Is now the right time for her to college?

<p>It's about my D. We got good news this and last week. Include her favorite school. We were so happy about all the acceptances. But later today, when. Asked her if there is anything about FA, she told my husband we need to send some extra papers, like W2.</p>

<p>She forward an email to me about what we need to send and I found the email was sent from the school to her on Feb! Why she didn't let us know at that time? Her answer is: I don't care, I didn't check ......</p>

<p>Later, I want her open all other college's accouts to see if there is anything missing and found three schools she even didn't complete the application and 5 schools she didn't complete the FA requirement. I was so shock, but she was like : it's not my job, I don't care, I already has college acceptances.........</p>

<p>She maybe won’t get any FA from the colleges, include her dream school. We can’t afford to pay 50,000 tuition, so she might turn out to state university which doesn’t offer strong academic for her major.</p>

<p>I was so angry and thinking about not let her go to any college but the community college. But, is this a right decision? Or, a gap year, let her work for one year maybe she will know how the real world is and how to take her own responsibility?</p>

<p>It may be that she just isn’t ready, or is ambivalent. Based on what you’ve said, I’d say she’s a great gap year candidate. She’ll be much more mature and able to make decisions and commitments in a year from now.</p>

<p>If she doesn’t get decent FA offers, it will be a bitter lesson for her. Maybe a year working might be just what she needs maturity wise, and to discover what the real world is like.</p>

<p>My oldest S is also terrible with reading and details, and my D nearly did the same thing with a school that offers substantial FA. Thank God I double checked and asked her right after we did our tax returns in Feb. We were a couple weeks late but it didn’t seem to make a difference, since she got a very good FA offer from this school today.</p>

<p>I have noticed from teaching that this generation is terrible on details, and don’t check emails very often. I think because we grew up in a letter writing/reading generation, we are more attuned to looking for communication and responding quickly.</p>

<p>Did you or your husband complete FAFSA and CSS Profile? If not, you need to do so ASAP and contact her schools.</p>

<p>Are you an immigrant?</p>

<p>^^
IMO the issue now isn’t so much making the deadlines, it’s figuring out why the daughter didn’t care enough to meet them. She may not be ready yet, financial aid or no financial aid.</p>

<p>We sent out the FASA and CSS very early, January. One school requested W2 long ago, mid Feb and one requested citizen document. Both were in her application account which I should ask for the password and double check with her. Now, not only worry about FA, but worry more about her attitude.<br>
She is a very bright student, we did not ask for all A for her, but all her teachers told us in almost every report cards, she did not do her best and for some reason, she did not focus in class. I think it’s time to contact her adviser again. Hope both we and school can do something be she goes to college.
Back to gap year. I was thinking about it, will have t discuss with family member. This will be an important decision, I need supports.
How about other senior teen? The way she handling college application is “normal” (compare with other kids)? We are from other side of the earth, totally different culture, but I think we did give her own space and let her make her one choices. We are learning how to be a parent everyday.</p>

<p>“We are learning how to be a parent everyday.”</p>

<p>Same here!</p>