College Selection?

[skaredshtles]

I'm still a ways away from this, but my kiddo (7th grade) is already thinking about college!

WTH? How does that even happen?

[MarcusBrody]

WTH? How does that even happen?

This was me. I grew up in a middle of nowhere, Appalachian PA town and couldn't wait to get out and going to college seemed the way to do it. I was devouring through those US News and World Report rankings foe fantasy fodder like other kids were Playboys.

[skaredshtles]

This was me. I grew up in a middle of nowhere, Appalachian PA town and couldn't wait to get out and going to college seemed the way to do it. I was devouring through those US News and World Report rankings foe fantasy fodder like other kids were Playboys.

In 7th grade?

I was just starting to notice girls and getting into D&D when I was in 7th grade.

The 2nd thing definitely did not do anything to help the 1st.

[riser4]

In 7th grade?

I was just starting to notice girls and getting into D&D when I was in 7th grade.

The 2nd thing definitely did not do anything to help the 1st.

Are you me?

[skaredshtles]

Are you me?

You're way too Viking to be me.

[riser4]

You're way too Viking to be me.

Bezerker!!!

[skaredshtles]

Bezerker!!!

Heh.

[riser4]

Heh.

This too. But I was thinking Clerks.

[skaredshtles]

This too. But I was thinking Clerks.

"That's beautiful, man."

[MarcusBrody]

In 7th grade?

I was just starting to notice girls and getting into D&D when I was in 7th grade.

The 2nd thing definitely did not do anything to help the 1st.

Ha yep, I was already thinking about it in 7th grade. Maybe because of my lack of facility with those girls I was noticing. I figured I should find some place where none of them would remember what I was like in 7th grade.

I didn't grow up in a place where boarding school was a thing, but I'm sure I started thinking about leaving home for school as soon as I found out. I'm sure the novels I read wildly misrepresented the fun and hijinks that went on, but the idea caught my eye. I wasn't going to boarding school, so college was the chance! Overall, I had an amazing family and a perfectly fine middle/high school career. I'm not totally sure why I was so obsessed with leaving, but I wanted to go.

[skaredshtles]

Ha yep, I was already thinking about it in 7th grade. Maybe because of my lack of facility with those girls I was noticing. I figured I should find some place where none of them would remember what I was like in 7th grade.

I didn't grow up in a place where boarding school was a thing, but I'm sure I started thinking about leaving home for school as soon as I found out. I'm sure the novels I read wildly misrepresented the fun and hijinks that went on, but the idea caught my eye. I wasn't going to boarding school, so college was the chance! Overall, I had an amazing family and a perfectly fine middle/high school career. I'm not totally sure why I was so obsessed with leaving, but I wanted to go.

Probably like me, where you lived, sucked.

[MarcusBrody]

Probably like me, where you lived, sucked.

I think that's what it pretty much came down to. By middle school I was aware of it and wanted to get out and see the world.

Just because I was interested from an early age didn't mean I gained any real knowledge advantage though. I guess I knew more names, but no one around me had any idea about subjective differences between schools. The ones I applied to were often for reasons like "flyer said they would fly finalists out for scholarship interviews" and I'd never been to the place. I think it very much was a desire to get out and see other places more than a goal oriented focus on my education.

[skaredshtles]

<snip> but no one around me had any idea about subjective differences between schools. The ones I applied to were often for reasons like "flyer said they would fly finalists out for scholarship interviews" and I'd never been to the place. I think it very much was a desire to get out and see other places more than a goal oriented focus on my education.

Sounds really familiar... I mean - I *wanted* to go to University of Michigan... but that was out of my price range.

[Buzzworthy]

Bumping this. Dropping her off at CC in a few days. I really couldn’t be more proud of her; she’s an incredible person and I can’t wait to see what she does.

I’m just sad because I’m gonna miss her so much. I don’t generally cry at all, but I’ve shed a lot of tears the last few days

If anyone has any advice, I’m all ears.

Otherwise, that’s all I got.


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

Let us know how it went.

My kid as all moved in.

And now needs a bunch of things. And forgot a bunch of things. And is now back home packing more, shopping with mom and apparently I get to do this again lol. Her roommate did the same as she’s also local and both apparently aren’t going back till Sunday afternoon as there’s not much to do till Monday class for super smart kids.

Polar opposite of myself. I would’ve kicked us parents out immediately and got on with doing whatever I wanted, away from parentals. I for one know there’s lots to go before Monday class. I’d be more excited to fuck around for an extended weekend before class than the actual semester. But somehow I did good, because she’s super excited for classes. And decorating her room now that she’s seen it.

Perfect, I’ll have a cold one now and relax. I know she’ll be home a lot this year.

She’s also enjoying moms cooking a bit longer before dorm food.

[Timberridge]

Congrats.

Moved mine in this past weekend too.

Decided to swing by Alabama on the way, just to see it. Sorority rush week was in full swing. All I can say is, what a spectacle. $20 million dollar sorority houses. Google "Phi Mu Alabama." HBO apparently made a movie about the whole event.

[BmillsSkier]

SEC campuses in the fall are something from another world.

I've got several years before I have to worry about dropoff day, and a whole shitload of stuff to worry about in-between, but I've noticed from colleagues that have kids entering college that SEC schools aren't the stereotypical safety school anymore. UGA, which I've never considered a slouch school by any means, and appears to be top 20 for public universities, has an incoming freshman class with over a 4.19 weighted GPA, a 50% SAT range of 1270-1470; and a 50% ACT range of 29-34.

Sure would be nice to use that Zell Miller state scholarship that grants 100% tuition at there or GaTech. I cringe at what Emory's tuition will be by then. Maybe they give legacy discounts. /fingerscrossed.

[fatnslow]

SEC campuses in the fall are something from another world.

I've got several years before I have to worry about dropoff day, and a whole shitload of stuff to worry about in-between, but I've noticed from colleagues that have kids entering college that SEC schools aren't the stereotypical safety school anymore. UGA, which I've never considered a slouch school by any means, and appears to be top 20 for public universities, has an incoming freshman class with over a 4.19 weighted GPA, a 50% SAT range of 1270-1470; and a 50% ACT range of 29-34.

Sure would be nice to use that Zell Miller state scholarship that grants 100% tuition at there or GaTech. I cringe at what Emory's tuition will be by then. Maybe they give legacy discounts. /fingerscrossed.

Don't let your family see this post or you might be disowned for thinking about sending junior to a public Uni. I think Emory is about 70k right now so you better start cracking the whip on your associates to increase those billable hours.

[riser4]

My youngest didn't get into GA Tech. However, he's out of state and didn't sell himself, or otherwise, beyond applying. Number one advice given by one of his teachers was to "show interest" based on feedback given by a school some other kid didn't get into. In that case the feedback specifically referenced either visiting in person OR virtual OR reaching out to various campus resources for an interview either in person or virtual. He mostly got accepted in places he showed interest by visiting or reaching out. Or that accept a large number of kids from his HS and or has a strong relationship with the HS. Clarkson in particular. The legacy school for him is UVM and he didn't want to go because, and I quote, "that hippie liberal school." At the student day in June at WPI, pretty much every parent I met upon learning we were from VT said, OMG, why not UVM??? Implying that I was retarded for letting my kid spend more money than he needed to.

Tl;Dr is make your kid show interest when applying. Even if it's virtual. They want an in house paper trail beyond the application.

[Timberridge]

If you're out of state you have a harder time getting into the Clemsons, UGAs etc. today 'cause every kid in the northeast now wants to go to a school in the south with a big football stadium. These schools used to be safety schools for the kids applying to Vandy, Duke, etc. Not anymore. If you really, really want to go to a certain school you have to go ED. Applying EA or regular gets you on the bottom of the application pile. It's unfortunate that the application process is so restricted but it's the way it is now.

[BmillsSkier]

Don't let your family see this post or you might be disowned for thinking about sending junior to a public Uni. I think Emory is about 70k right now so you better start cracking the whip on your associates to increase those billable hours.

HFS, that’s $20k more a year than law school was.

See how a 100% free (so long as you keep your HS grades up) UGA or GaTech all of a sudden gets real appealing? Ufda.

If you're out of state you have a harder time getting into the Clemsons, UGAs etc. today 'cause every kid in the northeast now wants to go to a school in the south with a big football stadium. These schools used to be safety schools for the kids applying to Vandy, Duke, etc. Not anymore. If you really, really want to go to a certain school you have to go ED. Applying EA or regular gets you on the bottom of the application pile. It's unfortunate that the application process is so restricted but it's the way it is now.

That first part is the biggest thing I’ve seen trending. So many more out of state applicants, and you’re right, when they’re already getting the Duke, Vandy, Emory, UNC, applicants, space gets real tight.

[fatnslow]

If you're out of state you have a harder time getting into the Clemsons, UGAs etc. today 'cause every kid in the northeast now wants to go to a school in the south with a big football stadium. These schools used to be safety schools for the kids applying to Vandy, Duke, etc. Not anymore. If you really, really want to go to a certain school you have to go ED. Applying EA or regular gets you on the bottom of the application pile. It's unfortunate that the application process is so restricted but it's the way it is now.

You have to be on Viagra to get into college these days ? I know kids love adderall but the blue must be new.

[EWG]

If you're out of state you have a harder time getting into the Clemsons, UGAs etc. today 'cause every kid in the northeast now wants to go to a school in the south with a big football stadium. These schools used to be safety schools for the kids applying to Vandy, Duke, etc. Not anymore. If you really, really want to go to a certain school you have to go ED. Applying EA or regular gets you on the bottom of the application pile. It's unfortunate that the application process is so restricted but it's the way it is now.

This. 2 years ago UVA admitted about 5% of regular decision out-of-state students. That's insane. It's pretty much early decision or a dice roll even for the best credentials at a lot of top publics at this point.

Oh - and I think Emory is more like $76k. UVA (public school) is $71k for out of state. Just sayin.

And another thing: the skiing at Emory and UVA sucks.

[Timberridge]

HFS, that’s $20k more a year than law school was.

See how a 100% free (so long as you keep your HS grades up) UGA or GaTech all of a sudden gets real appealing? Ufda.

Here's the good news. Most private schools like Emory etc. will soften the blow with a $10K/yr academic scholarship if he's a good student. If out of state tuition for a state school is $50K/yr, usually with no scholarship attached, you're inching closer. I'd rather spend an extra 10K at Emory than say, Alabama for 10K less. YMMV.

This. 2 years ago UVA admitted about 5% of regular decision out-of-state students. That's insane. It's pretty much early decision or a dice roll even for the best credentials at a lot of top publics at this point.

Oh - and I think Emory is more like $76k. UVA (public school) is $71k for out of state. Just sayin.

And another thing: the skiing at Emory and UVA sucks.

Good point about the skiing. And if you're from say, NY state they will only take X# of NY students, so you're up against a quota. And further, if you are the 3rd best kid in your NY HS and #1 and #2 apply to UVA, you may not get in even if you are equally as qualified as someone at another NY HS. Then to further complicate things, some schools make you apply to a specific school and there is more competition for some than others.

I know a family with two daughters who at the time of application lived in NY and didn't get into UVA, but since moved to VT. The son applied in VT, was not the student or athlete the two girls were, and got in.

[fatnslow]

This. 2 years ago UVA admitted about 5% of regular decision out-of-state students. That's insane. It's pretty much early decision or a dice roll even for the best credentials at a lot of top publics at this point.

Oh - and I think Emory is more like $76k. UVA (public school) is $71k for out of state. Just sayin.

And another thing: the skiing at Emory and UVA sucks.

Some of these numbers are really skewed because just about every kid planning on attending college applies to 4-5 or more schools. Colleges on OTOH love it because it makes them look more prestigious than they really are when they can say acceptance rate of "x" when quite a few of the applicants have either NO CHANCE of getting in or don't really want to attend. You can also take the high school GPA with a grain of salt since GPA inflation is real, just for reference my kids attended a middle of the road public high school and there were at least 30 valedictorians in each of the 3 graduating classes. Multiply that times all the HS's in the US, that's a lot of kids flooding the system with ABOVE 4.1 GPA. The whole thing is a racket.

[Timberridge]

Yes all the kids use the common app and everyone is applying to 10 schools so the percentages are all relative now. But it is harder to get into these big state schools than it used to be because the northeast kids who maybe applied to a D3 liberal arts school in the northeast 20 years ago (Williams, Colgate, etc) are now applying to the big southern schools. 20 yrs ago in my town I never heard of kids going to schools like Texas, TCU. Now it's common.