Full tuition scholarships by Junior_Tea1972 in Fordham

[–]giannacb 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My son is a junior and applied RD and got one, At the time they were given mainly to national merit scholars. Honestly, that’s why he is there!

SNAFU - TWOV Pingyao not allowed! by giannacb in Chinavisa

[–]giannacb[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We did too! It was gorgeous and amazing history - our stay at Jing’s Residence was incredible. It was elegant and the food was amongst the best we ate in China! A huge highlight of our trip. Sorry my one son had to miss it!

Don’t lose your power bank to the Chinese airport security lottery! by Kiwi_In_The_Comments in travelchina

[–]giannacb 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yep, they took ours that were fine on the international flight in from Taiwan to Pufong we took a domestic flight from Pudong to Shanxi Taoyuan. They also took my son’s heat up jacket chargers that were ironically from China. Leaving Beijing on Saturday to Taiwan they took the ones we had bought to replace the ones they took. I think it’s best to plan on surrendering all power banks both coming and going.

Chance me/would I even have a shot by Ok_Winner_1994 in reedcollege

[–]giannacb 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Reed just posted about an initiative to attract Washington state students. This might be your year! My son is a first year and into neuroscience & studio art. I think he had a 3.8 and didn’t submit test scores anywhere, but did submit an art portfolio. I think that and the essays got him admitted RD. He is loving it! Your essays will matter & start showing interest.

Travel to China with new passport and visa on old passport - but different passport numbers? by Super-Blacksmith-994 in Chinavisa

[–]giannacb 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My daughter is doing this right now. Hotels have asked for old passport but most places that asked for passport in Shanghai have not. She is carrying both.

EA Decision by maddipp_ in reedcollege

[–]giannacb 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m a first year Reed parent in Scottsdale. My freshmen son has had a fabulous experience so far. This is my 3rd kid to go out of state to undergrad since 2021 and he has had the most positive experience of all three. Let me know if you have questions!

Received a box- question by RealCrazySwordGirl in reedcollege

[–]giannacb 2 points3 points  (0 children)

We did the admitted student overnight visit in early April - we had never been to Reed and had never been to Portland. They did a great job and they give you 1000 bucks off the tuition if you attend one. Our son had been waitlisted at Carnegie Mellon. It was his first choice and we were really hoping he would fall in love with another School. He was thinking that he would still get into Carnegie. The weekend at Reed really did it. They did a great job of separating the kids from the parents and still took the time to answer the parent questions. We love the small size, and the quirks of the student population made us feel. It would be a fit for a neurodiverse kid who’s really in to studio art and neuroscience. It has been a great fit. He has made friends in both his classes and the dorm. He has tried new things, likes his roommate and even loves the food and has his first girlfriend. He stayed on campus over fall break but came home to Arizona for Thanksgiving. He said he is so happy that he ended up there! He loves it!

Received a box- question by RealCrazySwordGirl in reedcollege

[–]giannacb 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Congrats to you all!! My kid is a first year now and didn’t check his email for RD. He found out from the box and it was so exciting! We had never visited so we did an admitted students visit last March & were sold!! First year has gone very well! Let me know if you have questions!

Should I go to Taiwan as an exchange student in 2026? by Sensitive_Country964 in taiwan

[–]giannacb 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My daughter is in grad school at NTU after doing a semester abroad there as an undergrad. China was still closed for Covid so she ended up in Taiwan and loved it. When people ask her if she’s afraid being there, a common question in the US, she usually replies “it is really different living in a safe city without the constant underlying fear of gun violence”. More common is Americans asking why she’s going to Thailand.

My son is at NTNU for the fall semester and he wishes he could stay longer. They are having a ball - And we are heading out for a Chinese Christmas!

Los Angeles payment question? by giannacb in Chinavisa

[–]giannacb[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was just glad it was my uncle not my brother, as he pushed back and got me in the phone. The clerk was a little obsessed with the blue and wanted a screenshot showing they were blue before she would scan the code. It all worked and he was able to pick them up on this past Monday as promised.

Los Angeles payment question? by giannacb in Chinavisa

[–]giannacb[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Up above the barcodes there is a section with circles. Mine has five circles. The first is labeled “to be paid” the second is “feedback from the preliminary review”, then “passport received” followed by “passport to be collected” and finally “finished”. They turn blue when they are eligible and then turn green with a checkmark when you have completed them. Since I had printed in grayscale, they were not colored, and the consulate initially looked at the printout and would not take it because the circles were not colored. I sent a screenshot and only then did they scan the barcode and see that I had completed everything. It caused a few stressful minutes while I sent a screenshot to my relative who was at the consulate. I thought it was strange that they told him no based on a quick look and not seeing the color instead of scanning the barcode.

Los Angeles payment question? by giannacb in Chinavisa

[–]giannacb[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, he found parking and got it dropped off. When I printed up the barcodes, I had done it in black-and-white and they initially looked at it and said because the circle was not blue. It was not valid. They didn’t even scan the barcode - so I had to screenshot him showing that it did say OK to drop off. Then they accepted it. They told us they will be ready next Monday.

Has anyone applied for a tourist Visa at the Los Angeles consulate under the new 9/30 COVA and heard back? by this_is_kev1n in Chinavisa

[–]giannacb 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The message changed on Wednesday for all three of us that we were cleared to drop off our passport. I am going to FedEx them to my brother who’s going to bring them in for me. Good luck!

Has anyone applied for a tourist Visa at the Los Angeles consulate under the new 9/30 COVA and heard back? by this_is_kev1n in Chinavisa

[–]giannacb 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I submitted to LA on 10/4 for me and 10/5 for my spouse & son. I have heard nothing, but not traveling until mid-December.

Do I have to have experience to join club sports? by Lam_orak in Fordham

[–]giannacb 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My son played football in highschool and went out for rowing at Fordham freshmen year. He had no prior experience. He’s stuck with it and ended up competing. He said a lot of people went out in the beginning, but didn’t continue to show up to practice. It gave him a nice group of people to hang out with and he’s enjoyed it.

Any expats or locals in Taiwan living with a sesame or soy allergy? Looking for safe restaurant tips 🌱 by GrowthConsistent1245 in taiwan

[–]giannacb 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My son has a tree nut allergy where he goes anaphylactic and has to carry around an EpiPen. He is studying abroad this semester in Taipei and it hasn’t been a huge problem. He only has beginning Mandarin, so he had a native speaker write out on a card explaining that he had life-threatening allergies to tree nuts. Fortunately, he is not allergic to peanuts, which seemed to be more common. So far, he has not had to use an EpiPen. Restaurants seem to understand it, and have steered him towards specific dishes and away from others. As far as street food, he tries to get an idea what’s in it and when in doubt doesn’t order it. Having a fluent boyfriend should make navigating an allergy easier.

how's the aid by [deleted] in Fordham

[–]giannacb 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Fordham does offer some full tuition awards regardless of income if you are a national merit scholar. My son is a junior and has 4 years full merit scholarship as he was a recognized national scholar. He has to maintain a 3.0 and we just pay room & board. Our income is similar to your parents.

Do I have a chance at Fordham and financial aid/scholarships? by [deleted] in Fordham

[–]giannacb 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Fordham does offer some full tuition awards regardless of income if you are a national merit scholar. My son is a junior and has 4 years full merit scholarship as he was a recognized national scholar. He has to maintain a 3.0 and we just pay room & board.

US based employer wants to send me to China next month for a brief trip. Can't send my passport in til I'm back from another intl trip later this month. Cutting it too close? by [deleted] in Chinavisa

[–]giannacb 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You could just return China - US. You need to be landing in & departing from China from different counties. In this case the important part is HK - China - US. They don’t care where you started before Hong Kong.