My daughter scored in the 1300's, graduated 2nd in her 4A class, and is attending TWU without cost of tuition. She was accepted at Austin College and SMU with larger percentage scholarships but the balance was still too much for her.

Aid is unfortunately too much based on FAFSA so that's where we lucked out. She is the oldest of four and my wife doesn't work. FAFSA still said I should be able to afford $25K per year out of pocket for the first of four kids within seven years.

Now I am doing it all over again one year later with #2. He's the dumb one...6th in his class.

When I checked FAFSA limits were 350k a year in income or 1 million in assets for zero FAFSA.
For 1 kid in college.

Otherwise FAFSA gives 10-12K a year.

My son scored a 1530 on his SAT, including an 800 in math.

I know this is good, my question is how good and can I expect some merit based aid?

Before anyone asks, yes he took after his mother….

Good info. I am guessing he will be lucky to be top 5% at his high school. 4.4 GPA. He wants to be a Dr. I already told him to be a specialist, GP’s have way too much work for the pay. He wants to go to Michigan, so out of state applies.

Hmmm . . . .?

You don't qualify for financial aid if your parents claimed you as dependant on their taxes in most cases

How do you get a 5.3 gpa? My daughter is a sophomore, is in all AP and honors classes and does college (has 9 college hours) and has always had straight A’s and she has a 4.3.

[quote=RedRanger]You don't qualify for financial aid if your parents claimed you as dependant on their taxes in most cases

My college roommate is a GP and he hates it. For dentistry, Orthodontist is probably the best overall specialty, at least for now.

You don't qualify for financial aid if your parents claimed you as dependant on their taxes in most cases

Not at all my experience.


AP classes count as more than 4.0 and college classes more than that here. She also took no athletics classes that by default bring down the GPA. My daughter made one B her entire high school career...the fall semester of her senior year she made a B in a college honors math class that dropped her to second. She had been 1st since 8th grade.

Something must be different here. She’s same. Never a B, no athletic classes. She’s 10th out of 592 students. None have over a 5gpa.

My son is a senior, straight A’s, high scores, and I’m not sure what advice to give him. I

My son is contemplating joining the Marines. He wants to be a Raider. He took the ASVAB and the recruiter tells him he has the highest score that he has ever personally seen. There are about 30 recruits that get together once a week and do training to prepare for boot camp. They run, do push-ups, pull ups, etc. It is led by the Marines. My son hasn’t signed up but goes to this every week and is in the front of the pack. He works out and runs daily for fun. A few years ago if you asked me I wouldn’t have thought the military would we a good path at all for him but with the way college is going I am changing my thoughts.

My experience, ask your son to talk to a recruiter about qualifications for getting a commission as an officer. Ask him to look into the Naval Academy -- lots of options there most "college advisors" will never consider due to the current mindset of academics.

Find a couple colleges with a strong NROTC program as a backup plan.
Get the best of both worlds.

If he is considering the military at all: I enlisted in the US Navy, and decided on the Nuclear Power Program, and submarines rather than surface ships. Lots of educational classes and training over a two year period, during a 6-year enlistment. Turned that into a 40 year civilian career.

Presently there is a $38,000 enlistment bonus for the nuclear program, and a $100,000 reenlistment bonus!!! Plus, many of the colleges will give you an Assoc degree and up to 60 credits for your training

That sounds awesome until you realize you have to be on a submarine lol