Crazy to take big merit money at JMU over UVA full price?

[Anonymous]

Honestly, JMU is a great place for undergraduate teaching.

But UVA has the pedigree and will probably help them more in terms of getting that first job out of college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I think you keep a quiet, rough, running tally. No matter what your eldest decides. You do not know yet what student #2 will cost you. What if #2 isn't as good a student but you still want to make sure they attend somewhere best for them? That could cost more. More than UVA or JMU, currently. It will feel very odd/likely unfair to the eldest, if they are actually the better student, if the basis of their decision needs to be to save you money.

OP here: I agree. We will definitely keep it fair between the kids in terms of the amount of family financial support offered. I don't want them to resent their decisions or each other!

I think this is wise, OP. My husband's sister resented him for life because his parents spent more money on his tuition than her tuition. I don't think she ever forgot this fact or ever let him forget it. She acted like he was the one who owed her.

[Anonymous]

I’m late to the game and didn’t read the replies but I would say don’t take JMU if your child is a strong student. They won’t have the same academic experience. My kid had free tuition to VCU and turned it down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, what would be the total cost of attendance at each school? (The PPs fixating on the "value" of the JMU scholarship are being distracted by a largely irrelevant number.)

OP here: Roughly $40k/yr at UVA and $20k/yr at JMU. Not night and day, but enough of a difference to pay for a masters.

If that's the difference then UVA is a no-brainer. It's twice as good as JMU anyway.

[eastcoastmom]

I think it really depends on where he wants to end up geographically and whether he will go onto graduate school. We live in NY now and there are plenty of NYC private school kids who are very enthusiastic about UVA but would not go to JMU. UVA absolutely has national name recognition. I think if you are paying in state tuition for UVA then I would stretch and make it work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I think you keep a quiet, rough, running tally. No matter what your eldest decides. You do not know yet what student #2 will cost you. What if #2 isn't as good a student but you still want to make sure they attend somewhere best for them? That could cost more. More than UVA or JMU, currently. It will feel very odd/likely unfair to the eldest, if they are actually the better student, if the basis of their decision needs to be to save you money.

OP here: I agree. We will definitely keep it fair between the kids in terms of the amount of family financial support offered. I don't want them to resent their decisions or each other!

I think this is wise, OP. My husband's sister resented him for life because his parents spent more money on his tuition than her tuition. I don't think she ever forgot this fact or ever let him forget it. She acted like he was the one who owed her.

She probably feels this way because he was more privileged so she expects him to share that privilege.

But, yea, this kind of disparity can be hurtful to the kid who gets less. Same thing happened to me. I won't let my kids ever feel this way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not complaining here and know this is a great choice to have: DC somehow lucked out and unexpectedly got accepted to UVA in-state and also got a full tuition offer from JMU. We're thrilled! As a family, we could really stretch and make UVA work without loans, but younger siblings will be in college soon so every dollar counts. DC feels like they would be happy at either school and their current choice of major doesn't really benefit from the added prestige of UVA. But we've been in NOVA long enough that the "UVA or bust" attitude has seeped into our consciousness. I know it's stupid to look for confirmation/approval online, but here I am! I just want to do right by my kid. Any thoughts? JMU make the most sense here?

Go to UVA and do not look back, have your kid help if needed and from work study money. UVA prestige over JMU matters in almost every area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, what would be the total cost of attendance at each school? (The PPs fixating on the "value" of the JMU scholarship are being distracted by a largely irrelevant number.)

OP here: Roughly $40k/yr at UVA and $20k/yr at JMU. Not night and day, but enough of a difference to pay for a masters.

JMU is the logical choice.

No state flagship is worth an extra $80,000.

Not so. A UVA grad may well earn much more than the JMU grad, thanks to different opportunities, making the high tuition a sensible return on investment.

This is entirely speculative. Take that 80K and stick it in an index fund and let’s see how that looks when the kid retires.

Not speculative at all, but statistically probable.

https://www.gradreports.com/best-colleges/virginia

https://www.collegevine.com/faq/83275/jmu-vs-virginia-how-to-decide

https://www.niche.com/colleges/university-of-virginia/after-college/ ($69,066 5 yrs after graduation for JMU)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, JMU is a great place for undergraduate teaching.

But UVA has the pedigree and will probably help them more in terms of getting that first job out of college.

OP said that the college doesn’t matter for this major/career. And that DC will need a masters anyway.

[Anonymous]

I am assuming the OP’s child was accepted to the honors college with this merit aid. Big scholarships often come with big opportunities to stand out. I would not dismiss the potential that the special treatment at JMU could result in more opportunities than being one of the pack at UVA and this too could have good career implications.

Sounds like a great kid who will do well Bo matter the choice made.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:no shade to JMU but it's a huge difference in the job market overall, no matter the major. My grads are always been told, "wow UVA!" when they interview and it definitely makes an impression. I know that's anecdotal
but UVA in state is not that expensive, and the reputational difference is a wide gulf.

Except OP said their kid is interested in a profession that requires a grad degree and salaries top out at like $100K. Sounds like possibly social work or the equivalent.

Sounds like speech pathology to me.

[Anonymous]

Jmu has an excellent speech pathology program. Great undergraduate teaching.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not at all! Graduating without debt is such a gift.

What's more, if the student wants to go to graduate school, they'll be thankful that money was saved during undergrad.

This.

[Anonymous]

Were they accepted to JMU's honors college? If so, then take JMU.

Actually, make sure your student goes to accepted student's days at both and gets a feel for both and then decide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, what would be the total cost of attendance at each school? (The PPs fixating on the "value" of the JMU scholarship are being distracted by a largely irrelevant number.)

OP here: Roughly $40k/yr at UVA and $20k/yr at JMU. Not night and day, but enough of a difference to pay for a masters.

JMU is the logical choice.

No state flagship is worth an extra $80,000.

Not so. A UVA grad may well earn much more than the JMU grad, thanks to different opportunities, making the high tuition a sensible return on investment.

This is entirely speculative. Take that 80K and stick it in an index fund and let’s see how that looks when the kid retires.

Most people aren’t sitting with an 80k lump sum to invest. They are paying as they go or even borrowing.

You stupid dumbass.