Anonymous wrote:I’m just a parent, so wth do I know. But my impression is that these mid-western schools have to give merit to attract kids who would otherwise go to the coasts - Carleton excepted. My other impression is, location aside the education at the top couple schools in the Midwest ranks right up there with most of the excellent schools on the coasts. So is it worth the extra $$? Depends on the student and the family. My Dc had zero interest in going to Iowa, even if it was free….. YMMV

Agree it depends on the kid. Midwestern nice/studious works great for my shy kid, who prefers a small quiet campus. He really doesn't care where it is.

I’m just a parent, so wth do I know. But my impression is that these mid-western schools have to give merit to attract kids who would otherwise go to the coasts - Carleton excepted. My other impression is, location aside the education at the top couple schools in the Midwest ranks right up there with most of the excellent schools on the coasts. So is it worth the extra $$? Depends on the student and the family. My Dc had zero interest in going to Iowa, even if it was free….. YMMV

Why do posters not name schools? We have no idea who your kid is. It is hard to give useful advice if we have no idea of the choices.

Anonymous wrote:I would choose Wesleyan over Macalaster.

I would choose Grinnell, Carlton, or Oberlin (depending on major) with merit over Wesleyan full pay.

No merit at Carleton.

I would choose Wesleyan over Macalaster.

I would choose Grinnell, Carlton, or Oberlin (depending on major) with merit over Wesleyan full pay.

This is highly personal. My kid chose full-pay at Wesleyan over top merit at Macalester because of location, school size, and vibe/culture.

If kid hadn't gotten into Wes, would have happily gone to Mac; it's a great school, and I can completely understand someone making the opposite choice.

I think this is very hard without the schools. If the "selective SLAC" is Kenyon, in a million years you would find a way to fund Williams, Middlebury, Amherst, or Bowdoin, no matter how much aid. Carleton, on the other hand, or maybe even Grinnell, then sure. The midsize university remains the question mark here. Does she love it? Where does she actually want to go?

Anonymous wrote:These are her acceptances. She got into two NESCACs but she would be full pay. Merit aid at the other schools.

Is there anything special about NESCACS (not Amherst, Williams or Bowdoin) that would make us say these schools are definitely worth full pay over the good midwestern SLACs/mid-size university with merit aid?

The NESCACs would be $30k more or $20k more than her other top choices.

Definitely not if not the three you listed. I would move on without the NESCACs if I were in your shoes.

If not WAB, then no. Oberlin and Grinnell are excellent schools!

These are her acceptances. She got into two NESCACs but she would be full pay. Merit aid at the other schools.

Is there anything special about NESCACS (not Amherst, Williams or Bowdoin) that would make us say these schools are definitely worth full pay over the good midwestern SLACs/mid-size university with merit aid?

The NESCACs would be $30k more or $20k more than her other top choices.

Anonymous wrote:Two NESCACs give merit aid. Conn College and Trinity. Exceptionally good educations, very good reputations, not in the greatest cities (but then neither is Yale).

Of course I’d choose Amherst Williams or Bowdoin if I was lucky enough to have that choice, but if it is finances and $10-20K will help, please investigate these NESCACs.

+1

Have you run the numbers on the net price calculator for all the schools she likes, or are you just guessing you're full pay?

This is a tough question to answer given that there are so many things that factor into this.

Two NESCACs give merit aid. Conn College and Trinity. Exceptionally good educations, very good reputations, not in the greatest cities (but then neither is Yale).

Of course I’d choose Amherst Williams or Bowdoin if I was lucky enough to have that choice, but if it is finances and $10-20K will help, please investigate these NESCACs.

DD is narrowing down her college list. Making the cut are two of the NESCACs (no merit aid), a highly selective midwestern SLAC (some merit aid) and a selective midwestern SLAC (most merit aid out of the bunch). Rounding out her list is a mid-size university with good merit aid so different from the others.

Looking at it from a parental, objective eye, I see it only makes sense to strongly consider the mid-size univeristy with good merit aid and selective midwestern SLAC with good merit aid. Maybe also the highly selective midwestern SLAC with some merit aid.

Would she be missing anything if we urge her not to strongly consider the NESCACs? Are there opportunities/better connections/anything that would make the NESCACs at full pay worth it over her other options?