Which would you prefer, school-wise?

[Anonymous]

You could get into the state flagship - the top public - if you can into an Ivy/similar.

I think this speculation is nonsense and a waste of time unless there are actual acceptances to schools to compare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Scholarship. Then money can be spent on grad school.

+1.

I used to do admissions for a top 10 law school (not in DC) and believe me, GPA and LSAT matters so so so much more than the school attended. Save your $$$.

DH and I will be able to afford for our 2 kids to attend private college but we'd need an extremely compelling reason to agree to do it. Not just...it's better. And I'm certainly not paying for a mediocre private - the Davidsons and University of Richmonds that are out there. Not that they are bad schools, but bang for the buck they are waaaaay overpriced.

AGREE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it depends in large part on whether the parents have the money and want to spend it this way. If they have it and the elite education is important to them, sure, go with #1 if you want. If they can pay for it only by saddling themselves and/or their child with huge debt, then the only responsible answer is #2.

That said, I think there can be great benefit to being a big fish in college, being tapped for research opportunities, noticed by professors, etc.

Also note that there is a #3: Non-elite private colleges that offer merit aid. Sometimes the COA at these schools can be close to in-state public. This is the route to consider if your child prefers a small school to large.

FWIW, OP's scenario describes my family situation. DC will be applying to a mix of in-state publics (we are in VA) and non-elite privates. We are not even considering privates that don't give merit aid.

+1

We are applying to a couple of SLAC reaches, but DD knows she ain't going to them. She just wants to see if she gets in.

OP, I'd choose #2. Saddling yourself and your kid with a lot of debt just so they can say they went to Prestige U is silly. They can go to Prestige Grad School. That's what counts anyway. Lots and lots of very successful people went to no-name state schools.