<p>Balthezar: Congrats to your son. Do you have an opinion on whether sending in housing $$ as sign of committment would affect chances for merit scholarship? I just wonder if they would just assume we are “Happy” to pay the full OOS tuition. Did your son also look at Purdue?</p>
<p>My son is applying to Notre Dame, Purdue, Illinois, Michigan(admitted), Wisconsin(admitted) and, as a safety, UIC(admitted). It’s my understanding that merit scholarships are based entirely on the app, so I doubt that sending in a housing deposit would have an effect on the amount of merit aid you are eligible for. </p>
<p>I haven’t had time to look into a housing deposit as of yet, but that’s one of the areas that is critical in terms of keeping all options open, even if you’d lose a portion of it, if you decide not to accept the offer.</p>
<p>Balthezar: My son also considered the same schools as yours with the exception of Wisconsin and UIC only because we live closer to U of MN and they have a good rep for Chem Eng. I may have mentioned that he absolutely loved his summer 3 week engineering experience at Notre Dame, but they do not have Materials Science. He does know a former HS mate that attends ND for Aerospace and loves it!! South Bend not so great, but ND kids don’t seem to care. My husband loved the Engineering program at U of IL, but son got burned out on app essays and decided to wait until he heard from Mich EA his first choice. He also considered GA Tech but did not apply. Did you and your son visit Purdue? I was disappointed that my son did not like it since likely to get $$$ to go there. I think after visiting Mich he closed his mind to all others. IL and Mich are just tops in Materials Science. Luckily he got what he was hoping for. Now the challenge is to stay motivated for the final months of HS :)</p>
<p>For me the challenge is to stay motivated enough to fill out the FAFSA ;). For him, yes, finishing strong in HS is his motivation. My concern is that he learn to do laundry. His strategy on that front now is to leave clothes lying on the floor and stomp them clean over time…not good.</p>
<p>Little and Balth – Just my .02 but fyi making an early deposit in our case did not affect a merit scholarship. However, since U M is CSS based and expected family contributions can be quite subjectively interpreted by FA, if you are both OOS you may want to leave yourself some FA negotiating room…eg. not make the deposit at all until you’ve seen the FA total package. I can’t say for sure it makes a difference, or that there’s much room for negotiation, but I do know that OOS students are frequently disappointed by a lack of FA come April, and many look to their other options for better packages. Eg. Mich is not a 100% meets-need for Out of State, whereas you may find the other schools (eg. private ND or instate ILL) more financially viable in the end. That said, FA can work really hard to create a great package if sufficiently motivated (eg. in the case of a high admit) so it’s very unpredictable.</p>
<p>At any rate, I do know for certain that nothing will happen to the spot – once they’ve offer it, the offer stands (unless a major, meaning more than 3 Cs or a D senioritis occurs) until YOU decide May 1 : )
And congrats. If you sons attend I predict they will love it. My son is very happy here.</p>
<p>Also - that deposit just sits on the student’s account and confirms attendance. They could rescind you (in theory) if you double commit and they find out (not sure that they do). There is no advantage in housing from the deposit as the housing apps go out after the May 1 date and are drawn by lottery. Just so you know.</p>
<p>Wait…just to confirm…if we receive a merit scholarship, we do not HAVE to commit in February correct? It’s only recommended that we do so or something (what effect would it have anyways?)?</p>
<p>kmccrindle: Thanks so much for the .02 especially since you have a child at U of MI. Our son is going no matter what the FA is, but we are just hoping for something. I do think he might be considered a high admit, but you never know what he is competing against. Any housing .02 you might have as well would be greatly appreciated. Are all engineering students likely to end up on North Campus?? My son and husband have visited twice and we are going back as a family for Campus Day in March. </p>
<p>Balthezar: Sending my son away this summer to those engineering camps helped tremendously in the laundry department. You will be amazed at what they can manage when mom or dad are not around to do it for them. My husband told me that our messy son was very neat and organized with his clothes etc. in the dorm room. Of’course he throws everything on the floor at home, just trying to drive me crazy long enough to pick it up. I have told my son that when I get invited to his apartment or house someday, I can’t wait to just throw my coat on the floor. 
Since I was the offical essay motivator and editor (math and science boys have a hard time sounding passionate in their writing), my husband is fully in charge of the FASA…let the groaning begin. I think many folks just give up. I also think that MI application was also quite labor intensive compared to other schools. A weeding out perhaps?? Thoughts??</p>
<p>YoMomma - my son’s situation was the same as yours, except he submitted his app on 11/31. On WA his transcripts and recs indicated received 11/13. However, he was ACCEPTED today.</p>
<p>Woops, correction - my son submitted his appl EA on 10/31 not 11/31!!</p>
<p>Just Registered for Campus Day 2010!!! Make sure you guys also do so as the spots fill up quickly. Go Blue.</p>
<p>Motion – if you are offered a merit scholarship this month, they have historically asked for a commitment by February 15 – understandably so they can manage their merit budget. However, this is not technically kosher according to the rules that regulate college admissions. In our case, it was my son’s first choice by a long shot, but we were still concerned about committing because there were more fiscally lucrative opportunities on the table, and in his case as a dual degree (LSA and Music School) he wouldn’t have known if he was accepted to the school of music by that time, which is no small feat. We talked to them and made clear that we were “committing conditionally” on final acceptance by SOM and final package, knowing that we would lose the deposit if he went elsewhere. So it is, to my mind, worth $200 to keep $40,000 (over 4 years), so long as you don’t “double commit”, meaning, release or rescind your acceptance if you commit elsewhere.</p>
<p>Little - Housing is drawn by lottery and many students end up on North Campus for their freshman year whether they want to or not, and have very little control over this fact. Most first year engineers actually spend most of their class time on main campus, so there’s not really a compelling benefit to being on North for them. Some students dislike waiting for buses, especially on game day, etc., or dislike the comparative quietude of north campus. But I do know others who enjoy that fact (work while you’re up north, go downtown for fun : ) In the case of my son, I predict with the snowfall he is one of the few who will wish he WAS on North Campus, because first year music students have virtually all but one class on north campus. That said, there is frequent and free busing between the campuses, they’re close, it’s a short trip and not really that big of a deal.</p>
<p>The only way to “control” what dorm you end up in, if you wanted to, would be to apply to specific residential communities. Eg., in my s’s case, being in the arts as a dual degree, he applied to and was accepted at Lloyd Hall Scholars program, which meant he was placed at Lloyd Hall (250 spots, I think. The health community program resides there as well). In that program, your English class is taught at the residence, and there are mandatory creative-related events you participate in each month. To gain acceptance, you submit an essay and application form. Another residence-specific program would be the honors college. Take a peek at the housing site to read about “Community Living” at Mi – it’s how they make the school feel smaller – with programming that is mostly residence and interest specific.</p>
<p>My s has a friend who is a junior in ENG who enjoyed North Campus, and now I believe lives on one of the NC apts. He has another who is at Lloyd hall with him, who seems to enjoy that programming. None of the residences strike me as particularly spacious, but several of s.'s cohorts from his HS live at the East Quad in the RC (residential college program) and seem to have larger rooms, eg. can fit a futon easily. The trade off is that some students hate the food at east quad (which does seem to appeal to vegetarians more than the fare at other residences). S. loves the spirit at the Lloyd hall program, and enjoys the location on the hill, which is between main and north campuses. Another very freshman-oriented residence on the hill is Markely, which some students say is given to more of a party environment (due to the predominance of freshmen : )</p>
<p>The new North Quad opens next fall, so maybe some freshmen will be lucky. The renovated residences are quite nice and have wifi. Lloyd is not and has not. The lack of wifi is likely the only thing s. doesn’t like about Lloyd.</p>
<p>Generally, many students seem to want South Quad, due to its location close to the action and food.</p>
<p>Hope that helps, Little. I post all this because I know last year the new admits asked all these questions once accepted and in posting hopefully it helps them know their housing options.</p>
<p>For new admits, if you want to attempt to control your placement, see if any of the residence-specific programs suit you. But don’t worry if you don’t go this route - you’ll enjoy yourself wherever you go!!!
Cheers,
K</p>
<p>This is a first time post after lurking for so long. My d just got accepted to LSA from OOS (NJ). Our S is a sophomore and loves it. Now D to join him is Ann Arbor and is beyond thrilled. Stats: GPA UW 3.95, SAT 2130, 7 AP’s, 6 honors, and a long legacy going back 5 generations. Good luck to all of you. So love the passion and interest shown here for this great school. GO BLUE!</p>
<p>^^That’s terrific. Congrats!</p>
<p>Why do parents abbreviate son and daughter here? It’s really weird. If my folks did that, I’d be ****ed… feels so impersonal. :/</p>
<p>Crono- I know what you mean. It sounds so formal… my D is doing this, DS is doing that.</p>
<p>sounds really weird. if any parents are reading this, i encourage you to stop.</p>
<p>Actually, the abbreviations really aren’t necessary, but I don’t get all worked up about them. It’s all part of that “texting” shorthand that is eventually going to resort in no one being able to communicate effectively with anyone. Try using texting shorthand in one of your essays, and see where that gets you. I do like faces though ;)</p>
<p>Haha, agreed, Balthezar. 1984 newspeak, anyone? (I kid). </p>
<p>I guess it just frustrates me because it’s NOT texting, 'yknow? You’re sitting at home on a keyboard with a full suite of letters, numbers, and symbols at your disposal, but you don’t have the courtesy to type out “son” or “daughter”? It just makes me feel like I’m talking to a robot!</p>
<p>i want to get in :(</p>
<p>same. as of now i am unworthy to even post in this thread :(</p>