Anonymous
03/21/2014 18:01
Subject: DCTAG Info-wish I knew then what I know now.
Yeah, I kind of think we've thrown enough money at UDC lo these many years. Personally, I think we should completely shut it down and use the money to pay for every DC kid to go to a public university, community college, whatever, anywhere in the country.
Anonymous
03/21/2014 17:55
Subject: DCTAG Info-wish I knew then what I know now.
Why don't you suggest some money be thrown at building a quality public institution instead of using money to send people away?
Too bad nobody in DC believes DC residents deserve a good public higher education
Too bad nobody in DC believes DC residents deserve a good public higher education
Anonymous
03/21/2014 17:42
Subject: DCTAG Info-wish I knew then what I know now.
17:36 I had clued in to some of the DCTAG limitations, just had not realized how much out of state tuitions had gone up. I think that's what's most sobering. That and knowing that DCTAG was intended to completely make up the cost between in and out of state, also was a bummer.
Anonymous
03/21/2014 17:36
Subject: DCTAG Info-wish I knew then what I know now.
Sorry, OP, but it's not like this information wasn't out there. In my experience in DC, you have to search out and verify everything -- and even then sometimes it's difficult to find out the truth. We knew that this was how DCTAG worked and we were happy for the help that it provided even though we knew it wouldn't provide everything.
But you are providing a public service by making sure other folks know the facts. Thanks!
But you are providing a public service by making sure other folks know the facts. Thanks!
Anonymous
03/21/2014 17:30
Subject: Re:DCTAG Info-wish I knew then what I know now.
Anonymous
03/21/2014 17:26
Subject: DCTAG Info-wish I knew then what I know now.
Anonymous wrote:Being a parent with a high school child, I have begun to examine more closely the "awesome" DC TAG program lauded by many as a savior of DC parents and what has been keeping many parents in the city for years. Having seen what it really looks like, I think many DCUMs need to be made aware so that you are not totally counting on this to be the great deal that some have suggested. Here's a little of what I have learned:
1. DCTAG gives a DC resident attending a public university (or historically black college) in the US $10K per year for up to five years towards the out of state tuition rate. It's not $50K outright towards school costs, and it's not to "make up the difference between in state and out of state" or any of the other misinformation I've heard thrown around out here in DC land. (and the five years BS kind of makes me laugh-I will NOT allow my child to do the "five year plan" with the extreme costs associated with an extra year of college, just to be able to knock off another $10K from the out of state tuition)
2. It cannot be applied to room and board, tuition only. (So if you somehow luck out and tuition is only $8K you only get the $8k, not an extra $2k to apply to room and board and other fees)
3. Many public universities have now become as expensive as private colleges for out of state students. UVA's out of state tuition rate is $38,000 per year. UMD is around $26,000. Room, board and fees adds about another $10-12K Other schools like University of Alabama are much more reasonable, in the range of $11k for tuition. And lots of satellite campuses of more prominent state universities aren't terrible either, but the fact remains that for almost any decent public university DCTAG doesn't cover as much as it should. If you went to a public university, go ahead and check the out of state rates. (And please post them here and give me your impressions of where you went, since I am still trying to help my teen research colleges!)
4. When the program was first conceived, it was intended to give DC residents the in state tuition rate at any public university, since we do not have a robust or even barely acceptable "state" university system.
5. As out of state tuition rates spiraled out of control however, it was turned into a grant program that you have to apply for and sometimes can run out. If you do want to avail yourself of DCTAG, get your application in ASAP-do NOT wait to see which school your child decides on. If he/she has applied to a public university, get the DCTAG folks on notice that you are requesting the funds. I know people who waited too long (like into late May) and the money had already run out for that year.
6. I am not saying that DCTAG is not still possibly worth it for many families. However, I do think that for a lot of people, it will come as a minor (or major) shock to learn what that it has eroded to something much less beneficially as a "perk" of staying in DC. I admit I've been a little naive to have not looked into the details sooner. But, with little kids and trying to stay in DC, I just wanted to believe what I heard and didn't know many people with older kids. Now I do, and I've decided that I should never have used DCTAG as a reason to stay in DC. If I moved to VA or MD my in state tuition rate would be $10,000 for UVA, $7400 for UMD, which is pretty significant. While I may gain $10K per year from DCTAG for my kids, I feel like other states would give my family twice that in tuition savings each year alone.
Anyway, this is just an FYI for parents of young kids who should start socking away the college $$ NOW if you haven't already. And, FWIW we do have a significant amount squirreled away for our kids college, but with three kids, it still won't be enough, but will last a *little* longer if they go to a public university.
Thanks for the info - interesting and eye opening. I never knew it was a finite amount of funding per year. Just assumed all eligible could receive it. You raise good points about how it has not kept pace with the real costs of public universities. I wonder how much the out of state price tag is impacted by increasingly international recruitment by public universities.
Anonymous
03/21/2014 17:24
Subject: Re:DCTAG Info-wish I knew then what I know now.
Anonymous wrote:Catania's bill has put DCTAG in jeopardy. Furthermore, many eligible for DCTAG would be ineligible for Catania's Promise funds.
That's nonsense -- Paul Ryan and the GOP would sooner let a kid starve than provide federally funded lunch. You think the GOP won't cut anything they can get away with, including DCTAG? It has nothing to do with Catania -- he's one of the few people in DC government with any vision for the school system.
Anonymous
03/21/2014 17:18
Subject: DCTAG Info-wish I knew then what I know now.
The real problem is the cost of tuition at these schools. It is a total racket.
Anonymous
03/21/2014 17:08
Subject: Re:DCTAG Info-wish I knew then what I know now.
Catania's bill has put DCTAG in jeopardy. Furthermore, many eligible for DCTAG would be ineligible for Catania's Promise funds.
Anonymous
03/21/2014 17:06
Subject: DCTAG Info-wish I knew then what I know now.
No I did not post this anywhere else. I'll check out that thread too. 17:03 where does your child attend. That sounds pretty awesome.
Anonymous
03/21/2014 17:03
Subject: DCTAG Info-wish I knew then what I know now.
The 10K per year plus a merit scholarship from a public institution leaves us with a 3K balance each year.
Anonymous
03/21/2014 17:03
Subject: DCTAG Info-wish I knew then what I know now.
Anonymous wrote:HBCUs receive $2500 per year from DCTAG.
If they are private. Hampton is one of them compared to Virginia State where you can get 10k.
Anonymous
03/21/2014 16:59
Subject: DCTAG Info-wish I knew then what I know now.
HBCUs receive $2500 per year from DCTAG.
Anonymous
03/21/2014 16:59
Subject: DCTAG Info-wish I knew then what I know now.
Did you post this in the college forum as well? Just asking, but I think it fits here too. As a recipient of the DCTAG attending a private university, it would have taken me 5 years if I didn't take classes in the summer. Granted those courses were paid by my parents. David Catania introduced a bill or act titled "promise" which can be used for room and board etc. the amount of 10k and 2500 should be increased and has been discussed on here several times. However, thanks for the informative information.
Signed, Rising 9th grader parent
Signed, Rising 9th grader parent
Anonymous
03/21/2014 16:49
Subject: DCTAG Info-wish I knew then what I know now.
Being a parent with a high school child, I have begun to examine more closely the "awesome" DC TAG program lauded by many as a savior of DC parents and what has been keeping many parents in the city for years. Having seen what it really looks like, I think many DCUMs need to be made aware so that you are not totally counting on this to be the great deal that some have suggested. Here's a little of what I have learned:
1. DCTAG gives a DC resident attending a public university (or historically black college) in the US $10K per year for up to five years towards the out of state tuition rate. It's not $50K outright towards school costs, and it's not to "make up the difference between in state and out of state" or any of the other misinformation I've heard thrown around out here in DC land. (and the five years BS kind of makes me laugh-I will NOT allow my child to do the "five year plan" with the extreme costs associated with an extra year of college, just to be able to knock off another $10K from the out of state tuition)
2. It cannot be applied to room and board, tuition only. (So if you somehow luck out and tuition is only $8K you only get the $8k, not an extra $2k to apply to room and board and other fees)
3. Many public universities have now become as expensive as private colleges for out of state students. UVA's out of state tuition rate is $38,000 per year. UMD is around $26,000. Room, board and fees adds about another $10-12K Other schools like University of Alabama are much more reasonable, in the range of $11k for tuition. And lots of satellite campuses of more prominent state universities aren't terrible either, but the fact remains that for almost any decent public university DCTAG doesn't cover as much as it should. If you went to a public university, go ahead and check the out of state rates. (And please post them here and give me your impressions of where you went, since I am still trying to help my teen research colleges!)
4. When the program was first conceived, it was intended to give DC residents the in state tuition rate at any public university, since we do not have a robust or even barely acceptable "state" university system.
5. As out of state tuition rates spiraled out of control however, it was turned into a grant program that you have to apply for and sometimes can run out. If you do want to avail yourself of DCTAG, get your application in ASAP-do NOT wait to see which school your child decides on. If he/she has applied to a public university, get the DCTAG folks on notice that you are requesting the funds. I know people who waited too long (like into late May) and the money had already run out for that year.
6. I am not saying that DCTAG is not still possibly worth it for many families. However, I do think that for a lot of people, it will come as a minor (or major) shock to learn what that it has eroded to something much less beneficially as a "perk" of staying in DC. I admit I've been a little naive to have not looked into the details sooner. But, with little kids and trying to stay in DC, I just wanted to believe what I heard and didn't know many people with older kids. Now I do, and I've decided that I should never have used DCTAG as a reason to stay in DC. If I moved to VA or MD my in state tuition rate would be $10,000 for UVA, $7400 for UMD, which is pretty significant. While I may gain $10K per year from DCTAG for my kids, I feel like other states would give my family twice that in tuition savings each year alone.
Anyway, this is just an FYI for parents of young kids who should start socking away the college $$ NOW if you haven't already. And, FWIW we do have a significant amount squirreled away for our kids college, but with three kids, it still won't be enough, but will last a *little* longer if they go to a public university.
1. DCTAG gives a DC resident attending a public university (or historically black college) in the US $10K per year for up to five years towards the out of state tuition rate. It's not $50K outright towards school costs, and it's not to "make up the difference between in state and out of state" or any of the other misinformation I've heard thrown around out here in DC land. (and the five years BS kind of makes me laugh-I will NOT allow my child to do the "five year plan" with the extreme costs associated with an extra year of college, just to be able to knock off another $10K from the out of state tuition)
2. It cannot be applied to room and board, tuition only. (So if you somehow luck out and tuition is only $8K you only get the $8k, not an extra $2k to apply to room and board and other fees)
3. Many public universities have now become as expensive as private colleges for out of state students. UVA's out of state tuition rate is $38,000 per year. UMD is around $26,000. Room, board and fees adds about another $10-12K Other schools like University of Alabama are much more reasonable, in the range of $11k for tuition. And lots of satellite campuses of more prominent state universities aren't terrible either, but the fact remains that for almost any decent public university DCTAG doesn't cover as much as it should. If you went to a public university, go ahead and check the out of state rates. (And please post them here and give me your impressions of where you went, since I am still trying to help my teen research colleges!)
4. When the program was first conceived, it was intended to give DC residents the in state tuition rate at any public university, since we do not have a robust or even barely acceptable "state" university system.
5. As out of state tuition rates spiraled out of control however, it was turned into a grant program that you have to apply for and sometimes can run out. If you do want to avail yourself of DCTAG, get your application in ASAP-do NOT wait to see which school your child decides on. If he/she has applied to a public university, get the DCTAG folks on notice that you are requesting the funds. I know people who waited too long (like into late May) and the money had already run out for that year.
6. I am not saying that DCTAG is not still possibly worth it for many families. However, I do think that for a lot of people, it will come as a minor (or major) shock to learn what that it has eroded to something much less beneficially as a "perk" of staying in DC. I admit I've been a little naive to have not looked into the details sooner. But, with little kids and trying to stay in DC, I just wanted to believe what I heard and didn't know many people with older kids. Now I do, and I've decided that I should never have used DCTAG as a reason to stay in DC. If I moved to VA or MD my in state tuition rate would be $10,000 for UVA, $7400 for UMD, which is pretty significant. While I may gain $10K per year from DCTAG for my kids, I feel like other states would give my family twice that in tuition savings each year alone.
Anyway, this is just an FYI for parents of young kids who should start socking away the college $$ NOW if you haven't already. And, FWIW we do have a significant amount squirreled away for our kids college, but with three kids, it still won't be enough, but will last a *little* longer if they go to a public university.