My kid had a 4.2 gpa and a 1520 SAT, wanted to major in CS and didn’t get into UVA (expected) or VT (should have had a shot), and didn’t want GMU. So he’s at UIUC, which is a higher ranked CS program anyway.

My junior is just starting to think about colleges. Lived his whole life in northern VA. He really wants to go to college out of state. So many great college options in VA, but I totally understand and support going out of state.

DC is at an OOS SLAC. The main drivers were the majors and the flexibility of curriculum. DC was very attracted to smaller colleges without a strict core curriculum set of requirements and found exactly that. It wasn't just about the subjects for DC, the choice also was about how things were taught.

Also, merit aid was not necessary for us (I realize that's an advantage DC had that not all students have). We knew we'd be full pay and are fine with that. OP, be aware, I'm seeing posts on here about merit aid at LACs and that's great if they give it, but not all LACs give merit aid. DC's does not, only need-based financial aid.

DC did look at both UVA and William and Mary, liked the latter OK, the former was too vast and the major good but...again, too vast. And in the end liked the idea of being in a different environment and meeting people from all over.

Anonymous wrote:My kids would probably not gotten into VT. But one kid is at a school ranked top 50 and the other at a top 75 college. So, much better schools that what they could have gotten in VA. And the increased cost was worth it to us.

VT is ranked #62.

^ this

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OOS is one of the advantages that full pay families have. If your kid isn't getting into UVA, Wisconsin or Purdue is a much better option than JMU for most kids

this is us

If money is not the driver and kid doesn't get into or like UVA/W&M/(probably VT), then likely they'll get into a much better OOS than JMU and all the other lower ranked schools in VA

Anonymous wrote:OOS is one of the advantages that full pay families have. If your kid isn't getting into UVA, Wisconsin or Purdue is a much better option than JMU for most kids

this is us

OOS is one of the advantages that full pay families have. If your kid isn't getting into UVA, Wisconsin or Purdue is a much better option than JMU for most kids

Anonymous wrote:DD is a junior and starting to look at schools. Stats wise probably competitive for VT, JMU, W&M, not UVA. If your FCPS kid went to a public/private out of state, what was the thinking behind it? DD wants to live “somewhere other than VA” which we get but VA has so many great schools that it is tough to think about paying twice as much to go elsewhere (we are full pay but have other kids as well).

OP times are very different now. Sending a DD OOS to a red state will be a disaster. Remember your kid gets in trouble at a red state they are an adult, you will not be able to rescue them.

One of mine went to VT from MD at the time MD was so expensive that it cost us a $1000 difference per year for four years. That was doable for us. Mine was studying engineering and CS.

Personally, I am a fan of instate flagship and then better school for Grad school.

Honestly, though the goal of college is to get out and get a job. So the best fit for that is the best school for any kid and most states baring like NJ have more than one choice.

DC didn’t want to go to UVA or VT but wanted a big school. Always wanted Michigan which didn’t happen so went with another Big 10 that’s “Midwest nice”, attracted studious but well rounded kids, and has a devoted alum network.

Going out of state seems like a perfectly normal thing to do and growing up we scattered all over the US for college. My other kid stayed in state for a free ride.

My kids would probably not gotten into VT. But one kid is at a school ranked top 50 and the other at a top 75 college. So, much better schools that what they could have gotten in VA. And the increased cost was worth it to us.

Definitely apply to a Virginia school as a safety school and also as a benchmark for cost.

If the OOS options are vastly more expensive, hopefully your kid will see that the "bang for the buck" isn't there.

If your kid doesn't see that, then "I just don't want to be in Virginia" is an attitude you might have to squash if it's going to cost you too much money.

One of mine is considering a variety of OOS LACs in addition to W&M. She might not get into W&M and doesn't like any of the other in-state options. The LACs on her list, after merit aid, will likely cost less than W&M. They are ranked lower than W&M but all have strong programs for her particular STEM interest.

We encouraged our FCPS child to go out of state. It is hard because there are so many great in-state options, but our DC got enough merit money at their LAC to make the tuition just a little more than an in-state option like W&M or UVA. Their new friend group consists of people from all over the country with different experiences and beliefs. I know they can get this in-state too, but we thought it was important for them to get out of their bubble. This may not be the same for our other kids, but it has turned out well for them.

This is old information and not sure what's going on now ... but sciencey DD wanted a more progressive environment than the State of Virginia. She knew her OOS choice supported stem cell research. She didn't know where her interests would take her but she didn't want to be limited. She went to a top research university with an affiliated medical school. The U provided strong preprofessional majors in PA, PT, Nursing, Pharmacy, as well as PreMed. She eventually got a Doctorate in a Medical/STEM field.

Her similar HS sciencey peers had a difficult time finding a path in the biological sciences at VT as they weren't in engineering or aiming for vet school. Her HS sciencey peers who went to UVA became HS math teachers.