<p>aid... both her father and I were financially killed in our divorces but left holding the financial bag! That's all ok, but we need to help our senior find someplace to major in accounting. After guaranteed loans and any aid, we can pony up about $10K per year. Any suggestions so welcome. </p>
<p>She has taken AP classes, is even taking a community college class right now as a senior in high school. </p>
<p>$10K is really generally just enough for room and board at most schools. Here is a list of full tuition merit aid schools:
<a href=“http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/”>http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/</a>
And some low cost options:
<a href=“VERY LOW COST OOS COA universities......less than $25k COA for everything! - Financial Aid and Scholarships - College Confidential Forums”>VERY LOW COST OOS COA universities......less than $25k COA for everything! - Financial Aid and Scholarships - College Confidential Forums;
<p>And your D is allowed to borrow $5.5K as a freshman.</p>
<p>Thank you… the SAT worries me. She took the 3 parts… Reading was 460, Writing was 510 and math was 560-- so when they say combined math and reading they mean WITHOUT the writing part correct? If so, then she is only at 1020- which seems short of most of these. :(</p>
<p>If I am wrong, she will be applying to these schools LOL!</p>
<p>Has she tried the ACT?</p>
<p>Also, what is her resident state?</p>
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<p>That is, I think, around 50th percentile. </p>
<p>Right now, her M+CR is too low for significant merit. (yes, it is ONLY the M+CR that counts)</p>
<p>Does her school have grade inflation? It is unusual for someone to have taken a rigorous course load with a 3.9 GPA and to have modest test scores. </p>
<p>Have her take the ACT.</p>
<p>Good-sized merit is usually given to those whose scores are within the top 25% of the school. </p>
<p>What is her home state?</p>
<p>Are you the custodial parent? Are you low income? </p>
<p>Is there a college that she can commute to?</p>
<p>The $10k from parents will barely cover room and board at many schools…and some schools’ R&B is even higher.</p>
<p>She can only borrow $5500 for frosh year (guaranteed loan) so that is not going to cover much, either.</p>
<p>Accounting can be done almost anywhere. She could start at a CC, you could save the $10k per year, and then put $20k per year towards junior and senior years.</p>
<p>There are test-optional schools, but usually THEIR merit does require the submission of scores. Admission is test-optional, but merit wouldn’t be forthcoming.</p>
<p>Are you saying that your incomes are too high to qualify for FA? </p>
<p>No, and I think maybe she should. Her older brother faired better on it than the SAT. I think time is running out though! NJ is our resident state.</p>
<p>Well, NJ has some good state schools. Can she commute to any?</p>
<p>Are you the custodial parent or do you share custody? Is your income low enough to qualify for NJ state aid? </p>
<p>I realize that divorce can devastate even good incomes/savings, so I understand that even if your income is good, it is now an issue for college costs.’</p>
<p>Just a question to get this out of the way…did the older brother go away to school so there is a feeling that she has to be able to as well?</p>
<p>This is how merit aid usually works…</p>
<p>There is a huge pool of kids with high GPAs these days (because of grade inflation at many schools)</p>
<p>There is a smaller pool of kids with high test scores.</p>
<p>There is an even SMALLER pool of kids who have both high test scores AND high GPAs…those are the ones who usually get the good-sized merit awards (more than just some small token)</p>
<p>I am the step mother… Her father is the custodial parent. I don’t know why she struggled with the SAT so much as she was an outstanding student in her former high school and this high school. She seems to think that the ACT is too late… I disagree For some reason she believes these lists require a Nov 1 application. </p>
<p>The divorces changed both our financial standings even though we make decent money currently our savings and retirements are wiped out. She want a to go away, her father wants her to have the experience but I don’t know how easy that will be.</p>
<p>My older dd went to W TX A&M because of it being one of these merit based programs where she got in state tuition. Step son is going to WVU as he graduated from HS in VA before I married his dad and he got a reciprocity program because of a specialty major. </p>
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<p>Well, she is wrong…especially for HER situation of needing merit. </p>
<p>And, many schools will let you send apps in, and then will use later (nov and dec) test scores to determine merit. </p>
<p>Tell your SD that the people here on CC have YEARS of experience with this issue, so we KNOW. </p>
<p>Your SD is getting things mixed up because she may be listening to people who are applying ED/EA. With her lowish test scores AND her need for merit, those options are really not for her. </p>
<p>What good would it do HER to have an early acceptance to a ED/EA school BUT NO MONEY TO PAY FOR IT!!! </p>
<p>She’s probably very emotional right now because she’s been a good student, her scores are a mismatch, her parents divorced, and she’s had to change schools. Talk to her when everyone is sitting down and calm. </p>
<p>with a budget of $10k, even instate tuition isn’t enough if she is going to “go away” to many schools. She should look at those two Maine schools that are now offering a really low COA. $15k (loan + parents’ money) will cover the COA. </p>
<p>The two Maine schools and others are listed here…</p>
<p><a href=“VERY LOW COST OOS COA universities......less than $25k COA for everything! - Financial Aid and Scholarships - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1651944-very-low-cost-oos-coa-universities-less-than-25k-coa-for-everything-p1.html</a></p>
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<p>If you or your H is a good test-taker, sit with her while she takes a practice test. The parent should have the answer key in hand. When has just selected a wrong answer (and the question is fresh in mind), then intervene. If it is a math question, she needs to redo and get it right. If it is a CR question, then in the SAT practice book, there should be a section that says why X answers are wrong, and why Y answer is the correct one. </p>
<p>don’t bother studying the W sections.</p>
<p>I also suspect a couple of problems…she may be skipping answers because she has been told it is bad to guess. That is wrong! If she can narrow down to 2 answers she definitely should guess…especially on the ACT!!!..but also on the SAT. </p>
<p>I also suspect that she isn’t finishing the various sections. If that is the issue, then she needs to work on pacing herself. </p>
<p>BTW…when she takes tests in high school, is she one of the last ones to turn in her tests?</p>
<p>@sybbie knows which test-optional school gives merit w/o submitting scores. That might work out, but should not be a reason not to retest. SD should retest and take the ACT.</p>
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<p>What rigorous classes has she taken? </p>
<p>What AP classes has she taken and what were her scores?</p>
<p>@sybbie719 Sybbie, can you tell us which test-optional school awards merit w/o seeing test scores? Thanks!</p>
<p>Thanks mom2collegekids! All very helpful information. It looks like there is time to take the ACT even as late as December. She is emotional about it… Not so much over her parents divorce but I think she had this huge expectation about college and going wherever she wanted and the reality is setting in. Both her father and I did very well for ourselves pre-divorce and all our kids are on a learning curve about the change in finances around here. </p>
<p>She is a great student but I think she thought she was more special than she is… And I don’t say that to be mean or anything… You know what I mean. </p>
<p>She has taken AP Calculus, AP English and AP Physics… She has gotten an A in all of them. I don’t know what the test scores were but I know she got the credits for the dual enrollment. Honestly I think she is persistent and a hard worker more than anything. </p>
<p>Her dad and I chatted last night and we are going to let it lie for a few weeks while she figures out that her alternatives really aren’t… She has a stubborn streak s mike wide lol. </p>
<p>Definitely look at the womens colleges; smith, mount holyoke and bryn mawr. While the merit is not automatic, it will not be full tuition, and most of the aid is need based they do give it. In fact, mount holyoke gives a number of leadership scholarships at ~25k/yr guaranteed for 4 years. Smith has the strides scholarship.</p>
<p>Since there are now over 900 test optional schools, you will have to look up the policies for schools that interest your daughter</p>
<p>The big challenge is that it is going to be hard for your daughter to attend a 50k+ school with enough scholarship aid to bring the price down to 10k. You have to have the hard talk with her and have some financial safeties in the bag. what is the point of getting merit $$ if it is not going to be enough for her to attend.</p>
<p>I would also look at goucher. They don’t mention scores for scholarship consideration, but you must apply by the early action deadline.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.goucher.edu/admissions/financial-assistance/scholarship-information”>http://www.goucher.edu/admissions/financial-assistance/scholarship-information</a></p>
<p>Sage colleges</p>
<p><a href=“Home » Russell Sage College”>Home » Russell Sage College;
<p>ETA:</p>
<p>I looked over the part where you are the stepmom. Most schools, that give significant need based aid will consider the income assets of you and your husband along with with stepdaughter’s mom and her husband (if she has remarried).</p>
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<p>Yes, she is going thru “grieving” that always takes place when there has been a loss…change in finances, change in school, and likely the change in “family”. </p>
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<p>She is a great student but I think she thought she was more special than she is… And I don’t say that to be mean or anything… You know what I mean.</p>
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<p>Yes, we know that you aren’t being mean. She’s been a top student GPA-wise and then scoring extremely average on the SAT has got to be a slap in the face. At some point, that needs to be explored…running out of time? leaving answers blank, not guessing, etc. If she is often one of the last kids in class to always turn in tests, then she may be used to “taking her time” which isn’t the case on these tests.</p>
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<p>She has taken AP Calculus, AP English and AP Physics… She has gotten an A in all of them. I don’t know what the test scores were but I know she got the credits for the dual enrollment. </p>
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<p>Find out what her AP national exam score was…it would be a score from 1-5.</p>
<p>BTW…what was her PSAT score? That should have been a heads up.</p>
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<p>Well, when people get stubborn, it can be because too many things have been out of their control, so they “hold on” to whatever they can…it is a source of “power” for them. Hopefully, she can feel more “empowered” when she realizes that she still will have some choices, but they will be different choices.</p>
<p>Hopefully, as you have determined, giving her time to realize that her limitations of test scores AND money are going to shift her expectations will help. Be prepared for some rather immature outbursts. This is a highly emotional time for these 17/18 year olds even when they haven’t had any major life changes. Don’t be surprised if there are some immature (and irrational) outbursts. When money is an issue, kids can “hit you where it hurts” because they’re lashing out. We see it all the time here on CC. </p>
<p>Also, I suggest that her dad use the “parent picks” rule that some parents employ. That is when parents pick 1-2 schools that the student MUST apply to. In your SD’s case, I suggest that dad (and you privately) pick a couple of schools that you suspect will be a good fit and will be affordable. Time isn’t on your side, which is why Parent Picks may end up being your SD’s salvation if her picks turn out badly. </p>
<p>While you are giving her “time,” it is wise for you to be doing what you are doing…gathering some info about schools that will be affordable. Maybe you can go to those websites and request info to be sent to your home. Then as those colleges’ info arrives, she can look the stuff over. I wouldn’t necessarily tell her that the info didn’t just happen to come to the home…lol</p>
<p>What is this girl’s mom saying about all of this? </p>
<p>^^^ </p>
<p>good question. What is the mom’s position about where this girl should go to college? And how much will mom contribute?</p>
<p>Also, does mom’s home state offer this girl instate tuition? </p>
<p>I am a bit unclear from the OP. Does this senior daughter reside with mom or dad (and SM)? Are you in different states? </p>