I only got to page 3…I just can’t read the “whining” anymore. This is exactly the problem with snowflakes today: their parents. Dad is a principal in a school system? They’ve raised an entitled child. They chose to redo their kitchen and purchase a new car instead of saving for college. She says she can’t possibly take out her student loans. Really, OMDG.
@SOSConcern - apologies if my post was not clear. I don’t recommend UAB for a Jewish student. But the OP said she is not Jewish so it’s a non-issue.
Apply to UAB and UAH…you’ll get huge money from them. The deadlines have NOT passed for those two schools’ merit.
ALSO…quickly send in an app to UA (Tuscaloosa), and get scores sent. Yes, the merit deadline has passed, but if you’re holding merit awards from UAH and UAB, then I’ll tell you (PM me) who to contact at UA, and see if they’ll poach you away by giving you the same full tuition merit. There is ONE person who is authorized to do this and I’ve helped a few students get this after the deadline. But you need to act fast and apply to all 3 schools (correction: 4 schools…include Miss State.)
Living in Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, or Huntsville is not hard for an OOS student. These are 3 cities with lots of transplants from elsewhere. I’m from Calif and have lived in two of those cities. I have a son living in B’ham. There wouldn’t be a culture shock.
Actually…please also QUICKLY apply to Mississippi State. They will also give you free tuition, and that will also bolster your chances of getting Bama to match their tuition offer. Bama would likely prefer you to go to Bama over Miss State.
Also, apply to UTexas-Dallas. (Not UT-Austin).
If you end up with tuition offers from Miss State, UT Dallas, UAH and UAB, then Bama will probably match those offers. No promises, but I haven’t failed yet in helping a student get this.
Please send me a PM for more info.
FYI…the apps for UA, UAB, and UAH are all SUPER EASY and fast. I don’t know what the apps for UT-Dallas or Miss State are like. I imagine that the MSU app is easy too.
^^You my friend (OP) have just been handed everything you need to make college affordable to you right now. Many on these boards have given you the best options, now prove yourself to be mature and flexible, put on your big girl patties and get the apps done this morning. Then find yourself a job if you don’t already have one and work your tail off, save every penny you have and keep doing that for the foreseeable future. You can do this.
@mom2collegekids is right. Their deadline hasn’t passed–Dec 1 deadline is for AL residents. The OOS deadline is May 1st. But UAB is also going to be unaffordable unless I am missing something else. They only offer $15,000 to OOS students and tuition and fees are closer to $23,000??? It doesn’t look like UAB is offering full tuition to OOS residents. https://www.uab.edu/students/paying-for-college/scholarships/act-gpa-based-scholarships-out-of-state
If @mom2collegekids can help you get full tuition at UA, you should jump at her offer to help. UA is a great school, and for the price, it is very hard to beat and her offer to help you is beyond generous.
U Denver was an example of a school that offers support services that may have been an appropriate consideration for the other twin who sounds like she has a number of challenges and will need a good deal of support in college. U Denver can be somewhat generous with $ if they want a student, and IIRC the learning support program (LEP) isnt as expensive as some of the other fee for service extra support programs (I’d have to double check this) and it might have left more money available in the family coffer to help cover academic costs for this twin, who sounds like she is getting the short end of the stick because of the needs of her sister.
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It doesn't look like UAB is offering full tuition to OOS residents
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UAB may only list a lower amount for auto awards, but I know UAB is offering MORE to OOS because they want more OOS. They are even offering some housing awards to OOS with high stats. So, the OP shouldn’t just look at that auto awards… (Same for UAH). Both of those schools give MORE to their OOS high stats students then what is listed on their sites.
@elizajanebh We are trying to give you the roadmap for an affordable education. Please get right on this path, otherwise you could end up with no affordable schools.
I may have missed something…are the parents NOW saying that the OP will ONLY get her college fund money ($5k per year), because they are going to spend all of their contribution towards a private college for the twin (no matter how much THAT costs??)
BTW…can anyone suggest a smallish instate public for that twin to attend??
@mom2collegekids see post # 74
Folks here have given you some excellent options for both you…and your twin.
I would urge you to concentrate on YOUR college search…and look into some of the affordable options presented.
“There is no way in hell that we can pay 40k a year. Why does this happen?”
It happens when your parents neglected to set up a sufficient savings plan to provide for you and your sibling to have money to pay for college. Blame your parents, not the system.
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my family is already going to be paying for my sister to go to college, and she's only looking at private schools. We can't afford to pay 30k a year on top of that- so it actually isn't affordable, which I think is ridiculous
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??
BUT…have your parents SAID that they will pay ALL costs for your sister’s private school??? Or are they naively thinking she’s going to get aid???
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But my sister has a lot of severe emotional difficulties and has a hard time functioning executively, and her applying to these colleges is a miracle in and of itself, because it was the only way my parents would get her to apply at all. They don't understand that while she is a good student, she doesn't have the stats to get into most of them, let alone get merit scholarships. My family is really protective of her and won't let me "crush her spirit" by laying down the hard facts about her acceptance changes and the cost of attendance. As much as it pains me to say it, part of me hopes that she will realize through her rejections that she has to think realistically (the only safety that she is applying to is umass amherst) and attend there. I have no idea why my parents haven't tried to steer her towards more affordable options; but at the end of the day, I can't control what they do. It's not that they won't help me pay, but we need to save all the money for my sister who has no idea what is going on.
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So colleges are off hook for raising prices 3X the cost of inflation? And that can happen indefinitely? The system is flawed and something will have to change eventually, just not in time for the OP. I know there are a thousand reasons for this (discussed in other posts).
Give the parents some credit. They raised a daughter who should be able to cover her educational costs with merit.
@elizajanebh Baypath University in Longmeadow might be worth checking out for your twin, it is a small private Women’s college which has pretty generous merit aid, no separate scholarship app., and a nice, close knit campus. They have been expanding in recent years, recently adding a new health sciences building and related majors. They have rolling admissions.
If @mom2collegekids can work some magic for you at UA, seriously considering It! It is bigger than UMASS, but similar feel with lots of OOS students from all over. 2 of my Ds applied and it was in the top 3 of their choices. It has grown in popularity in my area, the mid Atlantic, and we know students who attend, love it, and are doing great.
Huntsville and B’ham do have a Jewish population BTW (even though this doesn’t affect OP). There is active Jewish student group and worship on UA campus, but the other two schools work for students of all faiths or those of no faith.
I know exceptions with late scholarship award at UA can happen - it did with DD’s friend, although her award is verified year by year instead of as ‘automatic’, but her money was the same. The difference was this gal applied in time, chose another school, then realized at the beginning of summer (after the May 1 date) that she made a mistake and it was a best match to come to UA. I called this friend’s parents (who I also knew quite well) and told them the steps to take, and they did.
As mom2 said, it is talking to the right UA admin person who has the ability to authorize/approve on the situation.
Being able to start at a 4 year school that is affordable all 4 years and is a good place to reach academic goals is important.
OP you may not have missed the ball, but you need to get on the ball.
I think OP moved on the other thread(medical college debt)!! I think she already received excellent recommendations for her to act and update us back on her low cost undergraduate choice!!
I sent you a PM @SOSConcern
@londondad once more…MOST families do not have college savings for their kids. They just don’t. You make it sound like these parents are irresponsible because they don’t have a college savings. If that is the case…the VAST MAJORITY of families fall onto this category.
There are LOTS of reasons why families might not have “sufficient savings” for college…lots.
@thumper1 I don’t think that the lack of college savings per se is irresponsible as we don’t really know what their financials were like 18 years ago. What I do think is irresponsible is the lack of planning and not telling the daughter that no money is available until December? of senior year. Given
that her dad is in the education profession, that is irresponsible.