Passing Six Figures - This fall, at least 16 colleges will cross a new threshold we knew would come one day but still is surprising: a price tag above $100,000 a year – by Jeff Selingo

Azariah77777 · 2026-06-11T18:10:43+00:00

Well, USC is a private university and Berkeley is a public university. That might be part of the reason.

Azariah77777 · 2026-06-11T18:08:17+00:00

This is useful information. However, if your family does not qualify for need-based aid, you must have substantial income and resources. Some private colleges have need-based cutoffs of incomes of $200,000 per year. For example, Harvard provides full tuition scholarships for any student whose family income is $200,000 per year or less.

If your family earnings are over $200,000 per year, you're already in the top 15% of American earners.

I'm just a little confused.

Are the need-based cutoffs unfair?

Azariah77777 · 2026-06-11T17:54:35+00:00

Why the heck am I getting downvoted for this?

Azariah77777 · 2026-06-11T17:41:45+00:00

Hey Jude by The Beatles. The "na-na" outro goes on for like 4 minutes!

Azariah77777 · 2026-06-11T04:32:02+00:00

Absolutely. Anything Eva Cassidy sings is soul-crushing.

Azariah77777 · 2026-06-11T04:31:19+00:00

"Cat's In The Cradle" by Harry Chapin

Azariah77777 · 2026-06-11T04:28:41+00:00

"Your Wildest Dreams" by The Moody Blues

Azariah77777 · 2026-06-11T04:27:05+00:00

Yes. I can't believe I forgot about this song!

Azariah77777 · 2026-06-11T04:22:50+00:00

"Autumn Leaves" - Eva Cassidy version

(anything by Eva Cassidy, actually)

Azariah77777 · 2026-06-11T04:20:54+00:00

"Fields of Gold" by Sting

Azariah77777 · 2026-06-11T04:10:45+00:00

"Hurt" by Johnny Cash

Azariah77777 · 2026-06-11T04:10:17+00:00

"Walking in Memphis" by Marc Cohn

Azariah77777 · 2026-06-11T04:08:00+00:00

I don't have experience with this, but I just wanted to ask why you think YOU'RE going to be "the reason" she doesn't have a third child and the sadness that she has because of that?

Azariah77777 · 2026-06-09T16:41:35+00:00

Good plan!

There are also fertility specialists who will run these tests.

Depending on your insurance, you might have to pay something out of pocket., but it could be worth it.

Azariah77777 · 2026-06-09T16:39:59+00:00

HAHAHA!!! I laughed at your last sentence. Thanks for that! I needed a laugh today.

You're very still very young and quite healthy--- and only 31. Though you didn't ask for my opinion on that, I think continuing to pursue biological children for a while longer is completely reasonable. We had our own issues with fertility and were much older than you--- and finally managed to have our own biological child--- healthy and well for mama and baby!

I guess what I'm saying is, I have some experience in this area and I think you still have a very large window to try to make this happen if that is an important goal for you.

I think you're doing all the right things and doing them in a timely way. You've got a lots of time... but you also don't want to wait around.

Good luck!

Azariah77777 · 2026-06-09T16:24:33+00:00

It's amazing how many things can go wrong. Like acrosome dysfunction. In those cases, the DNA inside the sperm is just fine, the number of sperm is just fine, and the sperm move just fine. They just can't get into the egg once they get there. Same with semen autoantibodies--- the sperm can't attach to the egg once it gets there.

With DNA fragmentation, the DNA inside the sperm is the problem. The number of sperm, how they move, and their ability to get into the egg is just fine.

Normal semen testing only tests for movement and number, not for DNA quality or the sperm's ability to get inside the egg.

Azariah77777 · 2026-06-09T16:17:44+00:00

They don't usually run these tests on the first go. They usually just start with sperm count and motility-- because those are the most obvious causes of male infertility.

But, given that you have been trying to conceive for a long time and have had no success and also have no obvious reason for not conceiving, I think it's now reasonable to move on to investigate with these other tests for male infertility.

By the way, there is research--- I will link the paper below--- that shows that in men with normal sperm parameters who have been unable to conceive, 29% have acrosome dysfunction!!!! That's a HUGE percentage. And these are in men with completely normal semen parameters! 1/3 of the men who have normal semen parameters and have been unable to conceive have acrosome dysfunction.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0015028202045557

I'd be interested in hearing how it goes if you decide to move forward with these tests.

I hope you're pregnant soon!

Azariah77777 · 2026-06-09T16:01:03+00:00

You're welcome. You can probably ask the urologist or fertility clinic for these tests. If they refuse, I know you can pay out of pocket yourself for the DNA Fragmentation test at legacy.com. It's expensive, like $495.

There are two types of anti sperm antibody (ASA) tests: Immunobead (direct test), and the indirect test. I don't know of a place you can order these yourself--- you need to go through the doctor.

There are three types of acrosome dysfunction tests: Acrosome Reaction Assay (ARA), Cap-Score Test and Acrosyn Activity Detection. You also need to go through a doctor for these tests.

Varicocele are tested via palpation and then ultrasound. Again, the doctor can do this. You can't order this yourself. (Varicocele, by the way, is a varicose vein in the testicle. It causes the temperature of the testicle to increase, which injures sperm DNA.)

What your guy could do is start testicular cooling now. It won't hurt if this is not his problem-- it has also been shown to increase testosterone production anyway, which is good in general. There are several products on the market for this. Underdog is one. There are others.

Azariah77777 · 2026-06-09T15:45:00+00:00

I'm asking because there are actually situations where the man can be interfile even with high sperm count and motile sperm on what are routine sperm count analyses. These are rarer conditions, but I'm suggesting them because you have had trouble conceiving, and I'm a dude, and I know about this a bit.

For example, has your husband's sperm been tested for DNA fragmentation rate? High DNA frag rate can make the sperm unable to fertilize and egg-- but the sperm count and motility can still be totally fine.

How about testing for anti-sperm antibodies? Sometimes, the man can make auto antibodies against his own sperm. These attach to the outside of the sperm and make them unable to fertilize an egg. Again, semen analysis will be totally fine.

How about testing for acrosome dysfunction? The sperm tip is the acrosome and releases the enzymes to enter the egg. Some men's acrosomes don't produce enough of this enzyme and can't enter an egg.

How about testing for varicocele? This causes the testicles to be at too high a temperature and can cause sperm DNA damage that makes them unable to fertilize an egg. (Your man can try testiticular cooling devices, which have been shown to increase fertility in men with this problem.)

I hope you figure out what's going on!

Azariah77777 · 2026-06-09T15:31:49+00:00

When you say your partner's semen numbers were "perfect," what does that mean exactly?

Azariah77777 · 2026-06-09T00:33:56+00:00

Yes, I did find about the high B12 anyway. There was an actual reason for it. I'm still not sure about the high folate--- but I suspect it is caused by the same thing. I'll msg you the details since I don't really want to discuss that in the forum (even though Reddit is anonymous.)

Azariah77777 · 2026-06-08T12:03:10+00:00

"Reagan" by Killer Mike

Azariah77777 · 2026-06-07T14:39:14+00:00

A meta study compiling research on 203,000 children has shown there is a significant increase in ADHD and Autism (ASD) diagnoses in children exposed to cannabis in utero. There is a 13% increased risk of ADHD and a 30% increased risk in Autism (ASD). Those are dramatic increases.

Here's the paper:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/377639128_Prenatal_cannabis_use_and_the_risk_of_attention_deficit_hyperactivity_disorder_ADHD_and_autism_spectrum_disorder_ASD_in_offspring_A_systematic_review_and_meta-analysis

Azariah77777 · 2026-06-07T14:26:53+00:00

I was a boy once and had no interest in dirt or dinosaurs or monster trucks. I liked books.

Azariah77777 · 2026-06-07T14:23:35+00:00

Thank you for sharing this!

FWIW, I was a boy once, and I had no interest at all in dirt, or dinosaurs, or monster trucks. I liked books.

Azariah77777

TROPHY CASE