DS just got off the waitlist for UCSB

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
No need to go all the way there for 2nd tier UC OOS

+1 Unless you have the money in a 529, I'm not sure most UCs are worth the ridiculous OOS prices for a large state school experience (500+ in classes, fighting to just get the courses your need for many stem majors) cannot imagine paying $70K for that experience

OP is a DC resident. Us DC residents look at this differently than many because (1) we have no great in state options and (2) we get 10K/year towards the cost of OOS tuition.

OP. We actually don't qualify for DCTag so that is something we take into consideration in this decision as Pitt is approx 15k less.

Have you factored the travel costs into that $15k? If not, it's going to be significantly more. I'm from CA and really don't think UCs are worth the OOS cost, even with DC Tag factored in.

UCSB, in particular, has had issues with housing and with offering enough classes for their students. Are you ok with your student taking 5 years to graduate because they can't get the classes they need?
https://www.edhat.com/news/ucsb-course-shortage-at-crisis-level-dean-says

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
No need to go all the way there for 2nd tier UC OOS

+1 Unless you have the money in a 529, I'm not sure most UCs are worth the ridiculous OOS prices for a large state school experience (500+ in classes, fighting to just get the courses your need for many stem majors) cannot imagine paying $70K for that experience

OP is a DC resident. Us DC residents look at this differently than many because (1) we have no great in state options and (2) we get 10K/year towards the cost of OOS tuition.

OP. We actually don't qualify for DCTag so that is something we take into consideration in this decision as Pitt is approx 15k less.

NP.. I'm originally from CA and used to go to SB often (friend lived there; another friend went there for college). But I would not pay OOS for UCSB. That 15K less will be more like $20k to $25K less per year due to housing costs off campus after freshman year (I assume your kid will want to do that eventually), the flights, and just general higher col compared to Pitt.

Just be aware of the financial situation living in CA. It's a gorgeous place to be sure, but it's pricey.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
No need to go all the way there for 2nd tier UC OOS

+1 Unless you have the money in a 529, I'm not sure most UCs are worth the ridiculous OOS prices for a large state school experience (500+ in classes, fighting to just get the courses your need for many stem majors) cannot imagine paying $70K for that experience

OP is a DC resident. Us DC residents look at this differently than many because (1) we have no great in state options and (2) we get 10K/year towards the cost of OOS tuition.

OP. We actually don't qualify for DCTag so that is something we take into consideration in this decision as Pitt is approx 15k less.

NP.. I'm originally from CA and used to go to SB often (friend lived there; another friend went there for college). But I would not pay OOS for UCSB. That 15K less will be more like $20k to $25K less per year due to housing costs off campus after freshman year (I assume your kid will want to do that eventually), the flights, and just general higher col compared to Pitt.

Just be aware of the financial situation living in CA. It's a gorgeous place to be sure, but it's pricey.

Would you pay it for UCSD?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
No need to go all the way there for 2nd tier UC OOS

+1 Unless you have the money in a 529, I'm not sure most UCs are worth the ridiculous OOS prices for a large state school experience (500+ in classes, fighting to just get the courses your need for many stem majors) cannot imagine paying $70K for that experience

OP is a DC resident. Us DC residents look at this differently than many because (1) we have no great in state options and (2) we get 10K/year towards the cost of OOS tuition.

OP. We actually don't qualify for DCTag so that is something we take into consideration in this decision as Pitt is approx 15k less.

Great for you that you do not, but in case you haven’t checked the AGI cut off for DC TAG for the 23-24 school year is 589K.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
No need to go all the way there for 2nd tier UC OOS

+1 Unless you have the money in a 529, I'm not sure most UCs are worth the ridiculous OOS prices for a large state school experience (500+ in classes, fighting to just get the courses your need for many stem majors) cannot imagine paying $70K for that experience

OP is a DC resident. Us DC residents look at this differently than many because (1) we have no great in state options and (2) we get 10K/year towards the cost of OOS tuition.

OP. We actually don't qualify for DCTag so that is something we take into consideration in this decision as Pitt is approx 15k less.

NP.. I'm originally from CA and used to go to SB often (friend lived there; another friend went there for college). But I would not pay OOS for UCSB. That 15K less will be more like $20k to $25K less per year due to housing costs off campus after freshman year (I assume your kid will want to do that eventually), the flights, and just general higher col compared to Pitt.

Just be aware of the financial situation living in CA. It's a gorgeous place to be sure, but it's pricey.

Would you pay it for UCSD?

Generally, no. The only two that I *might* pay for oos is Cal and UCLA. The rest aren't that high enough in prestige/name recognition to justify the cost. UCSB, UCSD, UCI are all great schools but not worh the OOS + hcol cost. Those colleges are in very expensive areas. You are looking at about $80K+ per year for OOS. The weather in those cities can't be beat but I am not paying a premium for their college just for the great weather.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
No need to go all the way there for 2nd tier UC OOS

+1 Unless you have the money in a 529, I'm not sure most UCs are worth the ridiculous OOS prices for a large state school experience (500+ in classes, fighting to just get the courses your need for many stem majors) cannot imagine paying $70K for that experience

OP is a DC resident. Us DC residents look at this differently than many because (1) we have no great in state options and (2) we get 10K/year towards the cost of OOS tuition.

OP. We actually don't qualify for DCTag so that is something we take into consideration in this decision as Pitt is approx 15k less.

Great for you that you do not, but in case you haven’t checked the AGI cut off for DC TAG for the 23-24 school year is 589K.

Yeah, it's still a no go. I'm not complaining but I'm also not paying 80k for undergrad. We already said no to NEU @80k+ and a couple others. Will probably stick with Pitt which was high on our list from the get go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
No need to go all the way there for 2nd tier UC OOS

+1 Unless you have the money in a 529, I'm not sure most UCs are worth the ridiculous OOS prices for a large state school experience (500+ in classes, fighting to just get the courses your need for many stem majors) cannot imagine paying $70K for that experience

OP is a DC resident. Us DC residents look at this differently than many because (1) we have no great in state options and (2) we get 10K/year towards the cost of OOS tuition.

OP. We actually don't qualify for DCTag so that is something we take into consideration in this decision as Pitt is approx 15k less.

Great for you that you do not, but in case you haven’t checked the AGI cut off for DC TAG for the 23-24 school year is 589K.

Yes, and if OP makes more than 589k, then they can afford the extra 15k plus per year.

[Anonymous]

You can't make this decision without a visit, ideally while school is in session (not summer).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
No need to go all the way there for 2nd tier UC OOS

May be 2nd tier but still higher than most.

You're both nitpicking. You can get just as good an education at UCSB as at Berkeley or UCLA if you want it.

[Anonymous]

UCSB is amazing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
No need to go all the way there for 2nd tier UC OOS

+1 Unless you have the money in a 529, I'm not sure most UCs are worth the ridiculous OOS prices for a large state school experience (500+ in classes, fighting to just get the courses your need for many stem majors) cannot imagine paying $70K for that experience

OP is a DC resident. Us DC residents look at this differently than many because (1) we have no great in state options and (2) we get 10K/year towards the cost of OOS tuition.

OP. We actually don't qualify for DCTag so that is something we take into consideration in this decision as Pitt is approx 15k less.

NP.. I'm originally from CA and used to go to SB often (friend lived there; another friend went there for college). But I would not pay OOS for UCSB. That 15K less will be more like $20k to $25K less per year due to housing costs off campus after freshman year (I assume your kid will want to do that eventually), the flights, and just general higher col compared to Pitt.

Just be aware of the financial situation living in CA. It's a gorgeous place to be sure, but it's pricey.

Would you pay it for UCSD?

NP.

UCSB is much better than UCSD. Gorgeous setting, vibrant student life. I just can’t say enough good things about UCSB. Kids love it there. UCSD is very different. Great school with excellent programs in sciences, but pretty dead socially.

We are in CA, and my kid won’t be applying to UCSD for this reason.

[Anonymous]

UCSB would be way more fun than Pitt. Just be sure he goes in with a plan for classes so that he graduates in 4. My DD goes to USC but the schools get together for parties occ and says the UCSB kids are great.

[Anonymous]

If you can’t visit have him Google Deltopia. See if his kind of place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
No need to go all the way there for 2nd tier UC OOS

+1 Unless you have the money in a 529, I'm not sure most UCs are worth the ridiculous OOS prices for a large state school experience (500+ in classes, fighting to just get the courses your need for many stem majors) cannot imagine paying $70K for that experience

OP is a DC resident. Us DC residents look at this differently than many because (1) we have no great in state options and (2) we get 10K/year towards the cost of OOS tuition.

OP. We actually don't qualify for DCTag so that is something we take into consideration in this decision as Pitt is approx 15k less.

NP.. I'm originally from CA and used to go to SB often (friend lived there; another friend went there for college). But I would not pay OOS for UCSB. That 15K less will be more like $20k to $25K less per year due to housing costs off campus after freshman year (I assume your kid will want to do that eventually), the flights, and just general higher col compared to Pitt.

Just be aware of the financial situation living in CA. It's a gorgeous place to be sure, but it's pricey.

Would you pay it for UCSD?

NP.

UCSB is much better than UCSD. Gorgeous setting, vibrant student life. I just can’t say enough good things about UCSB. Kids love it there. UCSD is very different. Great school with excellent programs in sciences, but pretty dead socially.

We are in CA, and my kid won’t be applying to UCSD for this reason.

UCSD has always had a more serious reputation than UCSB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
No need to go all the way there for 2nd tier UC OOS

+1 Unless you have the money in a 529, I'm not sure most UCs are worth the ridiculous OOS prices for a large state school experience (500+ in classes, fighting to just get the courses your need for many stem majors) cannot imagine paying $70K for that experience

OP is a DC resident. Us DC residents look at this differently than many because (1) we have no great in state options and (2) we get 10K/year towards the cost of OOS tuition.

OP. We actually don't qualify for DCTag so that is something we take into consideration in this decision as Pitt is approx 15k less.

NP.. I'm originally from CA and used to go to SB often (friend lived there; another friend went there for college). But I would not pay OOS for UCSB. That 15K less will be more like $20k to $25K less per year due to housing costs off campus after freshman year (I assume your kid will want to do that eventually), the flights, and just general higher col compared to Pitt.

Just be aware of the financial situation living in CA. It's a gorgeous place to be sure, but it's pricey.

Would you pay it for UCSD?

NP.

UCSB is much better than UCSD. Gorgeous setting, vibrant student life. I just can’t say enough good things about UCSB. Kids love it there. UCSD is very different. Great school with excellent programs in sciences, but pretty dead socially.

We are in CA, and my kid won’t be applying to UCSD for this reason.

UCSD has always had a more serious reputation than UCSB.

I am a UCSD grad. It has always had this reputation, it doesn’t help from the social reputation that SDSU is also in the same town. I think the socially dead trope is a little much. There is a lot of fun to be had at UCSD for kids that want to have fun AND there are a lot of kids that may not have fun as their first priority. It is not UCSB/Isla Vista but it is not some grim institution where fun is verboten. It is a beautiful campus with amazing facilities. My student got into both and, to their surprise, liked UCSD better. Just like any kid can find non-partiers at any school any kid can find parties and fun at any large institution. It is college.