<p>What DID worry me is when the work/study amount was really high, like $2,800. That just seems like a lot of hours to expect a first-year student to work: 15-20 hours/week</p>
<p>A student isn’t obligated to work all of the allotted WS. </p>
<p>If a student works 10 hours per week for 16 weeks, that’s 160 hours per semester. If paid $8 an hour, that’s $1280 per semester or about $2600 per year. </p>
<p>So, the expectation wouldn’t be 15-20 hours a week…more like 10 hours per week.</p>
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What a great idea!</p>
<p>Stacynell, that’s a very tough list you have put together, given your DD’s stats, and the fact that she will need a lot of financial aid. A lot of those schools are need aware, those that meet full need are very difficult in terms of admissions, and those that are not do not tend to meet full need. In order to have the best shot at getting a lot of money, your DD should have schools on her list where she is one of the top students test score wise. Her grades will are not way up there, so she needs to be at the very top percentage in terms of scores. A lot of schools also still use the CR and Math scores for the SATs too.</p>
<p>I suggest you look at the old thread by Momfromtexas and use her methodology to get some schools on the list where close to a full ride is possible. Also look at local option. Some of the smaller lesser known privates in the area may offer generous aid and with commuting it could be possible. Also, are you a NY State resident? if so, with TAP and Staffords and some school and merit, the SUNYs might be possible to afford. MOst importantly look at what state school and community college options are available. </p>
<p>FInding those schools affordable to your family and that will defiinitley take your student is the hardest and most important part of the school search. COntingencies make a lot of schools financial reaches. Many of those schools gap terribly and cost a lot. With your family finances the way they are, for you and/or your DD to take at large loans is not a wise choice unless she does extremely well in her base two years at college and wants to enter a program that has good job opportunities with high pay.</p>
<p>I struggled with mental illness all throughout high school. I wasn’t given a proper diagnosis till the end of my Junior year. I wish I had taken a year or two to go to community college rather than “settle” on the colleges I was accepted to. Also, the transition to college can be really rough. A year at Community College can give her a chance to continue to work on her recovery while transitioning to the independent, stressful lifestyle of a college student. It may not sound like fun, but in the end it may be the best thing for her.</p>
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<p>OP is a Maine resident, and not in commuting range of an in-state public university (and apparently in-state public university financial aid is not very good in Maine, based on the OP’s running of the net price calculator). Possibly community college for two years may allow stretching to cover the cost of two more years at a four year school.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, it looks like there are no possible four year school safeties other than University of Louisiana - Monroe (automatic full ride for stats, though OP has not indicated whether it is otherwise suitable for the student – if it is not, then there may not be any safeties) unless possibly if the student improves test scores and grades.</p>
<p>If there are no suitable safeties, then the next tactic is to apply widely to less selective suitable schools where getting a full ride or close to a full ride merit scholarship is likely.</p>
<p>Well, I really, really do appreciate the referrals to definite (or likely) safeties like University of Louisiana Monroe, etc. I realize they’re the answer to the original question… but I’ve looked at them and to be perfectly frank, I think I’d encourage her to take a gap year(s) rather than apply to many of those. </p>
<p>She’d be just miserable at a mainly-commuter school, and at a school that is business-oriented, and -apologies if this sounds really snobby!!!- at a school where the SAT scores of most kids are in the 400s. She’s a really, really bright kid for whom the most important things in life are challenging intellectual conversations and creative arts. I think she probably falls into that “gifted underachiever” category, i.e. high IQ but lower grades. And while she likely wouldn’t do well in an EXTREMELY cut-throat competitive environment like Princeton (where her boyfriend goes), neither would she be happy at a college that she’d be attending simply for the purpose of attaining a degree, and where she might have to really search for the sort of intellectual conversations she’s craving (it’s a major part of her dissatisfaction with high school, actually…) At least no at this stage in her life. College just to attain a specific degree might make sense later on, of course.</p>
<p>I know my thinking about this is rather dated, and that experts are saying that college really needs to be about getting a good job, ultimately… I still feel like it’s the place to investigate deeper and higher ideas, challenge your thinking and ideals, be exposed to things you might love but hadn’t considered, meet really interesting people -in short, I guess, the traditional Liberal Arts idea.</p>
<p>Am I wrong about the SAT scores? Should I stop looking at those as an indicator of the likelihood of her finding a stimulating environment?</p>
<p>I agree with you. I think that dropping down from where you are with a kid like this just to get merit aid would not lead to a very stimulating environment for your bright D. </p>
<p>I think your best bet is to go the “full-need” route and apply to schools that are high quality liberal arts schools like the list of schools I gave you (Rochester is technically a university but is very LAC-like and very supportive) where she has a good chance to get in on her merits and get the full-need from financial aid. I don’t see what you have to lose by going this route. </p>
<p>Personally, I would look at how high the 75% of SAT scores when they provide 25-75%. In other words, would a bright kid have sufficient and stimulating peers. </p>
<p>I might also look into whether you can scrape up enough money worst case to go to a school like University of Minnesota-Morris or Truman state, which I think are the least expensive public liberal arts colleges, and Truman is pretty generous with merit money. These both have 75th percentile SATs in the 600s</p>
<p>Just to assure you, no, we don’t all think it boils down to getting a job. Some of us see the journey, too. Just remember, stats are only one part. Might help to take an advance look at CommonApp.org, see the app and the sorts of info it expects.</p>
<p>One more last resort idea, but a whole lot better than University of Louisiana Monroe is to enroll at the Harvard Extension School. She can get a very high quality liberal arts education for about $1000/course. That would be about $8K tuition for the year. It would help if you had a relative near Boston who would put her up. She could also get a job around Boston and go part time. The classes are all at night, and the student body is mostly working adults, but there are a fair number of mature 18 year olds who do this for the same reason that she would - it’s really cheap. </p>
<p>Also, if you can’t afford 4 classes a semester, just take 3. </p>
<p>The point is that these classes are very high quality and quite intellectual.</p>
<p>It is always ideal to get a stretch or match in interests, academic readiness, challenge in colleges, but that is a luxury that most college goers do not get. Regardless of physical/mental illness or challenge, the OP’s daughter has not shown a stellar track record in high school, those test scores are not the kind that are likely to get substantial financial aid or merit money. I’ve had several dear friends from years ago when my first son was looking at colleges, that went through this, and at that time went along with the ride of taking at loans and making it possible for those kids to got a school that was more what the student and parent imagined. Every single one of them are now strapped with huge loan amounts and no way to even make the interest payments. It’s a recipe for disaster. We oversstepped as well, and it’s only due to the fact that our next son went the state route with merit and that DH has a good strong salary that we’ve been able to stay financially stable. I’d love to send all of my kids to schools on the OP’s list, but we can’t afford to do so and be financially responsible. I’ve run the numbers every which way and I know. Hurts, but that 's the situation for us. With the OP’s income where it is, it would be crazy for the student to go somewhere that the family cannot affford, and the I am pretty aware of what it takes to get big money from that list. It’s truly a lottery ticket for this student to get that kind of money unless there is something I am missing in this picture, a major hook or talent that a college will put on its wish list.
Ucbalumnus, thank you for catching me up on the basics, I did skim the thread but did read the one that gave that info.</p>
<p>OP, I don’t see anything wrong with pursuing the schools on the list, but I think looking at the CC option as well as the MomfromTexas method is also in line. Also Cooper Union has free tuition for talented art students–but it’s a highly selective school. Antioch is offering some full tution scholarship, and there are schools like The College of the Ozarks, and Berea that are possibilities. Also some of the lesser known women’s colleges like Sweet Briar, Agnes Scott might be options to consider. York College and Flagler had lower sticker prices, don’t know if they still do. </p>
<p>Depression is also a tough thing for young adults, paricuiticularly college students and has sunk many a talented and able student. Not so sure that sending an 18 year old away with financial constraints is such a great idea who has that as a history. Again, I 've seen other parents have to deal with this and it often ends up to be a costly precarious situation. </p>
<p>To be able to perform academically, when just miserable, and ace those community college courses and put her self in position to transfer to a high flying college thereafter would be a good goal to pursue.That she could state that finances were the reason that she went cc at first, and the financials would show that as true and if she could show she has outgrown that CC and is ready for more, with stellar grades, she would be in very good postion to transfer to a college where acceptance is tenuous at best for her with her current high school record. Her SAT scores would not be as important then. She would be in a better position to get accepted to a school that does give 100% need based aid even to transfers in that position. I’ve seen kids on this board who made that transition, including one young woman achieving a transfer to Harvard from a college in Vermont, with similar issues. No money, grades too low to get into any 100% need met school or get enough merit money from other school, so her ug options were limited. Two years of topping out what was offered to her, retaking the SAT and showing the colleges she was ready to roar, and just needed the opportunity made her a very attractive transfer student,</p>
<p>If the funds aren’t there, the isn’t the luxury to send a student to a high priced school that one things she will like. It’s time to put the nose to the grind stone and earn one’s admittance and cost to such schools.</p>
<p>Will throw in these two for you to check out: </p>
<p>St. Michael’s (VT) Art & Art Education
Champlain College (VT) Visual Art & Design</p>
<p>Is that St. Michael’s in Colchester VT? That had come on my radar before but I’d crossed it off the list because it seemed like it was mostly business majors, and seemed expensive for us. But perhaps I should investigate further? </p>
<p>Champlain was another one where the SATs -and even the GPA- are quite a bit lower than hers, so I wasn’t sure it was a great match intellectually. But if you have some specific knowledge about these please share!</p>
<p>I think she should definitely apply to Mount Holyoke - I hear they are very generous and I think a smaller school is better for her. Now back to money and state schools - did you use the NEBHE tuition break database? - there are several state schools in New England that have a graphics or design major that are reduced tuition for Maine residents - two that may be worth looking into are Central Connecticut State University and Lyndon State in Vermont. Central CT has become more ‘artsy’ over the years and the academics have greatly improved. It is not as perfect as a Mount Holyoke type school but you need safeties and these state schools or another NEBHE school may be what you need to balance out the application process.
That said, I also agree with the other poster to make sure she applies for several meet full need privates including reaches - one may just work out.</p>
<p>Schools that claim they meet 100% of need from USNWR’s February 2012:</p>
<p>Amherst College MA 2, National Liberal Arts Colleges
Barnard College NY 33, National Liberal Arts Colleges
Bates College ME 21, National Liberal Arts Colleges
Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing IL Unranked
Boston College MA 31, National Universities
Bowdoin College ME 6, National Liberal Arts Colleges
Brown University RI 15, National Universities
Bryn Mawr College PA 25, National Liberal Arts Colleges
California Institute of Technology CA 5, National Universities
Carleton College MN 6, National Liberal Arts Colleges
Claremont McKenna College CA 9, National Liberal Arts Colleges
Colby College ME 21, National Liberal Arts Colleges
Colgate University NY 21, National Liberal Arts Colleges
College of the Holy Cross MA 29, National Liberal Arts Colleges
Columbia University NY 4, National Universities
Cornell University NY 15, National Universities
Dartmouth College NH 11, National Universities
Davidson College NC 11, National Liberal Arts Colleges
Duke University NC 10, National Universities
Emory University GA 20, National Universities
Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering MA Unranked
Georgetown University DC 21, National Universities
Gettysburg College PA 47, National Liberal Arts Colleges
Grinnell College IA 19, National Liberal Arts Colleges
Hamilton College NY 17, National Liberal Arts Colleges
Harvard University MA 1, National Universities
Harvey Mudd College CA 18, National Liberal Arts Colleges
Haverford College PA 10, National Liberal Arts Colleges
Macalester College MN 25, National Liberal Arts Colleges
Massachusetts Institute of Technology MA 5, National Universities
Middlebury College VT 5, National Liberal Arts Colleges
Mount Holyoke College MA 29, National Liberal Arts Colleges
Northwestern University IL 12, National Universities
Oberlin College OH 24, National Liberal Arts Colleges
Occidental College CA 37, National Liberal Arts Colleges
Pitzer College CA 42, National Liberal Arts Colleges
Pomona College CA 4, National Liberal Arts Colleges
Princeton University NJ 1, National Universities
Rice University TX 17, National Universities
Scripps College CA 29, National Liberal Arts Colleges
Smith College MA 19, National Liberal Arts Colleges
Southern Arkansas University AR RNP, Regional Universities (South)
St. Olaf College MN 53, National Liberal Arts Colleges
Stanford University CA 5, National Universities
Swarthmore College PA 3, National Liberal Arts Colleges
Thomas Aquinas College CA 71, National Liberal Arts Colleges
Trinity College CT 37, National Liberal Arts Colleges
Tufts University MA 29, National Universities
Vanderbilt University TN 17, National Universities
University of Chicago IL 5, National Universities
University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill NC 29, National Universities
University of Pennsylvania PA 5, National Universities
University of Richmond VA 27, National Liberal Arts Colleges
University of Southern California CA 23, National Universities
University of Virginia VA 25, National Universities
Vassar College NY 14, National Liberal Arts Colleges
Washington and Lee University VA 12, National Liberal Arts Colleges
Washington University in St. Louis MO 14, National Universities
Wellesley College MA 6, National Liberal Arts Colleges
Wesleyan University CT 12, National Liberal Arts Colleges
Williams College MA 1, National Liberal Arts Colleges
Yale University CT 3, National Universities </p>
<p>Remember, there are not that many schools that claim to meet 100% of your need or full need schools. The schools determine your need with the FAFSA & CSS PROFILE (for schools that require the CSS PROFILE)</p>
<p>Thanks for the list SLUmom. </p>
<p>When applying to colleges, the weakest link is where you start defining your match. So even though your daughter’s SAT scores are above average, they are mitagated by the lower grades. Also given her recent history, a rigorous curiculum with a lot of students who have always been stellar students may not be the best match for her. But the fact of the matter is that many of the schools are reaches given the OP’s DD’s stats. And a number of those schools on the full need met list are need aware. High need without being a top candidate or being a border line candidate puts a person in the reach pool instead of match. </p>
<p>Honestly, I think your DD should say close to home and focus on her weakness which is doing top drawer work even if the subject matter bores her and she does not feel challenged. That is an important skill to learn. Also, she should be watched more closely than many college kids since you do have a known issue with her.</p>
<p>My friend was ever so hurting 15 years ago when she decided her DD who was having anorexia issues should stay home. This gal was a great student but had several bouts with eating disorders in high school. She was accepted to some top schools, but the parents decided she needed to stay close to home until she had a proven track record in managing her problem. Yes, she had some relapses. She graduated from a local university, and then went to Columbia for her masters. Now that she is in her 30s she finally admits that going away could have been disasterous, and even lethal for her. Her mother says a number of kids went through so much when they did go away to college, and some did not survive. Her daughter still struggles with her anorexia but is well aware of it and has several checks in place and now married, a husband who keeps an eye on her as well as family. It will be a life long struggle for her, and those young adult years were the most dangerous time for her. So it is with a lot of emotional, mental, behavioral issues.</p>
<p>chemusic- The NEBHE database was interesting, I hadn’t seen that before. I wonder, though, whether the tuition breaks are incorporated into the schools’ NPCs. Because I had already run those for most of the schools that the NEBHE database gave me, like Mass College of Art & Design, UMass, UNH, etc. And (even though they asked me what state I lived in) the NPCs were still way too high, and pretty close to the “average” aid packages stated on the CollegeBoard site.</p>
<p>The NEBHE Tuition Break:
Students are eligible for the RSP Tuition Break when they enroll in an approved major that is not offered by the public colleges and universities in their home-state.</p>
<p>I doubt it was figured into the NPC, since it depends on major. You also commit to that major. The “Data & Reports” tab will show you the pricing. It’s a tuition % only- I don’t think Room and Board is affected.</p>
<p>The link for Maine residents can be found on this page: <a href=“http://www.nebhe.org/programs-overview/rsp-tuition-break/find-a-program/[/url]”>http://www.nebhe.org/programs-overview/rsp-tuition-break/find-a-program/</a></p>
<p>Oh thank you… I see now. Specific majors only. Thanks.</p>
<p>Yes it is specific majors only - that is why I listed only 2 of the colleges that have graphics - Mass College of Art is another possibility. There are many art majors there of course. As part of NEBHE, the colleges give you reduced <em>usually 1/2 or 3/4 tuition</em> in majors that are not offered in your home state’s schools.</p>
<p>…majors NOT offered at a home state U. So, when you look at the page for Maine residents, since graphics (using that example) is offered in-state, it’s not eligible. But, since Maine doesn’t offer art ed, a kid could go to Mass Art for Art Ed, or do photopraphy there or at UMass Dartmouth. Looks like MA would be $8230 and UMDart $2126 - both plus R/B and fees. And, would need to be confirmed. I also think, if you go this route, that it’s wise to ensure there’s a back-up interest that qualifies, in case the original major doesn’t work out.</p>