Does anyone else notice that more families are encouraging their kids to apply to state schools?

[Anonymous]

I have encountered a lot of families, recently, who have encouraged their kids to attend state schools to keep down college costs. I don't recall this being the case when I was applying back in the 80's. Has anyone else noticed this, too?

[Anonymous]

I went to a well-known, highly selective private university in the 80s. Tuition was $3,600 a year.

If I had a college age kid, I'd be looking hard at cost vs. benefit. Many state schools are very, very good.

[Anonymous]

I also think that because so many will be going on to graduate school it makes sense not to spend as much on an undergraduate degree.

[Anonymous]

With employment prospects being rather grim, especially for liberal arts grads, it makes sense.

[Anonymous]

OP here. My sentiments exactly.

[Anonymous]

As a lawyer who administers a fellowship program for law students and hires college grads for project assistants, I assure you that only a tippy top private is worth the tuition in terms of any sort of clout in the hiring process. We had literally a thousand applicants for a recent entry level project assistant (fresh out of college job), and the handful of applicants we interviewed we're from umcp (2 of them), William & Mary, northwestern, Harvard, suny and u conn. My kids are going to umcp unless they get full rides elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a lawyer who administers a fellowship program for law students and hires college grads for project assistants, I assure you that only a tippy top private is worth the tuition in terms of any sort of clout in the hiring process. We had literally a thousand applicants for a recent entry level project assistant (fresh out of college job), and the handful of applicants we interviewed we're from umcp (2 of them), William & Mary, northwestern, Harvard, suny and u conn. My kids are going to umcp unless they get full rides elsewhere.

Everyone knows that prospects in law are grim these days. The hot employment opportunities for liberal arts grads are at places like Google and the other tech giants and of course some of the financial services firms (including Wall Street firms). The alumni network is still a pretty good tool for kids from the Ivies, the NESCAC schools and other highly ranked colleges.

There will always be people with money. Those who send their kids to private high schools pretty much won't send their kids to state colleges unless it's some place like UVA, William and Mary, Michigan or the California state system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a lawyer who administers a fellowship program for law students and hires college grads for project assistants, I assure you that only a tippy top private is worth the tuition in terms of any sort of clout in the hiring process. We had literally a thousand applicants for a recent entry level project assistant (fresh out of college job), and the handful of applicants we interviewed we're from umcp (2 of them), William & Mary, northwestern, Harvard, suny and u conn. My kids are going to umcp unless they get full rides elsewhere.

Everyone knows that prospects in law are grim these days. The hot employment opportunities for liberal arts grads are at places like Google and the other tech giants and of course some of the financial services firms (including Wall Street firms). The alumni network is still a pretty good tool for kids from the Ivies, the NESCAC schools and other highly ranked colleges.

There will always be people with money. Those who send their kids to private high schools pretty much won't send their kids to state colleges unless it's some place like UVA, William and Mary, Michigan or the California state system.

Why is it that people who send their kids to private high school pretty much won't send their kids to state schools?
Signed, a parent with a kid at a private school

[Anonymous]

Well pp -- there are a lot of great state schools but if you've invested your money in private...most people will want something better for their kid. (signed...a state school grad with an Ivy kid who went to a private here).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well pp -- there are a lot of great state schools but if you've invested your money in private...most people will want something better for their kid. (signed...a state school grad with an Ivy kid who went to a private here).

False. At DD's private they send a bunch of kids to Ivies and top 25s, but more, at least 20% of the class every year goes to UVA and UMCP.

[Anonymous]

DD is in private. I'm looking very hard at the VA Prepaid. My biggest concern is what if as a NOVA resident she doesn't get it. Or what if her grades aren't there. Will she be happy at GMU?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD is in private. I'm looking very hard at the VA Prepaid. My biggest concern is what if as a NOVA resident she doesn't get it. Or what if her grades aren't there. Will she be happy at GMU?

Big myth here. Your VA prepaid money is safe. You convert it to a Va 529 and then have Virginia send tuition money to any OOS school. It's not the huge savings you'd enjoy at UVa, but it is real money (Va pays out to the state school the average tuition charged by Va colleges that year).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have encountered a lot of families, recently, who have encouraged their kids to attend state schools to keep down college costs. I don't recall this being the case when I was applying back in the 80's. Has anyone else noticed this, too?

What state are you from? I'm from Virginia and graduated in 90. Everyone I knew went to a state college. I've met very few Virginians who have gone to private.

[Anonymous]

This piece from yesterday's New York Times backs up the idea that it's not worth paying top dollar except for, maybe, in some cases, at the very top colleges.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/20/your-money/measuring-college-prestige-vs-price.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hp

[Anonymous]

20:40 Who got the job?