Merit Aid award letter from Pitt arrived today

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's so crazy to me is that even if you save really aggressively, and you end up with like I don't know $500,000 for two kids.

Sorry I wasn't done.

But if you have to pay all of that. Then you're left with zero savings? It seems inherently unfair and just bonkers.

Yep. And the crazy thing is, this is likely the most expensive product you will ever spend money on and as a buyer you have zero control! That's kinda how criminal cartels work. They control the product, it's price and the terms of sale even though free market principles would suggest otherwise..

You have plenty of control. Go in state. Go to community college. Go to foreign schools in Canada or Europe. Free market means they can charge what they think you will pay-/ and that you can decline and go elsewhere. Or skip college entirely and go direct into business or apprenticeship.

In other words, do what 99.9% of the people are not expected to do. Why should I? Especially when my tax dollars subsidizes these MFs through tax breaks for their "non profit" status and research grants.

Also, have you been following the hearings on Social media's role? Why can't Twitter/Facebook, etc. ask the senators to go take a hike and post their messages on physical bulletin boards? They cannot and will not because they know they control the mechanism for efficient messaging delivery to the masses.. similar to how colleges control the mechanism to wealth delivery through higher education. Why should I have to figure out alternative methods?

What are you rambling about? Here's an idea. Save for college like the rest of us.

Stop bleating like a sheepie.. I do have money saved. A ton. The discussion here is about price gouging and extortion and whether or not we should be forced to hand over that money to these scamsters. You are welcome to pay list price.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's so crazy to me is that even if you save really aggressively, and you end up with like I don't know $500,000 for two kids.

Sorry I wasn't done.

But if you have to pay all of that. Then you're left with zero savings? It seems inherently unfair and just bonkers.

Yep. And the crazy thing is, this is likely the most expensive product you will ever spend money on and as a buyer you have zero control! That's kinda how criminal cartels work. They control the product, it's price and the terms of sale even though free market principles would suggest otherwise..

You have plenty of control. Go in state. Go to community college. Go to foreign schools in Canada or Europe. Free market means they can charge what they think you will pay-/ and that you can decline and go elsewhere. Or skip college entirely and go direct into business or apprenticeship.

In other words, do what 99.9% of the people are not expected to do. Why should I? Especially when my tax dollars subsidizes these MFs through tax breaks for their "non profit" status and research grants.

Also, have you been following the hearings on Social media's role? Why can't Twitter/Facebook, etc. ask the senators to go take a hike and post their messages on physical bulletin boards? They cannot and will not because they know they control the mechanism for efficient messaging delivery to the masses.. similar to how colleges control the mechanism to wealth delivery through higher education. Why should I have to figure out alternative methods?

What are you rambling about? Here's an idea. Save for college like the rest of us.

Stop bleating like a sheepie.. I do have money saved. A ton. The discussion here is about price gouging and extortion and whether or not we should be forced to hand over that money to these scamsters. You are welcome to pay list price.

I'd like a Ferrari. They're gouging me on the price there, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's so crazy to me is that even if you save really aggressively, and you end up with like I don't know $500,000 for two kids.

Sorry I wasn't done.

But if you have to pay all of that. Then you're left with zero savings? It seems inherently unfair and just bonkers.

Yep. And the crazy thing is, this is likely the most expensive product you will ever spend money on and as a buyer you have zero control! That's kinda how criminal cartels work. They control the product, it's price and the terms of sale even though free market principles would suggest otherwise..

You have plenty of control. Go in state. Go to community college. Go to foreign schools in Canada or Europe. Free market means they can charge what they think you will pay-/ and that you can decline and go elsewhere. Or skip college entirely and go direct into business or apprenticeship.

In other words, do what 99.9% of the people are not expected to do. Why should I? Especially when my tax dollars subsidizes these MFs through tax breaks for their "non profit" status and research grants.

Also, have you been following the hearings on Social media's role? Why can't Twitter/Facebook, etc. ask the senators to go take a hike and post their messages on physical bulletin boards? They cannot and will not because they know they control the mechanism for efficient messaging delivery to the masses.. similar to how colleges control the mechanism to wealth delivery through higher education. Why should I have to figure out alternative methods?

What are you rambling about? Here's an idea. Save for college like the rest of us.

Stop bleating like a sheepie.. I do have money saved. A ton. The discussion here is about price gouging and extortion and whether or not we should be forced to hand over that money to these scamsters. You are welcome to pay list price.

I'd like a Ferrari. They're gouging me on the price there, too.

Sure.. But Ferrari is not a pre-req to get admitted to a restaurant. A high-end college education is to get a job in some firms.

[Anonymous]

I don’t understand the anger by some parents toward the reallocation of aid. Pitt OOS is still 30k per year cheaper than any Ivy/Reach school. If you are chasing merit, you have to settle when it comes to quality—if you think Pitt is interchangeable with Alabama or Miami OH, why be mad?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's so crazy to me is that even if you save really aggressively, and you end up with like I don't know $500,000 for two kids.

Sorry I wasn't done.

But if you have to pay all of that. Then you're left with zero savings? It seems inherently unfair and just bonkers.

Yep. And the crazy thing is, this is likely the most expensive product you will ever spend money on and as a buyer you have zero control! That's kinda how criminal cartels work. They control the product, it's price and the terms of sale even though free market principles would suggest otherwise..

You have plenty of control. Go in state. Go to community college. Go to foreign schools in Canada or Europe. Free market means they can charge what they think you will pay-/ and that you can decline and go elsewhere. Or skip college entirely and go direct into business or apprenticeship.

In other words, do what 99.9% of the people are not expected to do. Why should I? Especially when my tax dollars subsidizes these MFs through tax breaks for their "non profit" status and research grants.

Also, have you been following the hearings on Social media's role? Why can't Twitter/Facebook, etc. ask the senators to go take a hike and post their messages on physical bulletin boards? They cannot and will not because they know they control the mechanism for efficient messaging delivery to the masses.. similar to how colleges control the mechanism to wealth delivery through higher education. Why should I have to figure out alternative methods?

What are you rambling about? Here's an idea. Save for college like the rest of us.

Stop bleating like a sheepie.. I do have money saved. A ton. The discussion here is about price gouging and extortion and whether or not we should be forced to hand over that money to these scamsters. You are welcome to pay list price.

I'd like a Ferrari. They're gouging me on the price there, too.

Sure.. But Ferrari is not a pre-req to get admitted to a restaurant. A high-end college education is to get a job in some firms.

So you are saying some firms will not consider hiring unless one has a "high-end" college education? So then consider whether it is worth it to pay full price to attend what you call a high-end education-- or instead spend less and use that $ you saved to start your own firm, etc..

You are the one that needs to stop being a "sheepie" and look beyond the narrow viewpoint that "high end college" is the only way to success. Don't believe the hype.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's so crazy to me is that even if you save really aggressively, and you end up with like I don't know $500,000 for two kids.

Sorry I wasn't done.

But if you have to pay all of that. Then you're left with zero savings? It seems inherently unfair and just bonkers.

Yep. And the crazy thing is, this is likely the most expensive product you will ever spend money on and as a buyer you have zero control! That's kinda how criminal cartels work. They control the product, it's price and the terms of sale even though free market principles would suggest otherwise..

You have plenty of control. Go in state. Go to community college. Go to foreign schools in Canada or Europe. Free market means they can charge what they think you will pay-/ and that you can decline and go elsewhere. Or skip college entirely and go direct into business or apprenticeship.

In other words, do what 99.9% of the people are not expected to do. Why should I? Especially when my tax dollars subsidizes these MFs through tax breaks for their "non profit" status and research grants.

Also, have you been following the hearings on Social media's role? Why can't Twitter/Facebook, etc. ask the senators to go take a hike and post their messages on physical bulletin boards? They cannot and will not because they know they control the mechanism for efficient messaging delivery to the masses.. similar to how colleges control the mechanism to wealth delivery through higher education. Why should I have to figure out alternative methods?

What are you rambling about? Here's an idea. Save for college like the rest of us.

Stop bleating like a sheepie.. I do have money saved. A ton. The discussion here is about price gouging and extortion and whether or not we should be forced to hand over that money to these scamsters. You are welcome to pay list price.

I'd like a Ferrari. They're gouging me on the price there, too.

Sure.. But Ferrari is not a pre-req to get admitted to a restaurant. A high-end college education is to get a job in some firms.

So you are saying some firms will not consider hiring unless one has a "high-end" college education? So then consider whether it is worth it to pay full price to attend what you call a high-end education-- or instead spend less and use that $ you saved to start your own firm, etc..

You are the one that needs to stop being a "sheepie" and look beyond the narrow viewpoint that "high end college" is the only way to success. Don't believe the hype.

Agreed. Community college is the best value. State schools are a ripoff.

[Anonymous]

Many of my family members/good friends went to t-20 schools. They are not doing any better than those that went to State Us. Actually my friends who attended State Us are doing better. I look at it like a Lexus - which I’d much rather drive but it’s not worth the cost for my family.

There are definitely situations where the Ivy/ top school makes the difference but I think it’s more about the person than the school.

[Anonymous]

PP again- If we made 500k per year rather than 300k maybe we’d feel differently. I just can’t stomach north of 300k for undergrad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is no aid.

what is wrong with you?

that is possibly a big enough difference to affect a family's decision.

My daughter got that much, she did not go. School is super expensive out of state. Three years ago 24k common with those stats.

Nova, Fordham, Syracuse, Villanova, Case Western, GWU, Pitt, NYU, American cheap with merit aid.

Yeah, but you have to factor in cost of living expenses in the more expensive cities. DC and NYC are not easy places to grab a cheap pizza and beer on a student budget.

[Anonymous]

Has anyone heard from Pitt this week?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like the shift towards merit-based aid has worked really well:

https://www.pittwire.pitt.edu/news/closing-retention-gap-pitt-success-pell-match-program-celebrates-new-milestone

I'd imagine merit will continue to decline at Pitt for the foreseeable future.

Pitt shifted aid towards poor students. Historically high GPA and high ACT kids from my daughters W school went there. They shifted aid towards need based so no longer popular. They used to be generous. Parents flipped out last year as announced it after they took application money and parents took tour.

Yep. We (TJ parents) are not even applying to Pitt as a safety this year.

Parents don’t apply to college. That’s your first thought error.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like the shift towards merit-based aid has worked really well:

https://www.pittwire.pitt.edu/news/closing-retention-gap-pitt-success-pell-match-program-celebrates-new-milestone

I'd imagine merit will continue to decline at Pitt for the foreseeable future.

Pitt shifted aid towards poor students. Historically high GPA and high ACT kids from my daughters W school went there. They shifted aid towards need based so no longer popular. They used to be generous. Parents flipped out last year as announced it after they took application money and parents took tour.

Yep. We (TJ parents) are not even applying to Pitt as a safety this year.

Parents don’t apply to college. That’s your first thought error.

That’s a shift to needs based aid

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP again- If we made 500k per year rather than 300k maybe we’d feel differently. I just can’t stomach north of 300k for undergrad.

$300K is twice as much as many families make. It is gross to expect aid at that level when you can afford it and more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Our child has a weighted gpa of 4.52 and a 35 on the ACT. Pitt was the rolling admission/safety school on their list, but we are a donut hole family, and this could turn out to be the school our child attends based on funding - the $15k makes this school affordable for us between 529 savings and cash

Is this a weighted GPA from MCPS?

Not PP, but two years ago my MCPS Blair magnet kid with a 4.8 weighted GPA, a 1600 SAT, and national recognition for a musical instrument got $20K from Pitt, and was not invited to the Honors College.

I would have expected full tuition break.
I think with Covid merit aid will be less generous in the future.

Not anymore. Pitt announced last year that it plans to shift merit money to financial aid. But that was pre-Covid.

As they should be.