FCPS kids going out of state

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP asked what the reasoning to pay for an out of state public would be.
1. Merit money at other school made price comparable to in-state tuition;
2. Money not a factor; or
3. OOS program renowned / better for major and perceived to be worth the cost

1 and 3 were the reason my kid went OOS. My child received significant merit (IB program grad) from schools like BU. Generous FA made the enrolled top 20 private national university cost comparable to VT (accepted honors). UVA waitlisted my child but W&M ( accepted with scholarship) was always the top choice. I strongly felt that going OOS would be what my child needed to gain a broader perspective beyond our suburban bubble (I’m a native New Yorker). The reach OOS school offered a higher ranked program and geographic location/opportunities my child wanted and it worked out unexpectedly in our case.

I believe high stat students can get into excellent colleges OOS and should definitely include highly competitive private and public universities and SLACs on their application lists. ED to UVA and W&M are probably good strategies for those who really want to stay instate. My child’s RD applications to reach and OOS schools were all acceptances.

Sure, in theory, but you received "generous FA." Many don't.

This is why why mentioned receiving merit aid at BU. You can find many schools which offer merit aid. We received as much as $40K in merit money. I own a business and I didn’t trust the NPC calculations for our situation. Covid negatively impacted small businesses like mine and thus why we were eligible for FA.

40k off at BU is still more than any instate school, plus the kid is living in Boston which is more expensive than any instate school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP asked what the reasoning to pay for an out of state public would be.
1. Merit money at other school made price comparable to in-state tuition;
2. Money not a factor; or
3. OOS program renowned / better for major and perceived to be worth the cost

1 and 3 were the reason my kid went OOS. My child received significant merit (IB program grad) from schools like BU. Generous FA made the enrolled top 20 private national university cost comparable to VT (accepted honors). UVA waitlisted my child but W&M ( accepted with scholarship) was always the top choice. I strongly felt that going OOS would be what my child needed to gain a broader perspective beyond our suburban bubble (I’m a native New Yorker). The reach OOS school offered a higher ranked program and geographic location/opportunities my child wanted and it worked out unexpectedly in our case.

I believe high stat students can get into excellent colleges OOS and should definitely include highly competitive private and public universities and SLACs on their application lists. ED to UVA and W&M are probably good strategies for those who really want to stay instate. My child’s RD applications to reach and OOS schools were all acceptances.

Sure, in theory, but you received "generous FA." Many don't.

This is why why mentioned receiving merit aid at BU. You can find many schools which offer merit aid. We received as much as $40K in merit money. I own a business and I didn’t trust the NPC calculations for our situation. Covid negatively impacted small businesses like mine and thus why we were eligible for FA.

40k off at BU is still more than any instate school, plus the kid is living in Boston which is more expensive than any instate school.

NP. With $40k merit, it's pretty close depending upon UVA school. BU reports COA about $83,000. School of Commerce or Public Policy is about $43,000. School of engineering approaches $45,000.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous[b wrote:]But isn't that one of the reasons people say they love to travel? To see different areas, experience new cultures, to meet people who were raised and live differently than you. Why would attending college away from your home state not hold the same allure and advantages?[[/b]/quote]


Because my OOS slac is now $83K a year. UVA was only $12K a year for DS (tuition only - he moved off campus and had a group share apartment and did all his own cooking. No car). We banked the difference and can now send him to law school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous[b wrote:]But isn't that one of the reasons people say they love to travel? To see different areas, experience new cultures, to meet people who were raised and live differently than you. Why would attending college away from your home state not hold the same allure and advantages?[[/b]/quote]


Because my OOS slac is now $83K a year. UVA was only $12K a year for DS (tuition only - he moved off campus and had a group share apartment and did all his own cooking. No car). We banked the difference and can now send him to law school.

Right. There are some tone-deaf posts in this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are people threatened when other people's children decide to go out of state?

They're not? However, some of the reasons ("13th grade"?) are just absurd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is a junior and starting to look at schools. Stats wise probably competitive for VT, JMU, W&M, not UVA. If your FCPS kid went to a public/private out of state, what was the thinking behind it? DD wants to live “somewhere other than VA” which we get but VA has so many great schools that it is tough to think about paying twice as much to go elsewhere (we are full pay but have other kids as well).

This is easy. People in Virginia often go OOS if they didn’t get into UVA, WM, or tech. The rest of them seem like regional universities (even though they are very good) and students can get into other states’ flagships. Lots of people transfer into those first three from out of state in their second year.

What? This is not at all true for many. My DS did get into VA state schools (UVA, WM, etc.) but he opted for a school not in VA. His reason was that he wanted the opportunity to meet kids who were from all parts of the country and felt that while VA schools had OOS students, the vast majority are from similar circles.

So many students claim to want diversity at the college they attend. There are so many different types of diversity that hold great value to a student body. Not wanting college to feel like a 13th year of high school is certainly one.

Virginia is huge, how can you kids be in the same circle in college? We're in Fairfax County and my kids barely know anyone outside of it. Except for Loudoun.

Exactly. Such a silly reason, especially when there are excellent large state schools here where it’s almost guaranteed you won’t see people you know from HS unless you go out of your way to find them. My DC is at VT and her group of friends there consists of many OOS kids, as well as those from different parts of VA. She’s working hard and having a blast - and would laugh at the characterization of “a 13th year of high school.”

+1
Honestly, I think some people haughtily make the “13th grade” non-argument because their kids didn’t get in. I mean I understand kids wanting to go OOS for school, but that’s a ridiculous “reason” to give.
DP

Langley and McLean HS and UVA all have very similar vibes. “13th grade” doesn’t literally mean “all the same people”. VA has some wealthy, super privileged, hyper competitive high schools and no, not all kids want the same experience in college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are people threatened when other people's children decide to go out of state?

Why is even a curiosity? Kids have always spread out for college. I grew up in Pennsylvania and kids in my class went everywhere from Massachusetts to California. I thought this was typical.

[Anonymous]

It is typical. I think there are just a lot of Virginians who don' t make enough to consider out of state and are rather insular in their thinking. Some are military and didn't have to pay for college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are people threatened when other people's children decide to go out of state?

They're not? However, some of the reasons ("13th grade"?) are just absurd.

No, I do think that people with kids in state are threatened in some way. That little inkling of doubt of what their child may be missing. My kids are both in state and I always wonder what their college experience might be away from the (in our case) N. VA bubble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is typical. I think there are just a lot of Virginians who don' t make enough to consider out of state and are rather insular in their thinking. Some are military and didn't have to pay for college.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ahhhhhh - so aggravating that I can’t respond to a post here. I’m really not sure what word I said that is worse than the previous posts here.

Fine, I’ll simplify. Warm-ish states the PP could consider that might work within the parameters - NC and switch out AZ for NM.

I think you wandered onto the wrong thread with that response. If not, you are not making much sense babe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are people threatened when other people's children decide to go out of state?

They're not? However, some of the reasons ("13th grade"?) are just absurd.

No, I do think that people with kids in state are threatened in some way. That little inkling of doubt of what their child may be missing. My kids are both in state and I always wonder what their college experience might be away from the (in our case) N. VA bubble.

How does having "a little inkling of doubt" translate into feeling "threatened"? Answer -- it doesn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is a junior and starting to look at schools. Stats wise probably competitive for VT, JMU, W&M, not UVA. If your FCPS kid went to a public/private out of state, what was the thinking behind it? DD wants to live “somewhere other than VA” which we get but VA has so many great schools that it is tough to think about paying twice as much to go elsewhere (we are full pay but have other kids as well).

This is easy. People in Virginia often go OOS if they didn’t get into UVA, WM, or tech. The rest of them seem like regional universities (even though they are very good) and students can get into other states’ flagships. Lots of people transfer into those first three from out of state in their second year.

What? This is not at all true for many. My DS did get into VA state schools (UVA, WM, etc.) but he opted for a school not in VA. His reason was that he wanted the opportunity to meet kids who were from all parts of the country and felt that while VA schools had OOS students, the vast majority are from similar circles.

So many students claim to want diversity at the college they attend. There are so many different types of diversity that hold great value to a student body. Not wanting college to feel like a 13th year of high school is certainly one.

Virginia is huge, how can you kids be in the same circle in college? We're in Fairfax County and my kids barely know anyone outside of it. Except for Loudoun.

Exactly. Such a silly reason, especially when there are excellent large state schools here where it’s almost guaranteed you won’t see people you know from HS unless you go out of your way to find them. My DC is at VT and her group of friends there consists of many OOS kids, as well as those from different parts of VA. She’s working hard and having a blast - and would laugh at the characterization of “a 13th year of high school.”

+1
Honestly, I think some people haughtily make the “13th grade” non-argument because their kids didn’t get in. I mean I understand kids wanting to go OOS for school, but that’s a ridiculous “reason” to give.
DP

Langley and McLean HS and UVA all have very similar vibes. “13th grade” doesn’t literally mean “all the same people”. VA has some wealthy, super privileged, hyper competitive high schools and no, not all kids want the same experience in college.

In order to avoid the wealthy, super privileged, hyper competitive vibe at UVA, kids at Langley and McLean will be attending out-of-state colleges such as Stanford, Pomona, Amherst, Cornell, and NYU, where there is not at all a wealthy, super privileged, hyper competitive vibe and every student is a blue-collar, down-to-earth person from Oklahoma or something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are people threatened when other people's children decide to go out of state?

They're not? However, some of the reasons ("13th grade"?) are just absurd.

No, I do think that people with kids in state are threatened in some way. That little inkling of doubt of what their child may be missing. My kids are both in state and I always wonder what their college experience might be away from the (in our case) N. VA bubble.

IDK. I have a kid at an OOS SLAC and a kid at WM. They are both happy. They are both good fits. And as far as I can tell, the quality of the education at both is very high. And is particularly good in their chosen fields. Gotta admit though, I did do a little dance of joy inside when Kid 2 chose WM. We committed to paying for college with no loans. Doesn’t mean no sacrifice on our part though.

SLAC are all about fit. My kids SLAC is no exception. His college is in a different state, but his campus feels less diverse in many ways than WM (which, before you say it, isn’t that diverse).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is a junior and starting to look at schools. Stats wise probably competitive for VT, JMU, W&M, not UVA. If your FCPS kid went to a public/private out of state, what was the thinking behind it? DD wants to live “somewhere other than VA” which we get but VA has so many great schools that it is tough to think about paying twice as much to go elsewhere (we are full pay but have other kids as well).

This is easy. People in Virginia often go OOS if they didn’t get into UVA, WM, or tech. The rest of them seem like regional universities (even though they are very good) and students can get into other states’ flagships. Lots of people transfer into those first three from out of state in their second year.

What? This is not at all true for many. My DS did get into VA state schools (UVA, WM, etc.) but he opted for a school not in VA. His reason was that he wanted the opportunity to meet kids who were from all parts of the country and felt that while VA schools had OOS students, the vast majority are from similar circles.

So many students claim to want diversity at the college they attend. There are so many different types of diversity that hold great value to a student body. Not wanting college to feel like a 13th year of high school is certainly one.

Virginia is huge, how can you kids be in the same circle in college? We're in Fairfax County and my kids barely know anyone outside of it. Except for Loudoun.

Exactly. Such a silly reason, especially when there are excellent large state schools here where it’s almost guaranteed you won’t see people you know from HS unless you go out of your way to find them. My DC is at VT and her group of friends there consists of many OOS kids, as well as those from different parts of VA. She’s working hard and having a blast - and would laugh at the characterization of “a 13th year of high school.”

+1
Honestly, I think some people haughtily make the “13th grade” non-argument because their kids didn’t get in. I mean I understand kids wanting to go OOS for school, but that’s a ridiculous “reason” to give.
DP

Langley and McLean HS and UVA all have very similar vibes. “13th grade” doesn’t literally mean “all the same people”. VA has some wealthy, super privileged, hyper competitive high schools and no, not all kids want the same experience in college.

And that’s fine. You can send your kids OOS to experience “wealthy, super privileged, hyper competitive” students anywhere. You just look and sound extremely insecure if that’s your reason for doing so.