MD In-state options beyond College Park

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Question about Freshman Connection - many posters are saying that their high stats kids weren't even offered Freshman Connection. Does this come at the same time as a rejection or later? Do you apply separately? Can you appeal and request this? Thanks!

Freshman Connection is offered in the acceptance letter so it is not a separate application.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But my child wanted a small school. I am encouraging the OP not to be misled by private school sticker prices

She won’t get as much aid with the lower gpa. Your kid has over a 4.0 and hers does not. There is a big difference when it comes to merit aid.

So many variables. The important thing to know is the total cost after merit aid. For most students, even a $20-25k award at a private or OOS public is still going to cost more than the cost of a state school.

Wish
It is true private’s give a lot of 15k or so “discount” merit aids. But they are rarely ~30k per year. If PP can list which schools she is referring to (small privates and OOS public) that would be tremendously helpful.

I was just pointing out that when people throw out a really large merit aid award amount, it is meaningless without taking into consideration the cost of the school. And like you pointed out, most people don’t get that much anyway.

Someone mentioned that they “only” got $5000 from St. Mary’s but got 5 times that much from some private schools. But St. Mary’s only costs about $28,000 in-state so would be $23k after merit aid. Most private schools are in the $50 - 60k range so even a large merit award is still not going to bring the cost down to in-state amounts.

[Anonymous]

I am not knocking in-state schools, but many besides UMCP and partly UMBC and maybe Towson, most have a lack of degrees, especially in STEM. It is worth looking OOS for your needs.

I have done a lot of research into what schools give the best OOS merit that truly drop the cost to the low to mid 20's and many even lower than that with the right scholarship or merit package.

U of SC
NC State
WVU
Iowa State
U of Alabama
U of Alabama - Huntsville (many kids go for 100% free)
Ole Miss
Ohio State
Arizona State
Cal Poly
Kansas State
U of Hawaii - Monoa
Miss State
U of NM
Kent State
Louisiana Tech
U of Arizona
Montana State
Utah State
Bowling Green State
Ball State
Coastal Carolina
College of Charleston
U of Pitt
Jackson State
U of Kansas
Michigan State
Northeastern Illinois
UConn
Temple
Alabama State
U of Missouri - St Louis


There are so many more.

[Anonymous]

^ how is this useful?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^ how is this useful?

Umm, because most people don’t realize in-state is not always the cheapest option. And since MD is known for having some of the worst in-state options, it is nice to know.

[Anonymous]

OK, all of you OOS people, that is a fine topic for discussion. Why not go create your own thread, because that is not what was asked in this one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ how is this useful?

Umm, because most people don’t realize in-state is not always the cheapest option. And since MD is known for having some of the worst in-state options, it is nice to know.

I don't know about all the schools on your list but Pitt is $45,000/year OOS. Only the highest stats kids are going to get merit aid to bring that down any where near in-state Maryland.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ how is this useful?

Umm, because most people don’t realize in-state is not always the cheapest option. And since MD is known for having some of the worst in-state options, it is nice to know.

I don't know about all the schools on your list but Pitt is $45,000/year OOS. Only the highest stats kids are going to get merit aid to bring that down any where near in-state Maryland.

That is true, but it is just one example. Many of the others will award merit aid to more applicants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ how is this useful?

Umm, because most people don’t realize in-state is not always the cheapest option. And since MD is known for having some of the worst in-state options, it is nice to know.

I don't know about all the schools on your list but Pitt is $45,000/year OOS. Only the highest stats kids are going to get merit aid to bring that down any where near in-state Maryland.

That is true, but it is just one example. Many of the others will award merit aid to more applicants.

There are ~3900 schools like that. What makes the list unique? There’s nothing special about those schools as far as merit is concerned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ how is this useful?

Umm, because most people don’t realize in-state is not always the cheapest option. And since MD is known for having some of the worst in-state options, it is nice to know.

I don't know about all the schools on your list but Pitt is $45,000/year OOS. Only the highest stats kids are going to get merit aid to bring that down any where near in-state Maryland.

That is true, but it is just one example. Many of the others will award merit aid to more applicants.

There are ~3900 schools like that. What makes the list unique? There’s nothing special about those schools as far as merit is concerned.

And, if you are worried about UMBC or Towson, I'm not sure that Alabama State is what you are looking for.

[Anonymous]

" Second tier, small (but still good) LAC's routinely give $20-$30,000 to strong students from this area. And full rides to the best and the brightest.

As as example, my DC--who had a 3.7 UW GPA, 4.2 W-- got $5,000 in merit aid from SMCM and five times that from multiple SLAC's (private, OOS).

Very bad example since your son has a GPA high enough for admission to Maryland."

Well our 1300, 3.5UW, 4.1W got $35k at one of those Second tier schools.

The trade off was that DC's school makes SMCM look like Disney World.

Once DC visited SMCM, isolation became a selling point. DC had more $ and choices than they new what to do with.

Of course, most wouldn't chose isolation but almost every city has a LAC, you just have to dial in your desired city size...

If NYC seems to be a draw, you just have to draw the circle a little bigger. Colleges 60 to 90 minutes out of the city can be great deals and provide access.

If that doesn't work, consider the upper Third tier schools. It may be tougher to get into med school from the third tier but its not clear that with HS stats like our DC, med school is a realistic goal.

If the plan is med school or bust, consider starting at a third tier school, getting a 4.0 as a freshman and then transferring back to UMDCP.

Good luck

[Anonymous]

that list of OOS colleges is so depressing. no one wants to go to any of those places, except maybe Pitt

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:that list of OOS colleges is so depressing. no one wants to go to any of those places, except maybe Pitt

They do if they want a good education at a good price.
Not everyone can get into their own public flagship or afford private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:that list of OOS colleges is so depressing. no one wants to go to any of those places, except maybe Pitt

They do if they want a good education at a good price.
Not everyone can get into their own public flagship or afford private.

Or you could attend one of our state schools and get an even better education for an even better price.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:that list of OOS colleges is so depressing. no one wants to go to any of those places, except maybe Pitt

It is. I've lived near and/or worked at some of those schools and I would much rather go to Saint Mary's or UMBC.