Parents of rising seniors: Let the games begin

Alumother · July 1, 2005, 12:43pm

APSDad - Why not Princeton? Absolutely amazing molecular biology, incredible engineering, ...At least on paper fits the criteria better than Penn. Just a question.

atomom · July 1, 2005, 10:33pm

screen name: atomom
male/female: male (homeschooled, likely NMS)
home state: AR (Arkansas, not Arizona)
preferred location for college: not too cold, not too far, places that buy national merit scholars
looking for: small, personal attention, must have computer science
academic interests: c/s, digital design/marketing
list: son's list: none--doesn't want to go (Bill Gates, Steve Jobs dropped out. . .) mom's list: U of Arkansas (Fayetteville), Hendrix, U of Oklahoma,
U of Tulsa. . .
visited: drove through Tulsa, going to summer program (great books) at
Thomas Aquinas (CA)

IcicleRose88 · July 2, 2005, 3:14pm

gosh, all of you parents freak me out..... so obsessed with your children's school stuff! have you ever heard the expression, "living through your children" :)

MissMichelle · July 2, 2005, 4:14pm

iciclerose88: don't be too freaked out...there are some of us out there who are relatively lost in this whole process and have parents who seem to think we can handle it all ourselves :( That's the main reason I hang around on CC :D

Parents: sorry for jumping in on this. I may as well ask for advice now, too, since I'm here and since the forum has deviated a little from the original topic:D

I intend to major somewhere in the biomedical sciences area (and not a useless "pre-pro" degree, either) to become a vet, a pediatrician, or a researcher of pathology or genetics. Because I would love to finish my undergrad work debt-free in order to have money for grad school, staying in Indiana seems to be my best bet unless I get a stellar scholarship offer from an out-of-state school. I have fallen in love with Notre Dame from afar, and am holding Ball State as a last resort because I am sick of Muncie. Do any of you know of other IN schools of Notre Dame quality? Suggestions of outside schools with VERY good merit-based (mainly academics, my ECs stink) aid would also be appreciated:)

calmom · July 2, 2005, 5:04pm

Pick another thread for your complaints, Icicle. This one doesn't seem to have any over-obsessed parents - just a group that has posted a brief overview of possible interests and choice of college, since we are all going to be in this together. Not even the usual array of "stats", "chances" quesitons, or listing of EC's and accomplishments.

Since our kids all seem to expect us to PAY for college, and for many of us this will be $45K+ annual investment -- given rising costs, close to $200K spent over the course of their undergrad education, we'd be pretty remiss not to be involved somewhat in the selection process. If for no other reason than the mistakes our kids make along the way could end up costing megabucks in terms of lost scholarship & financial aid opportunities.

Of course if you are planning to pay your own way, then I think it is great that you are so independent minded, and I am sure your parents appreciate your initiative and independence. ;)

And, by the way, if you want to talk about an obsession.... I rarely venture out of the "Parents" section -- except for an occasional foray over to "Financial Aid" I pretty much stick to hanging around with folks my own age. So what brings a kid like you over here?

MissMichelle · July 2, 2005, 6:08pm

No kidding calmom...I may just be a rising senior, but I would love to have my mom be as interested in my college plans as you all seem to be in your own kids' plans.:)

curmudgeon · July 2, 2005, 6:57pm

MissMichelle, I appreciate your attitude, but as you might expect, our kids set very real limits on our involvement,too.

Icicle, if there are parents on the board who are making the college decisions for their children, I don't know them. Everybody I know here is simply a tool for their kids in gathering information, and a hopefully trusted advisor in deciding what all that information means in their family's circumstances. A parent also has a very clear and important role in explaining the financial situation that controls. If there are parents on this thread or on this forum or board that are captaining the ship, well -just consider them chided and move on.

zagat · July 2, 2005, 7:06pm

Let's not get defensive. I also wish my parents had been more involved in my college search, instead they were discouraging because they were afraid of the cost. All worked out and I did go to my first choice (expensive college) without bankrupting them. It is a labor of love on the part of parents here to be a major part of the process. I'm sorry for the kids who don't get that kind of support. And in all honesty, how is a 17/18 year old supposed to navigate every aspect successfully on their own? They don't yet know what they don't know! Look how many come back to lament that their parents won't pay or aren't on board for their choice. This should be a family effort.

MissMichelle, start by figuring out your EFC. Are you eligable for considerable aid? Then ask your parents what they can pay. Fugure in what you can earn and are willing to borrow. You may be able to afford schools you think you can't. And if you'll be enetring a PhD program, chances are it won't cost you much and that some undergrad loans won't be so bad. Merit based money is most needed when a family looks like they can pay but really can't. You may well qualify for need based aid.

quitejaded · July 2, 2005, 8:10pm

I'm not a parent but I want to help!

Screen name: quitejaded
Is your junior male or female: female
Home state: Texas
Preferred geographic location for college: South/soutwest
Any specific things looking for in a college (large, small, urban, etc.): small-medium sized, non-research school, good professors, decent housing
Child's possible academic interests: biochemistry, psychology
Schools currently on child's list of possibilities: UofTulsa, Rice, Trinity, UT Austin (safety)
Schools we've visited (whether or not child is still interested in going there): Tulane, Xavier, Loyola (New Orleans)

ncmom · July 3, 2005, 10:12pm

amatricia,
I hope you find this reply. I just found this thread and was curiously scrolling down to see what schools kids are interested in. My d is going to NYU in the fall. She is one of 190 freshmen in the Gallatin School for Individualized study. Your child sounds like a great candidate for a program like that. It's all about combining diverse interests. You can get info on the NYU website. Good luck!

calmom · July 28, 2005, 10:49pm

OK - time to revive this thread; I think some newcomers to the board might have missed this.

Here's a list of everyone of all the (parents of) rising seniors signed on thus far:

Female: (54)

1ofeach - Mass
amatricia - NY
Anoel - NY
Audiophile - Florida
Bookmom - Illinois

calmom - California
carolyn - California
Crabbylady - Alaska
csshsm - Louisiana
curmudgeon - Texas

dcmom3 - Maryland
echosensei - Michigan
eppsas - Alabama
fireflyscout - Texas
fishingmn - MN

Flounderingfree - Texas
GAdad - Georgia
hayden
holycow - Asia
Juana -IL

ladylazarus - NJ
lalady - California
klmcpa - California
Marny - NY
mel5140 - NJ

mep'smom Tennessee
mezzomom - Michigan
Momnipotent -Ohio
motherof4pearls - Tennessee
Motheroftwogirls - Mass

movinmom -Maine
musicmomic - Iowa
NCEph - North Carolina
ncsu1987 - Virginia
norcalcoastmom - California

nyc -NY
obesmom - NY
Paulchem - NY
pyewacket -Europe
quitejaded - Texas

sent! - DC
shojomo - California
smsmom - midwest
snorky - MI
socalmomof2 - California

SplashMom - Tennessee
taxguy - Maryland
theocmom - California
ThatMom - Georgia
Thumper1 - CT

wishingandhoping - Georgia
Xmere - Greater metropolitan DC/Maryland/VA area
Yankeegirl49 NY
YoMama - CA

Male: (42)

2sonmama - Kansas
3boysnjmom - NJ
ASAP - CA
atomom - Arkansas
Beacon - CA

Blizzard - MA
Cali - California
Cathymee - NY
debruns - CT
doddsmom & doddsdad - Germany

DrDrewsmom Idaho
deb922 - OH
Eagle79 - Rhode Island
Eulenspiegel - Oregon
gandert - Indiana

heidi - south
Iggal - CA (1 of 2 twin boys)
jmac - Idaho
Justadog - 2 sons - CT

kathiep - PA
Katwkittens - NC
Karyblue - CA
Kissy - midwest
lanemom - Massachusetts

lddavis03 - Maryland
Mauimom - MD
Mommab - TN
Momofthree - Tennessee
MomofWildChild - Texas

Northeastmom - NJ
Northstarmom -
q's mom - NY
Rascal - VA
redstar - NY

semamom - Mass
Shennie - WI
sluggbugg - CA
socalmomof2 - California
SouthJerseyChessMom - NJ

sweetkidsmom - CA
Wyogal - MD

calmom · July 30, 2005, 11:30pm

Slight correction to list I (missed a kid):

Daughters/Female Applicants: (54)