I am sure that you are like me, saying “where has the time gone?!” It is only a few short weeks until we move our girls (back) into college.
Have you ever made a decision, and then realized you needed to change it but were afraid to do so? I certainly have. It often took a LOT of courage, especially to change those big decisions. Are you one of those families that have “committed” — in other words, paid your deposit — to another school, and although your daughter loves Sweet Briar, one of you is afraid to change your mind? Please know that IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO CHANGE YOUR MIND! I hope you will give me just a few minutes of your time to consider several factors to weigh in your decision.
First, just because you have paid your deposit to another school, doesn’t mean you can’t get it back. After the June 22 settlement in court that allowed Sweet Briar to remain open, some wonderful schools announced right away that they would refund deposits to students who chose to return to Sweet Briar (a shout-out to those upstanding schools!). I know of quite a few others that, when the parents asked for their deposit back due to these unique circumstances, the schools refunded their money (and a heartfelt thank you to them as well). If that fails, then call the Sweet Briar admissions office at (434) 381-6142 and they will work to help you. Returning students, as a special “thank you,” Alumnae Angels are paying your Sweet Briar deposit. So don’t let a deposit stop you.
Second, all schools use the term “committed” because they want you to have mentally finalized your decision. The reality is, until you have paid the full semester’s tuition and your daughter sits down in her first class, you are not committed.
Third, are you waiting for your final Sweet Briar financial aid package — a topic near and dear to most parents’ hearts, including ours — before making a decision? If so, call Steven Nape, the College’s interim chief enrollment officer at (804) 221-1359, explain your situation, and ask for your aid package as soon as possible. I know that the financial aid staff is working almost around the clock to get everyone’s aid package completed, and will expedite for those who need it. Some schools will give you a little extra time if you ask and explain the unique circumstances, and if not, be sure Steven knows this. And anyone who can wait a few more days for the package, please give these folks a break — it will get to you ☺
Fourth, are you unsure whether the professors your daughter needs will be returning to Sweet Briar? Are you worried that a class may not be offered in the timeframe your daughter needs to stay on track to graduate in four years with her major or majors? If so, please check out the “Welcome Home: Sweet Information” page and click on Academics. Please, if you or your daughter have questions or concerns about a program or course, please contact the professor listed for the academic program! Your daughter should already have been notified that course offerings are available as of July 27 on my.sbc.edu. The registrar has listed courses for the fall online. The registrar’s office is aware of what classes need to be offered in order for a student to graduate on time as well as department chairs and faculty. Remember that Sweet Briar is a small school, and the professors know their students, and what their students need! For returning students, academic advising is happening now through July 31, and course registration occurs Aug. 3-4. For prospective students, reach out to your admissions representative for your schedule.
Fifth, and finally for today, did Christopher Colvin’s comments to my last post resonate with your family? Did the anguish caused by the announced closing badly shake your confidence in Sweet Briar? I do understand how you feel. Our family, too, was devastated by the initial news, and as parents we had to comfort our daughter and help her see hope. It was a roller coaster ride for sure. But have you ever worked for a great boss? How about a lousy boss? If you’re like my husband and me, a great leader made a huge difference in our job experiences; it affected the organization’s vision, communication, execution, effectiveness and job satisfaction, while a lousy boss had the polar opposite effect. The same is true here at Sweet Briar. Please look at the new leadership with a fresh perspective, without the tarnish of the past several months. If you didn’t know what happened from March through June, would you look at Sweet Briar differently? As my momma Loretta always said, “Don’t let the misdeeds of the few take away from the good deeds of the many.”
There are so many outstanding teachers coming back to Sweet Briar, and the quality of life at Sweet Briar plus great leadership will attract the remaining professors and staff who are needed. People are coming out of the woodwork to step up and be part of this amazing organization. Great leadership + great professors + great curriculum + great out-of-classroom experiences = an amazing learning environment that will make a huge difference in your daughter’s experience.
Most importantly, if you or your daughter have questions or concerns about anything, please call and ask! Sweet Briar teaches our girls to advocate for themselves, which includes asking questions. Sweet Briar is doing everything possible to help you and your daughter feel like they are on solid ground and excited about coming to Sweet Breezy (as the girls call it) this year. So remember to ask questions! ☺
On a related note, I previously mentioned the important topic of financial aid, so I wanted to answer a few common questions before closing. Your financial aid letter should have instructions regarding what to do to proceed with available loans and such. Once your financial aid has been finalized, you will be instructed to designate your acceptance through the SBC portal. Your daughter will be notified by email once her financial aid award has been posted to the portal.
Also very important for in-state families: For the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant, known as VTAG, if you are a returning student, you do not have to fill out the VTAG paperwork. If you are a new student, you do have to complete the VTAG paperwork and send it to Sweet Briar. If you have already completed and submitted it to another school, then you must send a copy to Sweet Briar by July 31. This is a Virginia deadline, not a Sweet Briar deadline, and it is only a few days away, so hurry! However, if you miss the deadline, you should still submit your VTAG paperwork to Sweet Briar — it just means that you aren’t guaranteed the funds but will go on a waiting list to receive funds as available.
What are YOUR concerns? Send them to me at SBCParentToParent@gmail.com, and I’ll address them in upcoming posts, or sooner if needed. Until then, talk to you soon!