy about that. </p>
<p>These forums have provided invaluable support and information. They have also provided more than a few laughs. Thanks to one and all for the good info and good humor you provided over the last couple of years as I sought to learn more about the college application process in general and and about strong undergraduate music programs in particular (about which I knew nothing!). </p>
<p>I will be checking in less frequently now but am sure I'll need some tips on "the list" and the move. I am recommending the site to junior parents with the hope and expectation that they will receive similar benefit. I'll be back on a regular basis in a couple of years when S is ready to begin his search. Again, thanks to CC and its users.</p>
<p>Musicmom, Congrats to your D. I have a hunch she will be in heaven in less than a year's time. Funny thing, my son discovered LU on this site. Can you believe that. It was too expensive for me to visit and I just sent him off on his own to check out the campus the summer of his Junior year. I had no clue. I certainly do now. As a parent, I feel so, so lucky. I just wish I lived in the Midwest now so I could attend some of the concerts and at least visit the campus. Sometime. :)</p>