Stay in state flagship or go to pretty well ranked OOS SLAC?

[Anonymous]

I'm just laughing to myself here at the suggestions to reach out to UT for help with housing costs, or general emotional support. Fat chance. This is a gigantic student body, and they could care less whether you return after freshman year. In fact, they probably hope you don't. They are notoriously AWFUL for low income students of color, which I was when I graduated from a Texas high school. And Austin is not at all culturally similar to Beaumont. UT Austin also has tons of students who love gratuitous displays of wealth. Sure, there will be some groups of the first-gen kids of color. But it's a rough road there without any institutional support for these students.

"UT will have the resources to support students who are coming to campus with fewer resources than the majority of students (guidance about how to afford campus and school-related expenses, mentoring, and a a supportive community of students who have BTDT)."

She NEEDS to go to Davidson. Forget about the other two. There aren't enough POC around, either as students or staff on campus. And the extreme cold is just not something she needs to deal with on top of everything else. At least at Davidson, she can find Mexican food in Charlotte and will have enough African American students to bond with. I don't know anybody at Davidson, but the odds are that there will be at least 2-3 people whose job it is to make sure that she makes it through. Tell her to reach out for help and not to suffer in silence if she needs something. The staff and faculty at a school like that will be responsive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the difference in cost between Macalester or the other places and UT, and would it all be made up of loans? Offhand I can’t see going 100k into debt for those schools over UT.

Exact COA:
UT Austin- 13K a year (no coverage for room and board- can receive federal loans)
Macalester- 3K a year federal loan, 5K student contribution from work study + summer savings
Davidson- No packaged loans, 2K work study
Bates- 2K a year federal loan, 4K work study + summer savings

Meanwhile, middle class kids go practically bankrupt to get through college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even if school is free, will the kid need to work part time? Davidson is rural, so there may not be any good opportunities.

Davidson seems to be assuming work-study, so the school will give her a job. That's what "work-study" means.

topping out at $10.50 an hour as a senior if she can get a coveted job. As a freshman, it can be as low as $7.50 an hour

https://www.davidson.edu/offices-and-services/human-resources/student-employment/getting-paid

If you need the money, that's not doable

m

If the expected work study contribution is $2k, the student would have to work 5 hours a week year round at $7.5 to meet it. That’s very doable and given it doesn’t have to be earned during the school year, the student can earn it easily over the summer at a much higher paying seasonal retail job. I did work study an age and a half ago when minimum wage was much lower, my contribution amount was greater then $2k, and at $5.25 an hour was easily able to meet my expected contribution. And my summer seasonal jobs didn’t pay much more than the minimum wage the college was paying versus today when a life guarding job pays upwards of $18-$20/hour here in DC.

I’d go with Davidson, they have a greater vested interest in retaining students through graduation to keep up that stat for USNWR. I’d agree the ME for a student who has likely not spent much time in a cold climate and being so far away would likely be a bridge too far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm just laughing to myself here at the suggestions to reach out to UT for help with housing costs, or general emotional support. Fat chance. This is a gigantic student body, and they could care less whether you return after freshman year. In fact, they probably hope you don't. They are notoriously AWFUL for low income students of color, which I was when I graduated from a Texas high school. And Austin is not at all culturally similar to Beaumont. UT Austin also has tons of students who love gratuitous displays of wealth. Sure, there will be some groups of the first-gen kids of color. But it's a rough road there without any institutional support for these students.

"UT will have the resources to support students who are coming to campus with fewer resources than the majority of students (guidance about how to afford campus and school-related expenses, mentoring, and a a supportive community of students who have BTDT)."

She NEEDS to go to Davidson. Forget about the other two. There aren't enough POC around, either as students or staff on campus. And the extreme cold is just not something she needs to deal with on top of everything else. At least at Davidson, she can find Mexican food in Charlotte and will have enough African American students to bond with. I don't know anybody at Davidson, but the odds are that there will be at least 2-3 people whose job it is to make sure that she makes it through. Tell her to reach out for help and not to suffer in silence if she needs something. The staff and faculty at a school like that will be responsive.

I agree with the previous poster completely. There is no question about it, go to Davidson where they are invested in her success.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm just laughing to myself here at the suggestions to reach out to UT for help with housing costs, or general emotional support. Fat chance. This is a gigantic student body, and they could care less whether you return after freshman year. In fact, they probably hope you don't. They are notoriously AWFUL for low income students of color, which I was when I graduated from a Texas high school. And Austin is not at all culturally similar to Beaumont. UT Austin also has tons of students who love gratuitous displays of wealth. Sure, there will be some groups of the first-gen kids of color. But it's a rough road there without any institutional support for these students.

"UT will have the resources to support students who are coming to campus with fewer resources than the majority of students (guidance about how to afford campus and school-related expenses, mentoring, and a a supportive community of students who have BTDT)."

She NEEDS to go to Davidson. Forget about the other two. There aren't enough POC around, either as students or staff on campus. And the extreme cold is just not something she needs to deal with on top of everything else. At least at Davidson, she can find Mexican food in Charlotte and will have enough African American students to bond with. I don't know anybody at Davidson, but the odds are that there will be at least 2-3 people whose job it is to make sure that she makes it through. Tell her to reach out for help and not to suffer in silence if she needs something. The staff and faculty at a school like that will be responsive.

Just 34% of the student body at UT is white. It's 67% at Davidson. 17.4% of Davidson students come from the top 1%, while 16.4% come from the bottom 60% and 4% from the bottom 20%. At UT-Austin, 5% of students come from the top 1%, while 28% come from the bottom 60% and 6% come from the bottom 20%. Additionally, the average poor student at Davidson ends up in the 55th percentile for income, while the average poor student at UT ends up in the 68th percentile. 15% of UT graduates move up two or more income quintiles, while just 7% do at Davidson.

So I'm not sure there is any basis to your claims. The data says otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even if school is free, will the kid need to work part time? Davidson is rural, so there may not be any good opportunities.

If work study is part of the financial aid package, it generally means working campus jobs. Here's what it says at Davidson: "If financially eligible, you may be awarded a part-time job (typically 8 to 11 hours work per week). Placement may be on campus or with nonprofit community agencies"

It's not necessarily a bad thing to have a part-time job on campus (or nearby).

As someone who did work study, it's not enough hours or pay. Austin or St Paul will have better opportunities for part time work.

Jeez. Davidson is less than a 30 min drive into Charlotte NC which is one of the fastest growing cities in the country and second to NYC as an East Coast banking center. Likely has more opportunities than St Paul MN for students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even if school is free, will the kid need to work part time? Davidson is rural, so there may not be any good opportunities.

Davidson College is located in a cute college town and upscale bedroom community of Charlotte. Not rural. Davidson has a classic campus that would fit anywhere in New England except with far nicer weather.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even if school is free, will the kid need to work part time? Davidson is rural, so there may not be any good opportunities.

If work study is part of the financial aid package, it generally means working campus jobs. Here's what it says at Davidson: "If financially eligible, you may be awarded a part-time job (typically 8 to 11 hours work per week). Placement may be on campus or with nonprofit community agencies"

It's not necessarily a bad thing to have a part-time job on campus (or nearby).

As someone who did work study, it's not enough hours or pay. Austin or St Paul will have better opportunities for part time work.

Jeez. Davidson is less than a 30 min drive into Charlotte NC which is one of the fastest growing cities in the country and second to NYC as an East Coast banking center. Likely has more opportunities than St Paul MN for students.

Do you think this kid will have reliable transportation

[Anonymous]

We just toured Davidson in February. Wonderful school, it’s not Williams but it is a top notch SLAC that is very well regarded. I agree with the PP who suggested seeing if they will pay for her to come to an admitted students weekend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm just laughing to myself here at the suggestions to reach out to UT for help with housing costs, or general emotional support. Fat chance. This is a gigantic student body, and they could care less whether you return after freshman year. In fact, they probably hope you don't. They are notoriously AWFUL for low income students of color, which I was when I graduated from a Texas high school. And Austin is not at all culturally similar to Beaumont. UT Austin also has tons of students who love gratuitous displays of wealth. Sure, there will be some groups of the first-gen kids of color. But it's a rough road there without any institutional support for these students.

"UT will have the resources to support students who are coming to campus with fewer resources than the majority of students (guidance about how to afford campus and school-related expenses, mentoring, and a a supportive community of students who have BTDT)."

She NEEDS to go to Davidson. Forget about the other two. There aren't enough POC around, either as students or staff on campus. And the extreme cold is just not something she needs to deal with on top of everything else. At least at Davidson, she can find Mexican food in Charlotte and will have enough African American students to bond with. I don't know anybody at Davidson, but the odds are that there will be at least 2-3 people whose job it is to make sure that she makes it through. Tell her to reach out for help and not to suffer in silence if she needs something. The staff and faculty at a school like that will be responsive.

Just 34% of the student body at UT is white. It's 67% at Davidson. 17.4% of Davidson students come from the top 1%, while 16.4% come from the bottom 60% and 4% from the bottom 20%. At UT-Austin, 5% of students come from the top 1%, while 28% come from the bottom 60% and 6% come from the bottom 20%. Additionally, the average poor student at Davidson ends up in the 55th percentile for income, while the average poor student at UT ends up in the 68th percentile. 15% of UT graduates move up two or more income quintiles, while just 7% do at Davidson.

So I'm not sure there is any basis to your claims. The data says otherwise.

I wonder when pp graduated from HS? The "new" UT admissions process has diversified the school quite a bit. I do not dispute that UT is a huge and more impersonal place, and a student would get more personal attention at a SLAC, but we toured last summer (my DC is not going there, fwiw) and, as an alum of a UT graduate school, I was shocked (in a good way) by the support services available now. So, I disagree with the "without any institutional support" point. I think UT has changed a lot in that regard in recent years. In fact, we toured several large state flagships, and they all impressed me with the breadth of the services available.

Did OP say the student was a POC? I didn't see that.

There may be may nice things about Charlotte, but the "Mexican food I Charlotte" thing made me LOL. All Charlotte Mexican food will do is make OP's young friend sad. Austin isn't Beaumont, but it's a heck of lot closer than NC.

I don't think UT is the automatic choice, and there are things to recommend Davidson (cost not least of all), but I don't think it's a slam dunk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC is at Davidson receiving FA and is also working 8 hours a week. The job has been great for adding structure to DC's routine and the money has also been helpful. DC earns about $200 a month which has been more than enough to cover extras that arise. Davidson also has Lula Bell's, a great resource for all students; but extra support is available for those who need it most.

https://www.davidson.edu/offices-and-services/civic-engagement/lula-bells-resource-center

Davidson definitely has some full-pay students, but according to their website, "about 51 percent of our students receive need-based aid, and 70 percent receive aid from some source."

Davidson, no question. Tons of high-paying financial services jobs in Charlotte, and Davidson would be supportive. Texas would squash the kid like a big. I hate the posters here who call everyone delusional, but thinking a regular bright poor kid from an iffy high school should jump into a top CS program is delusional. The kid would be up against who are likely somewhat brighter and much better prepared. And most employers really don’t care where an applicant who can code went to school. Normal bright students are much better off in supportive programs than killer weedout programs.

[Anonymous]

Wrong.

--- There may be may nice things about Charlotte, but the "Mexican food I Charlotte" thing made me LOL. All Charlotte Mexican food will do is make OP's young friend sad. Austin isn't Beaumont, but it's a heck of lot closer than NC. ---

"Driving down South Boulevard or Central Avenue, it’s easy to see the influence of Hispanic and Latino communities in the shops, taquerias and lavanderias that line both roads. It is perhaps an updated version of the historical image of immigration to the United States, not one of tightly packed tenements and ethnic enclaves in the shadows of the skyscrapers of Northeastern or Midwestern cities. Since the 1980s, immigrants have followed varied paths to different places in the United States.

It’s been nearly a generation since the 2000 Brookings Institution Report that classified Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham as “Emerging Immigrant Gateways,” based largely on the rapid growth of Hispanic/Latino immigrant population. Hispanics make up more than 10% of the population of the 14-county Charlotte region, according to recently released U.S. Census Bureau population estimates."
https://ui.charlotte.edu/story/charlotte-regions-hispanic-population-grows-rapid-pace

[Anonymous]

Go to Davidson. College is the time to shatter students' insular world. This is part of their education. Do it in the supportive environment that is Davidson.

If Davidson doesn't work out for whatever reason, the student can transfer to UT Austin. If she chooses UT Austin which is famous for its weed-out curriculum, she will be unable to transfer to Davidson.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wrong.

--- There may be may nice things about Charlotte, but the "Mexican food I Charlotte" thing made me LOL. All Charlotte Mexican food will do is make OP's young friend sad. Austin isn't Beaumont, but it's a heck of lot closer than NC. ---

"Driving down South Boulevard or Central Avenue, it’s easy to see the influence of Hispanic and Latino communities in the shops, taquerias and lavanderias that line both roads. It is perhaps an updated version of the historical image of immigration to the United States, not one of tightly packed tenements and ethnic enclaves in the shadows of the skyscrapers of Northeastern or Midwestern cities. Since the 1980s, immigrants have followed varied paths to different places in the United States.

It’s been nearly a generation since the 2000 Brookings Institution Report that classified Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham as “Emerging Immigrant Gateways,” based largely on the rapid growth of Hispanic/Latino immigrant population. Hispanics make up more than 10% of the population of the 14-county Charlotte region, according to recently released U.S. Census Bureau population estimates."
https://ui.charlotte.edu/story/charlotte-regions-hispanic-population-grows-rapid-pace

Ok, you can’t be from Texas. Anyone from Texas who has spent time living anywhere else knows that the number of Hispanic immigrants has absolutely nothing to do with whether there is decent Texas style Mexican food available. If that were true, Alexandria would have lots of good Mexican restaurants, and it most assuredly does not. “Mexican” restaurants outside of Texas (and Southern California) are almost 100% owned by Salvadorans and others who have their own, often excellent cuisine, but the “Mexican” portion of the menu is consistently awful. When not in Texas or California, I’ve finally learned, after ordering too many “beef enchiladas” made with ground beef and yellow processed cheese, to try to figure out what on the menu is actually the restaurant owner’s native cuisine, and order that. Sometimes you can get good “street tacos” at a hole in the wall taqueria, but that’s really about it. I promise OP’s friend will be homesick for Texas food (and we haven’t even talked about beef vs. pork barbecue).

[Anonymous]

LOL. Was someone trying to say there is a lot of "Mexican" food in Charlotte, NC?