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[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a 10th grader. I know that it's early to consider but we'd like to start making mini-visits while we can to schools and I realize that I may be selling the kid short by insisting on only state schools. I'd previously thought that only UVA, VT, W&M, JMU, VCU, etc. would be viable in state options given rising costs. DD does well in school (4.0 at present, orchestra awards, etc.) but it's early to say what GPA/stats will actually be. We are not shooting for ivies or other "elite" schools but would like an idea of what to explore OOS. We visited Pitt recently and DD was pleasantly surprised by campus and environment. She really liked it, which got me wondering why I had cut off the OOS option.

Any thoughts on good OOS which could warrant a weekend visit in the coming year to get a feel for options? Sorry if this has been asked a million times. I've gone through the search function and find it conflicting. TIA!

Academic interests? it's early, but potential major and annual budget?

I am not sure what potential major would be but her interests are math and science. Much to my dismay, she is not interested in English or liberal arts. Law is out (I'm an atty), and she seems to have latched on to the idea that she will be a radiologist. Not sure who gave her that but all her uncles as physicians (on both sides) so I think it was one of them.

I had planned on an in-state budget ($40K per year) but could likely cash flow the difference for a reasonable OOS up to $60K. The 90K+ options are ridiculous.

If she really wants it, I think she should go to W&M, which is practically a liberal arts college, and then go to the med school of her dreams. She'll get the faculty support that she needs and won't be fighting with massive classes of science students for opportunities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, Pitt is $55K this year, and you should expect it to go up 4% each year. That makes her senior year of college well over your $60K budget.

Importantly, medical school is a financial beast. Please don’t stretch for undergrad - you may want to help her with medical school tuition.

I just did the cost calculator for Pitt and it came back at $53,164. That is something to consider. I may remember why I had limited apps to state schools only

[Anonymous]

If she decides she wants engineering for undergrad, Purdue is an affordable OOS option ($38.8K/year cost of attendance), and a top 10 undergrad engineering college.

[Anonymous]

What does your kid want to study (although I realize that 10th grade is too early to consider this)? My DCs major was basically only available at large state schools, so that decided the point for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does your kid want to study (although I realize that 10th grade is too early to consider this)? My DCs major was basically only available at large state schools, so that decided the point for us.

She said on page 1 her daughter might be pre-med.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does your kid want to study (although I realize that 10th grade is too early to consider this)? My DCs major was basically only available at large state schools, so that decided the point for us.

She said on page 1 her daughter might be pre-med.

In that case, go to Alabama for free bc med school is $$$

[Anonymous]

OP we are similar and I have recommendations of UDEL and PSU. One that I do not recommend is Michigan as I was gobsmacked looking at the net price calculator and it was 80k.

[Anonymous]

“ she seems to have latched on to the idea that she will be a radiologist.”

VT for undergrad then. You want affordable if you’ll pay for med school.

[Anonymous]

UDC

[Anonymous]

Philly and Boston are nice cities to plan a long weekend in, visiting a few schools of different size/atmosphere.

So, in Philly, you could do Villanova (selective, private); Drexel (pre-professional, heavy on math and science); Penn if you think she could get in or you really want to see an Ivy; Temple (very urban; your kid would have strong stats and would probably get some merit); St. Joe's (mid-sized Jesuit).

In Boston, there are even more choices, though off the top of my head, they skew pretty selective and expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“ she seems to have latched on to the idea that she will be a radiologist.”

VT for undergrad then. You want affordable if you’ll pay for med school.

I’d try to push her away from radiology, that is one speciality that is going to be hit very hard by AI.

[Anonymous]

I know a number of students who have chosen small private schools where their stats were on the high end, and the net price came in well below that of their in-state schools after merit and need based aid.

So, I wouldn't automatically rule out private options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Philly and Boston are nice cities to plan a long weekend in, visiting a few schools of different size/atmosphere.

So, in Philly, you could do Villanova (selective, private); Drexel (pre-professional, heavy on math and science); Penn if you think she could get in or you really want to see an Ivy; Temple (very urban; your kid would have strong stats and would probably get some merit); St. Joe's (mid-sized Jesuit).

In Boston, there are even more choices, though off the top of my head, they skew pretty selective and expensive.

Philly will be a good fall weekend trip. How Catholic does Villanova feel?

[Anonymous]

Miami of Ohio has merit aid for out of staters. You have to see the campus to believe it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know a number of students who have chosen small private schools where their stats were on the high end, and the net price came in well below that of their in-state schools after merit and need based aid.

So, I wouldn't automatically rule out private options.

+1 this was what my DD wanted. She didn't love any in-state schools and preferred the small LACs.

I would start with visits to the VA state schools and see what resonates there. If she liked Pitt, similarly urban VCU might be a good fit and it's also excellent for all types of healthcare majors. If she likes the big state schools I don't see much reason to go OOS unless needed as a back up. Some provide merit aid but you'll find it hard to meet the price of VT/JMU. My son at VT also applied to UDel as a back up and with merit it was about $40k. If she likes W&M, then start exploring more midsize and smaller schools. Jesuit schools in particular tend to be midsized and the less selective ones can be generous with merit. Visit a couple small liberal arts colleges to see if she prefers that size. There are LOT of LACs that will meet/beat in-state price once you get out of the top 30ish.

If you take a trip to Philly, I'd definitely see St. Joe's (midsize Jesuit). Add Ursinus or Muhlenberg for LACs in the suburbs that give good merit aid. Maybe Temple although really if she likes urban schools and wants pre-med I don't see why you would go to Temple over VCU. Skip Villanova and Drexel - it won't fit budget. Penn is a waste of time unless she's really a super-stellar applicant and you have low enough income to get generous aid.