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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]we are full pay with a HHI around 650k. we would only have paid slightly above in state, so merit is critical for private or OOS. our kid also is pre med and we plan on paying for medical school.  He is at his first year at VCU. he also got in Vandy, Colgate, and UT Austin. [/quote]

Got into Vandy, Colgate, Austin, went to VCU? Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.[/quote]

Vandy and Colgate are all ~$80K+, and Austin OOSis 70K+.  PP stated he got $16K scholarship--so tuition free for IN-state.  Pretty smart to take that and run to the bank.  VCU has an excellent premed program---he will be well prepared. Chem 101/102, Org Chem 201/202 and Biology 101/102 all cover the material at every university.  To get into Med school you need a high gpa, research, great recommendation letters and a High MCAT.  Much easier to get a high GPA at VCU than at any of those with all the weed out courses and high competition.  He will easily get a 3.8+ at VCU.  Not to mention he will likely get to do research, be more involved with professors as the big fish in the pond at VCU vs everywhere else.  It's a win-win.  
Financially, it's a no-brainer.  His ultimately goal is medical school.  He will get that debt free, not many people can say that.  And the $64K he saves from undergrad will pay for a good portion of one year.

[/quote]
Blah blah blah if I made $650k I would not GAF about that or be trying to nickel and dime undergrad.[/quote]

Well good for you.  However, your kid might go to one of those Elite schools and struggle to keep a 3.9+ and stuggle to get into medical school. While this kid could be on a direct path to medical school at VCU (and likely is).  Even if he wants to go elsewhere, he likely will have a 3.8/3.9+ GPA and well set to get in anywhere.  Med school don't give you a leg up because you did undergrad at an elite school.  They look at MCATs and your GPA/GPA for prereqs and your reserach/involment/volunteering.  This kid as a top honors student at VCU will have the opportunity to excel at that.  Not as much at Vandy---where 35%+ of the undergrads start wanting premed.

So feel free to throw away your money at college and possibly have your kid taking 2-3 cycles to get into medical school.  Meanwhile, this kid will be almost thru medical school, with a tuition of only  $34K/year for med school before your kid might even start medical school. 
Just because you have money doesn't mean you throw it away. [/quote]
You seem fairly logical until you insist on adding the judgy judgmental conclusion at the end. Then you've lost your case.[/quote]

That's reality and not "judge"---the $250K+ saved on medical school and undergrad could be given to that kid for "starting life".  Downpayment for a home, no debt from school leads to an excellent start at age 30.  The previous posters stating you should pay for the elite schools is not the smartest financial advice.  And yes, it is much easier to maintain a high gpa when at a "lesser school"  Ultimately many kids do take multiple cycles to get into Med school/PA/PT/OT/etc schools.  It's competitive.  GPA and MCATs are key requirements and any kid that got into the elite schools listed will probably have an easy time maintaining a very high gpa at VCU in premed courses.  And yes, kids from elite universities do often take more than 1 cycle to get into med school---just like kids do from all universities.  There are only so many slots available and more people who want that path.  So I simply don't understand people vilifying someone who takes a path without debt at a school with a great medical school. [/quote]
We have the money to — and will —- do all these things for our kids. If my kid really wants BC or Vandy and gets in, then that’s where they’ll go. And it’s not at the expense of grad school, down payments etc. So you don’t need to tell me I’m throwing money away. I don’t disagree with you that for you VCU is what you chose. Why do you insist on imposing your will on others? That’s the judgy mcjudgmental part. [/quote]

Wow, you seem easily triggered.  It was Not "judgy" at all. Simply stating facts.  Financially, it is the best path for the vast majority of people (I'm not the OP).  The pressure to attend "a highly ranked school" is what makes many to pay way to much for college when they don't have it and it doesn't have to be that way.

Btw, We are financially set and our kids can go wherever they want and we will still set them up with a downpayment, set them up for life, etc.  However, for 99% of people that is not the case.  For most taking that path means mega loans.   [/quote]

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