I would love for my son to get a job/internship over the summer. As long as he lives on campus he will not have a car because of parking unless he's coming home often. That's one thing I worry about. The cheap dorms being far away from his classes. instead of the centralized dorms. The campus alone is about 2.5 miles total. I think we're going to set up the loans and try work study the first semester.

We lived in an unsafe area around there years ago our apartment would be $800+ utilities (so $400+ utilities if they set it up like a double dorm room like we did). However none of his friends are going to this university. Most kids stay local and finish their BA/BS at our local college, the satellite campus, or commute to a private school. He wants THIS school, if the school did early decision this is where he would pick. The bus system there is great (and free for students) but because of the area I wouldn't want him walking around. Yes, the area is that bad plagued with violence, and drugs. I know it's who you know that's the issue but I don't want to chance it. I'll talk it over with my family though.

The area that is nearby caters to students. So they offer apartments that are per room rent with everything included. A little outside the area is not the best neighborhood and would have to have a car. We're in a cheap complex 45 min-70 min away and our 3 bedroom in our complex is $1500 w/o utilities. It's cheaper then the dorms though.

I figured he'd go in and stay the same amount of time doing homework, hanging out with friends, doing clubs and then go home. I guess because I did it. Bus not drive, I figured driving would be a bit easier and not a big deal. We use to go from 6 am - 7 (8)pm on campus.

I wouldn't feel comfortable with him off campus without a car. It's ~$610/month. He wouldn't have a co-signer so most likely won't be able to get an apartment.

The pell grant would be given to him in a "refund" for educational expenses meaning commuting. He would use that to commute. However we are not going to have him commute unless there's no way to pay for dorms. He doesn't have the option to move to his own apartment unless on campus until after he gets a full time job. I think off campus housing will take away a lot of the reasons why he wants the dorms. He wants a room mate, he wants all the cafeteria's and all you can eat food, he wants all the clubs and activities. He may not want it after the first semester but as of now he wants the dorms. My son knows all my concerns. He wants to figure everything else out later after his university package comes back. I feel that's to late to apply for other scholarships or attempt working to make up for the balance. He wants to see about accommodations and his other options to alleviate how much time he spends on school work.

They charged per credit in FL not just full time is X amount even at university level. He's heading into the university with 96 transferable credits towards his major. So 12 credits/semester gets him out in 2 years. I really don't think he can handle 15 credits a semester at university level and keep a 3.0. So any scholarship with 15 credit requirement he may have to pass up meaning the university scholarships but the state scholarship only requires full time (12 credits) so he's good there. I didn't think of a "fluff" class. I'll recommend that to him.

I was disappointed in FLVS's Human Geography but their other AP courses seemed fine. He did not pass the AP exam. I think it was that particular teacher though.

My son is doing comp II right now per week. He has a weekly paper (2 page w. references), 3 weekly (200-500 word) discussion posts, 2 (5-page papers w. references). He never was a writer so we focused on grammar, spelling, word usage, putting together a strong paragraph. Then how to make that paragraph an outline and flesh it out. He hardly wrote in 9-10 grade but concludes ENG 1101. ENG 1102 are both easy. It's a community college so it may be easier then a university.

Yes but that's only $3k. He'd still have to take out $2.5k in unsub. but no private loans. He wouldn't qualify either. He would take our car. The thing is all the jobs in his major are around that far away too. So I thought it was fine as he'll make commute when he graduates. He is a rising senior and applications go in next Monday. I want to make sure I've thought of every possibility before allowing my son to apply. The worse thing that could happen is us to spend the money to apply, him get in and not be able to go because of money especially if it's a couple hundred dollars short. Yes they're all DE courses + a lab. He has no at home courses but his DE is a mix of online and in person. Usually he does only 4 classes and 2 summer classes but he's graduating May. If this semester doesn't go well he will drop down but that will increase his workload at University level and possibly extend the time at University.

We live in FL. The State scholarship is solid. Room, board and food together are 11k. (cheapest dorm, best food plan because it's only $100 difference between meal plan 1 and 2) So with the pell grant he'll need a little under $5k which can be covered by loans or work study if he gets it. I would love to cover the $5k left especially because I don't believe in loans.

State scholarship (pays tuition+$300 book voucher) Has to keep a 3.0 to keep it. (12 credits a semester required) Pell $6,195 University merit scholarship (possibly) (15 credits a semester) loans/work study

He knows, but again he spends most of his waking hours getting through school. He has 1 day he does co-op and 1 night he spends at a friend's house. Currently he's doing 1 class and he spends hours a day just trying to focus long enough to do it. We've developed a plan to make his days shorter. Right now he's visiting family, taking a class on-line and July he'll be getting his volunteer hours in for the state scholarship. He has an internship next semester and if he holds 5 classes + 1 lab well then we'll see about a job but school, and scholarships I want to be his main focus. Yes we will but we only spend about $300 month on food. That extra will be going to him or insurance.

That's what we're trying to figure out. My husband feels he can just get scholarships to cover it and he will try but it's not like they hand them out easily. I'm not sure we can help him more then essential toiletries. He's basically on his own (financially) when he turns 18 and moves out. I'm hoping to at least pay his interest while in school and get him a secured credit card for college. He needs to keep a 3.0 gpa to keep his state scholarship because if he doesn't do that there's no possibility of the dorms. I may have him get seasonal jobs between now and college entrance.

I think because books are one of the most expensive parts that are required. Getting them off campus generally means out of pocket expense which often the parent picks up.

The school has that posted where they list the student jobs. When he transfers he'll only need 48 (3-400 level) credits to graduate. It's 1 extra class a semester but 2 extra classes a year that's where I got the 2 classes and $1,700. We're trying 5 classes + a lab this semester to see if he can handle it with support. I'm hoping he will be able to handle the load so we know he'll handle it when he's in an university. At home he takes a mix of online and in-person classes. I know online can be harder (at least for him) then in person. He plans to do all classes in person when at the university.

No he wouldn't have a car on campus. They have everything there including a publix. Dorms with meal plan come to $11 k a year. So $11 k - car operating fees. So first year save maybe $3k. Second year save $6k. We're unsure about a job because they say for every student job there's 7 applicants. We thought he'd only have to do 12 credits a semester but if he gets a scholarship through the university he's required to take 15 credits a semester or also attend summer semester. If the scholarship isn't $1,700 a year we won't accept it as it will cost him more to take those 2 extra classes. He has some attention issues that make doing homework take all day/evening. Working 20 hrs a week may just not be in the cards for him while attending school. However he can work in the summers.

I have no idea they don't say but they make about $20k a year or more on it.

I would have my son take the gap year option. Then he could study at his leisure, explore interests, get a job and relax after all the hard work to get into VT.

He would prefer dorms.

I want my son to commute 45 min-70 min one way in high traffic (varies due to accidents on the bridge). My husband wants my son to stay in the dorms. We can’t help him financially. His tuition and books are paid and he’ll have money left over either for dorms or commuting. It wouldn’t cover all the dorms so he would have to take out loans. He may or may not get a job. Currently he does DE and it takes him all day to complete everything. He completes work slowly. So concentrating on completing school work is important. My husband’s fear is him driving in that traffic, him not feeling connected to the campus, finding friends, the 2+ hours a day taken away from studies, that he’ll just STOP going and things like that. My issues are financial. If he did commute he’d save about $11k a year, have his own room. However he would have to buy a reliable car, insurance, gas, AAA, maintenance and a meal plan. He wouldn’t have a car if he lived on campus. I’m not sure if my idea will cost more, essentially the same, or actually less. I really don’t want him starting out with debt. What would you advise?

I don't know the answer. I would look into what the grad school wants. Have you compared the classes of each program? UFL doesn't specify whether it has to be a BSME but it does have to be ABET accredited

It's $195 for students. It's 2 days, over night, all meals and activities included. For parents it's $150 2 days, all meals and activities included but no hotel.

We most likely will not be going to orientation as his chosen school here charge an extra $150 for a parent to go. Is that standard?

My son is a rising senior: He graduates with an AA and AS in May 2020. Already- Picked out and toured “affordable” colleges (It’s in quotes because if he can not pay himself he can not go.We are not in a position to help.) Filled out Common APP (waiting until July to fill in the application date and turn in) Took and sent in SAT 3x Filled out and sent in the NACAC application fee waiver form. Filled out the Self-reported Student Academic Record Sent incomplete transcript and Dual enrollment transcript Tomorrow- Super late but finding out if we can get an SAT waiver (needed to ask last summer) July 1st @ midnight- Applications open finish applications and turn in before bed. July- Finish summer DE class and volunteer at summer camp August 1-19 - Turn in volunteer hours to the school board, Study SAT 2 hrs a day and fill out scholarships August 20+ - Start DE classes, Study 1 hour for SAT, September- Sign up for SAT, Study 1 hour for SAT, October- 1st- Fill out financial aid, take SAT, End of October/ beginning of November Sign up for orientation, housing application, pick housing and start looking at work study opportunities. August - February- 1 scholarship application a day April- Take SAT last time if haven’t hit 1300 Sorry it won't let me un bold it.