If money was no object, what would you do?

[Anonymous]

From a value perspective, W&M hands-down, if you live in VA. When you say “if money was no object,” it sounds like it is, but you want the unvarnished truth about the best education. In reality, W&M balances everything. He can find a bit of Kenyon’s leftist vibe, get a dose of Haverford’s pre-professional attitude, be well-schooled in writing (the history program has its own writing center), and it has a CS major. Career outcomes between W&M and Haverford are small to non-existent. Don’t take a scholarship at a third-rate LAC over in-state tuition at W&M.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course I’d choose Haverford over lesser schools….how’s this even a question.

This

[Anonymous]

Kenyon and Denison are both great schools but very different. I would think your child would prefer one over the other depending on their interests/priorities. Location is a big difference to just name one. One has a cute town and is near the biggest city in OH, one is very remote.

[Anonymous]

We had this exact issue because my daughter would have loved Vassar but they don’t give any merit aid. Would the name value of a school like Vassar (or other schools that don’t give merit aid like Tufts or Wash U) be worth the extra money over a “lesser” school she’d like?

My DD almost had the stats to try for “top” schools but we couldn’t afford them so we tried our best not to let her fall in love with any of them. I felt really guilty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Money is no object for us and I'd let the kid pick where he wants to go. Presumably, you vetted the list. The differential between the life outcomes of a Kenyon grad and a Haverford grad have got to be minuscule. My DD is at Haverford, BTW.

Thanks. We looked at the list but they and counselor made the list together based on their interests (writing, comp sci, small school etc).

What about a ursinus. They gave a substantial scholarship and that makes the kid feel they are really valued at that school. This is all so confusing.

I have two in college now so am a recent veteran of the application process. My honest advice is to table the decision-making until all of the results are in. Then sit down and have a conversation weighing the pros and cons of each. Usually, the right college reveals itself.

This is great advice. Thank you. We can possibly tour the ones they got into in the . meanwhile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those are some great schools. I don't know that I'd put Haverford ahead of the rest - it's a very small school and it has had a tumultuous couple of years. W&M, Kenyon, and Denison are all really strong too. I'd start talking pros/cons with him - does he care about weather? Proximity to home? Some Greek life or none? Which one might be stronger for whatever he wants to study?

Yes cares about weather (cannot be too cold! Or too hot!), Cares about proximity to home (should be able to come home for a long weekend easily! So that does put Kenyon and Denison and Allegheny in a bit of an outsider pile), no Greek life needed. 🙌

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From a value perspective, W&M hands-down, if you live in VA. When you say “if money was no object,” it sounds like it is, but you want the unvarnished truth about the best education. In reality, W&M balances everything. He can find a bit of Kenyon’s leftist vibe, get a dose of Haverford’s pre-professional attitude, be well-schooled in writing (the history program has its own writing center), and it has a CS major. Career outcomes between W&M and Haverford are small to non-existent. Don’t take a scholarship at a third-rate LAC over in-state tuition at W&M.

You are perceptive! Yes money is an object but willing to take out loans if something is so much better than others! If they get into W&M, that would be great. The decision doesn't come out till April I think. It is a bigger school than all the others but hopefully the class sizes are small. It is important for them that they have discussion style classes

Thank you for your perspective. 🙌

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had this exact issue because my daughter would have loved Vassar but they don’t give any merit aid. Would the name value of a school like Vassar (or other schools that don’t give merit aid like Tufts or Wash U) be worth the extra money over a “lesser” school she’d like?

My DD almost had the stats to try for “top” schools but we couldn’t afford them so we tried our best not to let her fall in love with any of them. I felt really guilty.

I do feel a bit of the same guilt as well. Not sure they would have got into the top schools but they did throw in an application to Brown for the heck of it. But not sure, if in the end, it would make sense over a W&M , in terms of how much it costs and the distance. But the name brand value, I am embarrassed to say, is very appealing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From a value perspective, W&M hands-down, if you live in VA. When you say “if money was no object,” it sounds like it is, but you want the unvarnished truth about the best education. In reality, W&M balances everything. He can find a bit of Kenyon’s leftist vibe, get a dose of Haverford’s pre-professional attitude, be well-schooled in writing (the history program has its own writing center), and it has a CS major. Career outcomes between W&M and Haverford are small to non-existent. Don’t take a scholarship at a third-rate LAC over in-state tuition at W&M.

Haverford is not at all a pre-professional type school, nor is it at all preppy. Definitely more to the crunch/nerdy very serious about academic side. I agree that W&M is a fantastic school. If it were my kid, I’d be thrilled if they could end up at either of these schools. If money is not an issue, I’d be perfectly fine with them choosing either, regardless of a potential in state discount for W&M.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Don’t take a scholarship at a third-rate LAC over in-state tuition at W&M.

I didn't realize they would be considered third rate. 😔 . I am wondering if doing ED at W&M would have been the better path. Oh well. Too late now!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From a value perspective, W&M hands-down, if you live in VA. When you say “if money was no object,” it sounds like it is, but you want the unvarnished truth about the best education. In reality, W&M balances everything. He can find a bit of Kenyon’s leftist vibe, get a dose of Haverford’s pre-professional attitude, be well-schooled in writing (the history program has its own writing center), and it has a CS major. Career outcomes between W&M and Haverford are small to non-existent. Don’t take a scholarship at a third-rate LAC over in-state tuition at W&M.

Haverford is not at all a pre-professional type school, nor is it at all preppy. Definitely more to the crunch/nerdy very serious about academic side. I agree that W&M is a fantastic school. If it were my kid, I’d be thrilled if they could end up at either of these schools. If money is not an issue, I’d be perfectly fine with them choosing either, regardless of a potential in state discount for W&M.

Thanks. I didn't realise W&M would be comparable to Haverford. I am hopefully they get a spot there. Fingers crossed.

[Anonymous]

If anyone is in state for William and Mary, would you mind sharing what the Cost of Attendance would be. Our EFC is about 60K. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had this exact issue because my daughter would have loved Vassar but they don’t give any merit aid. Would the name value of a school like Vassar (or other schools that don’t give merit aid like Tufts or Wash U) be worth the extra money over a “lesser” school she’d like?

My DD almost had the stats to try for “top” schools but we couldn’t afford them so we tried our best not to let her fall in love with any of them. I felt really guilty.

This was our exact situation! Kid focused her energy on Pitt and PSU (in-state) and then LACs offering merit scholarships. She also applied to some other LACs that don't offer merit aid like Vassar and Carleton (just to see) but didn't apply to many top schools or Ivies since our budget was tighter and she didn't want to get her hopes up. Between the LACs she was admitted to, she didn't really see much of a significant difference between Vassar (and even Carleton) and places like Kenyon and Bryn Mawr that was worth an extra 30k a year. She ended up at Oberlin and is really enjoying it so far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Culturally these schools are pretty different. My (possibly incorrect) impression of Haverford is a lot of preppy kids who sail in the summer vs Kenyon is more leftist and hippie. What does your kid think? I think you really need to do more campus touring, these schools are similar in ranking but not very similar otherwise.

Possiblyincorrect? You actually have this ass backwards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had this exact issue because my daughter would have loved Vassar but they don’t give any merit aid. Would the name value of a school like Vassar (or other schools that don’t give merit aid like Tufts or Wash U) be worth the extra money over a “lesser” school she’d like?

My DD almost had the stats to try for “top” schools but we couldn’t afford them so we tried our best not to let her fall in love with any of them. I felt really guilty.

This was our exact situation! Kid focused her energy on Pitt and PSU (in-state) and then LACs offering merit scholarships. She also applied to some other LACs that don't offer merit aid like Vassar and Carleton (just to see) but didn't apply to many top schools or Ivies since our budget was tighter and she didn't want to get her hopes up. Between the LACs she was admitted to, she didn't really see much of a significant difference between Vassar (and even Carleton) and places like Kenyon and Bryn Mawr that was worth an extra 30k a year. She ended up at Oberlin and is really enjoying it so far.

That’s great and makes sense! Oberlin has good name recognition though. I’ve been surprised to find that I get tired of hearing from people “I’ve never heard of that!” when I mention schools my daughter is applying to. I know it shouldn’t matter….