Grace is Sufficient
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Posts posted by Grace is Sufficient
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but they're beautiful, and the company is easy to work with...
Homeschooldiploma.com
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but we absolutely love this!
We're using the blue one on the left. The invitation to a graduation ceremony and celebration was printed inside. They arrived a couple of weeks ago and look great. Also, the company was very good to work with as I had a slightly out of the ordinary issue.
Very exciting time, isn't it!
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The reason I've heard advanced for choosing higher tier schools is primarily as resume enhancement. And while I'm sure it makes a difference -- a student from a top tier school will undoubtedly find doors opening more easily -- I'm not sure that it's worth the extra cost, especially if that extra cost takes the form of debt.
Like you, we confined our applications to schools in which my son was in the top 10-25%. By choosing a state school that's only about 45 minutes away -- and one which, while not known nationally, is well thought of locally (University of Akron) -- my son will pay only a couple of thousand a year for tuition.* We've saved more than that, so he can even afford to live in the dorms for a couple of years. (It would certainly be cheaper to live at home, but he needs to start getting more independent.)
*I suppose, considering the inflation rate for higher ed, that it will be more than that by the time he graduates.)
As I'm sure you know, your decision needs to be based on what's best for your family and your children, not on what may sound or be impressive to others.
Blessings,
Debbie
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the earlier you will hear on Fin. aid. My son applied and was accepted to five schools. We finished FAFSA pretty early in February.
As of Saturday, he has received scholarship and financial aid info from all of them.
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My dd just found out that the college she'll be attending in the fall is starting a theater major. And she is interested in it. :001_huh:
She has a merit scholarship that covers 1/3 of tuition. But we are still on the hook for more than $100k over 4 years for tuition, books, room & board. I am not, not, not willing to pay that amount of money for a degree in theater. No way, no how, never, full stop, period. (can I say this more emphatically? I thought about using all caps but that's so obnoxious).
What say you? Since we are paying for this (I can't imagine dd would earn more than about $20k toward it over the 4-year period) is it reasonable for us to say, "You cannot major in that"?
You are in no way required to spend that kind of money on your child's college even if you approve of the major, but I have a question.
Did she have a major she was interested in before that, or was she going to be undeclared?
If she had no interest tied to this particular college, you might suggest that she find a state school with a theatre major so your investment will be less.
Tough situation you're in. My sympathies.
Debbie
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We used MUS in the younger grades and VT for Algebra. It worked great for my oldest, not as well for my daughter.
I think they have a demo lesson online; perhaps you should let your son watch a lesson or two and see how it feels to him.
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My daughter is taking a class in Digital Photography this semester. She's a young 11th grader (just turned 16) and one advantage of that class is that it's not all 18 year olds -- a fair number of the class are adults, so the dynamic is better.
Debbie
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Two out of the five schools my son applied to invited him to attend the scholarship competition days. In neither case did he receive more aid than the merit scholarship he had already been offered.
A third school had a similar day which was a combination admission to Honors College/scholarship competition, but it only involved an interview, while the other two had essays.
We have yet to hear the results of that one. If he is accepted into the Honors College, he should get at least $1K more per year.
The parents' portion definitely had the feel of being a captive audience for a day-long commercial!
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I voted 19-24 percent of the expensive college -- which will probably describe my daughter in two years. My son, however, will be in the over 50% category in a cheap college next year.
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I found a used copy of The Annotated Mona Lisa (art history) and he's spent the year just reading 1-3 pages a day (3 times a week). Periodically, I make a note on his schedule to pay particular attention to a picture or piece of information, and at the end of each of the four 'units' in the book, I sit next to him and ask him a few questions, show him some pictures and ask him about them, and count it as a quiz.
That's it. Pretty light for half a credit, but given the rest of his schedule -- very heavy load in the subjects that will be his future -- I'm okay with that.
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My 12th grader is on track to finish his economics course a bit early. I'd like to find something that would give him a bit of the Dave Ramsey/Larry Burkett type stuff in about three weeks...
In looking around, I found a Consumer Math LifePac that has 2-3 workbooks that might be helpful.
Does anyone have any comments on the Lifepac (I'm thinking of units 3, 4 and maybe 8), or any other suggestions?
Thanks in advance!
Debbie
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Debbie,
How old is she?
You definitely cannot tell from their teenage years what their adult years will be like. Being a good student (or bad) is not all that defines anyone.
She'll be sixteen in a few days. I sure hope her adult years are different. Unfortunately, my concerns go far beyond just being a good student. She's actually not a terrible student. That's one area in which I have seen improvement in the last year. Her issues are more social and emotional.
I just pray a lot and try to trust.
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Just some indication that kids with a lot of problems really can and do grow up into successful, happy adults. I love my daughter dearly, but she seems to have inherited some of the worst characteristics that run in my family -- character issues, as in the unmotivated, unmanageable stuff, as well as emotional issues, such as anxiety, depression, OCD.
(Yes, she's in counselling.)
Some days I just get discouraged.
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What I mean is this: Over the last few years, I've seen a number of threads emerge along of the lines of: this student is unmotivated, unmanageable, etc. etc. and I'm at the end of my rope.
Any one who ever had a kid like that now have a successful adult? It might be encouraging for some of us who are slogging along in the trenches with the truly troubled/difficult ones.
TIA
Debbie
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It's typical, but not universal, for a single semester of college level work to count as a year of high school credit.
Debbie
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1. Yes. Some are easier to do and require less investment than others. The samples for anatomy classes are quite easy to come by and not expensive, for example. In some cases, the labs are modified to be more home-friendly. You might find a website like Home Science Tools to be helpful.
2. There is no such thing as 'generally' in homeschooling, but in addition to community colleges, some homeschoolers take classes that are more challenging to teach either at co-ops with other homeschoolers or online.
HTH
Debbie
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Just finished the FAFSA for the first time...
If we cut out vacations -- minimal as they are, eating out, our tithe and all our charitable giving, we could swing the EFC.
Not gonna do it. Not gonna take on debt. Merit aid is good, but not compared to the tuition at a private school.
State school, here we come!
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The final module of the program -- presumably the one which would cover the most advanced topics -- has not been completed.
Also, the module before that one has not been out very long either, though I don't know when it was released. I think probably sometime in 2010, but there are probably not many who have used it in its entirety, either.
Sorry -- not much help. Maybe someone has gotten a preproduction copy and knows something?
Debbie
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Wow, I didn't reallize such places existed!
My view of college (particularly in light of today's tuition costs !!!) is that it's a means to seriously prepare for the future, and the social aspects aren't as important. So I think that whatever living arrangements best serve that goal are preferable.
:iagree:
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While we're still waiting for scholarship info from a couple of schools to make a final decision, it seems likely that my oldest will attend a public university about 45 minutes away. They've already given him enough of a scholarship that we can afford to have him in the dorms for at least a couple of years. If he's accepted into the honors college, he'll get more $, maybe enough to be in the dorm the whole time.
Pros to dorms:
-The drive is 45 minutes in good weather at a low traffic time of day
-He could stand to become a little more independent
-He's pretty quiet and shy and probably wouldn't form any relationships if a commuter student
-He seems interested in it. A year ago he did not want to live in a dorm.
-No concern about bad influences. He's entirely peer-independent.
-He'd likely be in the honors dorm, a good place as far as I can tell.
Cons to dorms:
-Cost will be more, though how much more depends on if gas keeps going up.
-Farther drive to church.
-He's so quiet and shy that he still might not form any relationships and might be lonely.
-What if he needs me and I'm not there?
It's been helpful for me to read through this and solidify my thinking. I guess he'll probably be the primary decision maker, but he definitely looks to us for direction about important things.
Like a previous poster, I can't believe this time in our lives has come.
Debbie
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You may want to look into a book called Respectable Sins, by Jerry Bridges.
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I have a friend who is considering beginning a ministry to young moms at our church (we're thinking sort of 'MOPS-like.) Can anyone suggest a good website for resources (preferably free, but at least very inexpensive) to help with lessons? We're looking for biblically-based lessons in godly marriage/parenting.
TIA
Debbie
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I just want to clarify, in case I need to, that I wasn't suggesting dropping the friendships, but just shutting out their personal preferences for their family, so that you won't feel judged for YOUR personal preferences. Or, shall I say, your daughter's. ;)
I find it interesting how many on this board are judging OPs friend for her personal preferences. I have found it very disturbing, and I hope it didn't sound like I was doing that when I tossed out the scenario of a woman being widowed with small children.
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Family history is undoubtedly the reason I pointed out that danger in my first response... my mother was unexpectedly widowed in her 20s with four kids under age 7.
2011 acceptances thread
in The College Board
Posted
My oldest applied to 5 schools, and was accepted at all of them, as we are in the camp of those who choose lower tier schools to maximize scholarship $. The biggest question for us was if he would get into the Honors College at U of Akron, which would bring additional merit aid. It's a close enough school so that he could live at home, and also has a good program for his preferred major.
Last week he was notified of his acceptance and additional merit aid. Now we will be able to cover all of his tuition and at least a year or two in the Honors Dorm, which is good because I'd like to see him become a bit more independent.
We're very happy with the outcome of all this stressful college business!
Thanks to the many on this board who have helped me figure this stuff out... one down, one to go. I start all over with college visits for my daughter this spring!