Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It gets easier when you realize you’re not alone.

In real life, I don’t think I know any dual feds with 2+ kids who have sent them to full-pay privates in the last 10-12 years. Many of the parents went to those schools. But to send their kids there is just irrational.

The kids who are going to those schools from the DMV are richer or poorer, or they have some kind of special circumstances: family money, a parent who works at a university that has some kind of tuition benefit, etc.

The private schools are full of dual fed kids.

Dual fed households ate in the top invome brackets in the country.

Just because they are not as rich as elon or the pelosis does not mean that they are not wealthy.

The private schools where so many kids are on family money that the schools host an annual “grandparents day”? Yeah, they’re not doing it on the parents’ fed salaries.

Maybe not the $55-60k schools, but very definitely the $35-40k ones.

And? No one ever said that the typical dual fed family couldn’t afford college at all, just that they’re opting out of paying full freight for the most expensive ones. Which is the same choice these families you are pointing to have already made for high school.

And compare the college lists out of SJC or Gonzaga to the lists at GDS or Sidwell. Most kids at the more expensive high schools are going ED to full pay private colleges. Most kids at the Catholic high schools are going to state schools.

I'm not sure that's true because you get a ton of kids going to the Catholic colleges...Notre Dame, Villanova, Georgetown, Boston College et al. Now, many of the less selective Catholic colleges like Loyola MD et al provide merit aid.

Also, the athletes out of these schools are usually picking a school based on how strong of a sports team...and they have the added benefit of receiving athletic scholarships.

The Catholic school college Instagram accounts are school-sponsored and public. You can look at them for yourself. Last year SJC sent more kids to Penn State than to Notre Dame, Villanova, Georgetown, and BC combined. And it’s not all Penn State. Clemson, C of C, Pitt, Maryland, etc, etc. And agreed that lower-ranked Catholic schools tend to offer a lot of merit, which makes them another example of people choosing to pay less for college. As is choosing a school for an athletic scholarship.

The point is, even quite comfortable families who can afford private high school are mostly choosing not to pay for the most expensive high schools or the most expensive colleges.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It gets easier when you realize you’re not alone.

In real life, I don’t think I know any dual feds with 2+ kids who have sent them to full-pay privates in the last 10-12 years. Many of the parents went to those schools. But to send their kids there is just irrational.

The kids who are going to those schools from the DMV are richer or poorer, or they have some kind of special circumstances: family money, a parent who works at a university that has some kind of tuition benefit, etc.

The private schools are full of dual fed kids.

Dual fed households ate in the top invome brackets in the country.

Just because they are not as rich as elon or the pelosis does not mean that they are not wealthy.

The private schools where so many kids are on family money that the schools host an annual “grandparents day”? Yeah, they’re not doing it on the parents’ fed salaries.

Maybe not the $55-60k schools, but very definitely the $35-40k ones.

And? No one ever said that the typical dual fed family couldn’t afford college at all, just that they’re opting out of paying full freight for the most expensive ones. Which is the same choice these families you are pointing to have already made for high school.

And compare the college lists out of SJC or Gonzaga to the lists at GDS or Sidwell. Most kids at the more expensive high schools are going ED to full pay private colleges. Most kids at the Catholic high schools are going to state schools.

I'm not sure that's true because you get a ton of kids going to the Catholic colleges...Notre Dame, Villanova, Georgetown, Boston College et al. Now, many of the less selective Catholic colleges like Loyola MD et al provide merit aid.

Also, the athletes out of these schools are usually picking a school based on how strong of a sports team...and they have the added benefit of receiving athletic scholarships.

The Catholic school college Instagram accounts are school-sponsored and public. You can look at them for yourself. Last year SJC sent more kids to Penn State than to Notre Dame, Villanova, Georgetown, and BC combined. And it’s not all Penn State. Clemson, C of C, Pitt, Maryland, etc, etc. And agreed that lower-ranked Catholic schools tend to offer a lot of merit, which makes them another example of people choosing to pay less for college. As is choosing a school for an athletic scholarship.

The point is, even quite comfortable families who can afford private high school are mostly choosing not to pay for the most expensive high schools or the most expensive colleges.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So I started checking the net price calculators. We are both feds and have been for 20-plus years, with plenty of promotions. Own our little rowhouse. Almost paid off. 20 years of TSP. 2 kids, strictly DCPS. Old car, limited spending, lots of savings. No medical bills.

We’re gonna be at max for ability to pay even though we aren’t living in champagne and caviar. Right?

I just need to count my blessings right? We’ve had stability and ability to pay even if we aren’t living high on the hog. People with more precarious lives deserve the lower price. Right?

I guess merit aid is possible - first kid did great on PSAT. But we’re still likely to just pay full freight even then because if he applies to a reach school EA or ED we’ll say yes, right?

If kid is a national merit finalist you could be looking at reach school ($400k for 4 years) vs lower ranked school like University of Alabama ($0-ish for years). Imo your kid will be better off in the long run if you hand the kid an investment account with $400k in it (and take the full ride scholarship).
It's undergrad it doesn't matter where you go -- don't feel pressured to go "name brand".

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It gets easier when you realize you’re not alone.

In real life, I don’t think I know any dual feds with 2+ kids who have sent them to full-pay privates in the last 10-12 years. Many of the parents went to those schools. But to send their kids there is just irrational.

The kids who are going to those schools from the DMV are richer or poorer, or they have some kind of special circumstances: family money, a parent who works at a university that has some kind of tuition benefit, etc.

The private schools are full of dual fed kids.

Dual fed households ate in the top invome brackets in the country.

Just because they are not as rich as elon or the pelosis does not mean that they are not wealthy.

The private schools where so many kids are on family money that the schools host an annual “grandparents day”? Yeah, they’re not doing it on the parents’ fed salaries.

Maybe not the $55-60k schools, but very definitely the $35-40k ones.

And? No one ever said that the typical dual fed family couldn’t afford college at all, just that they’re opting out of paying full freight for the most expensive ones. Which is the same choice these families you are pointing to have already made for high school.

And compare the college lists out of SJC or Gonzaga to the lists at GDS or Sidwell. Most kids at the more expensive high schools are going ED to full pay private colleges. Most kids at the Catholic high schools are going to state schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It gets easier when you realize you’re not alone.

In real life, I don’t think I know any dual feds with 2+ kids who have sent them to full-pay privates in the last 10-12 years. Many of the parents went to those schools. But to send their kids there is just irrational.

The kids who are going to those schools from the DMV are richer or poorer, or they have some kind of special circumstances: family money, a parent who works at a university that has some kind of tuition benefit, etc.

The private schools are full of dual fed kids.

Dual fed households ate in the top invome brackets in the country.

Just because they are not as rich as elon or the pelosis does not mean that they are not wealthy.

The private schools where so many kids are on family money that the schools host an annual “grandparents day”? Yeah, they’re not doing it on the parents’ fed salaries.

Maybe not the $55-60k schools, but very definitely the $35-40k ones.

And? No one ever said that the typical dual fed family couldn’t afford college at all, just that they’re opting out of paying full freight for the most expensive ones. Which is the same choice these families you are pointing to have already made for high school.

And compare the college lists out of SJC or Gonzaga to the lists at GDS or Sidwell. Most kids at the more expensive high schools are going ED to full pay private colleges. Most kids at the Catholic high schools are going to state schools.

I'm not sure that's true because you get a ton of kids going to the Catholic colleges...Notre Dame, Villanova, Georgetown, Boston College et al. Now, many of the less selective Catholic colleges like Loyola MD et al provide merit aid.

Also, the athletes out of these schools are usually picking a school based on how strong of a sports team...and they have the added benefit of receiving athletic scholarships.

The Catholic school college Instagram accounts are school-sponsored and public. You can look at them for yourself. Last year SJC sent more kids to Penn State than to Notre Dame, Villanova, Georgetown, and BC combined. And it’s not all Penn State. Clemson, C of C, Pitt, Maryland, etc, etc. And agreed that lower-ranked Catholic schools tend to offer a lot of merit, which makes them another example of people choosing to pay less for college. As is choosing a school for an athletic scholarship.

The point is, even quite comfortable families who can afford private high school are mostly choosing not to pay for the most expensive high schools or the most expensive colleges.

Anonymous wrote:So I started checking the net price calculators. We are both feds and have been for 20-plus years, with plenty of promotions. Own our little rowhouse. Almost paid off. 20 years of TSP. 2 kids, strictly DCPS. Old car, limited spending, lots of savings. No medical bills.

We’re gonna be at max for ability to pay even though we aren’t living in champagne and caviar. Right?

I just need to count my blessings right? We’ve had stability and ability to pay even if we aren’t living high on the hog. People with more precarious lives deserve the lower price. Right?

I guess merit aid is possible - first kid did great on PSAT. But we’re still likely to just pay full freight even then because if he applies to a reach school EA or ED we’ll say yes, right?

Anonymous wrote:^ many agencies here are on the special pay rate table. Dual Fed families can be making $400k.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It gets easier when you realize you’re not alone.

In real life, I don’t think I know any dual feds with 2+ kids who have sent them to full-pay privates in the last 10-12 years. Many of the parents went to those schools. But to send their kids there is just irrational.

The kids who are going to those schools from the DMV are richer or poorer, or they have some kind of special circumstances: family money, a parent who works at a university that has some kind of tuition benefit, etc.

The private schools are full of dual fed kids.

Dual fed households ate in the top invome brackets in the country.

Just because they are not as rich as elon or the pelosis does not mean that they are not wealthy.

The private schools where so many kids are on family money that the schools host an annual “grandparents day”? Yeah, they’re not doing it on the parents’ fed salaries.

Maybe not the $55-60k schools, but very definitely the $35-40k ones.

And? No one ever said that the typical dual fed family couldn’t afford college at all, just that they’re opting out of paying full freight for the most expensive ones. Which is the same choice these families you are pointing to have already made for high school.

And compare the college lists out of SJC or Gonzaga to the lists at GDS or Sidwell. Most kids at the more expensive high schools are going ED to full pay private colleges. Most kids at the Catholic high schools are going to state schools.

I'm not sure that's true because you get a ton of kids going to the Catholic colleges...Notre Dame, Villanova, Georgetown, Boston College et al. Now, many of the less selective Catholic colleges like Loyola MD et al provide merit aid.

Also, the athletes out of these schools are usually picking a school based on how strong of a sports team...and they have the added benefit of receiving athletic scholarships.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The political capitalist system is set up to get us peasants fighting with each other so we ignore the insane grift that’s happened around rising tuition and student loan programs.

Just like it wants working class people to hate on immigrants and welfare recipients.

The donut hole families are realizing their full pay tuition bill is subsidizing able-bodied parents who choose to stay at home when their kids are self sufficient teenagers. It’s not really the fault of those SAHMs, but the donut holers need some outlet for their frustration because costs are so out of line with the economy.

We’re told not to complain that we can’t afford to send our kids to places our parents were able to afford, like BC. Meanwhile, there’s a kid whining on Reddit right now that they were matched to Boston College on Questbridge and not Harvard.

The system will make you crazy.

This sounds like a bunch of whiny BS from someone who made a series of choices and thinks life owes them something.

We can’t always get all that we want all the time.

Move to a lower COL area.
Pick a cheaper college.
Save more.
SAH to maximize aid but know you will minimize retirement savings. And vacations. And everything else.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's kind of maddening when you are full pay at colleges and your kid's roommates get substantial aid and live much nicer lives than your DC kids do.

I have 2 in college and we are full pay all around with a DC income of $400K. My kids' middle America roommates are both (fr and soph) on 50%+ aid but have cars on campus, much fancier clothing, have all sorts of spending money for eating off campus. My kids have never owned a car, eat in the dining hall full time, etc.

There is something to be said for living in a LCOL area and making under $200K. You go to college for free or at half cost but still have the same lifestyle outside of school as those of us making almost twice the income in a HCOL town.

There is no reason your kids can’t have nice things or a car when mommy and daddy make 400k. These are all just choices you’re making.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It gets easier when you realize you’re not alone.

In real life, I don’t think I know any dual feds with 2+ kids who have sent them to full-pay privates in the last 10-12 years. Many of the parents went to those schools. But to send their kids there is just irrational.

The kids who are going to those schools from the DMV are richer or poorer, or they have some kind of special circumstances: family money, a parent who works at a university that has some kind of tuition benefit, etc.

The private schools are full of dual fed kids.

Dual fed households ate in the top invome brackets in the country.

Just because they are not as rich as elon or the pelosis does not mean that they are not wealthy.

The private schools where so many kids are on family money that the schools host an annual “grandparents day”? Yeah, they’re not doing it on the parents’ fed salaries.

Maybe not the $55-60k schools, but very definitely the $35-40k ones.

And? No one ever said that the typical dual fed family couldn’t afford college at all, just that they’re opting out of paying full freight for the most expensive ones. Which is the same choice these families you are pointing to have already made for high school.

And compare the college lists out of SJC or Gonzaga to the lists at GDS or Sidwell. Most kids at the more expensive high schools are going ED to full pay private colleges. Most kids at the Catholic high schools are going to state schools.