seek advice to 2 strategy questions for aid

Paying for College
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<p>When your son contacts colleges, I suggest that he work into the conversation that he has close family in NJ. That also would help the colleges know that your son has a good idea about what the US is like, and also would have supportive relatives in case of homesickness or emergencies. Your son also could work this info into his essays and interviews.</p>

<p>When your son competes for admission, he'll be competiting with Americans and internationals who do very well on the SAT. As an Ivy alumna interviewer, I have been awed by the SAT verbal scores obtained by students who had only been in this country a few years, and had arrived barely speaking English. They seem to make SAT prep, and acquiring excellent English skills, a fulltime job.</p>

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<p>Nobody special, I think you are getting some great advice on this board. I do disagree with Voronwe's strong hands off though I usually am 100% with her advice. In your particular situation where you are scouting out the general scene and situation, I don't think there would be any problem in contacting US colleges, and hope you find someone with some time and info that is willing to talk to you. To ask a kid to feel his way around this situation is really too much unless he is highly unusual. None of my kids fell into this category, and I have called colleges many, many times to get info that was very specific or "fuzzy" data that just would not have be practical to ask the kid to get. Many kids need to be highly directed in their interactions with colleges, and until you all get some idea of the direction you will be going, you cannot help him with that. Once the app process is started, I agree with Voronwe. It will mostly be his ball to carry.But right now you need to see what your options are.</p>

<p>I suggest that you order the book "US News & World Report Ultimate College Directory" because it will give you not only the breakdowns on each school's SAT range, but also breaks down the financial and merit aid given. By looking at the combination of this data you can see where your son would fall and get some idea about the possibility of aid. If you are looking at a school where only 30% of need is met, you know that the chances of getting substantial financial aid from them is low. If you see that 30% of the kids get merit awards that average $20K and if your kid is in the upper 25% of the SAT range, you can see that he might have a good chance of getting about $20K. If his scores are in the lower 25% of SAT range, it is not such a good bet. Although the numbers reported are averages, it does give you some bearings.</p>

<p>Frenchmom is right about your son's situation as an American in French schools. I grew up in Germany and went to German schools. There were a number of us expat kids and I still know families in that situation. Many get top scores on their tests, and though the geographic and cultural diversity give these kids a bit of any edge, it is not going to compensate for low test scores or grades. It is one of those "all things being equal" situations where it may come into play. Rather than accept another kid from a NJ highschool, adcoms would prefer your kid with the unusual background, all other things being equal" or maybe a very slight tip of preference. But the situation is just not unusual enough to get more than that. Though at some very local colleges, it will be a point of interest since they do tend to get most of their students from within a half hour from the school, but I feel it may help your son get into such a school, it is not going to translate to much money. </p>

<p>Have you kept any state residency? If so that could be a possibility--the state school. You may want to look into what it would cost you in taxes and paperwork to become a state resident if you are not already one. The state schools would be a lower cost alternative. </p>

<p>For the basketball option, I would suggest the following if your son could have an extra year. Send him to a very good basketball clinic over the summer. One run by a college coach and where colleges scout. They can tell you his sports alternatives. If he is indeed a recruitable basketball player, that could make a big difference. In D-2,3 schools, it could be scholarship money. You need to research the programs and talk to coaches and get some ideas as to where would be the best to go. Since your dad lives in NJ, somewhere in that area might be a good starting point.</p>

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<p>Cool name! I'm regretting mine, my son says it sounds too "victim-y", but I think my spirits were low...</p>

<p>French mom's kids go to American schools and private schools here in Paris so I am not sure her case is good to compare with ours.</p>

<p>But thanks for the heads up about basketball. We don't have any money for basketball camps and airfare is too high for us during the summer, but we can try. Also, he works as a camp counselor during the summer.</p>

<p>Once again, I think the situation is unusual, but I guess we will hear from the admissions people soon enough!</p>

<p>Just out of curiousity, we have no other English speaking people at our local high school and we aren't too far from Paris. How is it that your German high school had other expats? Were you in a big city? Many thanks</p>

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<p>Nobody Special, yes many of our friend's children are in French schools of all calibre and will go to American college. This is very common among French families in certain professions. Their children have had many American experiences and they do equally well to Amertican children on exams. I hate to say this that it is very common among French we know to have the 1500 and more. I think all that has been said here can give you a guide. Look at school's where your son's scores fit. Also I stress to look at schools that get few internationals applying where being French they will find interesting. For me that is the best way.</p>

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<p>Also to add, we discussed today at Pamona internationals SAT scores with interviewer. His answer is much the same as we are being told at other schools. A little lower in verbal they understand, he said in 600s was OK when they want 700s from Americans. Math he said needs to be high. Maybe if your don studies the terms for math on SAT he can score more?</p>

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<p>Yes, he just turned 16 so I think he can pull up his scores to break 1200. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR ADVICE</p>

<p>Luckily for us, he won't be applying to any of those top schools that all the rich folks over on your side of the tracks want to send their kids to (yes, I have a complex!) so maybe we'll get lucky... but he will still have to work harder.. we see that now.</p>

<p>Also one more point is that those kids you are talking about may not be American so may not be treated the same (in terms of financial aid, we file US income taxes, qualify for FAFSA, etc).
A+.</p>

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<p>Yes that will help you for financial aid. You would be surprised that even the very rich at Paris American schools often can not get top American colleges. Many less selective colleges are popular. Unfortunately being French is not such a big attraction at the Harvard type schools! But it seems very attractive at less big name schools and many are very good. With a 1200 you should have really nice choices.</p>

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<p>The situation has changed a lot from my day as the US military has largely pulled out of Europe. (And, yes, I went to school in a major German city) But in areas where there used to be a large US presence, there are many "mixed" families where an American married someone who is European, and the child may be of mixed heritage, and sometimes even a US citizen if born during a stay in the US, or a dual citizen. Also there are a number of US companies over there which results in a number of expats with kids in the European school systems. They too tend to be American. My H works for such a company and so many of his colleagues are in that situation. My brother is married to a European,and they would like to be in that situation--they are looking to move to Europe and raise their children there, but they are US citizens as my B is and because they were born here. </p>

<p>However, the situation is a bit unusual. Just not so unusual that special accomodation or money is set aside for this. My feeling is that your son will have an edge over another NJ or other Midatlantic kid applying with similar stats. But when it come to money...well, that is a different story. My nephew went to Rider, and I can tell you that the financial aid is not too generous there. And his test scores were in their upper 25%, probably 10% range. Many of the less selective schools cannot afford to fund 100% of cost over the EFC, and generally just gap or offer loans. </p>

<p>I also suggest looking at some less expensive schools. Mary Washington and other Virginia state schools are very reasonable as are many of the southern state schools. York College in Pa, not far from NJ is a great deal. A school like Washington College in Md would be interested in your son and merit aid may be in the picture. A number of the Catholic schools also are possibilities. </p>

<p>If you peruse the book that I suggested, you will find that many families, in fact most, are in the same situation you are as far as college finances. Many students are on financial and merit aid of sorts, even the ones in the more selective colleges. In fact, the more selective schools tend to give more complete packages. It 's just that making the admissions hurdle is really tough. You will also find that your son's SAT scores are very good considering his language background and really at the mid point over all. They are not bad. It's just that to get merit money, you need to have something a college really wants. It could be athletic prowress, high SAT scores, some special talent, many different variables. Don't think your background qualifies as something the colleges are willing to pay for, though it may attract a second look. </p>

<p>I am not considering your son as an international student. That is a whole different ball of wax. For those kids, you are right, they do not qualify for government aid, and many colleges are not need blind in admissions for foreign students. What aid is available is very limited. Depending on your income and asset level, your son may get some federal money for need reasons, and if he applies to colleges where the endowment can cover substancial financial aid, they may cover the rest of the need or a certain percentage of it. Again you need to research what is normal for each given college.</p>

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<p>Goucher College, which is just outside of Baltimore, has been mentioned on CC boards several times as a nice liberal arts college that can be very generous with male applicants. It used to be a girls' college, and wants to attract males. That could be a college for your son to look at. Its proximity to several major international airports is a plus, too.</p>

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<p>Heading to the American library after work today! To read all that good stuff you recommended.</p>

<p>College names are good... I'm a bit stuck with the top 50 because of where I went to school.. I will check them all out.</p>

<p>But we are now formulating a strategy based on the invaluable information we have been given. Even more than that, I am realizing how homesick I am. Maybe for my other children I will simply come home for their highschool.</p>

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<p>We will email goucher right away!</p>

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<p>Nobody special, you might want to check out Oberlin. I do believe that they love diversity. Don't know where they stand on financial aid. Also there are some schools that do not need SATs such as Bates, Connecticut College, Antioch. There is a list floating on this forum somewhere. Many are selective colleges. If his marks at school have been good, that may be another way to go. You do have many options. As I said, it's not that his scores are an impediment for the vast, vast majority of schools here, the problem might be merit money as many of those do count test scores heavier as that seems to be an item colleges want to pay for.</p>

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<p>I went to Oberlin, I don't think he would be happy there, but we sure will investigate. There is no basketball and team sports
Can I ask you an aid question?
When I try and calculate our EFC, when I use the FINAID website I get different figures than when I use the collegeboard site. The FinAid site disregards our assets because the "family qualifies for simplified needs test"? What does this mean?</p>

<p>The collegeboard uses our house and retirement money in its calculations.</p>

<p>I am also going to post this question. Thanks</p>

34

<p>You are wrong about Oberlin. It does have a varsity basketball team and really a variety of NCAA sports.And your being an alum would give him a heads up there. </p>

<p>My D applied to Oberlin as one of her reach schools. She chose to go elsewhere in Ohio where she got some merit money. Though she decided not to go there, she like it enough to apply and she only applied about 5-6 schools with Smith as her top reach. </p>

<p>Because an athlete is a relatively rare bird at a school like Oberlin, the athletic card might hold some weight, so it is definitely worth checking out. Schools like Oberlin want diversity as well so anything out of the mainstream can be a good tip factor. </p>

<p>I responded to your aid questions elsewhere.</p>

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<p>Hi, Special
I have a compromise to offer about who e-mails the schools. Make an appointment with your son and do it together, with his e-mail account. My son literally had no idea of what to say when he started. After the first couple, and he had a feel for it, and wrote his own. </p>

<p>My son asked me to do the pre-screen on colleges, based on his (ever changing) criteria. At that point, he owned the process, deciding which schools to visit, writing for information, and so on. </p>

<p>About the SAT's - they really are very studiable. Besides the prep books, reading and discussing literature - in english - with you (maybe) would probably help him, and be enjoyable for you. The New SAT won't have analogies, so there would be less weight placed on an extensive vocabulary. </p>

<p>It sounds like your son has sufficient motivation to work on all this once you both get a plan established. Best of luck to you both!</p>