If you knew then, what you know now...

Parents Forum
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<p>What would you do differently the second time around??</p>

<p>I also have a daughter who will attend Auburn University in the fall. My eldest will receive free tuition, books, and fees at Auburn due to her father being a disabled vet from Alabama. She had so-so grades and test scores; good enough to be admitted, but not to recieve scholarships. I often wonder if the fact that she had free schooling available to her demotivated her to perform better...</p>

<p>I also have a eighth grade daughter with straight A's who scores extremely high on standardized achievement tests. My younger daughter is not eligible for the free college program...they have different fathers.</p>

<p>I want to do everything possible to help my youngest be successful at (hopefully) earning a free-ride at the school of her choice...or at least a respectable scholarship at a respectable university.</p>

<p>What suggestions do you have?</p>

<p>Thanks,</p>

<p>Mia</p>

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<p>If your younger daughter continues to perform strongly in school and on standardized tests, she will certainly be able to find a "respectable scholarship at a respectable university." The "free ride at the school of her choice" is something else again, as the school of her choice may be one that provides need-based aid only. I suggest reading the "Schools that give great merit aid" thread posted as a sticky on this board.</p>

<p>Your d has a lot of time in which to decide what kind of college experience she wants. If she remains a motivated student, many possibilities will be open to her. Parents can set up an environment that encourages motivation in their high schoolers, but whether or not a child makes academics a priority comes down to the individual kid's temperament, abilities, and desires. I'm not sure it matters so much what parents do differently the second or third or fifth time around - what matters is the kid and what she wants/thinks/does. </p>

<p>What have I done differently on subsequent college adventures? I've been better informed (thanks, CCers) and presented information to my kids earlier in the process. Good luck to both of your ds, Mia!</p>

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<p>Exactly, frazzled. Would have started the searches way sooner. D#1 got a late start and really only looked at "name brand" schools. Fortunately D#2 went every where with her and can greatly expand her search. Ironic, D#1 ended up at the school she chose in grade 5.</p>

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<p>Mia, I'm going to make some assumptions - that you live in Alabama, and that your income is between $50000 and $150000.
I'm in AL, and my daughter is a soph at an OOS college.</p>

<p>Full tuition scholarships at AL and Auburn required a 30 ACT score for the class of 2005, and I'm not sure what the GPA was, ?3.5?, maybe. Full rides are rarer - full ride meaning room and board as well. So many kids live off campus that after full tuition level is reached, more kids are attracted by other perks than by R&B.</p>

<p>So what should the 2 of you do? First, she should continue to make excellent grades, and should take the most challenging classes that she can. She should develop one or 2 interests - sports, music, volunteer work - and pursue them with passion. She should be a kid. If your family is lower income, and she needs to work in her spare time to help the family, that's fine, it makes great essay fodder, don't worry that she isn't getting the expensive music lessons, on the basketball team etc. Be aware as of 2004, A&A use music classes in the calculation of GPA, so there is some real advantage to taking band or chorus, I think that includes for scholarship purposes. Both schools have very extensive websites discussing their scholarship programs, take a look, both are quite complicated. Another "be aware" to know when she is ready to apply, is that the early bird gets the worm - she should apply early, and if all possible attend the scholarship events, if she maintains that A average in challenging classes, and makes >30 on the ACT, they will treat her well.
Please feel free to PM with more Alabama questions, the kind of help she will get at school will depend on public vs private high school, and what type of private high school.</p>

<p>OOS colleges, read the thread cited above, it is great. It is a good idea to learn as much as you can about financial aid now, because that will help you strategize about where to apply. Rhodes College, the school that Curmudgeon's daughter ended up attending, has great merit aid, but if your D absolutely has to have a full ride, she will need a wide range of choices.</p>

<p>Again, feel free to PM me, some things are a little different in the South, because there is a much greater emphasis on merit aid, and much less on need-based aid.</p>

<p>Added: There are some smaller LACs that give good merit aid as well - B'ham Southern, Mercer, Samford.
Also, the more you can save between now and then to cover shortfalls in her scholarship money, the more choices she will have. </p>

<p>It can be done, though, I personally know of 2 students attending Auburn who actually ended up with spending money after tuition, R&B, books, everything was paid, although one had ROTC money.</p>