Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm kind of stunned. How could child be rejected from UMD with info you gave? Regardless, take this from someone who transferred after first year of college - everything will be OK. Child will end up OK no matter what and what you can do as a parent (I think) is show how proud you are of them and resilience no matter what.

Plenty of kids are rejected from UMD with a 3.8.

Bad essays and narrative then

Anonymous wrote:I have not done this personally (yet) but I know of people that do the first two years at a solid community college that has a pathway to the state flagship. I think this exists for UMD, UVA and the U of California system ? Maybe there are other states that have this? I am sorry, OP that this is so difficult. The whole process seems pretty miserable and I am dreading going through it with my HS kids. Good luck!

I think most states have that program. Even just going to a state flagship for four years will save money.

At the safety schools, many other students there will be from other parts of the state + must more cost-conscious than their h.s. peers. It's hard for high-schoolers to grasp that after they get to college, all of their classmates will be attending that same college, so the "new norm." Good luck to all!!!

OP needs to change her attitude completely and celebrate the Towson admit. It's a perfectly fine state university that produces many successful grads. Her kid is a hard worker. Towson rewards hard workers. Transfer after a year if feasible.

It's pretty clear OP's kid doesn't have great SAT and talking about known name colleges with merits is probably not helpful. There are schools that would take the kid at a higher price point or no aid, but if wanting a lot of merit, kid doesn't have the stats. That's how it rolls these days. Though it may be possible at places like Temple, but whether it's "better" than Towson is a different story. Different experience, certainly.

I do wish OP had started this thread differently. She should have said my kid has a 3.8, but only XXXX SAT and we can only afford 30-40k a year out of pocket, she is not happy with Towson or Salisbury, what may still be doable schools for someone like her that we can still apply to on a rolling basis? Totally different tone and more sympathetic and helpful responses would follow.

I was your kid. I got into a T10 early and went to a T30 school with a full ride. It still stings, but I acknowledge I turned out fine.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I think we should keep this post focused on solutions and positive stories. Those doubting my child's stats are taking away from posts that can be productive for me and others. My child isn't special or better than your child, I know that. My child worked hard, did well, and wants to see their results realized.

NP here. I didn’t read all the advice. Cutting to the chase, typically the bigger merit will be offered at least a tier down from where your kid could get accepted - so the student getting the half tuition scholarship at a T50 school, might be someone competitive for a T20 school. There is also Jeff Selingo’s Buyer and Seller list of colleges. It helps of you are targeting merit to see which colleges are using merit to attract students and the average amount.

Given that it’s too late to do this differently, the options really are apply to Honors college at safety school if still possible, attend safety and look into transferring if unhappy after a year, consider if campus job plus summer job, plus a small loan is worth it and possible to bridge the gap for a slightly more expensive school, see if graduating early (3 years or 3.5 years) is possible pre-med at one of the other schools using AP credits, see if able to negotiate additional merit at a school where they got some merit , but not enough (YMMV depending on the school and how your kid compares to their applicant pool).

OP, what is the max you're willing to pay?

My kid got $39k at Loyola Maryland, which has been mentioned above. I believe $41k is the highest given, though there may be full rides (not sure). $39k merit brought COA to $45k- is that a doable price?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I think we should keep this post focused on solutions and positive stories. Those doubting my child's stats are taking away from posts that can be productive for me and others. My child isn't special or better than your child, I know that. My child worked hard, did well, and wants to see their results realized.

One solution is to really dig into what it takes to get into med school. Ask anybody you know who had a kid in med school. What were that child’s stats in high school? Pay special attention to class rank. I don’t know the current med school trends, which is why I’m asking. I just remember a time of “premeds” who changed their mind after first year. It would be such a shame for your child to go to the safety, only to choose a different, but still amazing path.

This X10000. It’s extremely competitive now for GPA ( perfect 4.0) MCAT, research and shadowing. Your child isn’t likely to be the valedictorian of Salisbury or Towson but they will be up against kids with those stats from more competitive schools and schools with much more research and shadowing opportunities.

Anonymous wrote:I'm kind of stunned. How could child be rejected from UMD with info you gave? Regardless, take this from someone who transferred after first year of college - everything will be OK. Child will end up OK no matter what and what you can do as a parent (I think) is show how proud you are of them and resilience no matter what.

Plenty of kids are rejected from UMD with a 3.8.

I'm kind of stunned. How could child be rejected from UMD with info you gave? Regardless, take this from someone who transferred after first year of college - everything will be OK. Child will end up OK no matter what and what you can do as a parent (I think) is show how proud you are of them and resilience no matter what.

Anonymous wrote:If medical school is the goal, you’d better check admission stats from those safeties…doesn’t matter that you have the $ for med school if she can’t get in.

Also—she doesn’t have to go straight through to medical school. She could graduate college and move back home for two years and work in a medical related field, saving everything to pay for medical school.

If I recall correcly, Admission from Loyola in MD was great for medical schools.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I think we should keep this post focused on solutions and positive stories. Those doubting my child's stats are taking away from posts that can be productive for me and others. My child isn't special or better than your child, I know that. My child worked hard, did well, and wants to see their results realized.

One solution is to really dig into what it takes to get into med school. Ask anybody you know who had a kid in med school. What were that child’s stats in high school? Pay special attention to class rank. I don’t know the current med school trends, which is why I’m asking. I just remember a time of “premeds” who changed their mind after first year. It would be such a shame for your child to go to the safety, only to choose a different, but still amazing path.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, check our Temple University in Philly. I believe they have rolling admissions, and they offer competitive merit aid, bringing down the cost of tuition to something fairly similar to UMD in state.

It's not an exclusive, difficult to get in to school. But smart kids can really thrive there. You do need to a) like the city and b) be OK with random crime violence. It's not for the faint of heart.

I just checked. I'm paying my student's tuition at Temple (with highest merit scholarship) of $16,400 this year + rent (off-campus apartment with friends) of $700 monthly. It's a year round lease but I'm hoping they can sublet it over the summer months.

They are cooking, so no meal plan but I sent another $700 monthly for groceries and to cover utilities and incidentals.

total cost for sophomore year at Temple for my student is therefore: $16,400+$8,400+$8,400= $33,200. Throw in another $500 for textbooks, renters insurance, and miscellaneous fees. $33,700. This has been doable.

My kid comes home via Amtrak a few times a year - the trip is very inexpensive if you have freedom to come at odd times. Less than $100 round trip easily, and often less than $40.

Posting one more time to add - UMD/CP honors was an option for the above student, but the student really wanted to go to school out of state, and in more of an urban school. Was accepted to numerous colleges around the country, but merit/financial aid wasn't enough.

Anonymous wrote:OP, check our Temple University in Philly. I believe they have rolling admissions, and they offer competitive merit aid, bringing down the cost of tuition to something fairly similar to UMD in state.

It's not an exclusive, difficult to get in to school. But smart kids can really thrive there. You do need to a) like the city and b) be OK with random crime violence. It's not for the faint of heart.

I just checked. I'm paying my student's tuition at Temple (with highest merit scholarship) of $16,400 this year + rent (off-campus apartment with friends) of $700 monthly. It's a year round lease but I'm hoping they can sublet it over the summer months.

They are cooking, so no meal plan but I sent another $700 monthly for groceries and to cover utilities and incidentals.

total cost for sophomore year at Temple for my student is therefore: $16,400+$8,400+$8,400= $33,200. Throw in another $500 for textbooks, renters insurance, and miscellaneous fees. $33,700. This has been doable.

My kid comes home via Amtrak a few times a year - the trip is very inexpensive if you have freedom to come at odd times. Less than $100 round trip easily, and often less than $40.

OP, check our Temple University in Philly. I believe they have rolling admissions, and they offer competitive merit aid, bringing down the cost of tuition to something fairly similar to UMD in state.

It's not an exclusive, difficult to get in to school. But smart kids can really thrive there. You do need to a) like the city and b) be OK with random crime violence. It's not for the faint of heart.