ELI5: if we are low income and cost is a major concern, does it even make sense to look OOS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What sort of test score range would be reasonable to expect for him? 1500, 1300?

now that I know his first PSAT I think 1450-1550 next year is pretty achievable

[Anonymous]

You may want to add Occidental to your list. It says they meet 100% of demonstrated need. Your son's GPA is a tad low, but maybe with a high test score he could get in?

I think Santa Clara may be a reach admit for him as well.

[Anonymous]

Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma,Ok State, Nebraska, Kentucky all give nice scholarships to oos students.

[Anonymous]

Can you afford all the travel associated with an OOS school?

[Anonymous]

I was just coming in to ask about travel expenses. If income is low and finances are tight, be mindful of this extra cost.

My kid goes to school a day’s drive away — like a full 8-10 hours. That means whenever we go to drop off, pick up or visit, we’re paying for gas, hotel ($$$ during dropoff and parents’ weekend), and multiple meals. There’s no way to go up and back in a single day. If we want to fly instead of drive, we need a rental car as well. When DC comes home for TG or winter break, they fly.

Maybe the numbers will work for you. But definitely factor them in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was just coming in to ask about travel expenses. If income is low and finances are tight, be mindful of this extra cost.

My kid goes to school a day’s drive away — like a full 8-10 hours. That means whenever we go to drop off, pick up or visit, we’re paying for gas, hotel ($$$ during dropoff and parents’ weekend), and multiple meals. There’s no way to go up and back in a single day. If we want to fly instead of drive, we need a rental car as well. When DC comes home for TG or winter break, they fly.

Maybe the numbers will work for you. But definitely factor them in.

Our oldest is a freshman and the other thing that we noticed is that lots of parents cannot take a day off to drop off or pick up their kid. We are in a Parent group on Facebook and lots of parents were complaining that freshman drop off was during the week. My wife and I are both self-employed, so this has never been a concern for us.

Our kid goes to school close to us, so travel isn't an issue. But the travel to campus never ends. There is Fall break, Thanksgiving break, Winter break, etc. Do you want to move stuff home? Do you want rent a storage unit?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand how this works. Our SAI is probably the lowest there is. If my kid gets into an in state school, I believe we won’t have to pay much (the state is CA fwiw).
The problem is that he is very average and i don’t expect his GPA to be over 3.5. So he probably won’t get into any UCs except UCM, or even into good CSUs.
So, does it even make sense to look OOS if cost is a major concern? Or should he go to a middle of the road CSU or CC and call it a day?
He won’t be majoring in STEM.
Business would be awesome but even that might be too competitive for him I am afraid if he wants a UC or a decent CSU.

Look at private schools (including OOS), that is where they often meet full need and/or give excellent merit along with FA.