Where do you get more "bang" for the tuition buck?

[Anonymous]

If you know you or your child will have to go to graduate school (law, medical or PhD) is it better to go to an expensive Ivy or top college for undergraduate school or wait until graduate school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you know you or your child will have to go to graduate school (law, medical or PhD) is it better to go to an expensive Ivy or top college for undergraduate school or wait until graduate school?

It depends on the child and the major, but generally the two or three schools in state are the way to go for best bang for the buck- especially in MD and VA.

[Anonymous]

Neither. I went to SUNY Binghamton undergrad and then Boston U for law school. I am now in house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you know you or your child will have to go to graduate school (law, medical or PhD) is it better to go to an expensive Ivy or top college for undergraduate school or wait until graduate school?

It depends on the child and the major, but generally the two or three schools in state are the way to go for best bang for the buck- especially in MD and VA.

+1 State schools are by far the best value for the money. I haven't verified this recently but I read somewhere that half of the UMD Medical School students are UMD grads.

[Anonymous]

I would go the Ivy/top school choice for undergrad. You never know what may happen and you or your child decide against graduate school.


However, in my experience, which ever way you choose, the person will always answer the question of where you went to college by listing the top school whether it was undergrad or graduate school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would go the Ivy/top school choice for undergrad. You never know what may happen and you or your child decide against graduate school.


However, in my experience, which ever way you choose, the person will always answer the question of where you went to college by listing the top school whether it was undergrad or graduate school.

This doesn't answer the question. Ivy League and other ultra-expensive private schools are a waste of money because employers are far more interested in skills and experience than the name of the school. The times when I have aided in the hiring process (for a STEM field), the name of the school simply indicated how wealthy the family was, and not how well the person would fit the position.

[Anonymous]

If graduate studies will be for medicine or a health related phd, go to the state flagship that's affiliated ~ if the student doesn't need a lot of hand holding at a private.

[Anonymous]

I would go to the best school possible at each step of the way- if that's Ivy for undergrad then that's what I would do. I believe it's worth the money.

[Anonymous]

http://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-kiplinger-s-best-values-in-public-colleges/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:http://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-kiplinger-s-best-values-in-public-colleges/

Wow! I didn't know UMD has equal SAT scores to UNC /Ucla and higher than Michigan/Wisconsin till I read this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would go the Ivy/top school choice for undergrad. You never know what may happen and you or your child decide against graduate school.


However, in my experience, which ever way you choose, the person will always answer the question of where you went to college by listing the top school whether it was undergrad or graduate school.

This doesn't answer the question. Ivy League and other ultra-expensive private schools are a waste of money because employers are far more interested in skills and experience than the name of the school. The times when I have aided in the hiring process (for a STEM field), the name of the school simply indicated how wealthy the family was, and not how well the person would fit the position.

I disagree. I am always impressed with a Harvard or Yale degree. Even a lesser Ivy like Dartmouth gets my attention as an employer. I honestly do not think top schools are a waste of money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would go the Ivy/top school choice for undergrad. You never know what may happen and you or your child decide against graduate school.


However, in my experience, which ever way you choose, the person will always answer the question of where you went to college by listing the top school whether it was undergrad or graduate school.

This doesn't answer the question. Ivy League and other ultra-expensive private schools are a waste of money because employers are far more interested in skills and experience than the name of the school. The times when I have aided in the hiring process (for a STEM field), the name of the school simply indicated how wealthy the family was, and not how well the person would fit the position.

I did just answer the question. I would chose the Ivy or big name school for undergraduate degree.

[Anonymous]

For most majors, I think it's simply stupid to pay 240k for undergrad work.

[Anonymous]

If you can afford it always choose the best school.

[Anonymous]

STEM: State flagship, then top med school or graduate school

Other, especially if you want to go into business or consulting: I'd choose Ivy undergrad for the connections.