My dd is considering a double major in motion pictures and business. Since it's not a dual major, it will take her 5-6 years.

We've run into several colleges with theme housing. These colleges all had LGBTQ+ houses. Maybe that's an option at the colleges at which you're looking?

Thanks! Interesting that you didn't send in transcripts to colleges - I assumed that was a required thing to do. It didn't occur to me to *not* do it. We've had some colleges even say that they wanted outside provider transcripts, but if we could leave that completely off the table, that would be preferred (from a coordination standpoint - DD has taken a LOT of outside provider courses).

I have absolutely no idea, but wanted to let you know you are not alone. This college stuff is hard! :grouphug:

DD is going to have to withdraw from a PAH course and I'm wondering if the withdrawal shows on the PAH transcript? Thanks!

This. 16 yr old dd has a chronic illness (and possibly a second; waiting on a specialist to see for sure), and we would do anything we could to help her so she doesn't have to wear herself ragged trying to make ends meet and afford college.

Thank you so much, JennW! This is immensely helpful. I think the biggest thing for my dd will be the location (we live in small town Ohio, so it won't be new and shiny like it was for your ds) and possibly the time of the classes (she has a medical condition and early morning classes will be very hard on her). But definitely still on the list. Thanks again!

Thank you so much! Here are some of her questions: What is the learning environment like - collaborative? Competitive? What are the professors like? Dd is thinking of a major in physics or chem. How big are the gen eds? Lively campus community, or is it dead on weekends? Are there a wide range of sections for classes? In other words, are there classes that only have one section or very limited times (like only before 10 am, etc)? How does the school help you figure out what to major in if you are undecided?

Dd (16) is starting to look seriously at it and likes a lot that she sees. We're thinking about going to Scot Day this weekend (or, if not this weekend, then another visit weekend this fall) and I know she'd love to chat with someone who attends. I thought I'd check here to see if anyone has a child who attends to see if they would mind answering some of her questions. It doesn't have to be in person; email would be fine as well. Thanks!

What about Antioch? Their writing workshop just finished, and I think they have a fairly good program. If I'm not mistaken, the CTCL were designed for B students (and it looks like you already visited some), so maybe that list would provide some additional options.

Of course, happy to update as we go through this. The outside aid comes from a number of different scholarships - his track record is getting the majority of his students to have their entire tuition paid for from outside sources (there is at least one renewable one that my daughter qualifies for that is $15k/year, for example). I know of at least one case where there was such a surplus of aid that the student attending a private uni had an additional $10k/year available to her for things like study abroad. And, according to him, the outside aid does not reduce any merit aid that is a *named* scholarship that is not need-based (we won't qualify for financial aid). This is really not my area of expertise; he worked admissions at a prestigious ivy, and we talked with some other homeschoolers who used him in the past and spoke very highly of him and corroborated his methods.

I have this in my bookmarks: http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/ - not sure if that's what you're looking for. We chose to work with a counselor to help with the aid and selection process. He's big into outside aid for paying nearly all of the cost, so we're giving it a try. If all else fails, the local university isn't too bad, and would give dd a lot of merit aid (plus, no housing expenses). Good luck!

Alas, she takes classes at the local 4-yr university, and at the community college. Still no idea what she wants in a school. I think the degree requirements mentioned by you and an earlier poster might be a good way for her to determine what she wants.

This is a great idea! Thanks for the suggestion.

Oh my goodness, thank you so much, everyone! I feel loads better. It sounds like it will be a natural process of eliminating some schools (though right now it doesn't feel like the list will ever decrease in size!). She's only visited one school (McGill), so her experience is very limited and I think she's in the phase of everything being new and shiny and amazing. It sounds like after the 3rd or 4th visit, schools will start to lose their luster, and as she figures the criteria important to her, she will hopefully remove more of the schools. If she can cut 15 schools, I'll be very happy.

My dd boosted her score from a 27 in October to a 30 in June. She studied hard and researched test strategies. She's hoping to get it up another few points. We'll see. I took the ACT my junior year and got a 27. Took it my senior year and got a 32. So yes, I think it's definitely possible to get it up higher with the right attitude and studying. But if he's not ready, then he's not ready. Maybe a gap year would be a good idea?

16 yr old dd has a list of around 28 schools of interest on her list. Some massive, some medium-sized, some tiny. Mostly in the midwest, southeast, northeast, mid-Atlantic and two outliers on the west coast. They all have degrees in which she is interested. We can't afford to visit every. single. school. We can do the ones within a 4-5 hr drive (maybe 4-5 schools total). We can fly to one or two cities to visit a few schools (that would knock off 4-5 more schools, but these would be quick visits and she wouldn't have time to attend a class or stay in the dorms). But what about the others? How in the world does she narrow down her list if she can't visit them, and they all seem equal to her on paper? Are there other factors she should be looking at that we might be missing? She's only ever been homeschooled, so she doesn't understand what it is like to be in a class of 35 or 300 or 1000, so she doesn't think she can narrow down by size because she's just not sure what she wants or what would be a good fit for her. Is it expected that your child will visit all the schools they think would be a good fit? I'm having serious anxiety over all this because I just don't know how to help her narrow her focus. Any BTDT stories or strategies to calm me down and tell me it will all work out?

I'm looking for suggestions for a secular, complete curriculum (including answer keys, tests, etc) for my rising Junior. Does such a thing exist? Thanks!

Sadly, this is our local uni. My dear friend is an adjunct there and he's safe. So far. They initially got rid of the swim team, but apparently there was outrage and it's a big mess now. But they did just hire a new president who gets a country club membership, free car, housing allowance, $40k to move from Missouri to Ohio, etc etc (details here: http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/job-perks-wright-state-bonus-package-revealed-for-new-president/FEx3fp0fAxp4ZdTRjCQ5yH/)

I thought I saw a post here awhile back that linked to a site ranking universities that were in trouble financially (either a bond rating or their credit worthiness, I thought). I have searched and searched and can't find it. Does anyone know what I'm talking about or have a similar link? Our local uni is having some financial issues, and I wanted to see how it ranked. Thanks! Amy

This is a great question! I was wondering the same for my DE dd who is finishing pre-calc and not taking college algebra until spring semester 2018.

This is all excellent feedback, thank you. Dd always tries to work a few days ahead because of her Crohn's. Since she found out last week about the surgery, she's managed to work ahead by a full week, and she's going to work the next few weekends before her surgery to get another week ahead. I don't think a medical withdrawal will be necessary, but it's good to know it exists should she ever need it. She will have her laptop at the hospital, and once she's off painkillers, plans to check in with school as much as she is able.

This is interesting. The CC isn't nearly as organized as this. So far, they've only given her the accommodations letter and told her to submit it to the professor. I just wanted to see if this was the norm, since we have nothing to compare it to. Thanks for responding. Dd's accommodations didn't mention anything about surgery since we were not at that point when she applied for dual enrollment and the accommodations. If only I had a crystal ball and I would've known things would've gotten so bad so fast :( And to be clear, I wasn't thinking that the disability coordinator would help with makeup work, just that it seems they should be the one communicating the prolonged absence to the professor, with my dd following up once initial communication was made.