Jumping in from class of 2019. Admitted student days were huge for S19 when deciding. He was accepted to ten schools, planned to go to three admitted student days (all schools he had already visited) and only went to two because he fell in love with the second school he re-visited. I think admitted student days vs. a regular day visit makes a big difference. Of course the schools are pulling out all of the stops on those days but why shouldn’t they? And you get SO much more information during admitted student days versus a regular day.
The schools had multiple events for students and parents and S19 also got to know other 19ers who were considering the schools. THAT was a big deal and wouldn’t have happened on a regular visit. They were grouped together with their overnight hosts, had daytime and nighttime activities (like trivia or going to see a band, or even a haunted campus tour at midnight!) so S got a really great feel for the school. My husband went to these trips with him and was able to speak to professors, other parents, the directors of the career placement offices, and even the presidents of the schools (all LACs.). He was unsure of all of these schools but called me from Bowdoin and said he was sold. He couldn’t believe it - not a fan of LACs - but he could find absolutely no downside and was uber impressed with the students and faculty.
Was it a pain to go on the exact days of admitted student days? Yes. S19 missed school and even a track meet. He was excused but still had to make up the work. And his coach was livid especially since he is a Grinnell alum and S19 missed the meet for his Bowdoin trip and the coach really wanted him to go to Grinnell. Lol.
This is a big decision. Way more important than a couple days of school late senior year. I felt like boots on the ground was the only way to make an informed choice.
Well, finally got word on our missing scholarship letter. It wasn’t an award letter, it was a denial one.
Man, we totally misunderstood the website on that one. It said “guaranteed minimum award” for invited students, and we just assumed the invite to apply was him being awarded that and it could be more depending on how his application stacked up to the rest. Yeah, no. So, that was kind of a bummer.
On the plus side, this might be making the decision easier.
For parents who have been through this with older kids, have any of you had the situation of your child getting great need-based aid, then 1 or 2 years into school either parent gets a decent raise (not enough to cover college costs) that nudges them over the school-specific income threshold. If the school significantly reduced the need-based aid in junior or senior year, would you make your child transfer or consider loans for them to finish up? Is this something to consider when deciding on a school?
@lemonlee adding on here about your concern regarding lunch visits with current students, etc. It’s obviously a concern. The way I looked at it was that the student visiting has to go into the situation with a realistic attitude and know that the current student might not be someone who would be his friend necessarily. The host student should, though, be friendly and helpful and if they aren’t then I think that’s a red flag. Students aren’t forced to be hosts. They offer to do it.
This being said, if your S isn’t comfortable then I wouldn’t push it. S19 wasn’t interested in staying with a student when I asked him in the winter of senior year but, when it was time to go to admitted student days, he changed his mind. He wanted to get into the dorms and meet some students (usually you don’t just meet your host but lots of hosts plus the kids who live in the rooms near your host). He thought it would really help him make a decision. In his case, he was signed up to stay one night and had such a great time that he stayed another night with a different student he met the first night!
@tara00 You might do some research and see if the school is known for front loading. It happened to us. H got a decent bonus last year (though nothing crazy) and the school pulled FA down by $20k. We fought hard, and they did give us $10k back, but in the same breath told us we wouldn’t be getting it next year, even though we have a son heading to college in the fall. Sooo, D transferred out. We couldn’t justify the school at close to full pay ($75k). She has applied for readmission this fall because we just did the NPC with S going to college, and it gave a very low figure. I don’t believe they’ll come back with that, but I took a screen shot and will want answers if the numbers are super far apart. D understands that she will be staying at her current school if the money isn’t there, but it sure would’ve been easier not to have had a great first year and then had the rug pulled out from under her. We found out since that the school is somewhat known for this issue. Here’s one list, but you can google to find information on specific schools https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/2015/06/16/10-colleges-where-upperclassmen-get-less-financial-help
Re: accepted students days. Several of the ones at the schools S has been accepted to are more like open houses, and he has already visited all his schools. He may go to one or two of the accepted student days where he can sit in on classes and spend time with other students or ones that are major-specific though.
Thanks @homerdog! Your feedback is really helpful, especially the point about getting to meet lots of other students considering the school. I’ll talk to my DS to try to feel him out. We might need to readjust our strategy!
@taverngirl This is crazy! I hope you get good news for next year. One of my older kids goes to a private school with good fin aid and every summer I am super anxious to see if the award is renewed. I am telling my D20 to grab the guaranteed four year merit she was offered and not look back. So much stress otherwise…
@taverngirl thank you for this insight. I wonder if financial aid could provide the income threshold that will result in a reduction financial aid before we commit to a school. This is really making me anxious.
@tara00 my D19 attends a meets full need school, where under a certain income threshold they do not include loans. We are near-ish to the income threshold and did think about what would happen if my husband gets promoted. It wouldn’t be until senior year so we agreed at that point we would take the loans. It’s an added layer of stress in the back of my mind though, because we already can’t really afford our small required contribution… so yeah. A school should be able to tell you their threshold though- for D19’s school it’s spelled out on the school website.
@tara00 that’s a good idea, and they should be able to give you that information. We did ask because we were nervous, but we didn’t request specific figures. They just said normal incremental raises and/or bonuses would not affect the award. We were less than impressed with the FA office at this specific college - we went through 3 or 4 FA officers in the year D was there, and all were very young and green.
We applied to FAFSA only schools, so at least with the prior prior year lookback we know where we stand a couple years ahead of time. Info from this year will be used for Jr year in college and I don’t foresee anything but negative changes to my income for the near future.
Has anyone had any success in getting awarded more merit at an OOS Public once the initial offer was provided? A lot of these schools keep sending information in regard to attending admitted students’ days. Some are even offering a travel grant or a travel reimbursement. We will not be visiting/revisiting any schools for the sake of visiting if affordability if a factor even when it is being paid by a school. For sure we will wait until mid-March before deciding. However, what about a school where a “what if” or “maybe” scenario is being a consideration? Will the “show of interest” by attending one of these events play a factor?
My daughters HS guidance Counsellor had all of the seniors do an activity that had them role play as admissions officers who had 8 minutes to review each application. It supposedly simulates what really happens in the admissions process. I think it was a really good activity to help them keep rejections/waitlists/deferrals in perspective. They are in a high academic and very competitive private school. A lot of kids (and parents) are devastated when they don’t get into an Ivy.
@Snowman66 That is brilliant! I wish more HS would do this. My D20 goes to a really unique HS where there are really amazing kids but the focus of college is not the be-all it is at some schools. No bragging wall of where people are going etc. They do allow them time to explore where they might end up but it really overwhelmingly is a place where kids are happy for each other and don’t feel the need to one-up each other but I know her HS is the exception to the rule and I really wish schools but into context this decisions and how sadly some of it comes down to personal preference- Did the AO click with the application or not?
@Boomer1964 I think it depends on how much you are looking to get awarded and, honestly, what your child has that can benefit the school. Do they have amazing test scores to raise that US News ranking? Are they a URM? Are they a recruited athlete?
I think for OOS it might be best to speak to them about what they would need to be able to offer more merit. If a student can bring up a test score can they be considered for additional scholarships? Has your student applied for all the first-year scholarships they are qualified for? (This is normally done via a portal on the school’s website.)
Also keep in mind a school that is offering a fly-in is trying to sell your student on the school so either your student has something they want- great test scores, URM, etc or they want them as an OOS to pay a higher rate.
@MBNC1755 I went through the process 2 years ago and the upsell that you mentioned is very real at these events. It is very easy to get “sucked” into all the rah-rah and marketing. It was not an issue for us since the only one she attended was the school, she had already committed to.
It might turn out to be the same for S20. He might only attend one or two. As far as applying for extra scholarships, all these schools seem to be pretty “automatic” based on stats although a school like UMN seems pretty random as to what they offer. Taking the ACT again is not happening. LOL!!!
He does not have a number one choice yet but for sure a lot of number 2 choices. I will have my son ask about opportunities for other scholarships. Perhaps this will open the door or at least they might see where his mind is.
@taverngirl That is brutal what happened to your D!
If D20’s #1 doesn’t come through, we will go to 1 or 2 admitted student days. There is no way she would do an overnight, as she doesn’t want to be turned off of a school. As someone said, the risk is real. And, just as a bad host doesn’t mean the school is a bad fit, a good host doesn’t mean the school is a good fit either.
My D also decided against overnights. But she will go to admitted students days of her top choices. All the colleges she applied to are near by so hopefully it will be easy to go.
Hosts can be tricky. DS16 visited a school that I thought he’d love - but his host was a big smoker (!) and DS was not a fan, plus actually has asthma. I think he tried to be a good sport, but it made an impression (I think unfairly) about the school.
