Reply to Do students at universities form social groups based on family income levels?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I’ve been thinking a lot about what 'prestige' really means in college admissions. From what I’ve observed, many mc parents are fixated on elite private schools — likely because they want to feel part of an exclusive group, and are drawn to features like smaller student-to-teacher ratios. But when it comes to actual education quality, there’s no significant difference between top public and private schools. What really sets these elite institutions apart is the concentration of wealth, which creates the illusion of prestige. Ironically, though, middle-class students often can’t afford to participate in the exclusive networks and activities of their wealthier peers.[/quote]

A so-called elite school can actually be cheaper because they are able to offer significant aid even to middle class students.  That is absolutely one of the reasons they are so competitive.  And then the financial burden of paying tuition exists for every college from the bottom to the top..  so people want to use that money to go to the highest quality institution they can access.[/quote]

I still don't see a significant financial advantage in attending a private elite university over a state flagship. The only real difference I’ve noticed is greater access to faculty (student/teacher ratio)[/quote]

If your family income is less than $250,000 per year, you are not going to get a tuition bill from Princeton University if you can get yourself in there.  That is what a lot of people would call a significant financial advantage.[/quote]

This is what Princeton said - https://profile.princeton.edu/numbers

About 62‑percent of undergraduates receive financial aid. 
Roughly 25‑30% of undergraduates pay nothing to attend, because their aid covers all costs (tuition, room, board, etc.)

However, being eligible for financial aid and actually paying nothing are two very different things. You can qualify for aid but only receive a minimal amount—like $1,000 a year—which is negligible compared to the $70,000+ total cost. In reality, it’s likely that only about a quarter of Princeton students come from low-income families. (which means three quarters of students do pay and that amount can be much higher than paying for a state flagship)[/quote]

Of course not everyone is going to get a generous award.  But if you are eligible, you are going to get a kick-ass college education for a low tuition bill.  Some of these schools have the ability to be more generous than the state flagship for some students.  [/quote]

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