Colleges that Change Lives

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Really is insane to spend 70k a year on a small private 3rd tier college in today's economy if you have more than 1 kid going through college, particularly at one time. 200k? Nope. State school makes much more sense and frankly most people these days are making that choice. Our HHI is 250k in DC proper and with a $3000 a month mortgage and 3 kids heading for college in the next 3 years? Not gonna happen. 2 household earners here.

Hard pass on this for us too.

You are very close minded. I have four kids and we are a 2 earner household making less than what you do. Today, I have a son who just graduated from Beloit, a CTCL, who is now in medical school and 2 others at Uva. The Beloit graduate was awarded merit scholarships that made it LESS expensive to attend than had he gone in state. That came in very handy considering the continuing cost of his education. And the education he got at Beloit was top notch but go ahead and call it third tier. My husband and I both went to Ivy for undergrad and feel strongly that our DS got a better education at Beloit than we did. Meanwhile our two at UVa usually sit in classrooms of 100-300 students and their professors have no clue who they are. Our Uva DCs sometimes express regret that they didn't attend a college like Beloit rather than Uva. Obviously, this "third tier" school did not hold my oldest back from pursuing his dreams.

You are writing off a whole bunch of good colleges that may actually cost less than in-state. That's ok - sounds like my 4th will be applying to college at the same time as yours - more money and opportunities for her.

+1

My sister's Juniata grad is in medical school now. She took several years off between college and med school, and when she contacted her Juniata professors for letters of recommendation, it was easy for them to help her because they remembered her clearly, having had her in small classes and worked with her on research. (Research is one of the many benefits of these schools; undergrads at huge universities do not generally get to do much if any research, which is for graduate students.)

[Anonymous]

We focused on CTCL schools for DC. I was iunfamiliar with several of the schools before touring but was really impressed. I second the PP above regarding merit aid making the CTCL schools accessible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I highly recommend deep springs college.

https://www.deepsprings.edu/

um... two year college, very small, all men at this point, incredibly hard to get into. Not too realistic, IMHO.

Read carefully. They start to accept women from 2018. And after finishing 2 year, majority of students transfer to elite universities. No try, nothing to earn.

Deep Springs has an enrollment of 26. That's not a typo - 26. And you'll have to do your application process all over again since it is only a two year program.

[Anonymous]

To the "Hard Pass" people:

The entire point of the book is that your thinking is both common and incorrect.

Both with regard to value and results.

Of course you can't know that unless you read it. Might I suggest you do? You can still make any decision you want but you will do it in a more informed way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I highly recommend deep springs college.

https://www.deepsprings.edu/

um... two year college, very small, all men at this point, incredibly hard to get into. Not too realistic, IMHO.

Read carefully. They start to accept women from 2018. And after finishing 2 year, majority of students transfer to elite universities. No try, nothing to earn.

Deep Springs has an enrollment of 26. That's not a typo - 26. And you'll have to do your application process all over again since it is only a two year program.

Yes, however number of applicants are around 200. admitted rates is around 5-7%. Why are you trying to put down my opinion ? When I saw " Colleges that change lives". I remember deep spring college. Would this mind you so seriously? Even 1 % admitted rates, there are students who are admitted. What matter?

I think you try to put down because Deep Spring college is 2 year college. This one is totally different with 2 year community colleges. Most elite universities likes to admit Deep Springs college graduate. I have learned this college from Harvard graduate. I thought this one is for very inspired, insight students.
After finishing Deep Spring colleges, alumni head to Harvard, Stanford, Brown etc. When they are welcomed from those elite universities. This might be another option for some serious brilliant , insightful students.
Their alumni show remarkable outcomes.

Does l this really bother you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Really is insane to spend 70k a year on a small private 3rd tier college in today's economy if you have more than 1 kid going through college, particularly at one time. 200k? Nope. State school makes much more sense and frankly most people these days are making that choice. Our HHI is 250k in DC proper and with a $3000 a month mortgage and 3 kids heading for college in the next 3 years? Not gonna happen. 2 household earners here.

Hard pass on this for us too.

I went to one of these, total yearly cost at the time was 35K/yr. I graduated with 9K in loans, after scholarships and aid and so on. My parents barely paid anything. Those printed costs are often paid by a small percentage of the attending student body.

[Anonymous]

The total cost of attendance for William & Mary next fall is $37k and UVA is $32k. It is very easy for some of these schools to competitive and possibly even cheaper after merit aid is factored in. You're being short sighted if you dismiss them (or other private/out of state schools) out of hand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The total cost of attendance for William & Mary next fall is $37k and UVA is $32k. It is very easy for some of these schools to competitive and possibly even cheaper after merit aid is factored in. You're being short sighted if you dismiss them (or other private/out of state schools) out of hand.

None of the CTCL schools (with the possible exception of Reed) measures up to W&M or UVA. They are all at least a tier or two beneath. UVA is probably too large for my DD but I would send her to W&M over any of the CTCL schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The total cost of attendance for William & Mary next fall is $37k and UVA is $32k. It is very easy for some of these schools to competitive and possibly even cheaper after merit aid is factored in. You're being short sighted if you dismiss them (or other private/out of state schools) out of hand.

None of the CTCL schools (with the possible exception of Reed) measures up to W&M or UVA. They are all at least a tier or two beneath. UVA is probably too large for my DD but I would send her to W&M over any of the CTCL schools.

And what happens when DD does not get in to UVA or W&M, then what?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The total cost of attendance for William & Mary next fall is $37k and UVA is $32k. It is very easy for some of these schools to competitive and possibly even cheaper after merit aid is factored in. You're being short sighted if you dismiss them (or other private/out of state schools) out of hand.

None of the CTCL schools (with the possible exception of Reed) measures up to W&M or UVA. They are all at least a tier or two beneath. UVA is probably too large for my DD but I would send her to W&M over any of the CTCL schools.

Ok. Good for you.

That doesn't mean that everyone should send their child to W&M over any of the CTCL schools. There are good reasons for a student to choose a CTCL school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The total cost of attendance for William & Mary next fall is $37k and UVA is $32k. It is very easy for some of these schools to competitive and possibly even cheaper after merit aid is factored in. You're being short sighted if you dismiss them (or other private/out of state schools) out of hand.

None of the CTCL schools (with the possible exception of Reed) measures up to W&M or UVA. They are all at least a tier or two beneath. UVA is probably too large for my DD but I would send her to W&M over any of the CTCL schools.

And what happens when DD does not get in to UVA or W&M, then what?

Agree with 14:06 -- that is what the book is about - that there are more than 20 good colleges in the country and many kids can go to them and go on to top careers and graduate programs. Not getting into UVA need not be the end of the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The total cost of attendance for William & Mary next fall is $37k and UVA is $32k. It is very easy for some of these schools to competitive and possibly even cheaper after merit aid is factored in. You're being short sighted if you dismiss them (or other private/out of state schools) out of hand.

None of the CTCL schools (with the possible exception of Reed) measures up to W&M or UVA. They are all at least a tier or two beneath. UVA is probably too large for my DD but I would send her to W&M over any of the CTCL schools.

This tier stuff is a bunch of nonsense. Your child should attend the college that is the best fit for them, not what school you think is the highest "tier."

Signed, the proud Beloit mom from above whose son in medical school turned down W&M.

[Anonymous]

Not everyone has 1500+ SAT scores with straight As to get into the "elite, top-tier" colleges. Nor can everyone get into a Cal/UNC/UVA/Michigan-level "public Ivy." But, that doesn't mean that they can't get an excellent education. A B+ student with 1200 SATs may do far better at Centre College or Evergreen or Hope than at a bigger college like James Madison or George Mason or VCU or one of the Cal State campuses. These schools have a track record of developing students who may not have the shiniest of credentials to go on and have great careers and lives.

BTW - Deep Springs is not a College That Changes Lives, but it is an exceptional place that is not for everyone. You have to have Ivy level stats and write responses to some phenomenally difficult essays just to get to the visit/interview round where you have to demonstrate that you can learn to be a rancher. With the first co-ed class, it will be exceptionally difficult for men/boys to get in since they will have to reserve most of the slots for women this year. If anything, it is the hardest way to get into Yale.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not everyone has 1500+ SAT scores with straight As to get into the "elite, top-tier" colleges. Nor can everyone get into a Cal/UNC/UVA/Michigan-level "public Ivy." But, that doesn't mean that they can't get an excellent education. A B+ student with 1200 SATs may do far better at Centre College or Evergreen or Hope than at a bigger college like James Madison or George Mason or VCU or one of the Cal State campuses. These schools have a track record of developing students who may not have the shiniest of credentials to go on and have great careers and lives.

BTW - Deep Springs is not a College That Changes Lives, but it is an exceptional place that is not for everyone. You have to have Ivy level stats and write responses to some phenomenally difficult essays just to get to the visit/interview round where you have to demonstrate that you can learn to be a rancher. With the first co-ed class, it will be exceptionally difficult for men/boys to get in since they will have to reserve most of the slots for women this year. If anything, it is the hardest way to get into Yale.

Big schools are great for a lot of people - having many activities, friend groups , majors and classes to choose from is a great thing for many people.
For many people the small schools are stifling in many ways. Don’t look down on the large schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The total cost of attendance for William & Mary next fall is $37k and UVA is $32k. It is very easy for some of these schools to competitive and possibly even cheaper after merit aid is factored in. You're being short sighted if you dismiss them (or other private/out of state schools) out of hand.

None of the CTCL schools (with the possible exception of Reed) measures up to W&M or UVA. They are all at least a tier or two beneath. UVA is probably too large for my DD but I would send her to W&M over any of the CTCL schools.

And what happens when DD does not get in to UVA or W&M, then what?

Agree with 14:06 -- that is what the book is about - that there are more than 20 good colleges in the country and many kids can go to them and go on to top careers and graduate programs. Not getting into UVA need not be the end of the world.

Many of the students at CTCL, including mine, were accepted to higher-tier schools and turned them down.