Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If we lived in VA, we would probably not have ours apply OOS because there are so many options. We are in MD. Ours only wants UMD which is a major reach. They don’t consider any other state school appealing but they will apply to a few as backups. They’re also applying to JMU and Mary Washington since both would fit into our budget and maybe some UNC regionals as they seem affordable for OOS. We’re looking at privates known for merit aid but I don’t think that’s a likely path.

WVU or Pitt?

I know that most MD residents do not love their in state options, but Towson, UMBC and Salisbury might be worth another look.

A parenting board friend's son actually chose Frostburg (which is my dad's alma mater), but I think he also looked at some of the other privates in MD that give good merit - I think Mt St. Mary's and McDaniel?

Pitt doesn’t give much merit anymore. High SATs may get you something, and they do try to recruit women to their engineering program.

But in general, if Pitt gives a Maryland student merit, that student is definitely getting into UMD.

Anonymous wrote:If we lived in VA, we would probably not have ours apply OOS because there are so many options. We are in MD. Ours only wants UMD which is a major reach. They don’t consider any other state school appealing but they will apply to a few as backups. They’re also applying to JMU and Mary Washington since both would fit into our budget and maybe some UNC regionals as they seem affordable for OOS. We’re looking at privates known for merit aid but I don’t think that’s a likely path.

WVU or Pitt?

I know that most MD residents do not love their in state options, but Towson, UMBC and Salisbury might be worth another look.

A parenting board friend's son actually chose Frostburg (which is my dad's alma mater), but I think he also looked at some of the other privates in MD that give good merit - I think Mt St. Mary's and McDaniel?

If we lived in VA, we would probably not have ours apply OOS because there are so many options. We are in MD. Ours only wants UMD which is a major reach. They don’t consider any other state school appealing but they will apply to a few as backups. They’re also applying to JMU and Mary Washington since both would fit into our budget and maybe some UNC regionals as they seem affordable for OOS. We’re looking at privates known for merit aid but I don’t think that’s a likely path.

0. Only way to be sure.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One, plus service academies (we needed in-state for financial reasons, not actual geographic requirements/preferences).

Want to add, I don't really recommend applying OOS to dream schools if you can't afford them or really can't have your child away for whatever reason. You don't want to put them in a situation where they're accepted somewhere they want to attend and can't.

Why not? My kid will be applying to a few dream schools they know it’s unlikely they’ll be accepted into and unable to afford. But they want to anyway, and I am fine with it. Kids are not as fragile as you imagine.

As long as your kid is fully aware that they cannot attend "dream school" unless it costs less than $X. But most 17 yo who have a "dream school" would be very disappointed to apply, actually get accepted to the Reach and then be told "nope you cannot attend".
Just make sure they understand your reality

Of course. That’s why it’s a “dream school.” ie - in your dreams

My kid wants to apply to a few. I won’t stop them. We are very open in our home. I personally think it’s just to scratch an itch, which I get. They can choose to apply where they please, as long as they have a good handful of targets/safeties in our price range that they’re excited about. Beyond that, it’s up to them.

What? No. A dream school is somewhere you'd actually die to go. If you've got no chance of attending financially...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One, plus service academies (we needed in-state for financial reasons, not actual geographic requirements/preferences).

Want to add, I don't really recommend applying OOS to dream schools if you can't afford them or really can't have your child away for whatever reason. You don't want to put them in a situation where they're accepted somewhere they want to attend and can't.

Why not? My kid will be applying to a few dream schools they know it’s unlikely they’ll be accepted into and unable to afford. But they want to anyway, and I am fine with it. Kids are not as fragile as you imagine.

As long as your kid is fully aware that they cannot attend "dream school" unless it costs less than $X. But most 17 yo who have a "dream school" would be very disappointed to apply, actually get accepted to the Reach and then be told "nope you cannot attend".
Just make sure they understand your reality

Of course. That’s why it’s a “dream school.” ie - in your dreams

My kid wants to apply to a few. I won’t stop them. We are very open in our home. I personally think it’s just to scratch an itch, which I get. They can choose to apply where they please, as long as they have a good handful of targets/safeties in our price range that they’re excited about. Beyond that, it’s up to them.

DS's first choice, by far, was VT. He applied to one other in-state, JMU, but then two OOS that he thought had a better program for his major than JMU. Fortunately, got into VT.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your dc knows for sure they want to attend a public university in-state, they don't need to apply anywhere else. There will be a public in-state university that will accept them. Make sure there are safeties on the list.

Our issue is he is not quite good enough for his 1st choice to be a target (it's possible he will get in, but it's a reach-ish school), target he is good for, but not thrilled about. Safeties he is not thrilled about. So unless he gets into his reach preferred school, he will be disappointed to some extent. So I am wondering if we need to find some merit, more exciting options out of state or doable big schools out of state.

Obviously you need to search for private schools that provide good merit. and are safeties/targets. Or OOS publics that provide good merit (WVU/Alabama/etc) if your kid wants a bigger school

We've done that, but compared to Bright Futures nothing can compare financially. So is it really worth it, considering they will be safeties so not "much better" than the schools he doesn't love in state but would get into. I guess this is what I am asking here: how do people in a similar situation handle it? Are these other schools even truly in the running?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One, plus service academies (we needed in-state for financial reasons, not actual geographic requirements/preferences).

Want to add, I don't really recommend applying OOS to dream schools if you can't afford them or really can't have your child away for whatever reason. You don't want to put them in a situation where they're accepted somewhere they want to attend and can't.

Why not? My kid will be applying to a few dream schools they know it’s unlikely they’ll be accepted into and unable to afford. But they want to anyway, and I am fine with it. Kids are not as fragile as you imagine.

As long as your kid is fully aware that they cannot attend "dream school" unless it costs less than $X. But most 17 yo who have a "dream school" would be very disappointed to apply, actually get accepted to the Reach and then be told "nope you cannot attend".
Just make sure they understand your reality

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your dc knows for sure they want to attend a public university in-state, they don't need to apply anywhere else. There will be a public in-state university that will accept them. Make sure there are safeties on the list.

Our issue is he is not quite good enough for his 1st choice to be a target (it's possible he will get in, but it's a reach-ish school), target he is good for, but not thrilled about. Safeties he is not thrilled about. So unless he gets into his reach preferred school, he will be disappointed to some extent. So I am wondering if we need to find some merit, more exciting options out of state or doable big schools out of state.

Obviously you need to search for private schools that provide good merit. and are safeties/targets. Or OOS publics that provide good merit (WVU/Alabama/etc) if your kid wants a bigger school

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One, plus service academies (we needed in-state for financial reasons, not actual geographic requirements/preferences).

Want to add, I don't really recommend applying OOS to dream schools if you can't afford them or really can't have your child away for whatever reason. You don't want to put them in a situation where they're accepted somewhere they want to attend and can't.

My ds's dream school is in-state, but it's a reach. In state safeties and targets he is not thrilled with, just ok.

Then search for and find OOS privates/publics that give good merit and your kid likes them. Find some that your kid loves and should be affordable for you and fall into safe and target category. They do exist.

If we lived in VA, my kid would be looking OOS. They wanted engineering. They want 6-8K students---so both UVA (which is not tops for engineering IMO) and VaTech are out and W&M is not even a consideration. So they would be searching for OOS privates that meet their criteria. That's exactly what they did (we live in another state but situation is similar---in state schools are 30K+ students with decent engineering programs).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One, plus service academies (we needed in-state for financial reasons, not actual geographic requirements/preferences).

Want to add, I don't really recommend applying OOS to dream schools if you can't afford them or really can't have your child away for whatever reason. You don't want to put them in a situation where they're accepted somewhere they want to attend and can't.

THIS^^^. You should not apply anywhere your kids doesn't really like or that you cannot afford (run the NPC). No point in gaining admission to a school that you can't afford or that is "too far away" if your kid really wants/needs to be closer to home (not everyone is ready to be 3K miles from home in college).

However, do not rule out OOS private schools, if it's financial reasons. Search for ones that give good merit, and where your kid is 75/80%+ for stats. But make sure your kid knows they cannot attend unless the cost is less than X

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One, plus service academies (we needed in-state for financial reasons, not actual geographic requirements/preferences).

Want to add, I don't really recommend applying OOS to dream schools if you can't afford them or really can't have your child away for whatever reason. You don't want to put them in a situation where they're accepted somewhere they want to attend and can't.

My ds's dream school is in-state, but it's a reach. In state safeties and targets he is not thrilled with, just ok.

What state? You won't give yourself away, I promise.

Florida

Hmmm, okay. We're Florida residents (military), so I get that the landscape can be tough, and yeah, Florida is a tough admit, even in-state. What program?

He is hoping for FSU. UF he is applying but knows he has almost no shot so it's not really in the picture. Then there is UCF, which is okay, USF, okay as well but not as exciting, and then FAU, FIU which would be a big disappointment as they are so close to home.

I would think he has a good shot at FSU in-state, depending on stats of course. What's he into? The beach? Busy city life? Something else? Is he open to the Panhandle? And what major?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One, plus service academies (we needed in-state for financial reasons, not actual geographic requirements/preferences).

Want to add, I don't really recommend applying OOS to dream schools if you can't afford them or really can't have your child away for whatever reason. You don't want to put them in a situation where they're accepted somewhere they want to attend and can't.

My ds's dream school is in-state, but it's a reach. In state safeties and targets he is not thrilled with, just ok.

What state? You won't give yourself away, I promise.

Florida

Hmmm, okay. We're Florida residents (military), so I get that the landscape can be tough, and yeah, Florida is a tough admit, even in-state. What program?

He is hoping for FSU. UF he is applying but knows he has almost no shot so it's not really in the picture. Then there is UCF, which is okay, USF, okay as well but not as exciting, and then FAU, FIU which would be a big disappointment as they are so close to home.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One, plus service academies (we needed in-state for financial reasons, not actual geographic requirements/preferences).

Want to add, I don't really recommend applying OOS to dream schools if you can't afford them or really can't have your child away for whatever reason. You don't want to put them in a situation where they're accepted somewhere they want to attend and can't.

My ds's dream school is in-state, but it's a reach. In state safeties and targets he is not thrilled with, just ok.

What state? You won't give yourself away, I promise.

Florida

Hmmm, okay. We're Florida residents (military), so I get that the landscape can be tough, and yeah, Florida is a tough admit, even in-state. What program?