Your financial aid package is based on income, I personally know parents of kids who get a generous FREE grant because of the low EFC. The low EFC from these parents is because they have zero drive and bounce from job to job and yes, spend every night at a bar! This obviously isn’t every parent but I personally know a few that are in this exact situation so yes it is frustrating. Sounds like you’re a great parent getting it done!
I have a friend who’s spouse is an alcoholic, too. Be careful what you wish for.
Most people with addictions aren’t using it as a college funding strategy, or even necessarily as a lifestyle choice. They didn’t start with a plan to become addicted and once they’re addicted, it’s really hard to change to a better path.
That’s true for a lot of people and I know it wasn’t a college funding strategy but everybody has made choices that put them exactly where they are.
Students don’t choose their parents’ earnings, though.
Financial aid is an attempt to make it possible for low income kids to go to college. The alternative would be free rides for everyone – which would be a huge cost. Or perhaps a financial aid system that looks not just at income but at who “deserves” aid. Maybe require blood tests for parents and kids to prove they’re not addicts and an audit to make sure they didn’t frivolously waste money that could have been used for college? I can’t even imagine.
The FAFSA isn’t anywhere close to perfect, but it’s the system we have. Families making good salaries have to plan ahead to cover their costs.
And really, my only point was that you think you’re jealous of people who got more free college money, but you probably shouldn’t be. The lower your income, the harder it is to pay for college, unless your impoverished kid is unique enough to get into a HYPS-type school.
Doing 1-2 years at a community college is a great way to lower the cost of a 4 year degree. Academically, you’re not really losing anything (you may even gain something given class sizes), although you won’t get the same “Freshman College Experience.”
If you’ve gotten direct admit to the College of Engineering, or another similarly enticing offer, then it would make more sense to go straight to UW. But if you’re going to get an engineering degree, or something equivalent, take the loans, you’ll be able to well afford those payments once you’re working.
If I want to do Global Health, how would you suggest I choose between UW and UNC Chapel Hill? Many thx!
- Always consider costs. Those are both good schools.
- There is Global Health work/funding in the Seattle area due to the Gates Foundation, but I don't know how that compares to what is available around UNC.
Thanks very much!
A few days ago I found a page showing the orientation dates however I can’t find it again but I remember the dates being April 10, May 1, May 10, etc. However, we’re supposed to complete U101 two weeks prior to orientation and the U101 modules don’t open until May 28th. Can anyone clarify?
You will also need to provide proof of MMR vaccination.
Yes i’m aware of that, I just want to know if Orientations start after U101 opens on May 28th or run from April-May 10 like I briefly saw.
Hi there, the only orientation dates you should worry about are the dates that are available to you on your portal. It seems that it all depends on when you check, the type of admit you are (Honors, Direct Admit etc.) , and whether you are a Freshman, International or Transfer student. When DD checked her portal, the earliest orientation date available to her was June 20. Her friends at school had earlier or later dates, but none earlier than June 4.They are all different types of admits but all are US Freshman admits. A neighbor who has a Transfer student registered for a May 30 orientation. Another neighbor with an international student said that their earliest date was in July.
Hi - is anyone still receiving Honors Program acceptances or is this complete? I understand the timeframe is through 4/13. Thank you!!
Our Honors wait is over. DD was rejected last Friday 3/30. Yes, if you haven’t heard anything you are still in the window for notification.
thank you!
We are having a very difficult time choosing between the University of Washington (an apple) and Pepperdine (an orange). My daughter is the absolute worst at making decisions. She desires a general liberal arts background before deciding upon a major.
Any idea whether Pepperdine or UW is a better feeder school into the better universities for law, mba, or phd in a social science (e.g. psychology)?
@bloomfield88 If she does well academically and takes advantage of opportunities to participate in research and other academic options then I should think either school would be fine. It’s likely that both coursework the non-coursework opportunities that fill out her CV will speak to her worthiness for post-graduate opportunities. So I’d say go with the school that feels like the best fit. If she likes the school she attends then she’ll make the most of her time there. Best of luck.
Excellent advice in #2076 and #2078.
Washington’s general education and areas of knowledge requirements would satisfy your daughter’s desire for a general liberal arts background no matter what major she pursues:
https://www.washington.edu/uaa/advising/academic-planning/general-education-requirements/overview/
I do not know about Pepperdine, but Washington graduates can be found in the better graduate and professional schools throughout the United States. It is particularly strong in the social sciences. For example, Washington has had a leading psychology department for many decades:
https://www.socialpsychology.org/gunder.htm
https://www.socialpsychology.org/ranking.htm
http://www.stat.tamu.edu/~jnewton/nrc_rankings/nrc41.html#area40
Congratulations to your daughter and good luck!
^^^This. (Replying to #2076) It’s not where she goes, it’s what she does when she gets there. Where is she going to do more than just go to class?
Those schools are both academically strong, but otherwise very different - has she visited? Does she feel more at home at one place or the other?
Is one or the other less of a financial strain for your family?
@UWfromCA and @grusminion Thank you for the insight. It does help.
Universities tell us so much about the inputs (the incoming freshmen class), but with a few notable exceptions (Wake Forest comes to mind) most universities are frustratingly opaque about the output - their end-product’s destination,
i.e. each graduate’s role/employer/location or grad school field/location.
The output is really the most useful information to this parent.