No money saved for college

[Anonymous]

Dad, if you're picking up a $12K annual bill for fencing, can Mom start saving $12K NOW so that your son will have $24K more to start with when college begins?

[Anonymous]

For engineering at a good value, any of the Academies, but if that doesn't work out, look at Georgia Tech, the University of Illinois, North Carolina, Purdue, and Virginia Tech.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For engineering at a good value, any of the Academies, but if that doesn't work out, look at Georgia Tech, the University of Illinois, North Carolina, Purdue, and Virginia Tech.

Unlikely with the grades cited.

What is the kid doing this summer? Hopefully he has some kind of a job. Even minimum wage for a full summer will put a small dent in things. And maybe do some babysitting or something else during the school year or over breaks?

[Anonymous]

State school or apply for aid or loans.

[Anonymous]

If he can get his test scores up, some other merit options might emerge.

Strong Merit Aid (Typically):
University of Alabama - Automatic full tuition for high test scores
Auburn University
University of South Carolina
Clemson University
University of Mississippi
University of Kentucky
Louisiana Tech
University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)
University of Arkansas
Florida Institute of Technology
Montana State University
Wayne State

GPA might be problematic here, but see what happens:
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Colorado School of Mines
Ohio State University
Penn State

Make sure to apply EARLY.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For engineering at a good value, any of the Academies, but if that doesn't work out, look at Georgia Tech, the University of Illinois, North Carolina, Purdue, and Virginia Tech.

Unlikely with the grades cited.

What is the kid doing this summer? Hopefully he has some kind of a job. Even minimum wage for a full summer will put a small dent in things. And maybe do some babysitting or something else during the school year or over breaks?

Are you sure lol? I wonder the grades some of my classmates at Virginia Tech had in HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For engineering at a good value, any of the Academies, but if that doesn't work out, look at Georgia Tech, the University of Illinois, North Carolina, Purdue, and Virginia Tech.

Unlikely with the grades cited.

What is the kid doing this summer? Hopefully he has some kind of a job. Even minimum wage for a full summer will put a small dent in things. And maybe do some babysitting or something else during the school year or over breaks?

+1 My 1580, 4.92/4.0 kid was rejected at GAtech, albeit a CS major, but Eng there is pretty competitive, too.

Purdue OOS is the cheapest option at like $45k, but that's still above OP's threshold. With those grades, they won't get any merit aid.

Stay in state or to a lower tiered private that kids merit aid.

[Anonymous]

As a former math major, 82% in Honors Calculus 1 is not bad at all. How many kids even take that class?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For engineering at a good value, any of the Academies, but if that doesn't work out, look at Georgia Tech, the University of Illinois, North Carolina, Purdue, and Virginia Tech.

Unlikely with the grades cited.

What is the kid doing this summer? Hopefully he has some kind of a job. Even minimum wage for a full summer will put a small dent in things. And maybe do some babysitting or something else during the school year or over breaks?

+1 My 1580, 4.92/4.0 kid was rejected at GAtech, albeit a CS major, but Eng there is pretty competitive, too.

Purdue OOS is the cheapest option at like $45k, but that's still above OP's threshold. With those grades, they won't get any merit aid.

Stay in state or to a lower tiered private that kids merit aid.

I know a very bright kid who got waitlisted at Purdue for engineering. And I know a kid with weak grades and tests who got into their for business.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For engineering at a good value, any of the Academies, but if that doesn't work out, look at Georgia Tech, the University of Illinois, North Carolina, Purdue, and Virginia Tech.

Unlikely with the grades cited.

What is the kid doing this summer? Hopefully he has some kind of a job. Even minimum wage for a full summer will put a small dent in things. And maybe do some babysitting or something else during the school year or over breaks?

+1 My 1580, 4.92/4.0 kid was rejected at GAtech, albeit a CS major, but Eng there is pretty competitive, too.

Purdue OOS is the cheapest option at like $45k, but that's still above OP's threshold. With those grades, they won't get any merit aid.

Stay in state or to a lower tiered private that kids merit aid.

wow. What are the credentials of those who got in then? That's insane.

[Anonymous]

what state are you in?

[Anonymous]

Iowa State is ranked 49 by USNWR for best undergraduate engineering programs. Total cost (tuition, fees, room, board, etc) for OOS is about 43k. High admission rate overall. Not sure about engineering. The high SAT might get some merit aid. I don't know how a low GPA affects that but I think it's worth looking into.

And Ames seems like a pretty good college town.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For engineering at a good value, any of the Academies, but if that doesn't work out, look at Georgia Tech, the University of Illinois, North Carolina, Purdue, and Virginia Tech.

Unlikely with the grades cited.

What is the kid doing this summer? Hopefully he has some kind of a job. Even minimum wage for a full summer will put a small dent in things. And maybe do some babysitting or something else during the school year or over breaks?

+1 My 1580, 4.92/4.0 kid was rejected at GAtech, albeit a CS major, but Eng there is pretty competitive, too.

Purdue OOS is the cheapest option at like $45k, but that's still above OP's threshold. With those grades, they won't get any merit aid.

Stay in state or to a lower tiered private that kids merit aid.

I know a very bright kid who got waitlisted at Purdue for engineering. And I know a kid with weak grades and tests who got into their for business.

Purdue AE grad here. Purdue never used to be this competitive. If I applied today no way I would get in. Yes its a great engineering school, but for the kind of credentials you guys are talking about I am shocked your kids are getting rejected by Purdue.

[Anonymous]

An engineering admit is going to be tough with that GPA. Did the OP tell us what state he lives in? What about the ex wife?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:what state are you in?

OP here. We are in VA.