<p>-Standardized tests
-Secondary ‘cheap’ laptop for the child who has a propensity for computer problems
-Full coverage on both primary and secondary laptop
-Emergency orthodontic treatment at or near school
-Any unplanned emergency trip to see your child
-A new wardrobe to accommodate different weather (i.e. Southerners will need to prepare for NE winters)
-Senior year looks like it will be more expensive, not even sure what to expect yet (i.e. yearbook, graduation dress, travel, prom, college applications, etc.)</p>
<p>Also, these days you can do a surprising job at locating used text books on the Internet; I know, as my wife is a teacher and has quickly amassed a large collection at not much money.</p>
<p>But note that many of the faculty at the best schools are authors of books in preparation and/or notes that are used to teach from, so those may have to be bought. Also, private schools range further afield from the large volume text books used in public school, so finding used texts may (or may not) be more of a challenge.</p>
<p>What if your child plays on a sport team or is in a music ensamble that travels overnight. Will the travel costs (transportation and overnight stay) be additional? </p>
<p>What about music lessons. Is this ever covered. If not, is the rate similiar to what you would pay at home? </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Add in the costs of physical therapy when your child is injured (playing for the school) and requires months of recovery.</p>
<p>This thread is getting very depressing…</p>
<p>@GMTplus7: Don’t let it get you down. Many of the above costs (text books, music lessons, team travel, physical therapy) could be incurred at home as well. My child spends much less for incidentals at school than she does when she’s at home.</p>
<p>@1grl3boy–If your child is a FA student, many schools include music lessons in their FA package, or offer lessons at a reduced rate.</p>
<p>Additional cost: school ring… Several hundred dollars. At DD2’s school a “must have.”</p>
<p>@GMT: We made the choice for BS for several children, despite costs (and we’re a FA family), but the finances can put a bite on you.</p>
<p>Bite us - yep like an insatiable vampire bat 
But when they’re smiling it just seems so worth it.</p>
<p>@Klements and Exie, +eleventy billion! </p>
<p>I wish I had known to ask these questions before my first one went to BS. Having some experience now, we’re pursuing BS again, but we’re also looking into details like this thread that we didn’t fully understand last time.</p>
<p>@exie, priceless LOL.</p>
<p>Staples runs for school supplies, lots and lots of bottled water, postage for forgotten items and care packages, holiday flowers for girls, sports/team warm-ups, class/dorm spirit jackets and attire, spring vacations and sports training trips, grocery trips for food kept under the bed, Thai kitchen on Saturday nights…and the list goes on.</p>
<p>Sevendad: I remember back in the day when my DS was at SAS and his cousins and friends were at Kent School.
Us: No laundry fees. Not even for the machines in the dorms. Them: Optional laundry program which they opted into, because closest laundry was in town.
Us: No yearbook fees. Them: 100.00 for yearbook
Us: No lab fees. Them:$100 Lab fees
Us: $275.00 for health insurance Them $750.00
Us: Trips to physician or shopping trips NO CHARGE. Them: $20.00/$25.00 per trip
Us: Limo service from airport to school $30.00 Them: $200.00</p>
<p>SAS was a bargain. Has much changed?</p>
<p>How about the emotional costs? DS is spending third night in the infirmary (strep, mono test in the AM) and Dr. Mom can’t be there. Trying not to cry. :(</p>
<p>ChoatieMom,
My DS was in the infirmary for a few days earlier in the term. I was constantly on the phone with the nurses. Skype did help me feel better just to see him. Hang in there. I hope he gets well soon.</p>
<p>grocery trips for food kept under the bed</p>
<p>Oh - forgot about that cost. The most fun part of Skype was watching her friends come in to raid the drawer. Only I had to start sending cases of snacks (such as fried Apple chips) from the ubiquitous online monopoly that starts with a capital A so my D would have bags to share and extra to hide for herself. So add “postage and shipping” to the cost. </p>
<p>Get flat rate boxes from the Post Office (free) and then sign up for a mail account on USPS.com. If you pay online and print your label, you get a discount and they waive the cost of delivery tracking (will even email you when the package is delivered and you have the option of having a delivery email sent to the recipient).</p>
<p>I would definitely budget money for post-study hall pizza delivery–this is very popular, at least with the boys. Dinner is very early in winter and by 10pm they are hungry!</p>
<p>Book prices were a shock to us. Couldn’t believe that after paying all that tuition that books weren’t included! Set us back over $500. Will have son scavenge for next year’s books at the end of the spring term.</p>
<p>Sometimes there are fundraisers, for example you can wear jeans on a certain school day (at our formal dress school) if you donate $10 to a particular charity. </p>
<p>Oh–about cooking in the dorm–my son’s dorm has no microwave (I don’t think any do). When I asked why, I was told that there had been too many calls to the fire department because of small fires/burnt food :0 So much for cup-o-noodles and easy mac for those hungry evenings.</p>
<p>Our saving grace is that SYA included all the books and travel within the country (including meals and hotels) in the tuition. Our sticker shock happened when we realized the exchange rate eroded any spending money we put aside for her. I guess I should be lucky - she could be using pounds instead of Euros in which case I’d have to take a second job :)</p>
<p>It also depends on the child. My son and daughter have vastly different standards of proper attire. Their appetites also differ. </p>
<p>A parent also has to compare extra costs for pizza, etc. to the local prices for pizza. If your child attended school at home, he’d probably want to go out to a pizza joint or Starbucks with friends. </p>
<p>We expected costs for paper, but found that at some schools, papers can be printed at the library. That’s the sort of cost which can add up, so it’s worth asking a current student, “do most kids print their papers on their own printer, or do they use the school’s printer? Or can they submit papers by email?”</p>