Need advice for 3 Daughters that will attend

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Alabama
1

<p>I have 3 daughters that PLAN on attending UA – Oldest is a sophmore in HS currently. She is taking ACT for first time in late Feb, and has never made below an A.</p>

<p>I’m trying to figure out best way to begin looking at possible scholarships, etc. </p>

<p>I’m also trying to figure out best housing arrangement; Their Grandparents live in Tuscaloosa (less than 10 mins to campus); I’m also thinking about buying a 2 bedroom condo/home in Tuscaloosa for this purpose.</p>

<p>I know freshman are supposed to live on campus first year – unless you can get an exemption. </p>

<p>I will have 12 years (3 girls) of dorm fees - 9 total timewise with some overlap. If I can get an exemption it appears on surface to be much more economical purshasing something. Also not sure if they would be allowed to stay with the Grandparents.</p>

<p>I am retired military enlisted, so tuition (minus any scholarship help) will be hard enough, so trying to figure out best approach on room and board.</p>

<p>Any advice would be greatly appreciated.</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

<p>BamaAF</p>

2

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>I think living with Grandparents would be an acceptable exception (but I don’t know for sure.) Are you in-state or OOS?</p>

<p>As for scholarships… :)</p>

<p>did your D take the PSAT as a sophomore (to get an idea of how she’d do junior year)?</p>

<p>Here are some of the in-state and out-of-state scholarship offerings (which could change)…</p>

<p>University of Alabama
Scholarships 2010-2011</p>

<p>In-State Scholarship Offers</p>

<pre><code>* Students who have a 27 ACT or 1210-1240 SAT (critical reading and mathematics scores only) and at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA will receive $1,500 per year or $6,000 over four years.

  • Students who have a 28-29 ACT or 1250-1320 SAT (critical reading and mathematics scores only) and at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA will receive $3,500 per year or $14,000 over four years.

  • Students who have a 30-36 ACT or 1330-1600 SAT (critical reading and mathematics scores only) and at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA will receive in-state tuition for four years.
    </code></pre>

<p>Out-of-State Scholarship Offers</p>

<pre><code>* Students who have a 27 ACT or 1210-1240 SAT (critical reading and mathematics scores only) and at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA will receive $1,500 per year or $6,000 over four years.

  • Students who have a 28-29 ACT or 1250-1320 SAT (critical reading and mathematics scores only) and at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA will receive $3,500 per year or $14,000 over four years.

  • Students who have a 30-31 ACT or 1330-1390 SAT (critical reading and mathematics scores only) and at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA will receive two-thirds the cost of tuition for four years.

  • Students who have a 32-36 ACT or 1400-1600 SAT (critical reading and mathematics scores only) and at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA will receive out-of-state tuition for four years.
    </code></pre>

<p>National Merit and National Achievement Finalists
Students receive the following:</p>

<pre><code>* Value of tuition for four years

  • Four years of on-campus housing at regular room rate
  • $1,000 per year University National Merit or National Achievement scholarship for four years
  • One-time allowance of $2,000 for use in summer research or international study
  • Laptop computer
    </code></pre>

<p>**College of Engineering<a href=“for%20those%20majoring%20in%20any%20engineering%20program%20or%20computer%20science%20program”>/B</a> </p>

<p>Scholarships 2010-2011</p>

<p>The following scholarships are **in addition **to the University-level scholarships offered.</p>

<p>In-State:</p>

<pre><code>* Students who have a 27-29 ACT or 1210-1320 SAT (math and verbal scores only) and at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA will receive $1,500 per year for four years.

  • Students who have a 30-36 ACT or 1330-1600 SAT (math and verbal scores only) and at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA will receive $2,500 per year for four years.
    </code></pre>

<p>Out-of-State:</p>

<pre><code>* Students who have a 27-29 ACT or 1210-1320 SAT (math and verbal scores only) and at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA will receive $1,500 per year for four years.

  • Students who have a 30-31 ACT or 1330-1390 SAT (math and verbal scores only) and at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA will receive a tuition supplement to bring their University-level scholarship offer up to the value of tuition. In addition, they will receive $2,500 per year for four years.

  • Students who have a 32-36 ACT or 1400-1600 SAT (math and verbal scores only) and at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA will receive $2,500 per year for four years.
    </code></pre>

<p>Students must maintain enrollment in a College of Engineering degree program to receive any College of Engineering scholarship.</p>

<p>The University’s application for admission and scholarships must be completed by December 1.</p>

3

<p>We are in state – Have not heard anything about the PSAT, will check into that. </p>

<p>We really want to see if we would be “exempted” from on campus prior to purchasing a home/condo – don’t want to get saddled with TWO payments. </p>

<p>Will probably call UofA and explain the situation to see if they can tell us the odds of getting the exemption.</p>

<p>Tks for the response</p>

4

<p>I’m confused.</p>

<p>I thought the condo was for after freshman year. I thought the girls were going to live with grandparents for the first year. </p>

<p>It may be too early to get an answer from UA about a policy a few years from now.</p>

<p>Re: PSAT…your D’s school may not have had her take the PSAT as a soph. I would make SURE she’s allowed to take it in the fall of junior year…check with her school and pay the fee.</p>

<p>To prepare for that, I would have her take the June SAT and pay the extra $15 for the full score report. Then use that score report over the summer to work on any weak areas.</p>

<p>As you can see from above, if she’s a NMF from her PSAT score, she’ll get free tuition AND free housing all 4 years.</p>

5

<p>Not wanting to throw a fly into the ointment, just add something to consider in your decision. If there is a chance one or more of your daughters wants to join a sorority, she may want to live in the chapter house at some point. Also should one want to run for an office, some positions are required to live in the chapter house. (It depends on the I/Natl’s and/or local chapter policies.)</p>

6

<p>Sorry for the confusion, Grandparents are an option, but if purchasing a place passes the exemption test, we would probably do that early enough to have it ready for oldest to use first year… From reading your other comments about the honors dorms, I think my daughters would like that so that is something to explore. I know it seems early, but don’t want to wait until last minute. Thanks</p>

7

<p>Good thought…</p>

<p>Aren’t the girls required to live in the sorority house for at least one semester or year?</p>

8

<p>Good points – never say never, but right now they say they are not interested in that.</p>

9

<p>

Most, if not all, sororities have a policy like this on the books. It is to insure a house is filled to capacity and is primarily for financial reasons. However the chapters’ membership totals have grown dramatically while the physical houses haven’t. Most now have waiting lists of members wanting to live in because it is cheaper than living in a dorm or apartment. Therefore mandatory live in policies aren’t necessarily enforced simply because there hasn’t been a need to. Though I cannot say for certain what every chapter does or doesn’t do.</p>

10

<p>*I know it seems early, but don’t want to wait until last minute. Thanks *</p>

<p>NO!!! It’s not too early…and this is why…</p>

<p>My son has a friend at Bama who is a good student with good test scores. He missed getting a scholarship because he hadn’t “managed” his selections well in high school and ended up with a GPA too low for scholarships (even though his ACT was high enough). </p>

<p>So…his parents are lamenting that they didn’t “start early” and look at these things. With a few differently chosen classes (such as taking not taking a 4 year of a foreign language, and not taking a 5th year of science), he could have had the GPA needed. He also didn’t take the right AP classes for that GPA boost. Not looking early enough is costing the parents thousands of dollars each year. </p>

<p>So, YES, look early. Ask early. Be informed!!!</p>

<p>Do you know about the NMF scholarship and the process? If not, that’s something to find out about.</p>

11

<p>Make sure you get them to take the SAT, I’ve known several people who would have made a 28-29 ACT and a 1330 SAT, myself included, just because of the way the tests are set up and graded differently. For me I’m better in English and reading than I am in Math or the logical science stuff. If I hadn’t taken the SAT I wouldn’t have a full tuition scholarship right now. (IMO the math on the SAT is easier than on the ACT but the reading is slightly more difficult, plus it lacks science.)</p>

12

<p>^^^</p>

<p>Very good advice…that’s why it’s always best to take both the ACT and the SAT. Plus, only the M+CR is used for the SAT for scholarships, so a person could focus on those two areas for studying to bring up scores.</p>

<p>Also…one thing I’ve learned about the PSAT and public schools…Many do not offer the PSAT for all students. So, if you’re not paying attention, your child may not get offered the test (or be asked to pay the ($15??) for the test.). So, be sure to let your child’s GC know that you want your child to take the PSAT and make sure they have gotten your money (if needed).</p>

13

<p>BamaAF, my son (a UA freshman) knows of some students who do have the exemption. Some are from the T-Town area, so they commute from home. I spoke with a mom who told me that her daughter is in a condo that is family owned. So gaining that exemption is possible.</p>

14

<p>^^^</p>

<p>I wonder if the school thinks the parents are in the home (not like they check or anything). I know a CBHP student whose family lives in T-town and he commutes. The exemption (I believe) is that the parents live in town and the student lives with them. </p>

<p>I’m not a big fan of having freshmen live off campus. I think the kids that do feel a bit disconnected. They also have to deal with the parking issue every day. :frowning: The kids who’ve always lived in T-town have ties to the areas. A freshman from elsewhere, who wouldn’t have those ties, would be at a disadvantage. (I think.)</p>

15

<p>Momreads >>>>> BamaAF, my son (a UA freshman) knows of some students who do have the exemption. Some are from the T-Town area, so they commute from home. I spoke with a mom who told me that her daughter is in a condo that is family owned. So gaining that exemption is possible. </p>

<p>Thanks for the info – will check into it;</p>

<p>Mom2collegekids >>>>> I’m not a big fan of having freshmen live off campus. I think the kids that do feel a bit disconnected. They also have to deal with the parking issue every day. The kids who’ve always lived in T-town have ties to the areas. A freshman from elsewhere, who wouldn’t have those ties, would be at a disadvantage. (I think.)</p>

<p>I’m in agreement about new freshman from outside the area being disconnected by living off-campus; but in my case funding 3 separate students to live in the dorms is a big issue (especially the overlap); also since my wife’s parents live off University Blvd, and various aunts and uncles live in T-Town they would have a good support system. However, my oldest was very interested in knowing more about the honors dorms when we discussed last night, so that could come into play.</p>

<p>My big concern is being turned down for an exemption after planning to go that route; but it seems that you don’t get to apply for that until after you have your acceptance, so it would be a risk.</p>

<p>Lot of things to come up to speed on, I have a call into the HS guidance counselor to see about the PSAT – hope to know about that today.</p>

<p>Thanks for all the help so far</p>

16

<p>*but in my case funding 3 separate students to live in the dorms is a big issue (especially the overlap); also since my wife’s parents live off University Blvd, and various aunts and uncles live in T-Town they would have a good support system. *</p>

<p>Here’s some options to consider…</p>

<p>1) have each D stay in a dorm for freshman year only. This will give each D one year of real campus life and time to establish friendships. (yes, having family in town, is good, but that’s not what I mean about “connections.” I meant connections with peers & classmates. Students who grow up in T-town have classmates who are also commuters.)</p>

<p>2) Once each girl is 16, have them work during the summer to save some money to help contribute to their freshman housing cost. (If they refuse, then they must not really want to live on campus, right? LOL )</p>

<p>3) After freshman year, they could either commute from a relatives home, or again, work summers and part-time during the school year to pay for their own shared apt with a friend.</p>

<p>4) They could take out small Stafford student loans to help pay for their housing.</p>

<p>5) Get high grades and high test scores and get some merit scholarships! :)</p>

<p>BTW…make sure that their courseloads in high school are not so demanding that their GPAs are jeopardized. As long as they have the needed college prep curriculum, that is enough. No point in taking that extra year of a foreign language (or whatever), if an assured A can be gotten with another class.</p>

17

<p>i agree that they should live on campus for at least a year.</p>

<p>you could get the place when DD#1 is a soph. </p>

<p>you will likely add a roommate or two as the condo will need to be big enough for 2 (or 3) daughters.</p>

<p>have each dd live on campus for freshman year, while renting out the other rooms in the condo. the rental fees will subsidize the cost of the dorm.</p>

18

<p>My daughter live in the Honors dorm of our state flagship freshman year. We then bought
a house which she will live in with roommates for the next 3 years. It is working well and
I am really glad we won’t be moving her in and out each year! Luckily she likes to cook so
there is a savings on meals as well. I have a second daughter three years younger who may also attend this university but she gets very defensive if anyone assumes she is going there. I just advise being careful about deciding for teenagers because it can backfire. If they think they have to go to a certain school they may never really make the most of it.</p>

19

<p>*I have a second daughter three years younger who may also attend this university but she gets very defensive if anyone assumes she is going there. **I just advise being careful about deciding for teenagers because it can backfire. If they think they have to go to a certain school **they may never really make the most of it. *</p>

<p>I agree…teens can develop an instant negativity towards something if they think their decision was made for them, or if their older sibling’s choice means that they can’t make a choice, too. </p>

<p>When my older son first decided to go to Bama, my younger son was a sophomore. He loudly declared that there was NO WAY he’d go to the same school as his brother.</p>

<p>I was fine with that and wasn’t pushing Bama or any particular school. </p>

<p>So, when it was time to do campus visits with the second son, I was surprised when he wanted to tour Bama first. After that visit, he said that was where he wanted to go. He didn’t even want to apply anywhere else. I insisted that he apply to about 6 schools - just in case.</p>

20

<p>Another thing to consider if you are planning on buying then renting out rooms, are you the landlord type? There is a lot more to it than people often think about and it is not for everyone.</p>

<p>Presumably you’ll want to rent to your daughters’ friend(s). Can you handle playing hardball with a friend if she doesn’t pay her rent? Could your daughter handle the strain it might put on her friendship? Since you’re out of state, how difficult would it be to take care of any maintenance problems?</p>