<p>Yes, he should try to take the Dec ACT and SAT if it’s already too late to sign up for the Nov ACT. Take the ACT with writing.</p>
<p>Some schools won’t use the test scores from dates after Dec for merit scholarship consideration. </p>
<p>The Math + CR score on the SAT is what many/most schools use for merit consideration. On the ACT, then entire composite is used.</p>
<p>Yes, test scores matter a lot for merit scholarships.</p>
<p>do you know what his “weighted” GPA is? Does his school weight GPAs? And is that his GPA for all of his classes? I’m concerned that his 3.4 GPA might hurt him for scholarships at some schools. But, some only require a 3.3 or 3.0. If his weighted GPA is a 3.5 or higher, then he’ll have more merit options.</p>
<p>My main concern is anything that takes him away from the campus and isnt officially associated with the college will become a distraction that he doesn’t need.</p>
<p>? Aren’t both the band and drum corp associated with a college? Or did someone suggest something that is separate?</p>
<p>Today is deadline for online reg for 11/2 SAT, late fee applies. The Barrons SAT/ACT books are very useful for prepping. Good strategy tips, really worth every penny. Has he ever tried a practice ACT test?</p>
<p>Most colleges have jazz ensembles. Some colleges restrict certain ensembles to music majors and have others for non-majors. Others have all ensembles open to anyone who can pass the audition.</p>
<p>Also Celesteroberts that sounds like my kid. He is your typical clean cut soccer type which he has played until he went to highschool. As for jobs we live in the suburbs so there are not too many small businesses around here. We have the typical chain stores and fast food stores. He has applied to all of them two years in a row and the one manager even told us that the stores don’t hire kids much anymore because they have adults which can be on call and can work any hours… Kids just can’t compete with that these days.</p>
<p>We found out his musical abilities through a video game called rock band. He could play the drums with ease. So after seeing this I asked him if he wanted to take real drum lessons. He did and then the rest is history. I got him his own drumset 1 month later and he tried out for marching band in 9th grade.</p>
<p>He didnt get drums in his first year because they are mainly for upper classman but he did get Cymbols. He wasnt crazy about it but fortunatley the drumline coach played cymbols in his collge band and really made sure the kids had plenty of cool stuff to do. Ever since then he has been hooked and really applied himself to his craft.</p>
<p>He has played tennor, cymbols, bass and snare. He enjoys the bass the most which is the drum he stuck with for Marching and Indoor drumline. He plays the full set for Jazz band and I am so proud of him and his work ethic. He is such a good kid when it comes to things because if he is interested he is one of those kids that will become obsessed with it until he feels he has accomplished or mastered it to his satisfaction.</p>
<p>I cant tell you how many time I have heard him practicing in our basement. OVER AND OVER!! But i will say thats why i have such high hopes for him. He is very much school oriented and musically gifted. His music instructors constantly praise him about his knowledge and skill on the different instruments.</p>
<p>As far as the Drum Corps mom2collegekids alot of schools dont have it at all. Now they do have other musical programs but not marching band and drum corps. The only drum corps that I know of are the professional ones that compete and are not associated with the schools. For instance Penn State doesnt have a drum corp or indoor drumline. They are partnered with a proffesional drum corp and kids try out. The cost is 1000 bucks for the season and that lasts over the entire spring semseter. The problem is those programs are not just open to kids attending college. They are open to anyone who wants to try out and also can afford the 1000 dollar fee.</p>
<p>And they dont care if the kids need study time or take into consideration the scheduling of there out of town competitions.</p>
<p>mom2collegekids our school doesnt do weighted GPA’s… I have seen that question asked before and didn’t understand what they were reffering to and of course my son was quick to explain it to me LOL</p>
<p>The reason I mentioned test scores is because when you look at the common data sets and see the % of kids getting substantial merit money, that is about where your kid needs to be in, top % wise to be in the running for it. In order to get money from Pitt, one needs ridiculously high scores these days, just to be considered, and to be in the running for the Honors college as well. There was a time, when it wasn’t as competitive and more such awards were given, but no more. I believe only about 7% get merit awards these days.</p>
<p>My cousin’s son, has about the same scores is in the Symphonic Band, i believe and he did get $5K as I mentioned in fin aid, I think Temple and some of the smaller PA school might ante up more. </p>
<p>It sounds like he has a passion for the band, so it’s something he and his teachers/mentors should discuss in terms of opportunities and schools where this might give him a leg up and some scholarship money to boot. </p>
<p>My niece who is in the marching band wanted to go to a big sports uni, and is at one, but went OOS as she could not get the opportuniites/admission into her flagship schools. She loves doing this, so my brother is paying OOS premium for her.</p>
<p>oh poop. I was hoping he had a weighted GPA that was a 3.5 or higher. :/</p>
<p>Ok…if you’re looking for schools that will give a good bit of merit with a 3.4 GPA and a 1290 M+CR…and has eng’g…and has marching band…then you may need to consider some “good but lesser known” schools. </p>
<p>What would he want to do with a Bio or Chem degree if he didn’t do eng’g?</p>
<p>Isn’t it amazing cptofthehouse how many really good kids get discarded because of a test score? I realize you have to have some sort of way to measure a childs educational skills but one simple score is not enough to see potential. I also realize like Penn State or Pitt where this is why they use the GPA as 2/3 of the decision. </p>
<p>In 9th grade most kids are just plain dumb when it comes to thinking about college. They think its so far away and they are easily distracted. When I was in school Highschool was 10th through 12th. Now its 9th through 12th.</p>
<p>If I could have got through to him about school sooner perhaps he would have a higher GPA. He didnt fail any of his classes in 9th grade but B’c and C’s wont cut it and his problem was distractions such as video games and not doing homework.</p>
<p>My big hammer i used to get him to study and focus more in school was that he would not be doing band any more if his grades didnt come up. I tried everything else and then threatened to take away the one thing he really enjoyed and thats when he straightened up and starting applying himself. His sophmore and junior year he had honors straight through and he took a lot of harder classes that I know he wouldn’t have if I didnt push him to be the best he could be.</p>
<p>In the end this is why i am struggling to now try and hold up my end of the bargain and give him his best chance to succeed while going some place that he will enjoy. So here I am… I also heard that some schools are much cheaper OOS… One of my co-workers mentioned that I should look at West Virginia. Supposedly they offer generous aid there and it is cheaper OOS then my instate schools.</p>
<p>I should look at West Virginia. Supposedly they offer generous aid there and it is cheaper OOS then my instate schools</p>
<p>When you talking about OOS publics, then aid is likely going to be merit-based (based on test scores and GPA). A school like WVU isn’t going to give you need based aid to cover OOS COA.</p>
<p>What OOS scholarships do they offer and what are the req’ts?</p>
<p>mom2collegekids I dont think he even knows what he would do with either one of those degrees. Him and I were discussing Majors and things he enjoyed in Highschool.</p>
<p>He has a good apptitude for Math. He took AP Physics this year and AP Chemistry this year. He loves science classes. He had AP Biology and AP Government last year. So he just thought about Engineering and Sciences as where he would want to focus on finding his interests.</p>
<p>What he did mention about science class is he enjoyed projects where he had to perform research and experiments. Those types of assignments where he had to do some sort of research and annalysis are what he enjoyed the most.</p>
<p>So we talked about it and I told him when we were discussing Penn State that he could try and go in undecided as a Science Major. Since the classes seemed to really overlap the Engineering requirments he could get exposed to both and then in his Sophmore year declare his Major in either as long as he met the minimum requirments.</p>
<p>And as for what West Virginia has… I am not sure, I have to look into it myself. My co-worker just mentioned that his niece went there because Penn State and Pitt were too expensive.</p>
<p>Does PSU (or UPitt) require that you apply as an Eng’g major in order to be an eng’g major? If so, then that needs to be taken into acct. There are schools that if you don’t apply as an eng’g major (and start the eng’g sequence) then it’s difficult to change major to eng’g. </p>
<p>Eng’g majors have strict sequences of classes that must be followed otherwise the student can’t graduate within 4 years…which really can get expensive.</p>
<p>What about Computer Science? </p>
<p>While hard science classes/majors are difficult, a degree in bio or chem may not lead to a job (or a decent paying one)…and I’m guessing that would be a concern …especially if your son will have debt to pay.</p>
<p>PSU does allow you to apply as Division of Under Graduate studies. He could then take electives in either engineering or science or both to see where he will find his niche.</p>
<p>The only requirments are that he has to have a 3.0 GPA and he has to meet the minimum requirements to get in. I understand exactly what you are talking about with not getting the right classes. According to thier website and the engineering presentation we saw during our visit up there, They take this into account and some kids actually take coarses where they will Major in Engineering with a Minor in some Science class or vice versa.</p>
<p>Its a shame Penn State is such a great school, but after hearing everything and you guys confirming the tutition price I can almost certainly make that a far reaching school for us. It would take some sort of 3rd party scholarship or some other aid out of the blue for me to be able to afford it.</p>
<p>I was willing to give it a shot at 80k since I would take on 50k and my son could take on 30k which is not cheap but not too awful expensive of a loan for him. But that was the maximum and I was hoping to bring that number down. I dont think we are going to get there so now I will focus elsewhere and have him do the same.</p>
<p>PA Dad - It is admirable that you are making your child’s education a priority. But please consider that you can help your children most by helping yourself. Use your savings to build an emergency fund and save for retirement. </p>
<p>The people on this board can come up with excellent ideas for schools that fit your profile for the least cost. Also be sure to take care of yourself and build a rock solid financial future. Your son will learn from you and from the college books.</p>
<p>Hbombwait I understand where you are coming from and although I have not been thrifty with savings. I have put a good amount away for retirement. I have a pension which I have to contribute 6.5% of my salary as well as a 401k which I have contributed 5% of my salary. I will not be on easy street by any means but if all goes well over the next 15 years I will be able to retire and be debt free with a nice nest egg.</p>
<p>That is why we have no savings. Try living on one paycheck and earn an average of 50 to 65k supporting a family of four with all the insurance, school needs, House, vacations which by no way are extravagant. </p>
<p>I am sure you understand what good american middle class familys are going through. Could I have saved more? Yep I could have. No question there. But I will not live my life without taking time out to enjoy a little bit of life and provide some of the neccesities any family would like to have.</p>
<p>My one son had 3.0 UW gpa and nearly perfect test scores. He got a lot of merit offers that pretty much would cover tuition at a number of schools. So the test scores are what get you the money, once your grades get you in. I think anything under a 3.0 and it could be a problem. Also if there are a lot of Cs or Ds, downward trend. My son was also taking a very rigrous load with at least a half dozen, maybe as many as 9 AP courses wtih 4 and 5 scores already in about half of them. He also was coming from a rigorous private school and I’m sure the school proflie went into that. I’m sure his GPA cut him out of some awards, but he did get a good selection.</p>
<p>PADad, what you and your son need to do is find some programs that give him what he needs and are affordable. Those schools should form the base of his list. I encourage applying to Pitt and Penn State and see what kind of aid they will come up with . Pitt might come up with enough so it’s doable if your son can also find a job, and pitch in, and most of the kids want to go off campus in that student ghetto and if the kids are cost conscious, that can drive the cost down very low. Too low for my comfort sometimes. My son’s living expenses are low, as I told you. My one son who went to Buffalo, was in a house where his share of the rent/util was less than $100 a month, and he worked part time at an eatery, and had a girlfriend who basically fed him. My other kid at at price LAC lived in a dive senior year and his rent was also about a hundred a month and others seemed to have subsidized his food bill. Not something I encouraged, as I did go throught the numbers and budgeted for reasonable amounts. The two grads now live on a shoestring as they know how to do so. </p>
<p>As I said before, my cousin’s son whose parents are stretching to afford college is in more expensive housings, still on a meal plan as his parents insist on it AND the utilities, more food , extras, living expenses are double what my son’s are . I think something in between the two is what I would like to see. </p>
<p>But until the fin aid offerrs are on the table, you don’t know what a college will give your son. Just be aware that these schools do not guarantee to meet need, and your EFC is the very least you can be expected to pay and get federal aid.</p>
<p>cptofthehouse you know your sons sound like me when I was a kid. I could have lived that way and went to college and probably enjoyed it LOL… Now my son can certainly cut costs and live on the minimum if he had to but its my wife that would have a cow if he was living dirt cheap and not eating properly.</p>
<p>I am sure you can understand how my household is run LOL… I have the pants but the apron is the crown hahaha…</p>
<p>I could just see it now… walking into an appartment that doors barely close and the refridgerator has beer and tv dinners.Kids sleeping on the floor in sleeping bags… She would be sending him money and calling him all the time. So where ever he goes we would need to set him up with something that was acceptable to her and not my son and I :)</p>
<p>I am going to check out Indiana University here in PA. Its supposedly another good school that has some things to offer. I just get discouraged because the state funding is so horrible here as you can see.</p>
<p>My one son’s room was the butler’s pantry. between the kitchen and the dining room. He was telling us all very enthusiasically about all of the built in cabinetry and drawers he had. Didn’t say that he had to but the mattress he slept on on its side against the wall to open the drawers. They had a “hobo” in the dining room and 4 others upstairs in the bedrooms, with two of them sharing the Master bedroom and one each in a room. The rent for the house was $600, and his share was $60 plus a pro rata share of utiliites. </p>
<p>He wouldn’t let me in the house at graduation and I didn’t push it. Half of the kids were econ majors and they wanted to go back to the house in August to clean it up to get their security deposit back. He would have had to have bought a plane ticket as all but one of them would have. So much they learned about economics. It would have been funny, except they were serious. He waited for months for the security deposit check, ha, ha…</p>
<p>The seniors at that school tend to run out of dining points and resort to begging them off the freshmen who tend to be flush with them, a situation that occurs at a lot of schools. Since two of the kids were international and had very little in funds, they did cook most of their food, and I think one of the kids who was an only child and from well to do parents fed the whole lot of them in terms of paying for food. But he had a wonderful time, loved the school, and is now gainfully employed making the big bucks. Still didn’t get his security deposit back.</p>
<p>I’ve given up as I’m at my 4th one living sort of like that, though he is in a decent apartment, not like that house. The older one in Buffalo, I suspect was living with his girlfirend who had a very nice apartment, a car, and great allowance, among other benefits. The house was just an address. Good thing too, because that place was one that waged turf wars with crack dens. </p>
<p>Indiana U has a great honors college. Check if he qualifies as I think there used to be an auto merit award if accepted there. The Robert Cook Honors College, is what I think it was called.</p>
<p>^ If you and your son are willing to consider out of state schools, there are a number of options for merit aid and /or tuition waivers, primarily in the south and in the upper midwest and Dakotas. In addition to those schools listed in the threads above, Minnesota State - Mankato offers in-state tuition rates for out-of-state students with an SAT of 1100 (Cr + M) or top 15% and has ABET accredited engineering programs. Total in-state tuition/fees and room and board are $15,326.</p>
<p>Okay we are in similar situation. In state schools for us are actually higher than some nearby out of state. I would broaden your search for more affordable schools. Things you have going for you is he is first generation college student in your family. Lots of scholarships for that. Start applying. Some schools have automatic scholarships when grouped with the right gpa and test scores. I know those schools are close but start another search based on his major. We have found that our university 1.5 hours away will give my daughter $8000 merit scholarship where arkansas will waive out of state and give $12000 (now actually cheaper) and alabama would be tuition free. We found this out by first researching ranked business programs (her major). Some states have reciprocal agreements that actually are less expensive but highly regarded.</p>
<p>First of all is your son still in school? Make sure he takes the A.P. exams. If he passes them then he doesn’t have to take those classes in college. He’s smart so make him apply for scholarships. I’m going to school in California and I regret not taking the A.P. exams. I could have skipped a few classes and saved money. Also, I did all my general ed at a community college and got my A.A. saving much more money because of the Board of Governor’s Grant. I don’t know if you have one in PA but we do here in CA. So my classes were free and I got PELL to cover books. You may make too much money to get those but community college is much cheaper then State. So you may want to think of that option, have him apply for scholarships, get a job and save up for college. That’s what I think anyways. My mom always told me I was smart enough to pay for my own college and she was too poor to even try to save for me. For your other kids though I would start them savings accounts. :)</p>