OMG i just noticed my signature LOLOL Yes it's been a while--4 years!!

It has been a few years since i was on here. I homeschooled my older through high school and he's now a junior at Bard in NYS and loving it. And we just found out that my DS17 was accepted ED to COlumbia. He homeschooled til 8th grade and then entered public school here in FLorida. He is thrilled as you can imagine as this was his utter dream school. I hope it's okay to post here-i love seeing others' acceptances.

Hi all! My older is in college and younger in public, so I havenn't been on the forums in ages, but was just told about this thread and would love to join in on occasion. I have not been reading as much as usual due to anxiety about the election, and this might encourage me. Right now, I am about to begin American Prison by Shane Bauer. He's a journalist who wrote a FANTASTIC article a few years ago for Mother Jones about his experience going undercover as a guard in one of the worst private prisons in America. I had hoped he would write a full length book about his experience, and he has, but until now I just havent had the inclination to read it. Will let you know how it goes!

That sounds fun! I've been wanting to get back to reading real books--I've been so obsessed with the news the last three years that it's been hard for my anxious mind to settle down and simply read. Will go find it now!

Where are you looking?

If anyone has any questions about Bard, please reach out. They were VERY willing to work with us as homeschoolers, and made us feel very comfortable with our approach to their application. If anyone is considering Bard for their child, please let me know and I'll fill you in. My son is very excited about their abroad programs in Berlin, Kryzykstan, Vienna and St Pete Russia. He's leaning towards Russia right now.

Jetta!!! Still his absolutely most favorite online class he took in high school was yours! Luca has matured tremendously since he was in your class. He;s definitely a late bloomer! He worked for a Marine Science and Turtle rescue in his 11th grade and 12th grade year and will always have a love of science. I have no idea why Economics is his major interest right now--certainly isn't an interest of mine beyond the public policy aspect! Bard has a tremendous and broad-based western literature and philosophy component thankfully (no business major, which i'm grateful for) which greatly appeals to the classical side of me! I know he'll be thrilled to hear that you saw his update.

Things are okay. My divorce finalized last November. I sold the family home and moved to new home a few miles away with the boys in January. Spent the next few months helping DS17 with college apps--he applied to 20 schools and it was very, very hard to manage all the apps and requirements and such, especially from a homeschooler perspective. He tends to procrastinate and I was suffering from a sort of post-traumatic stress from the move and the divorce. DS17 was waitliested at his first choices: Oberlin, Trinity and Lafayette, and finally recognized that he wasn't getting off the waitlist and reluctantly accepted a spot at Bard. In my mind, I thought it would be a good fit for him, but he wanted a more prestigious school (I think i mentioned how his dad is all about the prestige). He left in august for Bard-- as they have a special 3 week program for Freshman before eveyone else arrives and I didn't get to go with him due to COVID. Within a week I could tell he was happy and I was so relieved. He was very impressed with the quality of his teachers--even had a class with Neil Gaiman (so jealous!!). I haven't actually seen him since he left--so that's tough. He made friends quickly though, which surprised me as he always was a bit of an introvert. He says there's a fair amount of drugs on campus, and a LOT of pot, but it doesn't bother him too much. He steers clear of the hard users. Classes are wonderful--he's taking a film class, an econ class, and a few required courses. Luckily, no cases of COVID so far. He likes his roomie; they're not close friends but they get along. So all in all, I am really happy. He is getting only A's from his papers and is determined to do well academically, which is a bit of a change from high school when I had to convince him that getting goood grades is a good idea LOL. He is determined to go to business school. that may change but that's his plan right now. Younger is in 10th grade in public and overloading himself as usual. 5 AP classes, 3 community college and one online class. He's the opposite of my older, and it's a relief in a way to have a child i dont have to constantly monitor. At the same time, he takes it all WAY too seriously; got a poor grade once and I thought he'd never stop crying. Maybe my older's approach (Oh well, better next time) is healthier? ANyway, I think when midterms and finals roll around we'll see if he's overdone it in terms of class load. How are you doing?

Oh my it's been forever!! How is everyone doing? My older ended up at Bard College and so far, he's very happy--he is still considering transferring after Freshman year only because he wants a school that has graduates going to good Econ master's programs--however, their Econ program is very strong so either way he will be good. Bard is holding classes and has not had any cases, knock on wood. I appreciate so many of you helping me during the app process---very stressful--but he got a very good scholarship and we can afford his attendance with no loans, so i'm happy. I want to hear from everyone, where your kids ended up, and how they're doing.

so ds is disappointed that he got waitlistrd or rejected at all his match schools except Bard. He got rejected from Bucknell yesterday. I told him that bard is a wonderful school and he. Got good aid, but he is still very sad. How do I help him? It's a difficult moment now, isolating, can't go seen his friends, can't go to the gym. I told him that he might have a chance at his five waitlisted schools, but they probably won't get back to him for a while given all the covid upheaval. He will likely send a deposit to bard and then lose that deposited if he gets off the waitlist at Oberlin, Lafayette or trinity. he's a good kid, but I suspected this might happen, as he didn't start really "trying" for a top school until he was a junior (emotional issues, some immaturity), and didn't take any ap exams but one. I'm trying to just let him be right now, watching funny movies, trying to getbhim to sign up for ALL the virtual accepted student sessions for schools he was accepted to (Knox, Allegheny, ursinus, bard) but he refuses. ugh

So...my son was accepted to Bard with a very generous scholarship, waitlisted at Oberlin (he's actually pretty excited he got waitlisted as it was a reach, and he's writing them a letter), waitlisted at Connecticut College. So far his top choice is Bard, but i want him to consider Allegheny where he got a full merit scholarship and Knox. But since we now can't visit these schools, it will make the decision more challenging (he had already visited Bard and loved the campus; not sure with his probable major if it is exactly a fit. Will need to dig further--he wants to study Global Studies and/or Finance and Economics. They do have a 5 year Finance/Econ major where you get a bs and a ba, so that might be interesting. And it's near NYC, which he wants. ) Anyway, hope everyone is doing well. My business was shut down by Executive Order, so a little worried here.

Just heard that my son received an Ursinus College acceptance with $35,000 Gateway Merit scholarship. FAFSA funding will be out shortly!

DS was accepted to Knox College with huge merit aid--basically covering the cost. Very unexpected!!! It's not his first choice but their new Global Business major is right up his alley. And the aid really makes it appealing. Very pleased. He told me today that 'something" changed on his Dickinson portal--i am no longer the 'adviser' but rather someone at the college is now assigned to him...so maybe that's good sign?

congrats!! F and M is right now a top contender for my son for their business offerings and location... Waiting and hoping!!!

For those of you who gave me advice about my sons college choices, thank you. We ended up submitting 20 applications (!!!) because I insisted on safeties. He just got accepted to Goucher with huge merit aid. It's not his first choice at all but he is very pleased, particularly with the merit aid. As you all said, it's not just about getting in, it's about getting in with sufficient aid. In many ways it is a fit-locarion, beautiful campus, collegial vibe-but it is probably too liberal for him and at this moment he would like to major in economics, which is not their strength. But still... Happy!!

Yes, i have warned DS about this. Once everything falls out, I will clearly go over all the issues again. Thanks

I know my financial picture will only change a little, but my ex's will change pretty dramatically, and always has for years. He's self employed and income fluctuates a lot for him. (I'm self employed too, but different, more predictable, income)

that's what i figured. I've already been asked for more info by two colleges for the CSS, so I'm prepared. thanks!

question--if a college uses CSS, do they NOT use the fafsa? I'm a little confused because for his Sophomore year (assuming he attends a css school) the FAFSA will be just MY information, and the CSS will continue to require BOTH parents info. ANyone know how CSS schools evaluate need when they're looking at both documents? Thanks!

DS did the FAFSA on my ex's computer with my ex sitting next to him. DS then promptly forgot the password. WHich is why we needed to reach ex for the password (now we have it, so we're good) THe current FaFsa uses 2018 information. In 2018 we were still married, but living apart, and filed married filed separately as we were in the middle of divorce. So. AFAIK, we did it right, but it's confusing given our marital status. Our divorce wasn't finalized until September 2019. DS logged into fafsa yesterday and got the EFC and it's very low (not surprising since my ex's self employed income was very low that year but he expects it to jump a lot this year--surprise surprise *cough insert comment about spouse's showing little income during a year of divorce *cough cough) . It's low, but my guess is it would be even lower if it were just my income we were reporting. If he ends up getting into a fafsa only school that he wants to attend and the aid isn't good enough, I will appeal, and explain the situation. My guess is this happens sometimes (a divorce in the middle of applying for aid). He is applying to a few "fafsa only schools" including Sarah Lawrence, Guilford, Knox, Goucher and Eckerd. I do believe that the latter 4 of these are both financial and academic safeties. And I think four is an okay number (i'd prefer 6, but there ya go.) For the CSS schools that we are applying to, all require both parents information. So, in sum, our situation is confusing on the financial front. I think we'll have to wait and see how everything falls out and take it from there. All I can do is my best (while maintaining my mental sanity). For those of you commenting on how my ex hyped out-of-reach colleges to my son (and took him on a visit trip to said colleges)...um...yes, it's very frustrating. Very. Did I mention very? Divorcing and applying to college for the first time in the same (ish) year is highly NOT recommended. 😶 thanks for all your help, everyone. It will all be okay. Re Earlham-I very much want my son to apply there. He does not. So we shall see. Thank you.

you all are a wealth of information. thank you! My son says (thank god) that his father submitted the FAFSA to swarthmore. I mean, he doesn't have a good chance but id still hate to miss a deadline. I have asked his dad to send me all the information for logging in etc. I think that having one parent plus the child in charge will be easier and less stressful.

yes i am including the 529. My ex did the fafsa-with my input--and i havent seen the results. Does it give you EFC right then and there? He never looped me in so I am not clear. Another question, since ex isnt' responding to me--do i need to "submit" the fafsa to each school like i do the CSS? I am trying to get the login infor for fafsa so i can do this myself. OKay jut googled and it seems i need to add colleges to the FAFSA. Ex is travelling and unreachable. Sigh. "It will all work out, it will all work out, it will all work out."

At some point we considered Canadian schools but thought they would be too pricey. Can one use 529 funds for a Canadian school? Bishop's might be a possibilitiy.

The only Florida school he is willing to apply to is Eckerd at this point. He has visited New College, and it's a state school and a match, but he declared this morning "Mom, I'm not applying because if it was the ONLY school I got into, I'd take a gap year and reapply." Okay, then.

Yes, and he's saying that the responses are that he IS a good fit for those schools. I will have to go look at the thread. I think he will be in for a reality check but that's the way it goes. I've done what i can. just to clarify-i have run NPC on all the school, but my ex hasn't so for the schools that require NC CSS i know I will be off with my calculations. Goucher and Knox and Eckerd only require FAFSA and Sarah Lawrence only requires my CSS, so there's hope there. As I mentioned, we do have savings in a 529 which can be applied towards his education, and he does plan on working while in school. It's complicated with my divorce jsut being finalized, trying to figure out what our EFC is.