Reply to I went to a Top School and I think state schools are the way to go

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Most of the top colleges and universities DO NOT offer merit aid. They meet some or all financial need only. And in general most of the well-known colleges and universities in major northeast cities and other desirable locations don't offer merit aid because they don't need to. There are plenty of people willing to pay to pay full-price or take big loans to attend BU, BC, NYU, GWU, UMiami, USC.

When you move out of the northeast/midAtlantic/west coast, and especially if you step down a level in prestige, you find many private colleges and universities that offer merit aid, and some offer lots. Some of these schools don't cost nearly $60k even at full price, making them more "affordable" (cough cough) in the first place.

If you are seeking affordable alternatives to in-state public universities, do not look to schools on the coasts. Look to the mid-west and the south. Lower tuition, less competition for slots, and often merit aid for good students that can make them viable alternatives to in-state publics. These can be great options for a kid who would prefer a small school or who would like to go out of state.[/quote]

BU, BC, NYU, GWU, USC, etc are not "top schools." Of course it would be better to go to state school. Top school means HYP, top five SLAC, etc[/quote]

Please read what I wrote again. As I said: most of the top colleges (which, as you noted, are HYP, top SLAC) do not offer merit aid. They have lots of aid for people with demonstrated financial need. None at all for others. So if your expected family contribution is higher than in-state public tuition, you will not receive enough aid from any of these top colleges to make them less than attending in-state public. Going to one of these top colleges will most definitely be more expensive for you. You get to decide if it is worth it. OTOH, if your EFC is less than the cost of attending your in-state public, it often *IS* cheaper to go to one of these top colleges.

Other well-known colleges in major northeast cities and other desirable locations (note I did not Usay that these were "top" colleges, merely that they were well-known and in desirable locations; i.e., they are extremely popular even if they are not "top") also do not offer merit aid. They don't need to because they are so popular. However, unlike the "top" colleges, this group of colleges is also well-known for being pretty stingy with financial aid as well (as the Lehigh poster above notes). For this reason, these schools may not be good options for upper middle class, middle class, lower middle class, and lower class families. Many good students think of these schools as "matches" or "safeties," but because of the lack of aid offered it is financially risky to view them this way. Proceed with caution.[/quote]

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