If this were really true, the top 10-20 schools wouldn't be so hard to get into because no one would care about going to such overpriced, overvalued schools, and no one would apply. By all means, keep your kids from going; we'll take the open spots!

Anonymous wrote:The cost of college is out of control. There are only two types of students that can afford the top private schools that don't give merit aid- super rich and students that will receive lots of financial aid(free money- not loans)

Same demographics as the Big 5 high schools around here.

I went to state school, got accepted to a well ranked but not top grad program and work now with grads from Princeton, Harvard, MIT, as well some from George Mason. If you go into a field where your skills and intellect matter, a lot of that nonsense just fades away.

I agree OP. State schools are the way to go, especially the honors programs.

State for undergrad - do very well and go to Ivy for grad...

I went to a state school (Big Ten). It will mostly likely prevent a student from getting the very top business jobs (Carlyle, Goldman, etc), but not most jobs that most people want/will have.

Anonymous wrote:The cost of college is out of control. There are only two types of students that can afford the top private schools that don't give merit aid- super rich and students that will receive lots of financial aid(free money- not loans)

Or students who have parents that are affluent and willing to save for their college. If one is willing and able to save for a $60k a year school and starts doing it when kids are young, you don't have to be super rich. Though I guess you might define super rich differently than I do.

The cost of college is out of control. There are only two types of students that can afford the top private schools that don't give merit aid- super rich and students that will receive lots of financial aid(free money- not loans)

Anonymous wrote:So I have children in elementary school and as my babysitters are getting into top state schools, I'm realizing that this is the way to go. I got a ton of financial aid so my school was actually cheaper than a state school, but my children won't get any aid.
Does anyone else feel the same way?

I think Harvard, maybe Yale and Princeton, Stanford, MIT, CALTECh are probably still worth the cost differential. I just don't know if any of the others really are.

I agree with you. I went to a good private college but can not justify the cost of almost $60,000 a year when there are some great state schools for so much less.

In theory, sure, I agree with OP. I went to a state school (not even a top one, but the top one for the state, IYKWIM) and turned out just fine.

Joking aside, I think it really comes down to the individual kid and family and the planned course of study and even the level of interest. It'll also depend on our own financial situation at the time. If we are rolling in it (to be crass), then who cares. If he gets in to a top private, go there! If he gets into a school that seems to perfectly meet his needs, go there! I'd like to believe we will be able to fully fund whatever school he wants and can get into, but shit happens and life doesn't always go to plan.

I agree, OP. I went to Duke, and I'm not so sure that it gave me any opportunities I wouldn't have gotten from a state school.

Some people know the price of everything, but the value of nothing. You did read Oscar Wilde at your "top school", right, OP?

Top ten but otherwise state

There's an entire article that states which 150 colleges (out of thousands) are actually worth the price from a ROI perspective.

So I have children in elementary school and as my babysitters are getting into top state schools, I'm realizing that this is the way to go. I got a ton of financial aid so my school was actually cheaper than a state school, but my children won't get any aid.
Does anyone else feel the same way?

I think Harvard, maybe Yale and Princeton, Stanford, MIT, CALTECh are probably still worth the cost differential. I just don't know if any of the others really are.