For a Great, but not Over-Accomplished Student, Is there Any Reason to Look Outside Virginia?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you were buying a car, would you look at options or just get whatever your local dealer has.

The fair equivalent would be look at other options or look at local dealer for half price. If you want a Ferrari(Harvard/Duke) you look outside for sure, but as you get to lower quality it's less clear if you want to pay double than the local option.

You might be surprised at how generous financial aid / merit aid can be outside VA.

this. I don't think it hurts to consider some other schools with good merit.

I think in state tuition for UVA is pretty high as state schools go in general. It obviously is MUCH cheaper than say USC, but it also isn't "cheap"

[Anonymous]

Staying in Virginia is a reasonable decision. It can also be a limiting decision. Why do you need reassurance, Op? Sounds like you need your hand held in your provincial bubble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Staying in Virginia is a reasonable decision. It can also be a limiting decision. Why do you need reassurance, Op? Sounds like you need your hand held in your provincial bubble.

To be fair, it can save a lot of time and effort for people who can pick the focus early. How much time is wasted researching and exploring OOS schools when kids just end up in-state anyways?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child is a strong student with good academics but never really forced himself to get a bunch of leadership positions or create clubs he had no interest in just for college. As a result, we don’t think he’d say Harvard or Duke caliber, but he’s still looking for a good school. Given that VA has so many strong options, does it even make sense to look outside of UVA, VT, W&M, etc.?

All of the colleges you mention are also STATE school with instate tuition. You are ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He’ll get into WM. They needs boys and care less about ECs.

Right on the first point, wrong on the second.

[Anonymous]

How much time is wasted researching and exploring OOS schools when kids just end up in-state anyways?

Plenty of students go out of state. Don't be a dunce, Op. Ending up in-state, if that is what your family/student wants, is very different than erroneously implying "kids end up in-state anyways."

[Anonymous]

There’s zero reason to go out of state without solid merit aid. No way do you pay full price.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There’s zero reason to go out of state without solid merit aid. No way do you pay full price.

Assuming aid is a requirement, why only merit and not also financial aid?

[Anonymous]

Our DS went out of state because the VA schools that had the major he was interested in and sport he wanted to play were too big. The OOS school ended up being no more expensive with discounts due to SAT scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child is a strong student with good academics but never really forced himself to get a bunch of leadership positions or create clubs he had no interest in just for college. As a result, we don’t think he’d say Harvard or Duke caliber, but he’s still looking for a good school. Given that VA has so many strong options, does it even make sense to look outside of UVA, VT, W&M, etc.?

Yes.

There are numerous options available outside of VA.
If you enroll in a reputable private school (it doesn't have to be on the level of Harvard or Duke), you might even find lower or comparable tuition fees, depending on your financial circumstances.

My eldest child attends UVA, while my second child is enrolled in a private school in Boston. I can objectively see the merits of both choices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you were buying a car, would you look at options or just get whatever your local dealer has.

Obviously the price is the difference. A BIG difference. Even if you can afford more, does it make sense to spend it when you could save it for grad school? These are such great schools of all different types in state VA. My kids applied elsewhere but in the end nothing compared.

+1
Our kids applied far and wide too, but both chose VA schools. We are so lucky to have such excellent universities in our own state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's a big jump you're making there. There're a lot of schools between the Harvard/Duke level and the Virginia in-state options. Doesn't hurt to look outside, but yes the in-state tuition is nice at a lot of great schools.

I agree with this. DD probably would have been headed to JMU (maaaaybe VT) or lower VA school but unexpectedly got into her around T50 private reach school. She really did a turn around academically and absolutely loved every minute of college. She thinks had she gone to VT (where most of her friends ended up) or other instate college that she would have just coasted along like she did in high school. So there's lots more that goes into the college success equation.

I have students at instate colleges and wonder why you think they're "coasting". It's not as if OOS schools are somehow more rigorous than ours. In a lot of cases, it's quite the opposite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Staying in Virginia is a reasonable decision. It can also be a limiting decision. Why do you need reassurance, Op? Sounds like you need your hand held in your provincial bubble.

Oh, there you are. The "provincial bubble" poster. As opposed to...? Greenville, SC? Bloomington, Ind? Do tell!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our DS went out of state because the VA schools that had the major he was interested in and sport he wanted to play were too big. The OOS school ended up being no more expensive with discounts due to SAT scores.

Yea but was the school any good? Was it better than the best school in VA he could have gone to for the same price?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child is a strong student with good academics but never really forced himself to get a bunch of leadership positions or create clubs he had no interest in just for college. As a result, we don’t think he’d say Harvard or Duke caliber, but he’s still looking for a good school. Given that VA has so many strong options, does it even make sense to look outside of UVA, VT, W&M, etc.?

Yes.

There are numerous options available outside of VA.
If you enroll in a reputable private school (it doesn't have to be on the level of Harvard or Duke), you might even find lower or comparable tuition fees, depending on your financial circumstances.

My eldest child attends UVA, while my second child is enrolled in a private school in Boston. I can objectively see the merits of both choices.

Why can’t you just name the Damned out of state score and give us some real context? Everyone on DCUM is so worried about being exposed.