Time to start thinking about college

[stillmovingforward]

Yes, between junior and senior year is when we live them. If we like them and we're hiring, it's a good test 😁

[Deleted]

Apr 25, 2019 20:43:15 GMT -5 stillmovingforward said:

Yes, between junior and senior year is when we live them. If we like them and we're hiring, it's a good test 😁

Then I'll have to change my calendar reminder for 4 years out.  DS still has a year of high school left.   

[alabamagal]

Apr 25, 2019 16:17:20 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

The difference in cost in housing between schools is crazy.  I'm finding I have to look at that more than tuition.

Also check out if campus housing requires purchase of a meal plan. That is another place where you get hosed.

In a lot of college areas they have student apartments. Leases run Aug- July and they are leased by the room - you are not responsible for other 3 rooms in 4br apartment and you can chose roommates or just get assigned. Cost usually covers utilities (possible to get overages on some though). They were under $500 a month for 12 months a couple years ago in college towns. No meal plan needed. My ODS did the even cheaper version of living in a run down house with 6 or 7 other guys - not recommended for everyone - but he only paid just over $200 a month. That son had very limited cooking skills but managed to survive, probably combination of fast food and spending time with gf.

[oped]

Check resisence requirements. Almost all schools require 1-2 years. A university local to me requires almost everyone to stay in university or affiliated housing all years.

[Deleted]

None of the schools we're looking at require living on campus even freshman year, but there's no way we'd go with off campus housing the first year.  It's going to be a big enough adjustment for him as it is without having to figure out getting to and from campus and buying his own food, and I don't want to be long distance apartment hunting with him either.  I think after the first year when he gets to know people and the area it would be different.  He can line up his own roomates and find a place on his own while there.

The school we visited does not require a meal plan for the on campus apartments, but they said freshman don't usually land an apartment spot. 

The meal plans are sickening.  Our current grocery budget is $350/month and the meal plan for just him will be $450/month.  Plus, they make you purchase $200 in "dining dollars" cash each semester which can be used on campus and if you don't use it it's lost.  I'd rather just have him pay for his incidental meals on his own (how many would there be if you get 19 meals provided anyhow).  I guess when you figure they're essentially eating out every day for every meal, it's a deal, but...ouch.

[tractor]

One thing we found was they might not require them to live on campus, but if you want a scholarship, you have to live on campus to receive it. So if you don’t want their help, live wherever you want.

[Deleted]

Yesterday, DS and I made a spreadsheet of costs for the top 7 prospects breaking things down by tuition, room and board, other costs and our net price based on the school's calculator and that was enlightening.  His first three choices on his list are Twin Cities, Duluth and  Madison.  The tuition at these three schools are all within $1000 of each other at around 14K.  Net price?  Duluth - 8K, TC - 11K, Madison - 22K.  We can possibly afford 22K, but it would be rough and I don't think I can stomach it knowing there are much cheaper options, so I think we're crossing it off. 

[saveinla]

May 6, 2019 10:40:20 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Yesterday, DS and I made a spreadsheet of costs for the top 7 prospects breaking things down by tuition, room and board, other costs and our net price based on the school's calculator and that was enlightening.  His first three choices on his list are Twin Cities, Duluth and  Madison.  The tuition at these three schools are all within $1000 of each other at around 14K.  Net price?  Duluth - 8K, TC - 11K, Madison - 22K.  We can possibly afford 22K, but it would be rough and I don't think I can stomach it knowing there are much cheaper options, so I think we're crossing it off. 

Dont cross it off  until you know more about scholarship options and such.

[saveinla]

Apr 26, 2019 17:06:58 GMT -5 tractor said:

One thing we found was they might not require them to live on campus, but if you want a scholarship, you have to live on campus to receive it. So if you don’t want their help, live wherever you want.

Not in all places - the room and board is a little less in some places if it is combined with tuition and you get a scholarship, but you can save about half the money if you live outside of campus. You really have to run the numbers.

[Deleted]

May 6, 2019 10:55:14 GMT -5 saveinla said:

May 6, 2019 10:40:20 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Yesterday, DS and I made a spreadsheet of costs for the top 7 prospects breaking things down by tuition, room and board, other costs and our net price based on the school's calculator and that was enlightening.  His first three choices on his list are Twin Cities, Duluth and  Madison.  The tuition at these three schools are all within $1000 of each other at around 14K.  Net price?  Duluth - 8K, TC - 11K, Madison - 22K.  We can possibly afford 22K, but it would be rough and I don't think I can stomach it knowing there are much cheaper options, so I think we're crossing it off. 

Dont cross it off  until you know more about scholarship options and such.

That number includes what they'd give him for scholarships based on GPA and test scores.  If he got in he'd be in the bottom third of incoming freshman bases on last year's stats, so I'm not anticipating them throwing much money at him.  I guess there could be outside scholarship money, but I hate the idea of depending on those to get through. 

[giramomma]

minnesotapaintlady

You should PM me about Madison. Honestly, I would strongly consider cross it off.

Unless someone has told you that your son is assured entrance.  Would he qualify for the PELL grant? Then I'd change my mind.  I think the acceptance rate for the COE is one out of seven applicants.

I also wouldn't suggest off campus living the first year. Your DS needs to get adjusted to school. He should also be getting involved ASAP with school organizations. That should take priority over figuring out how to use the bus system to get to the cheapest grocery store, etc. And the additional expense of having a car will negate some of the savings of living off campus. And the question..tooo, is how crappy does he want to live.

I just looked up dorms+meal plan. $12,000 9 months.

Depending on how many folks he wants in his room, I would say an apartment alone, cheapest would be $400-500/month. I would expect to pay $20-40 for heat, and another $20-30 for internet. Lights and water are usually included. Plus, unless your son stays over the summer, he has to find a sublet or eat the summer costs. We'll say $550/month.  You should be able to ballpark groceries for your son. Add in car costs. Parking spots go for $75-100+ a month.  Laundry is more expensive than the dorms, too.

20 years ago, I was able to keep my living costs down to $400 per month. But, we also had folks illegally living in our rental (the landlord knew about it), and it was a ...like plaster coming off of walls. I also took a bus and/or walked everywhere..even to the laundry mat.

[Deleted]

Gah.  DS went to talk to the guidance counselor yesterday came home with another school he's excited about (namely because they have Aerospace engineering and it's within his comfort zone for distance away), but it's Iowa State.     The one adjacent state we have zero reciprocity agreement with and it looks like they're really stingy with grants for out of state students. 

[sheilaincali]

May 8, 2019 8:29:13 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Gah.  DS went to talk to the guidance counselor yesterday came home with another school he's excited about (namely because they have Aerospace engineering and it's within his comfort zone for distance away), but it's Iowa State.     The one adjacent state we have zero reciprocity agreement with and it looks like they're really stingy with grants for out of state students. 

My brother is a professor at Iowa State. They won't even give him a discount to send his kids to college there. That being said if you have any questions I'd be happy to pass them along to DBro. He's a biology professor so he won't have a ton of info about the Aerospace program but he can answer general Iowa State/Ames Iowa questions.

[Deleted]

Thanks.  I'm not going to tell him no, but I won't (can't) contribute more than originally planned, so I think once he sees he'd have to take out loans to go that route, he'll probably change his mind. 

Originally he thought it was University of Iowa and we played around with their calculator and thought "maybe", but Iowa State doesn't appear to be as generous.

Weren't you looking at schools in Canada too?  Does MN have a pretty good deal with them?

[sheilaincali]

YES! University of Manitoba in Winnipeg has a really solid reciprocity agreement with MN.  Had DS picked that option it would have been by far the cheapest option. IIRC at the time I think it would have been like $6,000 a year for tuition and maybe like $4,000 for room and board? It's been several years since we looked at that option. It was his top choice up until he toured University of Dayton.

It's a nice campus. Big, like University of MN sized or larger. Really nice dorms.

[TheOtherMe]

sheilaincali  Dnephew1 and his wife are political science professors at Iowa state.  Dnephews1 and 2 are graduates as are sister and BIL.

Dnephew1 and wife got their PhDs from Iowa.

[sheilaincali]

May 8, 2019 11:45:46 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

sheilaincali   Dnephew1 and his wife are political science professors at Iowa state.  Dnephews1 and 2 are graduates as are sister and BIL.

Dnephew1 and wife got their PhDs from Iowa.

Small world.  DBro got his various degrees from University of Minnesota.  He enjoys Iowa State but would really love to get back to MN. His wife and kids live in Duluth so he comes home every other weekend (at a minimum) and lives in Ames the rest of the time.

[Deleted]

May 8, 2019 11:49:28 GMT -5 sheilaincali said:

May 8, 2019 11:45:46 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

sheilaincali   Dnephew1 and his wife are political science professors at Iowa state.  Dnephews1 and 2 are graduates as are sister and BIL.

Dnephew1 and wife got their PhDs from Iowa.

Small world.  DBro got his various degrees from University of Minnesota.  He enjoys Iowa State but would really love to get back to MN. His wife and kids live in Duluth so he comes home every other weekend (at a minimum) and lives in Ames the rest of the time.

Well, that doesn't sound like a great set-up.  That's a long haul! 

I looked up Winnipeg and it is cheap.     Reciprocity allows MN to pay Canadian tuition, plus I'm assuming we get the extra 25% break on the currency exchange?   Unfortunately, we'd lose our Pell grant which would hurt quite a bit.  It still comes up cheaper than the Iowa option. 

I'm still thinking of doing a road trip out west to Yellowstone and Rushmore this Summer, so maybe we'll take the Iowa/Nebraska route out and stop at Iowa State. 

[TheOtherMe]

May 8, 2019 11:49:28 GMT -5 sheilaincali said:

May 8, 2019 11:45:46 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

sheilaincali   Dnephew1 and his wife are political science professors at Iowa state.  Dnephews1 and 2 are graduates as are sister and BIL.

Dnephew1 and wife got their PhDs from Iowa.

Small world.  DBro got his various degrees from University of Minnesota.  He enjoys Iowa State but would really love to get back to MN. His wife and kids live in Duluth so he comes home every other weekend (at a minimum) and lives in Ames the rest of the time.

Nephew's wife got her undergrad and MS from Nebraska (of all places) and she wants to go there or to a big city.

Why doesn't the family join your brother in Ames?  It's not a bad place to live.  Nephew's house has increased in value a lot and the neighborhood has filled in.  When they bought the house, they had no neighbors on either side.  No longer true and it's a nice house.  

Ames has improved a lot for non-students.  Has some great places to eat.  They also enjoy eating in Des Moines.  

[Deleted]

I was scheming over lunch.  I just need to buy a POS place in New Albin and say I commute to work.  Heck, I could commute to work.  It's only about an hour.

[sheilaincali]

My SIL stays in Duluth for a variety of reasons. At the time my nephews were in the last years of high school. (They've both graduated but their little sister is 14). My sister in law's parents are basically homebound and moved to Duluth to be closer to her the grandkids. If my SIL moves than she's going to have to relocate her parents to Iowa as well. She's an only child and they rely on her pretty heavily.

Plus, she's a veterinarian and Iowa State is a big vet school. She would have to take a huge pay cut to move to Iowa (why pay for a lady with 15 years experience when you can pay a new grad half as much?). And they love Duluth. DBro is keeping his options open. If a tenured position opens up closer to home he'd take it. But as it works now they are kind of used to the commute and that. They've been doing it for several years.

[TheOtherMe]

May 8, 2019 16:24:38 GMT -5 sheilaincali said:

My SIL stays in Duluth for a variety of reasons. At the time my nephews were in the last years of high school. (They've both graduated but their little sister is 14). My sister in law's parents are basically homebound and moved to Duluth to be closer to her the grandkids. If my SIL moves than she's going to have to relocate her parents to Iowa as well. She's an only child and they rely on her pretty heavily.

Plus, she's a veterinarian and Iowa State is a big vet school. She would have to take a huge pay cut to move to Iowa (why pay for a lady with 15 years experience when you can pay a new grad half as much?). And they love Duluth. DBro is keeping his options open. If a tenured position opens up closer to home he'd take it. But as it works now they are kind of used to the commute and that. They've been doing it for several years.

I loved the 3 years I lived in Fort Collins, CO because veterinarians where so cheap compared to Boulder.  They had to be to compete with the vet school, which was another option.

Vet fees here are nothing compared to what I paid in Boulder either.  

[Deleted]

Good lord.  I thought I was obsessive about this college entrance thing, then I started hanging out on the College Confidential boards...    That is a whole nother' level. 

[busymom]

Go ahead & apply at all of the colleges your DS is interested in.  What actual offers you get can be very different from what the calculators tell you he'll receive.  Even though it was exhausting, we took DD to several states to check out different colleges.  And, the "winner" of the financial aid wasn't the one we were expecting to win, but it WAS one of DD's favorites.  I think it's great you're doing the spreadsheet, showing the differences in costs.  

[Deleted]

busymom - Was she applying to private out of state schools?  I just don't have a lot of hope for the public ones.   It's the MN grant that is really tying us here though.  It could end up covering nearly 25% of the cost of any school (public or private) in our state...that is so hard to ignore.

[busymom]

May 22, 2019 10:16:32 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

busymom - Was she applying to private out of state schools?  I just don't have a lot of hope for the public ones.   It's the MN grant that is really tying us here though.  It could end up covering nearly 25% of the cost of any school (public or private) in our state...that is so hard to ignore.

   Yes, she applied to both private and public schools, both in-state and out-of-state.  What surprised us was that her 2 best offers came from private schools.  (It probably didn't hurt that she got great grades in school, and was participating in a lot of after-school activities.)  Those great offers came from one in-state, and one out-of-state school.  Best wishes on the college hunt!  I remember, at the time, I found it all exhausting.  

[tractor]

May 22, 2019 9:06:08 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Good lord.  I thought I was obsessive about this college entrance thing, then I started hanging out on the College Confidential boards...    That is a whole nother' level. 

I used to follow those boards daily, it became an obsession to read about all the drama. After a couple of years of gleaning through most of the useful stuff, it just became repetitive, only with new people asking the same questions over and over. I did learn quite a bit by following things, but haven’t been back in over a year.

[Deleted]

May 22, 2019 14:41:59 GMT -5 tractor said:

May 22, 2019 9:06:08 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Good lord.  I thought I was obsessive about this college entrance thing, then I started hanging out on the College Confidential boards...    That is a whole nother' level. 

I used to follow those boards daily, it became an obsession to read about all the drama. After a couple of years of gleaning through most of the useful stuff, it just became repetitive, only with new people asking the same questions over and over. I did learn quite a bit by following things, but haven’t been back in over a year.

Those people take the college admissions thing very, very seriously.   

[Deleted]

So, DS was all proud to tell me he applied to Iowa today while I was at work.  He applied to University of Iowa....not Iowa State which he meant to...and paid the $40 application fee. <sigh>  

[TheOtherMe]

Jul 30, 2019 17:32:08 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

So, DS was all proud to tell me he applied to Iowa today while I was at work.  He applied to University of Iowa....not Iowa State which he meant to...and paid the $40 application fee. <sigh>  

So he needs to apply at Iowa State?

Did he learn a lesson about many states having both a University of whatever state and State name State?

Does Minnesota have both Minnesota and a Minnesota State?