interesting chats have me looking for in-state MD options

[Anonymous]

UMBC has a very good reputation among smart kids, according to my DC. He says a lot of very bright kids who maybe didn't have the best grades go there. Definitely you should take a look if your DC is in a magnet.

[Anonymous]

The counselling department at my child's W high school were very high on UMBC as a safety for science kids. Apparently their president is a very impressive guy!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The counselling department at my child's W high school were very high on UMBC as a safety for science kids. Apparently their president is a very impressive guy!

They’ve been saying that over 10 years.

[Anonymous]

It depends on the kid. My DH went to a no-name (a one-step-up-from-community-college) school for under $5k a year. He worked his way up and is now a successful exec making $500k a year. Great rate of return.

Nevertheless, we will pay the “high price” for our oldest because that is what they want/need. If Kid stays on same track he is now, will get a job post-grad and be content in that role for 30 years. A good alumni network may be needed to get the first interview. Our youngest is a self starter like DH and is going to be successful anywhere.... will make their own way. Prob won’t need a name or elite connections to take t

[Anonymous]

I want to a tiny school no one's heard of and got into the same grad schools as people who went to expensive name brand schools and got the same job as double Ivy degree people. Sometimes, it's what you do with the educational opportunity you have that matters, not where you get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The counselling department at my child's W high school were very high on UMBC as a safety for science kids. Apparently their president is a very impressive guy!

Dr. Hrabowski is very impressive. Google some video of him (e.g., 60 Minutes interview). He's done a great job with UMBC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've had 3 recent conversations with colleagues/neighbors at high-priced schools. I asked each if they would go the expensive route if they had to do it over again. The families are at different stages - one mom's daughter just graduated from a school in Boston, another has a daughter at Smith and another at another pricey school, and another has a daughter who's a freshman. The only one who is finding the high sticker price worthwhile is the mom with 2 kids - she said she'd pay the money for one of the kids, who wasn't as much of a self-starter, but thinks the other one would've been fine elsewhere.
What I heard is that at least some families don't find the $70+k prices to provide a decent rate of return.
That has me wondering if my kid should recalibrate a bit. My kid already planned to apply to the Univ. of Maryland. But I don't know anything about UMBC and St. Mary's, or other options. Anyone have kids who went there in the past 5 years or so? Would love to know more. My kid is in a magnet program and wants an academic challenge.

OP, I am surprised that your friends were able to admit this. Usually people get very defensive of their choices and will rationalize the expense no matter what.

Obviously, a family with a very high income isn’t going to question the extra $20-50k in expense of a private school vs. an in-state school in the same way as a family with a lower income. For some of us (me!), even the $25k to go in-state is a big stretch.

Nobody can tell you if any school is “worth it”. People go to top schools and still end up with crappy careers. People go to schools nobody has ever heard of and end up doing amazing things. There are no guarantees. Of course many people go to state schools and end up doing as good or better than those who went to the top priced schools.

If you are going to “recalibrate” and find a school that is both affordable and a good fit for your kid, you need to not get caught up in rankings and ratings obsession (see the entertaining current frenzy over in the USN&WR thread). And be very realistic with your kid about what you can afford.

Those people on here who say that they wouldn’t let their kid apply to a state school unless it is UMD (which is not a safety for anyone anymore) are the same ones arguing and obsessing over the USN&WR rankings. In the meantime, many of us have smart students who are getting a great education at in-state schools like UMBC and St. Mary’s without the ridiculous expense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I want to a tiny school no one's heard of and got into the same grad schools as people who went to expensive name brand schools and got the same job as double Ivy degree people. Sometimes, it's what you do with the educational opportunity you have that matters, not where you get it.

BINGO. I went to bargain bin college and I'm in the office now sitting next to fancy-pants school grads...making the same amount of money and the same benefits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've had 3 recent conversations with colleagues/neighbors at high-priced schools. I asked each if they would go the expensive route if they had to do it over again. The families are at different stages - one mom's daughter just graduated from a school in Boston, another has a daughter at Smith and another at another pricey school, and another has a daughter who's a freshman. The only one who is finding the high sticker price worthwhile is the mom with 2 kids - she said she'd pay the money for one of the kids, who wasn't as much of a self-starter, but thinks the other one would've been fine elsewhere.
What I heard is that at least some families don't find the $70+k prices to provide a decent rate of return.
That has me wondering if my kid should recalibrate a bit. My kid already planned to apply to the Univ. of Maryland. But I don't know anything about UMBC and St. Mary's, or other options. Anyone have kids who went there in the past 5 years or so? Would love to know more. My kid is in a magnet program and wants an academic challenge.

OP, I am surprised that your friends were able to admit this. Usually people get very defensive of their choices and will rationalize the expense no matter what.

Obviously, a family with a very high income isn’t going to question the extra $20-50k in expense of a private school vs. an in-state school in the same way as a family with a lower income. For some of us (me!), even the $25k to go in-state is a big stretch.

Nobody can tell you if any school is “worth it”. People go to top schools and still end up with crappy careers. People go to schools nobody has ever heard of and end up doing amazing things. There are no guarantees. Of course many people go to state schools and end up doing as good or better than those who went to the top priced schools.

If you are going to “recalibrate” and find a school that is both affordable and a good fit for your kid, you need to not get caught up in rankings and ratings obsession (see the entertaining current frenzy over in the USN&WR thread). And be very realistic with your kid about what you can afford.

Those people on here who say that they wouldn’t let their kid apply to a state school unless it is UMD (which is not a safety for anyone anymore) are the same ones arguing and obsessing over the USN&WR rankings. In the meantime, many of us have smart students who are getting a great education at in-state schools like UMBC and St. Mary’s without the ridiculous expense.

How do you know they are getting a great education?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I want to a tiny school no one's heard of and got into the same grad schools as people who went to expensive name brand schools and got the same job as double Ivy degree people. Sometimes, it's what you do with the educational opportunity you have that matters, not where you get it.

BINGO. I went to bargain bin college and I'm in the office now sitting next to fancy-pants school grads...making the same amount of money and the same benefits.

Difference may well be seen in the long game. And while your fancy pants grad co-workers are actually working, you're here gossiping on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've had 3 recent conversations with colleagues/neighbors at high-priced schools. I asked each if they would go the expensive route if they had to do it over again. The families are at different stages - one mom's daughter just graduated from a school in Boston, another has a daughter at Smith and another at another pricey school, and another has a daughter who's a freshman. The only one who is finding the high sticker price worthwhile is the mom with 2 kids - she said she'd pay the money for one of the kids, who wasn't as much of a self-starter, but thinks the other one would've been fine elsewhere.
What I heard is that at least some families don't find the $70+k prices to provide a decent rate of return.
That has me wondering if my kid should recalibrate a bit. My kid already planned to apply to the Univ. of Maryland. But I don't know anything about UMBC and St. Mary's, or other options. Anyone have kids who went there in the past 5 years or so? Would love to know more. My kid is in a magnet program and wants an academic challenge.

OP, I am surprised that your friends were able to admit this. Usually people get very defensive of their choices and will rationalize the expense no matter what.

Obviously, a family with a very high income isn’t going to question the extra $20-50k in expense of a private school vs. an in-state school in the same way as a family with a lower income. For some of us (me!), even the $25k to go in-state is a big stretch.

Nobody can tell you if any school is “worth it”. People go to top schools and still end up with crappy careers. People go to schools nobody has ever heard of and end up doing amazing things. There are no guarantees. Of course many people go to state schools and end up doing as good or better than those who went to the top priced schools.

If you are going to “recalibrate” and find a school that is both affordable and a good fit for your kid, you need to not get caught up in rankings and ratings obsession (see the entertaining current frenzy over in the USN&WR thread). And be very realistic with your kid about what you can afford.

Those people on here who say that they wouldn’t let their kid apply to a state school unless it is UMD (which is not a safety for anyone anymore) are the same ones arguing and obsessing over the USN&WR rankings. In the meantime, many of us have smart students who are getting a great education at in-state schools like UMBC and St. Mary’s without the ridiculous expense.

How do you know they are getting a great education?

How does anyone know this at any school? In my case it is having good connections and interactions with faculty, involved in research, good internships. Enjoys classes and learning, involved in lots of ECs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I want to a tiny school no one's heard of and got into the same grad schools as people who went to expensive name brand schools and got the same job as double Ivy degree people. Sometimes, it's what you do with the educational opportunity you have that matters, not where you get it.

BINGO. I went to bargain bin college and I'm in the office now sitting next to fancy-pants school grads...making the same amount of money and the same benefits.

Difference may well be seen in the long game. And while your fancy pants grad co-workers are actually working, you're here gossiping on DCUM.

You sound like an expert

[Anonymous]

I am a grad student at UMBC and I love it. My dd is at UMCP and so far so good, but she just started. DS is at small in state college in MD and he loves it, he has some LD so smaller was a better choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I want to a tiny school no one's heard of and got into the same grad schools as people who went to expensive name brand schools and got the same job as double Ivy degree people. Sometimes, it's what you do with the educational opportunity you have that matters, not where you get it.

BINGO. I went to bargain bin college and I'm in the office now sitting next to fancy-pants school grads...making the same amount of money and the same benefits.

And it’s still bothering you or you wouldn’t be aware or using degrading terms like fancy pants.

[Anonymous]

It’s not about the price, it’s about the opportunities. There are no colleges in our state that truly excel at my DD’s major. We paid the high price for an OOS research U. Worth every penny. If you are lucky enough to get a relative bargain in state that works, great. But don’t think I must have wasted my money, because that’s just not true.