Is any undergrad college/university worth $55,000+?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:12:37 I honestly cannot take your graph as real. Berkely was banned many years ago from considering racial status in admittance. If you have Berkely wrong, what else do you have wrong.

Not this PP, but there are definitely preferences given to underrepresented minorities. See this all the time. We just went through the college app/admin process last year and I was amazed at the kids with non-white backgrounds getting into Penn, W&M, UVa, that had they been white, no chance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
12:37 I honestly cannot take your graph as real. Berkely was banned many years ago from considering racial status in admittance. If you have Berkely wrong, what else do you have wrong.


Not this PP, but there are definitely preferences given to underrepresented minorities. See this all the time. We just went through the college app/admin process last year and I was amazed at the kids with non-white backgrounds getting into Penn, W&M, UVa, that had they been white, no chance.

You know the scores of the "non-white" kids? They don't even make up a large % of the population of the school, but some how they keep your little Johnny or Jane out of these schools.


Uva Undergraduate Students by Ethnic Category, 2012-13
6.5 percent African American
0.2 percent American Indian or Alaskan Native
12.1 percent Asian
5.5 percent Hispanic
0.1 percent Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
4.0 percent Multi-Race
28.3 percent Minority Sub-Total

So the non minority take up 71% of the admissions. Your kid is not getting in b/c they are letting unqualified minorities in, but b/c he/she did not make the cut. As long as we are stereotyping, what do you think the scores of the Asian students were?

[Anonymous]

Discrimination based on race is wrong. Should that even be debatable?

But I understand why the beneficiaries of affirmative action continue to dream up bizarre justifications for discrimination.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Going through the whole application process right now with my senior and feeling like there is really no college worth this kind of tuition. Am I wrong? Is there a place out there that would make it worth paying approx. $240K for four years?

I'd say yes to any Top 25 school. Maybe for top 40-50.

[Anonymous]

It all depends on your budget.

[Anonymous]

liberal arts history degree at an ivy dumb, STEM degree at a local university smart

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I can totally see that we will pay $55,000 a year for at least two of our children to go to small liberal arts schools. One of our kids thrives in smaller classes and the other is dyslexic. In both cases, I'd rather pay for a small liberal arts school with a tight community (with a high 4 year graduation rate) than take the chance that they would fail at a larger school.

Both DH and I had siblings who were weaker students that flailed at large state schools. I'd rather see my kids finish on time and have a better college experience. This assumes that the small liberal arts experience is what they want though.

The extra money over a state school is not a burden for us, the calculation would change if the kids or us needed to take out excessive student loans.

agree - if I have the financial means to support a child getting a college degree so that they are set up for their adult life, I will do it.

I have a brother who went to a large state school - failed - now in his late 30's busts his but for UPS. I wish my parents had the means to have supported him through other school choices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:liberal arts history degree at an ivy dumb, STEM degree at a local university smart

Not if you have the connections to make that liberal arts history degree work for you.

[Anonymous]

I am PP who said that very few schools would be worth $55K and to save $ for grad school. But I would modify my comment and agree with PPs who say that it depends on the child. Of course, if you have a child with special needs - or one that you do not have confidence would thrive in a large state school environment, then the $55K cost *might* be worth it. However, I'd wonder if it's seriously true for a non-special needs child that only a $55K school would do. I'm venturing a guess that perhaps a smaller state school might also work.

[Anonymous]

Or a non-top liberal arts school that is smaller, more nurturing, and not so expensive. Some exist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:liberal arts history degree at an ivy dumb, STEM degree at a local university smart

Absolutely 100% true. If you are going for a liberal arts degree in this environment, better to go to a local university.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Discrimination based on race is wrong. Should that even be debatable?

But I understand why the beneficiaries of affirmative action continue to dream up bizarre justifications for discrimination.

So what excuse do you use for a minority with a 4.0 and 2300 on the SAT? You better believe they are substantial. HYP is not admitting ANYONE with substandard grades and can't handle the work.

[Anonymous]

OP, are you starting with the assumption that $20K a year for in-state tuition at a public is worth it? In that case, you're really talking about whether the extra $30K is worth it -- the important thing is the extra, not the total.

And if my kids want to go someplace where the teaching staff is tenure track professors rather than exploited adjuncts, plus the sort of student:faculty ratio that leads to individual attention -- not to coddle, but to push -- then yes, it is worth it to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Discrimination based on race is wrong. Should that even be debatable?

But I understand why the beneficiaries of affirmative action continue to dream up bizarre justifications for discrimination.

So what excuse do you use for a minority with a 4.0 and 2300 on the SAT? You better believe they are substantial. HYP is not admitting ANYONE with substandard grades and can't handle the work.

2300 is solid, but below the top quartile of kids going to HYP. 4.0 weighted or unweighted? from which high school? These scores are competitive, but not a lock for HYP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I can totally see that we will pay $55,000 a year for at least two of our children to go to small liberal arts schools. One of our kids thrives in smaller classes and the other is dyslexic. In both cases, I'd rather pay for a small liberal arts school with a tight community (with a high 4 year graduation rate) than take the chance that they would fail at a larger school.

Both DH and I had siblings who were weaker students that flailed at large state schools. I'd rather see my kids finish on time and have a better college experience. This assumes that the small liberal arts experience is what they want though.

The extra money over a state school is not a burden for us, the calculation would change if the kids or us needed to take out excessive student loans.

So glad you posted. Have similar issues and similar thoughts about this decision. Glad to know I am not alone.