Fantasy Football - Footballguys Forums
This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
College Admissions Questions (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter NewlyRetired
- Start date
The_Man
Footballguy
This is the absolute truth. As a boy interested in the humanities, my son verged on benefiting from affirmative action. It is super tough out there for girls.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Daughter got into Conn College. She picked up 20k in merit plus another $6k in federal grants per year.
Wesleyan is up next I think some time today.
Wesleyan is up next I think some time today.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
For my daughter this appears to have played out based on her test scores.
* She was flat out rejected by Northeastern (no wait list or anything like that). We figure she did not even pass the very first filter because of her test scores to even glance at the rest of her app. With 54k applications, they have to use fairly wide filters to get them to a manageable number that they can actually look at.
* At Conn College she was accepted with a $20k Trustee scholarship (merit).
* At Trinity she was accepted with a full tuition paid ($52k next year, all merit).
I told her I am going to buy her a t-shirt that reads "Test Optional Schools Rule"
Last edited by a moderator:
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
can one or more of you guys comment on this email I would like to write to Wheaton?
Note: I use the term "out of pocket" since Wheaton is slightly cheaper (~$6k per year) than Trinity.
I would prefer sending this via email since I suck on the phone. I assume I should send this to admissions?
Thanks for any help you can give.
===============================================
Hello,
My daughter, Amanda XXXX, has been accepted to Wheaton as a Balfour Scholar. She is extremely happy and proud.
We believe that Wheaton is her top choice, but she has received offers from other schools as well.
I am including a pdf file of an offer she received from Trinity College.
Would you be willing to consider, if it is at all possible, to close the out of pocket financial gap between Wheaton and Trinity?
Thank you again for your acceptance of Amanda and thank you for taking this time to consider this.
NewlyRetired
Note: I use the term "out of pocket" since Wheaton is slightly cheaper (~$6k per year) than Trinity.
I would prefer sending this via email since I suck on the phone. I assume I should send this to admissions?
Thanks for any help you can give.
===============================================
Hello,
My daughter, Amanda XXXX, has been accepted to Wheaton as a Balfour Scholar. She is extremely happy and proud.
We believe that Wheaton is her top choice, but she has received offers from other schools as well.
I am including a pdf file of an offer she received from Trinity College.
Would you be willing to consider, if it is at all possible, to close the out of pocket financial gap between Wheaton and Trinity?
Thank you again for your acceptance of Amanda and thank you for taking this time to consider this.
NewlyRetired
Last edited by a moderator:
Fear The Turtle
Footballguy
You should send this to the financial aid office and not admissions, right? I like the email idea and the specific email you've written: you get across how happy she is to have been accepted at Wheaton while also showing that she's an "in demand" student. You point out that she PREFERS their school over these other prestigious universities, even if it costs her more money. You're just politely asking for some more aid to make the decision easy.
Of course, remember that I'm like you in sucking at negotiations. Don't know if it would still be worth your while to get a pro to call and directly talk to the aid officer. The pro might be able to adeptly thrust and parry on the phone and squeeze out even more from the school. I guess you could still do that after you receive the initial response from the email if you're not happy with it.
I knew Brown was her top choice but I didn't realize that Wheaton was second (or third to Wesleyan). Or at least that's what it sounds like.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Daughter was wait listed at Wesleyan. I think that ends it for us.
We have three to choose from, Conn College, Trinity and Wheaton. I think it is going to come down to Wheaton and Trinity and whether Wheaton can close the financial gap even a little. Time to set up visits again for a second look.
I have to say I am relieved. I hated the fact that we were looking at a near $300k expense in a major that is going to be next to impossible to get a job. These scholarships take such a huge chunk of the expense, I feel so much better.
We have three to choose from, Conn College, Trinity and Wheaton. I think it is going to come down to Wheaton and Trinity and whether Wheaton can close the financial gap even a little. Time to set up visits again for a second look.
I have to say I am relieved. I hated the fact that we were looking at a near $300k expense in a major that is going to be next to impossible to get a job. These scholarships take such a huge chunk of the expense, I feel so much better.
Fear The Turtle
Footballguy
You've still got the Hail Mary at Brown, right, or have they released already? In any event, three great choices at much, much less than you thought you were going to have to spend. Great job.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
god bless her because she works hard but my daughter has a lot of issues (both physical and mental).
I think she prefers Wheaton because it is closer by and feels like she could come home easier than the Connecticut schools. We have been pounding into her head since she entered high school that she has to live in a dorm so at least she knows she will have to do that. If my daughter did not have to go to school everyday, she would never leave the house so living on campus is a must to try and get her to evolve at all as an adult.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
yeah Brown is next week but I am not even considering it. They would have had to made a mistake for her to get in imo.
Last edited by a moderator:
The_Man
Footballguy
On my phone so I'll write more tomorrow. But I encourage you to talk to your daughter before you write Wheaton. Is it truly her top choice? Also, what specifically are you asking them to add to your package? If you make it seem like you are hoping they'll match Trinity (which they are unlikely to do) they might not sweeten their offer at all. Also, they don't want to bid vs themselves. I think if you can very specifically say Wheaton is her top choice and she'll eagerly enroll if they split the difference between their current package and Trinity's (or whatever you're hoping to get), it's going to be more effective. While your offer isn't legally binding, it will let them know you're not out there shopping Trinity's offer around to a bunch of schools to see who offers you the best package.
I would send it to the Director of Financial Aid and cc the Dean of Admissions - or whoever the top admissions person is. Since you don't like to negotiate, do it by email at first. If you don't hear back in a few days, follow up with another email and ask if there's a time you can discuss by phone.
On a personal note, as a Trinity alum, it sounds like your daughter might not love the social climate there. She is the kind of kid they're trying to attract - hence the full ride - but not the kind of kid who presently is in great supply
I would send it to the Director of Financial Aid and cc the Dean of Admissions - or whoever the top admissions person is. Since you don't like to negotiate, do it by email at first. If you don't hear back in a few days, follow up with another email and ask if there's a time you can discuss by phone.
On a personal note, as a Trinity alum, it sounds like your daughter might not love the social climate there. She is the kind of kid they're trying to attract - hence the full ride - but not the kind of kid who presently is in great supply
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Thank you for the info.
I think Wheaton is her top choice. I will make it more clear in the letter that I am not shopping multiple schools (which is true) and that if the gap closes, she will choose Wheaton.
My daughter will not enjoy the social climate anywhere, so the choice of school won't matter too much.
I don't know what to ask Wheaton for specifically, I just want to see if they can close the gap a bit. I don't want to ask for too little or too much.
I was following the advice from this article #3 which explains what to do when looking for more merit.
http://time.com/money/collection-post/4285135/how-to-negotiate-college-financial-aid/
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
wow, I did not realize you had to apply to public schools NYC. Up here in Mass., public schools are all district based and if you live in the designated district of the school you go there.
So does NY end up having tiers of public schools like colleges where the "smarter" kids go to one school and the next level to the next and so on?
Last edited by a moderator:
El Floppo
Footballguy
That's exactly what happens. And there are tiers within tiers, as some are per district and others are city-wide. Plus you have to rank the schools in your application, and from what I understand, the to schools will only accept the kid if they rank the school#1. Public HS applications apparently make this look silly.
Fwiw, this is NYC only. Once you're out of the city, less goofy.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
I have a financial question.
When one has a 529 plan, how do you access the money to pay for things like books, deposits and other smaller bills? I think I know for the big tuition payments how to do it but am unsure how to get the money for the smaller things.
Can a 529 plan be used to purchase a laptop for the student?
When one has a 529 plan, how do you access the money to pay for things like books, deposits and other smaller bills? I think I know for the big tuition payments how to do it but am unsure how to get the money for the smaller things.
Can a 529 plan be used to purchase a laptop for the student?
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
so while I mentioned before, that I learned a lot about the essay's importance, I did not learn anything about the interview's importance as my daughter was too scared to do it any where but Brown and she only did Brown because they set it all up and she felt obligated.
In an ironic way, I almost think my daughter not interviewing may have helped her at a few schools, which is kind of backwards from how you think it should work, but I can't say that with any real conviction since it would just be a total guess.
I have to assume that for most students, an interview should be a net positive, however small.
In an ironic way, I almost think my daughter not interviewing may have helped her at a few schools, which is kind of backwards from how you think it should work, but I can't say that with any real conviction since it would just be a total guess.
I have to assume that for most students, an interview should be a net positive, however small.
Fear The Turtle
Footballguy
D got accepted at Bucknell, for engineering. One of the few we actually visited. I loved everything about it. Her, not so much. In the middle of nowhere.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
I have heard of Bucknell my whole life but never knew where it was. Where is it located?
Fear The Turtle
Footballguy
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Fear, are you visiting any of the schools on their designated days or are you just going when you can? From the schools my kid got into, it looks looks like all are arranging full days for the admitted students to visit and do things. We are headed to "Trinity day" on April 10th.
My poor daughter is concerned about missing one day of high school in the 4th quarter of her senior year
My poor daughter is concerned about missing one day of high school in the 4th quarter of her senior year
Fear The Turtle
Footballguy
We've gone when we could, though my daughter did go for UMD's admitted students day. We are planning a spring break worldwind tour at schools that have accepted her and three of those visits will be on the school's official day. By the way, one of my daughter's lasting memories about our trip to Bucknell was the presence 5-10 miles from campus of a few stores or "warehouses" that sold adult films.Fear, are you visiting any of the schools on their designated days or are you just going when you can? From the schools my kid got into, it looks looks like all are arranging full days for the admitted students to visit and do things. We are headed to "Trinity day" on April 10th.
My poor daughter is concerned about missing one day of high school in the 4th quarter of her senior year
The Z Machine
Footballguy
Nephew got admitted to Carnegie Melon in Engineeing, but not Computer Science. He got accepted to USC (LA) in Computer Science. He wants to study AI and Robotics.
Thoughts on these two schools?
Thoughts on these two schools?
James Daulton
Footballguy
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Wife just asked my if my daughter is suppose to respond to the various acceptance\scholarship emails with a thank you note.
Is there an etiquette here?
Is there an etiquette here?
Fear The Turtle
Footballguy
Don't know anything about USC but a friend of mine and his daughter both went to Carnegie Melon. They rave about it. One bit of advice: the daughter took AP Calc in high school and got a nice AP test result. She decided to take the credit and bypass the Intro Calc at CM. Big mistake. She really struggled in her first Calc class. Sharp kid, too.
The_Man
Footballguy
I can't comment on the specific departments. But everyone raves about Carnegie Mellon - the size and personalized attention typical of a tiptop liberal arts school, but in primarily scientific disciplines rather than the humanities. Though the student body has the reputation of being kind of nerdy, but happily so. USC is obviously going to have a far different climate (both weatherwise and culturally). Two great, though very different, choices.
I have 2 in college now and usually have funds transferred from 529 directly into bank account twice a year to help fund/pay for the January and July bills. Schools will send you tax form only for housing, tuition etc. but I know you can include books - not sure on laptop. Don't see the point of withdrawing money specifically for books.. If tuition 20k then just withdraw $20,500 so you have $500 left for books.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Thank you. I was unsure if I had to provide receipts to prove I was using the 529 money for things like books.
James Daulton
Footballguy
Anybody with experience with the pre-paid plans? I'm kicking myself for choosing this plan rather than the market plan, but at the time the market was collapsing and college tuition seemed to be rising almost double digits per year. Locking in the price seemed like an obvious choice. Anyway, how does one access the money?
SteelCurtain
Footballguy
No need to respond. The nice courtesy is when your daughter has decided and sent in her deposit to her school, she should notify the other schools that she will not be attending.
The_Man
Footballguy
One other note - have your nephew email the Department chair at both departments, saying he wants to study AI and Robotics and asking about the departments' strengths in those areas. The kind of response and attention he gets will tell you a lot about how each department view undergraduates.
My son was really torn between Georgetown and Brown, and as a prospective Mideast Studies major had some specific questions about what level of Arabic he should start in as a freshman, based on his circumstances. I was blown away by the level of responsiveness he got from both schools, but Brown went the extra mile to not only answer his questions but also put him in touch with the undergraduate student leader of the department who took him out for coffee during the accepted student visit day.
No receipts needed for books or other items as I just came back from my accountant a week ago. I did have forms that both colleges sent. We actually made a mistake in that took out expenses from 529 plan twice in 2016 but didn't pay spring semester until January 2017 so hold off withdrawing from 529 until January. .NewlyRetired said:
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Interesting. I would have figured that receipts would be needed in the case of an audit but not for the tax prep itself.
I did verify that computers are considered a qualified expense that you can use 529 money for.
belljr
Footballguy
i remember when I pulled my 529 - I was surprised I wasn't asked for anything.
First one graduates in JUne!!!! Everything is almost paid off.
A small "break" before my youngest starts. She's in 6th
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
I have mentioned earlier that my daughter hates attention and being singled out for any reason, even if it is a good thing.
Today the principle got on the loud speaker system and announced to the entire high school about her acceptance and full scholarship to Trinity.
The poor little thing was mortified
At least she can blame me for that (I sent a thank you note yesterday to the counselor that wrote her recommendation)
======================================
On a related note, she told me she is going to choose Trinity and to not bother trying to get more money out of Wheaton. We are going to hold the deposit until we visit a second time during Trinity open house day for admitted students. My niece is a senior at Trinity so she is going to tag along to help my daughter get more comfortable.
=============================================================================
I am so glad this process is 99.5% over. Thank you to everyone in this thread who has offered opinions, advice and good wishes. It is very much appreciated!
Today the principle got on the loud speaker system and announced to the entire high school about her acceptance and full scholarship to Trinity.
The poor little thing was mortified
At least she can blame me for that (I sent a thank you note yesterday to the counselor that wrote her recommendation)
======================================
On a related note, she told me she is going to choose Trinity and to not bother trying to get more money out of Wheaton. We are going to hold the deposit until we visit a second time during Trinity open house day for admitted students. My niece is a senior at Trinity so she is going to tag along to help my daughter get more comfortable.
=============================================================================
I am so glad this process is 99.5% over. Thank you to everyone in this thread who has offered opinions, advice and good wishes. It is very much appreciated!
Fear The Turtle
Footballguy
Post made my day. Her choice of Trinity shows she's ready to spread her wings a little, no? Really like that her cousin can provide support and advice. The best of luck to her.I have mentioned earlier that my daughter hates attention and being singled out for any reason, even if it is a good thing.
Today the principle got on the loud speaker system and announced to the entire high school about her acceptance and full scholarship to Trinity.
The poor little thing was mortified
At least she can blame me for that (I sent a thank you note yesterday to the counselor that wrote her recommendation)
======================================
On a related note, she told me she is going to choose Trinity and to not bother trying to get more money out of Wheaton. We are going to hold the deposit until we visit a second time during Trinity open house day for admitted students. My niece is a senior at Trinity so she is going to tag along to help my daughter get more comfortable.
=============================================================================
I am so glad this process is 99.5% over. Thank you to everyone in this thread who has offered opinions, advice and good wishes. It is very much appreciated!
The_Man
Footballguy
Go Bantams!
That being said, don't put down the deposit yet and I would say don't even abandon trying for more $ from Wheaton.
Exactly a year ago today, my son was set for Georgetown. Went back there and one other school for his accepted student visits and realized it wasn't the place for him after all. I would encourage you to visit more than one school
That being said, don't put down the deposit yet and I would say don't even abandon trying for more $ from Wheaton.
Exactly a year ago today, my son was set for Georgetown. Went back there and one other school for his accepted student visits and realized it wasn't the place for him after all. I would encourage you to visit more than one school
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
Receipts would be needed if audited. I don't think I've ever seen an audit of 529 withdrawals, but to be fair I don't really see a ton of 529 withdrawals.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
we are not putting down the deposit yet. We are not going to worry about that until she visits Trinity one more time and spends all day there.
We have already visited every school she has been accepted to once.
Trinity is the first school that has the open house type day so we will see how it goes from there, But unless that day ends up as a mess, I think that is where she is going to end up.
Last edited by a moderator:
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
I don't think so. My daughter is fairly practical. She understands Trinity is a better school and she understands she will have a lot more money to get her life started with. I don't think it is much more than this. She was a little worried about the distance but I told her Trinity is only about 45 minutes further away than Wheaton and is closer than Conn College, so that made her feel better.
We told her what ever is left in her 529 plan is hers after taxes are taken out when she graduates. With the full scholarship she is going to have a ton left over for grad school or what ever she needs after college.
I think she must have decided on Trinity a while ago because she told us as soon as she found out she did not get into Brown today.
Last edited by a moderator:
Fear The Turtle
Footballguy
Daughter accepted at Duke! Hard to comprehend really.
Fear The Turtle
Footballguy
D rejected by Michigan. So, basically, Harbaugh can kiss my big fat shiny one.
James Daulton
Footballguy
Accepted at Duke but rejected by Michigan? WTF?D rejected by Michigan. So, basically, Harbaugh can kiss my big fat shiny one.
James Daulton
Footballguy
Put down the deposit for Maryland today for my daughter. After 4 dumb ### boys between my sister and me, finally we have another Terp in the family!
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Some state\public schools have very low acceptance rates for kids that don't live in the state.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
The_Man
Footballguy
Most schools have shared stats on acceptance rates for the Class of 2021
Stanford: 4.7%
Harvard: 5.2%
Columbia: 5.8%
Princeton: 6.1%
Yale: 6.9%
MIT: 7.1%
Pomona: 8.2%
Brown: 8.3%
Northwestern: 9.0%
Duke: 9.1%
University of Pennsylvania: 9.2%
Swarthmore: 10.2%
Dartmouth: 10.4%
Johns Hopkins: 11.8%
Cornell: 12.5%
Bowdoin: 13.4%
Williams: 14.6%
Colorado College: 14.7%
Barnard: 14.8%
Georgetown: 15.4%
Wesleyan: 15.4%
Washington University in St. Louis: 16%
University of Southern California: 16%
Haverford: 19.4%
Middlebury: 19.7%
Carleton: 20%
Wellesley: 21%
Emory: 21.8%
Georgia Tech: 23.2%
Boston University: 25%
Wake Forest: 26.9%
University of Virginia: 27.1%
Trinity College: 27.7%
Oxford (Emory): 29%
Boston College: 32.3%
University of Florida: 38.9%
Stanford: 4.7%
Harvard: 5.2%
Columbia: 5.8%
Princeton: 6.1%
Yale: 6.9%
MIT: 7.1%
Pomona: 8.2%
Brown: 8.3%
Northwestern: 9.0%
Duke: 9.1%
University of Pennsylvania: 9.2%
Swarthmore: 10.2%
Dartmouth: 10.4%
Johns Hopkins: 11.8%
Cornell: 12.5%
Bowdoin: 13.4%
Williams: 14.6%
Colorado College: 14.7%
Barnard: 14.8%
Georgetown: 15.4%
Wesleyan: 15.4%
Washington University in St. Louis: 16%
University of Southern California: 16%
Haverford: 19.4%
Middlebury: 19.7%
Carleton: 20%
Wellesley: 21%
Emory: 21.8%
Georgia Tech: 23.2%
Boston University: 25%
Wake Forest: 26.9%
University of Virginia: 27.1%
Trinity College: 27.7%
Oxford (Emory): 29%
Boston College: 32.3%
University of Florida: 38.9%
James Daulton
Footballguy
So weird since many school are the opposite. And good enough to get into a top 15 school like Duke but not Michigan (no hate on Michigan I know it's a good school but it's not Duke).
Similar threads
