Staying Busy

Thursday 6PM Hume-Fogg High School: Seminar on applying for college
               6:30PM Edison Elementary: Cub Scout meeting
Saturday 3PM Kroger: Popcorn Sale
:Sunday   7:30AM Arlington UMC: Community Breakfast
               11AM Arlington UMC: Mayberry Hoe-down Lunch
Tuesday  5PM LP Field: College Fair
              7PM: Hamilton UMC: Boy Scout Meeting
Get the idea? I didn't include work shifts or picking up kids from school. We certainly manage to stay busy. But from what I can gather, I think most families are in the same boat. People want to be involved, they want to spend quality time with family and kids and friends and groups and charitable organizations and on and on and on. With a senior in high school, we want to make sure that every event that sheds light on getting into college gets investigated. Every time I see something about financial aid or scholarships or grants or fees or tuition or whatever gets my attention. People ask me where he wants to go to college. "Wherever will pay him", is my answer.

I knew we weren't doing a good job of getting ready financially for them to go to college. Now I know what my dad meant: "Every time I got two nickles to rub together, something went wrong with the car." Something just always seemed to come up. And I kept thinking we still have time. And now basically time's up.

This started out as a piece on our schedule, and it's moved into college prep, so let's roll with it. Not only does it cost a fortune to get through college (tuition, room and board, and books basically is $10k/year), it costs a fortune to get in there in the first place. The ACT (with the writing part) $75. SAT (early bird fee) $50. Submitting an application to a college (MTSU in this case) $25 (and much more for others). If you screw up and leave a school off your free test score list, it's $14 per. Not to mention transcript fees, phone calls, travel fees (if you can afford college visits), and the psychiatrist I'm going to need before it's all done.

It's not too late for you. I heard this from people for years, and now I know how true it is: START NOW! Some of you have 15 years to get ready for this. Even $10/week can make a difference.

Next blog: Why my kids are going to college, no matter what I have to do.