Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, you say OOS in your title but private in your post. Do you want public OOS or private, or private instate, etc.

My mistake. I should have said what "private colleges" would you turn UVA/W&M down for? Some of the ones he likes are in VA, and he probably wouldn't want to do a big OOS public (UVA is on the big side for him). Thanks for the responses so far. I figured most people's lists would be short. So, the VA kids who go to the schools I listed generally go because they didn't get into the top VA colleges? For a kid who likes the small school vibe, are there any SLACs or smaller universities that would be worth turning down W&M for?

This has not been the case in our experience. Lots of DDs friends are choosing to go OOS (public or private) for a variety of reasons including because they want to get a different mix of students than their VA high schools and/or they like the OOS state schools better than the VA schools and mostly, because the parents can afford to send their kids to the school the kid likes best (in/out private/public).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:None of the schools mentioned above.

Stanford, Duke, Chicago + top ivy

+1

+2

+3 but remove Duke (horrible town/gown situation and IMHO just not on same league as the others. -- a Virginian in thrall with the state univ. system.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nothing IMO, unless it's an Ivy.

Why? Be specific. Because honestly, I think UVA is overrated and W&M is really only good for liberal arts types.

But the price is right and they are certainly good enough.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:None of the schools mentioned above.

Stanford, Duke, Chicago + top ivy

+1

+2

Anonymous wrote:Nothing IMO, unless it's an Ivy.

Why? Be specific. Because honestly, I think UVA is overrated and W&M is really only good for liberal arts types.

Anonymous wrote:Also, you say OOS in your title but private in your post. Do you want public OOS or private, or private instate, etc.

My mistake. I should have said what "private colleges" would you turn UVA/W&M down for? Some of the ones he likes are in VA, and he probably wouldn't want to do a big OOS public (UVA is on the big side for him). Thanks for the responses so far. I figured most people's lists would be short. So, the VA kids who go to the schools I listed generally go because they didn't get into the top VA colleges? For a kid who likes the small school vibe, are there any SLACs or smaller universities that would be worth turning down W&M for?

Anonymous wrote:Unc, Umd for STEM, GT for STEM, Michigan ,Cal, Ucla,Wisconsin ,off the top of my head,

I would think students that live in any of these states posted above would have the same "good" problem as OP. All of these states have very good publics and it would be hard to pass any of these up for privates unless there was plenty of money in the bank and the private would offer some significant boost for the student's future. I think OP that it would have to be a very specific need for your student to pay all that extra money over those two schools. I am sure families in California, Michigan, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Texas are having the same thoughts as you. What colleges can beat those in state rates for a solid education especially when you are full pay. It use to be that you might pay OOS rates so your student could have a change of scenery but with the prices today it would be cheaper to go instate and send your kid on a European vacation! Virginia is lucky to have good colleges.

Anonymous wrote:None of the schools mentioned above.

Stanford, Duke, Chicago + top ivy

+1

None of the schools mentioned above.

Stanford, Duke, Chicago + top ivy

Anonymous wrote:Nothing IMO, unless it's an Ivy.

+1

Also, you say OOS in your title but private in your post. Do you want public OOS or private, or private instate, etc.

None of the privates you listed

20:00 has a decent list. I would add Duke

Nothing IMO, unless it's an Ivy.

Unc, Umd for STEM, GT for STEM, Michigan ,Cal, Ucla,Wisconsin ,off the top of my head,

We have visited several private colleges, not Ivies but places about as selective as UVA and W&M. (Think Richmond, Wake, W&L, Davidson, Bucknell). DS likes the "feel" of some of the private schools better. He probably won't qualify for merit aid unless we go down a notch (or more) in selectivity. We can pay for private (with some difficulty), but public would leave money in the 529 for grad school. What privates are worth turning down a spot at W&M or UVA for, in your opinion? We need to be thinking about whether to do EA/ED next fall and if so where. FWIW, DS is undecided on major, but it probably won't be STEM.