Looking back, do you wish your child attended the least expensive college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think setting that expectation was the job for two years ago. Did you give your student a budget? Do other schools fall within that budget?

I think you are setting yourself up for a lot of resentment if you say “Great job getting those merit scholarships to Welcoming SLAC and Awesome Flagship, but Dad and I decided you are going to Last Choice Safety. Hey, you picked that school to add to your list (after we insisted you needed a safety), so really, this was your choice.”

I agree with this. Making him attend the lowest price one seems like a bait and switch to me.

Choosing a college is a person's first adult choice. I think it's important that the student and not the parents make that choice, because then the student experiences the consequences, good and bad. If it doesn't go well, he cannot come back and blame you.

But that's really the whole points right? It's NOT their choice because it's not their money! Making decisions on your own starts with putting something of yours on the line.

+1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College professor here. Your undergrad degree in 90 percent of careers means nothing. Save your money now and get the most prestigious masters/doctorate/law/nursing/business degree you can get into.

I disagree. The most prestigious masters/doctorate/law etc. are going to look at where you got your undergrad education

They’ll look but schools like Harvard Law don’t care about school. They want good grades. Go look at the list of colleges and universities from which Harvard Law accepted students…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find it annoying when sanctimonious parents here say, “I didn’t let my child apply to colleges we couldn’t afford.”

It’s not that hard—or should not be—to comprehend that some people apply to college hoping for merit aid. Merit aid can’t be predicted. Others hope for Tuition Exchange, which can’t be predicted. Yet others hope for scholarships, which can’t be predicted…see, a lot can’t be predicted.

Don’t bother mentioning the NPC, which is for two parents with W2s, and relates to FA.

OP, You can lay out the finances for your child and explain the situation.

That's true, but some of the colleges people gun for don't offer any merit aid, such as the Ivies. So what's the point in applying just to see whether you'll get in and have to turn them down? I can kind of see this for universities like WashU, Emory, Duke, USC, Vanderbilt, etc. that do offer limited merit scholarships. Even if it's a crapshoot, in theory it could be an option if generous merit is offered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ I also have a neurotypical child who is a scrappy go-getter: she could go to any college and do well in life! However, since I'm offering any college he wants to my oldest, I feel I have to offer the same to my youngest.

I have the exact same dilemma. I would gladly pay $$$ for my youngest and even take out loans for her, because I know she'll make use of every single moment and opportunity and relationship at the school, and will also find a way to do all these things while minimizing additional expenses and working part-time. But my older kid has never taken advantage of any free activity or put any effort into anything aside from pay-to-play sports, and he has never earned a penny. But I too feel I have to offer them both the same budget. It's really not fair.

Just to clarify, they both have the same 4.0 GPA, that's why I feel like I have to treat them fairly.

You seem like a thoughtful parent. Well, maybe your son will only have in-state options available for him or OOS public/privates that primarily focus on academic achievement, such as GPA, due to his more limited list of ECs. It could work out for him and you in that sense. I think encouraging him to get a summer job or part-time job in college would be very reasonable and many kids thrive off of the newfound responsibility and ability to make some money for themselves, so it could also benefit him and it's not too much to ask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ I also have a neurotypical child who is a scrappy go-getter: she could go to any college and do well in life! However, since I'm offering any college he wants to my oldest, I feel I have to offer the same to my youngest.

I have the exact same dilemma. I would gladly pay $$$ for my youngest and even take out loans for her, because I know she'll make use of every single moment and opportunity and relationship at the school, and will also find a way to do all these things while minimizing additional expenses and working part-time. But my older kid has never taken advantage of any free activity or put any effort into anything aside from pay-to-play sports, and he has never earned a penny. But I too feel I have to offer them both the same budget. It's really not fair.

Just to clarify, they both have the same 4.0 GPA, that's why I feel like I have to treat them fairly.

You seem like a thoughtful parent. Well, maybe your son will only have in-state options available for him or OOS public/privates that primarily focus on academic achievement, such as GPA, due to his more limited list of ECs. It could work out for him and you in that sense. I think encouraging him to get a summer job or part-time job in college would be very reasonable and many kids thrive off of the newfound responsibility and ability to make some money for themselves, so it could also benefit him and it's not too much to ask.

** I meant OOS public/privates with a lower cost and/or with merit aid awarded on the basis of academic achievement

[Anonymous]

Not the least expensive (they had one full-ride)- but oldest went to UMD and had partial B/K. They were deciding between Georgetown ($80K), W&M($60k oos) Covid effected the decision and it didn’t make sense to spend for online courses. 3 years later, my terp loves maryland and have done well. They have a great job offer- a nearly new car, money left in 529 ($35k can be rolled over to their Roth IRA.). They will be able to start adulting and will have assets.

[Anonymous]

I regret it in the sense it would be nice to have the extra cash, but I don’t regret it in the sense my DS is making the most of the opportunity and getting a terrific education and is happy and thriving. And he will graduate without debt; if we had to take out loans I would have had him go in state to avoid that. But all things being equal, sure it would be nice to have to extra $150k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Least expensive was a state u with full aid for 4 yrs. Declined and chose and ivy.

Aren't Ivies more generous with aid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College professor here. Your undergrad degree in 90 percent of careers means nothing. Save your money now and get the most prestigious masters/doctorate/law/nursing/business degree you can get into.

I disagree. The most prestigious masters/doctorate/law etc. are going to look at where you got your undergrad education

They’ll look but schools like Harvard Law don’t care about school. They want good grades. Go look at the list of colleges and universities from which Harvard Law accepted students…

They also know that its easier to get higher grades at less competitive majors and colleges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College professor here. Your undergrad degree in 90 percent of careers means nothing. Save your money now and get the most prestigious masters/doctorate/law/nursing/business degree you can get into.

I disagree. The most prestigious masters/doctorate/law etc. are going to look at where you got your undergrad education

They’ll look but schools like Harvard Law don’t care about school. They want good grades. Go look at the list of colleges and universities from which Harvard Law accepted students…

They also know that its easier to get higher grades at less competitive majors and colleges.

ha! the ivies are the biggest grade inflaters.

[Anonymous]

Yes and no. Talking to friends who sent their kids to free or cheapest options, sometimes we wonder what if but overall we are happy with our decisions to let them attend colleges they preferred. To be fair, ours didn't go for their top choices because those weren't affordable for a donut hole family like ours so they made logical decisions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not the least expensive (they had one full-ride)- but oldest went to UMD and had partial B/K. They were deciding between Georgetown ($80K), W&M($60k oos) Covid effected the decision and it didn’t make sense to spend for online courses. 3 years later, my terp loves maryland and have done well. They have a great job offer- a nearly new car, money left in 529 ($35k can be rolled over to their Roth IRA.). They will be able to start adulting and will have assets.

May I ask your oldest's major? DS is also hoping to pick between these three universities, and since he wants international affairs, he would far rather go to Georgetown School of Foreign Service.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College professor here. Your undergrad degree in 90 percent of careers means nothing. Save your money now and get the most prestigious masters/doctorate/law/nursing/business degree you can get into.

I disagree. The most prestigious masters/doctorate/law etc. are going to look at where you got your undergrad education

They’ll look but schools like Harvard Law don’t care about school. They want good grades. Go look at the list of colleges and universities from which Harvard Law accepted students…

They also know that its easier to get higher grades at less competitive majors and colleges.

LSAT + grades matter

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College professor here. Your undergrad degree in 90 percent of careers means nothing. Save your money now and get the most prestigious masters/doctorate/law/nursing/business degree you can get into.

I disagree. The most prestigious masters/doctorate/law etc. are going to look at where you got your undergrad education

They’ll look but schools like Harvard Law don’t care about school. They want good grades. Go look at the list of colleges and universities from which Harvard Law accepted students…

They also know that its easier to get higher grades at less competitive majors and colleges.

ha! the ivies are the biggest grade inflaters.

They may give out high grades, but they also brought in the strongest students. My guess is if you actually compared the quality of work with weaker schools (e.g., gave a common paper assignment and had an independent grader) the colleges that attract the strongest students would have the highest quality work on average.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College professor here. Your undergrad degree in 90 percent of careers means nothing. Save your money now and get the most prestigious masters/doctorate/law/nursing/business degree you can get into.

I disagree. The most prestigious masters/doctorate/law etc. are going to look at where you got your undergrad education

They’ll look but schools like Harvard Law don’t care about school. They want good grades. Go look at the list of colleges and universities from which Harvard Law accepted students…

They also know that its easier to get higher grades at less competitive majors and colleges.

ha! the ivies are the biggest grade inflaters.

Depends on the Ivy.