Searching for and choosing a college

[ski220]

My son got into UCONN

. The amount he qualified for was only $5K out of $36K bill. The rest is expected to come from us.

Glad to see my tax dollars going to an out of state person. $5K can buy alot of lift tickets.

When I went to UCONN ('79 - '83), instate tuition was only $600 - $650 a semester. Between WORKING and student loans I was able to pay my own way.

 

[severine]

Glad to see my tax dollars going to an out of state person. $5K can buy alot of lift tickets.

When I went to UCONN ('79 - '83), instate tuition was only $600 - $650 a semester. Between WORKING and student loans I was able to pay my own way.

In-state resident for tuition/fees (not housing or food) costs about $9K and that's for a regional campus; Storrs costs more. Classes (3-credits) cost somewhere around $1K each if you go part-time. Not cheap these days.

 

[ski220]

In-state resident for tuition/fees (not housing or food) costs about $9K and that's for a regional campus; Storrs costs more. Classes (3-credits) cost somewhere around $1K each if you go part-time. Not cheap these days.

First two years were at Stamford branch. Should have stated that. Then transfered to the big CONN. Hear it's a lot harder to get accepted nowadays as the cost of private schools is so much greater that there are many more applications then ( Oh my God) 30 years ago.

 

[severine]

First two years were at Stamford branch. Should have stated that. Then transfered to the big CONN. Hear it's a lot harder to get accepted nowadays as the cost of private schools is so much greater that there are many more applications then ( Oh my God) 30 years ago.

What you quoted is closer to what I paid for Northwestern Connecticut Community College 10 years ago: roughly $900/semester for full-time attendance. I lived 1 city away and worked (sometimes part-time, mostly full-time). It made sense.

 

[legalskier]

"10 Secrets to Raising More Than $15,000 for College"

Not sure how "secret" they are, but this may give you some ideas nevertheless:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnews/20091112/ts_usnews/10secretstoraisingmorethan15000forcollege

 

[hammer]

Bump for an op-ed article that I thought was interesting...

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/e...les/2010/04/15/the_myth_of_the_frankenstudent

What I can't figure is that we've been on four campus tours (one public, three private) and in each case the admissions folks said that the extra-curricular activities really weren't that important if your coursework and grades were solid.

 

[Warp Daddy]

Bump for an op-ed article that I thought was interesting...

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/e...les/2010/04/15/the_myth_of_the_frankenstudent

What I can't figure is that we've been on four campus tours (one public, three private) and in each case the admissions folks said that the extra-curricular activities really weren't that important if your coursework and grades were solid.

FWIW Lots of ambiguety exists in the so called "admissions process". Many believe it is overly "mystical" to create the notion of "perceived presitige" .. After all how else does a school justify a " champagne effect:" pricing policy where the MORE one pays supposedly relates to outcomes -------------Yea riiiiight !!!

Hey you know what : Don't OBSESS ---------------remember its just MARKETING!! -

From a common sense point of view You KNOW from YOUR own experience there are a multiplicity of successful individuals in the "real world " whom you KNOW and who do not fit "the profile " Relax , chill have the kid do their best but not become a damn compulsive in order to try to meet someone else 's myopic definition of what defines success . > Besides which if they are so damn sucesssful why in hell are they still working in college admissions-- that's entry level stuff -- sorry i'm on a roll here

Yes i'm playing here , but i've witnessed this "gamesmanship" for several decades --

A good student will perform best whereever they experience a " goodness of fit" as i explained earlier in this discussion .

Have fun and BTW great article !!!!

Warp

 

[WakeboardMom]

From a common sense point of view You KNOW from YOUR own experience there are a multiplicity of successful individuals in the "real world " whom you KNOW and who do not fit "the profile " Relax , chill have the kid do their best but not become a damn compulsive in order to try to meet someone else 's myopic definition of what defines success . > Besides which if they are so damn sucesssful why in hell are they still working in college admissions-- that's entry level stuff -- sorry i'm on a roll here

Yes i'm playing here , but i've witnessed this "gamesmanship" for several decades --

A good student will perform best whereever they experience a " goodness of fit" as i explained earlier in this discussion .

Have fun and BTW great article !!!!

Warp

YAY!!! Love this post!

Re: gamesmanship - My oldest was accepted a couple of upper tier private colleges; went to one and when the third one applied there he was waitlisted. Guidance counselor at the h.s. said, "We have never been able to figure out exactly what that college is looking for. There is no rhyme or reason to the acceptances that we can see."

I have four kids...the oldest 3 went to private colleges at great expense to them and us. Now we're kind of saying "WTF?" My husband says it's a scam. ; - )

Number 4 is a different kind of a kid; was never an honor roll student like her bros. She's is doing GREAT at state school. Woohoo!! She struggled in a tough h.s. environment and is doing swimmingly well now. She may actually make Dean's List, because, as WD said above, the school is a good fit!!

: - ) I love WD's post.

 

[Warp Daddy]

YAY!!! Love this post!

Re: gamesmanship - My oldest was accepted a couple of upper tier private colleges; went to one and when the third one applied there he was waitlisted. Guidance counselor at the h.s. said, "We have never been able to figure out exactly what that college is looking for. There is no rhyme or reason to the acceptances that we can see."

I have four kids...the oldest 3 went to private colleges at great expense to them and us. Now we're kind of saying "WTF?" My husband says it's a scam. ; - )

Number 4 is a different kind of a kid; was never an honor roll student like her bros. She's is doing GREAT at state school. Woohoo!! She struggled in a tough h.s. environment and is doing swimmingly well now. She may actually make Dean's List, because, as WD said above, the school is a good fit!!

: - ) I love WD's post.

Thanks WBM i appreciate your kind remarks !

I spent 35 yrs in the college business and am more than familiar with some of this nonsense . When i finally got to a postion where i could do something about it ------------- I DID and began to humanize the experience . I always figured our role as educators is to help potentially capable people develop THEIR potential straight up not play gotcha games

 

[severine]

I always figured our role as educators is to help potentially capable people develop THEIR potential straight up not play gotcha games

I wish more felt the same way that you do!

 

[Warp Daddy]

I wish more felt the same way that you do!

Thanks Carrie : it probably was in the "gene pool" for me. Had some great role models at home and then when i coached in college too i imagined that coaching was actually just a form of MORE "ACTIVE " teaching . You know set goals and expectations , drill and practice , observe performance and GIVE feedback both positive and negative and use an ACTIVE VISIBLE style and bring out the best in your players ,

S-o i used the same stuff in the CR then later on as a dean and prez---------------luved teaching folks and watching them stretch and grow . My motto was for my students and latrt the organization treat them not as they are , but as they COULD be UNTIL they prove me wrong . .

 

[hammer]

Now that my son's entering senior year, things will start to get interesting...he will be retaking the SATs (verbal scores were very good but his math score should come up a bit) and the college applications all seem to be due around mid January. He has 3 (maybe 4) schools on his list but he needs to research/pick a few more.

Now for a vent...not sure what everyone else's experience is/was, but after trying to resolve some class schedule issues for my son I'm convinced that his high school guidance department leaves quite a bit to be desired. How much does he really need to deal with them? I remember that when I went to school my guidance counselor was also of limited use...

 

[ctenidae]

It was about 20 years ago, but the only reason I knew who the guidance counselor was at my school was thather son and my younger brother were friends.
So, based on that, probably don't have to work with them much.

 

[billski]

I'm convinced that his high school guidance department leaves quite a bit to be desired. How much does he really need to deal with them? I remember that when I went to school my guidance counselor was also of limited use...

While it varies, just look at the numbers of students assigned to each GC. It's huge. There is no way you'll get much individualized attention. So you're kinda on your own for the most part. We've been through the process twice in the last three years and I'll tell you, it's all about the kid.

Now, it's also about the odds of getting in. If your GC has access to the Naviance system, get plugged in. It plots the 5-year acceptance rates from your school to each college, GPA vs. SAT/ACT. You then plug your kid into the chart and it is unbelievably accurate about acceptances. You didn't ask.

You've got to visit, if at all possible, as many of these picks as you can. There is a certain "vibe" that a kid can't articulate but can tell you right away if they will be comfortable there. you didn't ask.

Since one kid had no clue, and the second knows exactly what she wanted to be, the search was entirely different for each kid. My wife must have read the dossier's on at least 800 schools, something the kids were not going to do. There are some good books that go way beyond the academics and help guide you. You didn't ask.

One thing that a GC IS good for - knowing all the local scholarships. Get in there and apply to them all. There are ones for people who paint their toenails blue and ones for those who ski at night. There are several that go untapped every year. I hear about this ALL the time.

 

[gmcunni]

my son's a junior this year, we're getting started with the whole college process.. i just read a University of VT brochure while taking care of some business. i told jake to plan on scheduling his 2nd semester courses so he has no classes on Friday. that way i'll come up and crash on the couch Thursday nights so we can hit first tracks @ MRV resorts on Friday AMs

with regard to school staff (not teachers), i've been disappointed in past few dealings. i've come to realize that no matter what they say, they aren't looking out for my kid's best interest but rather "the system's"

 

[Puck it]

We had guidance counsler's???????

 

[gmcunni]

We had guidance counsler's???????

in my high school the guidance counselor was the varsity basketball coach.....

 

[mlctvt]

in my high school the guidance counselor was the varsity basketball coach.....

Ther was 1 in my high school. 1 GC for 600+ kids.
I never saw him.

 

[mondeo]

We were forced to see the guidance counselor for course selection and some college stuff.

There would have been better uses of my time.

 

[hammer]

While it varies, just look at the numbers of students assigned to each GC. It's huge. There is no way you'll get much individualized attention. So you're kinda on your own for the most part. We've been through the process twice in the last three years and I'll tell you, it's all about the kid.

Now, it's also about the odds of getting in. If your GC has access to the Naviance system, get plugged in. It plots the 5-year acceptance rates from your school to each college, GPA vs. SAT/ACT. You then plug your kid into the chart and it is unbelievably accurate about acceptances. You didn't ask.

You've got to visit, if at all possible, as many of these picks as you can. There is a certain "vibe" that a kid can't articulate but can tell you right away if they will be comfortable there. you didn't ask.

Since one kid had no clue, and the second knows exactly what she wanted to be, the search was entirely different for each kid. My wife must have read the dossier's on at least 800 schools, something the kids were not going to do. There are some good books that go way beyond the academics and help guide you. You didn't ask.

One thing that a GC IS good for - knowing all the local scholarships. Get in there and apply to them all. There are ones for people who paint their toenails blue and ones for those who ski at night. There are several that go untapped every year. I hear about this ALL the time.

I don't mind that my son needs to take some initiative (that's a separate issue of its own) but that the guidance department doesn't seem to really know how to help us when we do ask a question. Basically the last time we asked about colleges all we got was an "it depends" answer and a suggestion to look at collegeboard.com.

I'll have to ask about naviance...never heard about it before.

Hear you on the "vibe" part of the visits. We tend to only listen to part of the tours...they will all tell you that the food is great, class sizes aren't an issue, the campus is safe, professors are very reachable, etc. Main think we do is follow the tour around campus, look around, and see how our son reacts.