Approach to visits

melcunnin · Mac Daddy

Approach to visits

Jamie · Mac Daddy

Averys in the same boat. He is aware that we will not have the financing backing to pay for college so merits, scholarships and loans are the route he will need to take. He wants to stay in the New England area, within 3 hr drive so he can get home if he wants. He is looking at animal sciences such as Marine biology, zoologist, or herpetologist (not vet) He had a few is interest there we meet at the college fair. We are looking to get a tour setup for spring break of the following schools:
UCONN
Rutgers
University of Rhode Island
Roger Williams College
University of New Hampshire

I would love feedback if anyone has any to share.

Jan · Super Tribie

Our options are going to be somewhat limited for Cassidy (currently a junior). She is very smart, but doesn't always apply herself if she doesn't like the class or the teacher, and that is reflected in some of her grades. She in the marching/concert band (she's a section leader this year) and is in the drama club. She is really hoping to be in a college marching band and study music education, so that limits her options even more because it's usually the big schools that have a marching band and it's pretty unlikely she'd get into any of those schools. DH doesn't think she'll qualify for financial assistance because of his income, but we can't afford anything super expensive. We have to think about Lainey, too, who is graduating in 2027.

Right now, the only school we have really come up with is CCSU and we have a tour scheduled for next Wednesday. We are not interested in Southern or Eastern because of their locations. URI may be a possibility, based on what their website says about their admission requirements.

Honestly, I get slightly overwhelmed just thinking about this. We have no idea what we're doing. LOL

-- Edited by Jan on Tuesday 21st of November 2023 07:01:47 PM

Melany · Yo Mama

Evan is a senior this year. He has visited Uconn, Westfield, Quinnipiac, and Eastern CT. He has applied to all of those (minus Westfield which he didn't like) He's also applied to Bentley and Syracuse. If he gets accepted to either of those we will visit before he makes a decision. Right now Uconn and Quinnipiac are his top choices. Quinnipiac has a program where he can get his BS and MS in 4 years so I think he's leaning that way. Ryan is a junior this year so I want him to start thinking about where he may want to visit by this summer.

LaurMoore · Yo Mama

Andrew is thinking biomedical engineering or chemical engineering. He has only expressed interest in UCONN and Purdue. We were just talking with him tonight about other schools he would want to look at. My husband needs to do a mileage run next month. Andrew couldnt come up with anywhere else. Its frustrating but I would love to see him at UCONN and close to home. Plus all of those ece credits would definitely transfer!

JenS · Super Tribie

Will is interested in engineering and so far has no interest in going out of state. Right now he is going to apply to Clemson, Univ of SC, and our local community college which offers an engineering program that feeds directly to Clemson, USC, and the Citadel night school ( non military option). Under that program he would do his first two years & general education/intro courses at the community college, graduate with an associates and then feeds directly into the last 2 years at one of the partner schools. The application process is a bi involved-you have to apply to the program, which is likely limited acceptance.

While SC is backwards on many things I really like their approach to college- any kid in the top 30% of their class gets an automatic scholarship thats enough to cover the cost of tuition, books, and fees for their associates. If you are higher up in the class or hit GPA and SAT or ACT score thresholds additional funds are unlocked. Knocking out the first two years for free would be amazing. If my research is right there is an extra scholarship from the feeder program that kicks in once you transfer to the 4 year school.

There is also the option of going straight to work for one of the major manufacturers in the area, full tuition reimbursement is a common job benefit, so Will has not ruled out getting a full time job after getting an associates and finishing off the degree at night on the companys dime.

I hope he opts for the feeder program, I dont want him to miss out on college life completely.

-- Edited by JenS on Friday 24th of November 2023 07:08:24 AM

TnP102304 · Super Tribie

Jan wrote:
Our options are going to be somewhat limited for Cassidy (currently a junior). She is very smart, but doesn't always apply herself if she doesn't like the class or the teacher, and that is reflected in some of her grades. She in the marching/concert band (she's a section leader this year) and is in the drama club. She is really hoping to be in a college marching band and study music education, so that limits her options even more because it's usually the big schools that have a marching band and it's pretty unlikely she'd get into any of those schools. DH doesn't think she'll qualify for financial assistance because of his income, but we can't afford anything super expensive. We have to think about Lainey, too, who is graduating in 2027.

Right now, the only school we have really come up with is CCSU and we have a tour scheduled for next Wednesday. We are not interested in Southern or Eastern because of their locations. URI may be a possibility, based on what their website says about their admission requirements.

Honestly, I get slightly overwhelmed just thinking about this. We have no idea what we're doing. LOL

-- Edited by Jan on Tuesday 21st of November 2023 07:01:47 PM

Jan, you might want to add Ithaca College to your list, if it's not too far. I'm not sure about marching band, but they have an incredible music program and that's where E's choir instructor went. A few of last year's graduating seniors are there now for music ed, and it's definitely on our list to look at (E's not interested in music ed, but definitely wants to keep singing/acting in college). It also happens to be my brother's alma mater and he enjoyed his time there.

TnP102304 · Super Tribie

We have NO IDEA what we're doing LOL. Elizabeth has no schools in mind and isn't even sure what she wants to study, but she's leaning towards marine science of some sort, as she's passionate about the ocean (being on and in it!). I have a list of schools to look at ranging in size, location and competitiveness. I think we'll spend April break doing the Maine and Massachusetts schools (Bates, Bowdoin, Colby; BC, Emerson, Mt. Holyoke, Williams) and then hit the upper NY schools at some point (Ithaca, Cornell, Hamilton). Obviously URI and Avery Point are on our list for the marine science aspect, but since she's not 100% sure, I think a liberal arts school that will introduce to things she doesn't even realize are possible would be better.

It's unlikely we'll qualify for financial aid, but I love that some of the schools on my list are included here: www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/schools-that-meet-full-financial-need-with-no-loans

jordan · Yo Mama

Nate would like to go to a service academy. His original focus was Air Force Academy, but currently it's between Naval Academy and Coast Guard with Air Force as his third option. We started the process with applications to the various summer programs for the academies that you go to between Junior and Senior year. He did got into the Academy Introduction Mission at Coast Guard (a week long intensive program) and really loved it. We then toured Naval Academy on our way home. He was then invited to a Candidate Experience Weekend at Naval where he shadowed a plebe for two nights and got to go to classes etc. These programs were great for really getting the feel of the schools. We're working on a visit to Air Force but at this point with it lower on the ranking and expensive to get to I'm not sure we'll get out there.

With the service academies outside of Coast Guard you need a Nomination, most come from your Congressman or Senator, but there are a few other routes like Vice President. The open around July before Senior year and close around October. We applied to each of our representatives which required essays, resumes, LOR's, transcripts, fitness evaluations, etc. He was turned down by one outright, had an interview with the Air Force rep and the Navy committee for the other. He received a call back from the third and may have an interview for Navy. We received a call the day before Thanksgiving and he will receive a nomination for both Navy & Air Force from the one he interviewed with (HUGE relief).

At the same time we've been working on the applications. We did early application for Coast Guard which we should hear back from soon. Then Air Force and Navy. All require lengthy applications, LORs, essays, transcripts, fitness evaluations, medical evaluation, etc. With each of the academies you can either get a direct appointment, be deferred (if doing early application), get sent to NAPS or CGAS (which are prep schools), or get declined. If you're declined you have the option to "self-prep" at a variety of military colleges, go to regular college and reapply or join the military and reapply.

He's also applied for the professional flight programs at Embry-Riddle (and was accepted), Middle Tennessee State (my niece goes there and they have a great flight program - he was accepted), Purdue and Auburn. If he goes to one of those he'll do ROTC (which is another application similar to the academies). Ideally he'll get into one of the academies or get sent to prep. If not we're leaning towards self-prep since this is really the route he'd like to go.

If anyone has any questions on this route reach out. It's complex, but there are a lot of resources available.

Erica · Super Tribie

So far we have a very basic path that's missing pieces. J feels strongly that she doesn't want to stay in CT and wants to go to a HBCU. She's currently choosing her shop of choice (goes to a tech school) and her top 4 are ACM (aerospace component manufacturing), criminal justice, cosmetology and culinary. She very much wants to continue her education post high school even with graduating certified to work. The shop she chooses will determine her major, so either business/entrepreneurship, criminal justice or aerospace/engineering. Thanks to Kara and Liz we're aware of HBCU college fairs near us, so the plan is to attend those in 2024 so she can start narrowing down which schools she's interested in. There are far more HCBU's than I realized and we're going to need to figure out which will suit her best outside of just being a HBCU.