Any experience at Maryland state schools?

Anonymous
Because of finances (*only* $75k/per kid saved x 2 kids) and not wanting my children to incur huge debt we are primarily looking at Maryland in state schools (including, but not limited to UMCP - which will be a reach for my kids (twins)) Any recent experience with Towson, UMBC, Salisbury, Frostburg? (kids aren't interested in St Marys)

I expect to get merit aid some out of states/privates (3.8 UW - no SAT yet) - but we would need to get to about 25k/year (including room/board) as we are ok with some loans - to make that feasible. I don't expect any financial aid (HHI just under 300k.) And yes, community college and then transferring is on the table.

I see a lot about top tier schools on here - but not much about local schools.
Anonymous
You have plenty of options at those GPAs

I have a child I’m hoping to get up to a 3.0
Anonymous
Will you be able to cash flow some of the cost on top of your savings?

I've got a friend whose child just left UMBC for Goucher. She was really disappointed in how his freshman year went there, but it was during COVID so not sure what to glean from that.

From what I've heard and read, SMCM is the best of the state schools in terms of academic support and quality as well as student experience. Maybe get your kids to reconsider?

If you're interested in a HBCU UMES seems good.
Anonymous
What are their anticipated majors?
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Will you be able to cash flow some of the cost on top of your savings?

I've got a friend whose child just left UMBC for Goucher. She was really disappointed in how his freshman year went there, but it was during COVID so not sure what to glean from that.

From what I've heard and read, SMCM is the best of the state schools in terms of academic support and quality as well as student experience. Maybe get your kids to reconsider?

If you're interested in a HBCU UMES seems good.


SMCM is the best of the state schools and UMES seems pretty good? What are you drinking?
Anonymous
surely you can cash flow some things at the HHI
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:surely you can cash flow some things at the HHI


+1
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:surely you can cash flow some things at the HHI


+1


+100
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:What are their anticipated majors?


Majors are undecided at this point with no real pull to anything yet

Yes - We can cash flow some. But we can't do 50k/year x 2 kids simultaneously. We are older parents so don't have many years to work post their college graduation (will be 66 when they graduate) and this HHI is relatively new to us so there hasn't been much saving.
Anonymous
We'll probably look at Towson. It has majors my kid wants--education or exercise science--and is around the size he's hoping for. He'll be around a 3.4 and is not the strongest test taker, but is a well-rounded kid.
Anonymous
You should visit SMCM. We were impressed by the campus and professors. I guess it really is a hidden gem.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What are their anticipated majors?


Majors are undecided at this point with no real pull to anything yet

Yes - We can cash flow some. But we can't do 50k/year x 2 kids simultaneously. We are older parents so don't have many years to work post their college graduation (will be 66 when they graduate) and this HHI is relatively new to us so there hasn't been much saving.


Where do you get “$50 k per year” times two kids?? UMCP and Towson are both less than $30 for total COA.
Anonymous
I am a professor at UMD and I have never even heard of SMCM. What the hell is that
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I am a professor at UMD and I have never even heard of SMCM. What the hell is that


St Mary's College of Maryland
https://www.smcm.edu/
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I am a professor at UMD and I have never even heard of SMCM. What the hell is that


Wow, a tenured professor who can't Google? And with that jerky attitude? I hope my UMD student doesn't get you as a professor.

SMCM = St. Mary's College of Maryland. It's an MD public although not part of the USM system.

https://www.smcm.edu/

You're welcome.
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