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

[Anonymous]

JMU and use the money for grad school.

[Anonymous]

OP: our DD had a choice like yours. She chose the full scholarship and graduated from college (T50-60ish) summa cum laude. She had great research and study abroad opportunities because of her accolades. She landed a post-grad job that multiple random other students are pinging her on LinkedIn about trying to get into. She is well-positioned to start grad school, debt free, in a few years. Likely would not have played out this way for her if she had chosen what in her case would have been a higher-stress, full price option. Agree with the PP that grad degree is the terminal degree and is what matters most.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here: Being overly sensitive not to dox them, it's the type of major that literally everyone in the field has told us "it doesn't matter at all where you went to school." It also requires a masters and doesn't pay a whole ton (tops out around $80-100k maybe).

Seems obvious you should take JMU in that case.

+1 especially if he plans to stay in the mid-Atlantic. JMU has a very enthusiastic alumni base.

FWIW, DD made a somewhat similar choice -- OOS LAC with great merit offer that made our cost closer to $20k vs. full price at W&M. She didn't love W&M but it was the best ranked school she got into. The LAC doesn't have good general name recognition but she felt really at home there. From talking with people in the field she was 100% committed to, the LAC had a great program, strong regional reputation, and the career would require grad school. Very happy with the choice and we'll be able to help with grad school. She'll do grad school at a big recognized-name university.

[Anonymous]

JMU.

DS is on a full scholarship and the feeling of freedom in not spending money on college is amazing. Just removes all the stress. We’ve shifted the college fund to grad school, otherwise we would simply have given it to DS to start his professional life with a healthy bank balance. Headed to a top 10 med school so all worked out.

[Anonymous]

JMU 100%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UVA does not have national recognition- just fyi.

It sort of does. I would put it behind U Michigan and ahead of UNC.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here: Being overly sensitive not to dox them, it's the type of major that literally everyone in the field has told us "it doesn't matter at all where you went to school." It also requires a masters and doesn't pay a whole ton (tops out around $80-100k maybe).

Here's the rub, there is a very good chance that he will change his major. Something like 2/3 of incoming freshman change their major at least once.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here: Being overly sensitive not to dox them, it's the type of major that literally everyone in the field has told us "it doesn't matter at all where you went to school." It also requires a masters and doesn't pay a whole ton (tops out around $80-100k maybe).

We were in the same boat (also a niche major). DC got great merit aid from GMU such that it brought it down to practically in state, but nothing from Penn State (also oos), their #1 choice. They also know they will need a graduate degree for this profession.

We won't need to take out a loan, but man, it hurts to leave so much money on the table.

But, unlike your situation, DC really wanted Penn State, so that's where they are going. They will have to work for a few years and save money for grad school. If they went to GMU, we could pay for grad school.

They are well aware of the financial situation, but IMO, a 17 yr old doesn't really understand the long term consequences of these choices. Most 17 yr olds are too focused on the now and not the future.

Having stated that, the only reason I relented on PSU was that it has an amazing alumni network, and if DC changes their major (which I think may happen), I think PSU would be better.

[Anonymous]

I think we need to know how much of a stress it would be financially. How much do you have saved for the other kids.

[Anonymous]

Congrats on the offer and on having a reasonable child, OP!

[Anonymous]

I would go JMU and then use the saved tuition for DC 1’s grad school. I would not make DC 1 take the lower option to pay for DC 2 to go somewhere fancy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here: Being overly sensitive not to dox them, it's the type of major that literally everyone in the field has told us "it doesn't matter at all where you went to school." It also requires a masters and doesn't pay a whole ton (tops out around $80-100k maybe).

Seems obvious you should take JMU in that case.

Agree

The only risk is changing their major, but it's not like JMU is a bad school. No debt + money for grad school? What a great way to start your professional life!

[Anonymous]

Congratulations to your DC! We have a very successful JMU grad who loved their time there and is at the start of what I think will be a wonderful career.
I think the idea of reaching out to professors in your kid's potential major is a good one. I know that with admitted student days there are also some major-specific events - department lunches and such.
Good luck to your DC!