I went to a Top School and I think state schools are the way to go

[Anonymous]

I went to a Virginia state school not even remotely known for my major and it has worked out just fine for me. I have the same gov't job as many people who went to "better" schools. What has been an added benefit is the huge alumni network in this area in almost all sectors - alumni tend to be fiercely loyal to my school and I've made tons of connections because of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many of us like to think like that pp and think hard work pays off and cream rises to the top and other Pollyanna nice stuff our parents taught us. But, unfortunately, it doesn't usually work that way.

Sure it does. Your worldview is warped.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was look at Carleton, Williams, etc. for my DD, but there's no way we could afford it without going into debt. State it is for us, can't justify it.

'

Know a graduating senior whose offer at a selective liberal arts college was such that it would be much cheaper than the state schools she applied for. It's often the kids who would get the best financial aid packages at private institutions who don't even bother to apply, which is sad. (Not sure if this applies to you, though.)

I agree. For a lot of kids, private schools often turn out to be cheaper than state schools.

Details please? For us UMCP - in state - would be much cheaper than say Pomona, Kenyon, etc.

FinAid/merit aid. Public schools don't have much to give away in terms of aid so what they do have goes to the poorest of students. Private schools, due to their endowments, can afford to be less stingy with aid.

[Anonymous]

If two people apply for a job and one went to University of Minnesota and one went to Dartmouth, the only thing that will matter is who nails the job interview.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was look at Carleton, Williams, etc. for my DD, but there's no way we could afford it without going into debt. State it is for us, can't justify it.

'

Know a graduating senior whose offer at a selective liberal arts college was such that it would be much cheaper than the state schools she applied for. It's often the kids who would get the best financial aid packages at private institutions who don't even bother to apply, which is sad. (Not sure if this applies to you, though.)

I agree. For a lot of kids, private schools often turn out to be cheaper than state schools.

Details please? For us UMCP - in state - would be much cheaper than say Pomona, Kenyon, etc.

FinAid/merit aid. Public schools don't have much to give away in terms of aid so what they do have goes to the poorest of students. Private schools, due to their endowments, can afford to be less stingy with aid.

It appears that you have to really be strapped to get financial aid. And withou qualifying for FA, you will need a ton of merit aid to come up with 60k per year. Does any private give that much aid? Serious quesition now...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was look at Carleton, Williams, etc. for my DD, but there's no way we could afford it without going into debt. State it is for us, can't justify it.

'

Know a graduating senior whose offer at a selective liberal arts college was such that it would be much cheaper than the state schools she applied for. It's often the kids who would get the best financial aid packages at private institutions who don't even bother to apply, which is sad. (Not sure if this applies to you, though.)

I agree. For a lot of kids, private schools often turn out to be cheaper than state schools.

Details please? For us UMCP - in state - would be much cheaper than say Pomona, Kenyon, etc.

NP here. Universities now are required to have a net price calculator online. You enter in your finances and DC's academic info and it gives you a ballpark as to what college will cost after expenses and merit aid. It's just an estimate, but it's given us an idea as to which types of schools DD would qualify for tuition breaks.

[Anonymous]

Most of the top colleges and universities DO NOT offer merit aid. They meet some or all financial need only. And in general most of the well-known colleges and universities in major northeast cities and other desirable locations don't offer merit aid because they don't need to. There are plenty of people willing to pay to pay full-price or take big loans to attend BU, BC, NYU, GWU, UMiami, USC.

When you move out of the northeast/midAtlantic/west coast, and especially if you step down a level in prestige, you find many private colleges and universities that offer merit aid, and some offer lots. Some of these schools don't cost nearly $60k even at full price, making them more "affordable" (cough cough) in the first place.

If you are seeking affordable alternatives to in-state public universities, do not look to schools on the coasts. Look to the mid-west and the south. Lower tuition, less competition for slots, and often merit aid for good students that can make them viable alternatives to in-state publics. These can be great options for a kid who would prefer a small school or who would like to go out of state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most of the top colleges and universities DO NOT offer merit aid. They meet some or all financial need only. And in general most of the well-known colleges and universities in major northeast cities and other desirable locations don't offer merit aid because they don't need to. There are plenty of people willing to pay to pay full-price or take big loans to attend BU, BC, NYU, GWU, UMiami, USC.

When you move out of the northeast/midAtlantic/west coast, and especially if you step down a level in prestige, you find many private colleges and universities that offer merit aid, and some offer lots. Some of these schools don't cost nearly $60k even at full price, making them more "affordable" (cough cough) in the first place.

If you are seeking affordable alternatives to in-state public universities, do not look to schools on the coasts. Look to the mid-west and the south. Lower tuition, less competition for slots, and often merit aid for good students that can make them viable alternatives to in-state publics. These can be great options for a kid who would prefer a small school or who would like to go out of state.

Thank you! I'm the PP that asked the question about affordablity, and what you wrote is exactly my findings. That's why it was suprising when the other poster mention desirable privates can be more affordable than state schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most of the top colleges and universities DO NOT offer merit aid. They meet some or all financial need only. And in general most of the well-known colleges and universities in major northeast cities and other desirable locations don't offer merit aid because they don't need to. There are plenty of people willing to pay to pay full-price or take big loans to attend BU, BC, NYU, GWU, UMiami, USC.

When you move out of the northeast/midAtlantic/west coast, and especially if you step down a level in prestige, you find many private colleges and universities that offer merit aid, and some offer lots. Some of these schools don't cost nearly $60k even at full price, making them more "affordable" (cough cough) in the first place.

If you are seeking affordable alternatives to in-state public universities, do not look to schools on the coasts. Look to the mid-west and the south. Lower tuition, less competition for slots, and often merit aid for good students that can make them viable alternatives to in-state publics. These can be great options for a kid who would prefer a small school or who would like to go out of state.

Of the six schools listed do you really think any of them are better at $60,000 a year compared to a solid state school? A student can go to state U, save loads of money and then move to DC or Boston for the job and "experience".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:


Thank you! I'm the PP that asked the question about affordablity, and what you wrote is exactly my findings. That's why it was suprising when the other poster mention desirable privates can be more affordable than state schools.

16:13 again. Desirable privates very often ARE more affordable than state schools....if your Expected Family Contribution is below the cost of state school attendance. There's the rub, LOL.

If your EFC is over, say, $30k, very few USNWR top-ranked privates are going to be more affordable than in-state public, no matter how stellar the student.

OTOH, if you lower your standards in terms of ranking, and look in fly-over country, you can find a lot of affordable options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:


Of the six schools listed do you really think any of them are better at $60,000 a year compared to a solid state school? A student can go to state U, save loads of money and then move to DC or Boston for the job and "experience".

I don't disagree with you, but apparently many people do, given how many applications these schools get and how little trouble they have filling their seats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I don't disagree with you, but apparently many people do, given how many applications these schools get and how little trouble they have filling their seats.

meant to add:

...and how comparatively little financial aid they give out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:


Thank you! I'm the PP that asked the question about affordablity, and what you wrote is exactly my findings. That's why it was suprising when the other poster mention desirable privates can be more affordable than state schools.

16:13 again. Desirable privates very often ARE more affordable than state schools... .if your Expected Family Contribution is below the cost of state school attendance. There's the rub, LOL.

If your EFC is over, say, $30k, very few USNWR top-ranked privates are going to be more affordable than in-state public, no matter how stellar the student.

OTOH, if you lower your standards in terms of ranking, and look in fly-over country, you can find a lot of affordable options.

righton, lol, too rich for FA and too poor to pay full freight.... Then the student body ends up $ <--------|-----------> $ at either end of the spectrum for said schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If two people apply for a job and one went to University of Minnesota and one went to Dartmouth, the only thing that will matter is who nails the job interview.

This assumes that they both get called in for an interview. I went to a state school and am doing fine, but I also didn't graduate into this economy. I think it is a lot harder (but certainly not impossible!) now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If two people apply for a job and one went to University of Minnesota and one went to Dartmouth, the only thing that will matter is who nails the job interview.

This assumes that they both get called in for an interview. I went to a state school and am doing fine, but I also didn't graduate into this economy. I think it is a lot harder (but certainly not impossible!) now.

This precisely is what I wanted to come on to post. You assume that everyone has an equal shot of even getting their resume past an HR person. The Dartmouth resume has a much higher chance of making it past the first cut, all other things being fairly equivalent. Let's not delude ourselves here.