Anonymous
Post 03/26/2025 14:03     Subject: Turning down merit for full pay
Anonymous wrote:I had a full scholarship and a 1/2 tuition scholarship when I graduated from high school (years ago). We certainly weren’t wealthy and I had other siblings. It never crossed my mind to ask my parents to pay tuition when I had a free ride somewhere.


Np. I had a full scholarship at my state schools (two of those schools are considered fairly desirable by kids now) and opted for a SLAC. I have always regretted it.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2025 11:33     Subject: Re:Turning down merit for full pay
Anonymous wrote:We're in this situation, but still debating.
Loads of merit at both safeties (UMW and Gettysburg).
Little to no merit at targets and reach (Bryn Mawr, AU and Hamilton)
Wants to study International Relations and history.


We had almost exact same situation, including some of the very schools you list. Chose full pay SLAC. DC would not have been happy at his safeties where he would have gotten a lot of $$ and is happy at his full pay school. We can afford it but still not sure there will ultimately be a ROI. I guess we paid for his happiness.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2025 11:04     Subject: Turning down merit for full pay
I had a full scholarship and a 1/2 tuition scholarship when I graduated from high school (years ago). We certainly weren’t wealthy and I had other siblings. It never crossed my mind to ask my parents to pay tuition when I had a free ride somewhere.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2025 10:54     Subject: Turning down merit for full pay
Same here. DS has 2 options that are higher ranked and significantly less that his first choice. But the first choice is smaller and he seemed to fit better on that campus by a mile. Sometimes I think he'd be happy anywhere and sometimes I think he'd only be happy at his first choice.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2025 10:51     Subject: Turning down merit for full pay
We are also thinking about. DC got into Michigan for a program where they are always top 3. Even if they switch to their 2nd choice major, the department is still great. But, they also got merit at UGA for major #2. The cost difference is a lot. We can handle it. The question is if we should handle it.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2025 10:50     Subject: Turning down merit for full pay
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’m not sure W&M is worth it over other schools. But more importantly you let her apply and she got in so………….

We really can't answer this unless we know the major and at least the top 2 leading candidate schools...but in a vacuum, W&M is not as prestigious as you might think, and definitely on a downward trajectory (just check admit rate) the past 10-15 years. I might be mistaken, but it is probably the only state school in the country with two rounds of ED -- not a strength, but a weakness.


I am not sure what you are talking about ... but the admit rate at William and Mary hasn't gone down: https://www.ivycoach.com/the-ivy-coach-blog/college-admissions/william-mary-acceptance-rate-admission-statistics/#:~:text=Case%20in%20point%3A%20William%20%26%20Mary,over%20the%20last%2026%20years.

I have three kids who all went to three different state colleges in VA. I don't understand where the William and Mary hatred stems from on this forum? Can someone please explain this to me?

I didn't love one of the schools my kids attended (it's a top-three public college in VA), but I don't spend my time saying negative things about it online. Everyone has different experiences and tastes.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2025 10:40     Subject: Turning down merit for full pay
Anonymous wrote:W&M


What are the other schools?
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2025 10:35     Subject: Re:Turning down merit for full pay
We're in this situation, but still debating.
Loads of merit at both safeties (UMW and Gettysburg).
Little to no merit at targets and reach (Bryn Mawr, AU and Hamilton)
Wants to study International Relations and history.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2025 09:23     Subject: Turning down merit for full pay
We chose the pricey OOS public and dc now regrets it
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2025 08:18     Subject: Turning down merit for full pay
Anonymous wrote:I’m not sure W&M is worth it over other schools. But more importantly you let her apply and she got in so………….

We really can't answer this unless we know the major and at least the top 2 leading candidate schools...but in a vacuum, W&M is not as prestigious as you might think, and definitely on a downward trajectory (just check admit rate) the past 10-15 years. I might be mistaken, but it is probably the only state school in the country with two rounds of ED -- not a strength, but a weakness.
Anonymous
Post 03/25/2025 22:44     Subject: Turning down merit for full pay
I’m not sure W&M is worth it over other schools. But more importantly you let her apply and she got in so………….
Anonymous
Post 03/25/2025 22:27     Subject: Re:Turning down merit for full pay
To the posters saying prestige matters....

1. know that prestige matters in only a few fields. In many fields it doesn't. The degree and internships/experiences matter.
2. the person who noted there were such great experiences at prestige school. there are so many folks who could rattle off doors that opened at less prestigious schools. You can't know what your kid would have gotten if they had made another choice.

If it were me, I'd say.... if you love the top choice school way, way more, then it's reasonable to consider going there. But if you like it a bit more, then take the merit and use the extra money for grad school.
Anonymous
Post 03/25/2025 22:02     Subject: Re:Turning down merit for full pay
Mine turned down full cost of attendance and summer $ for an ivy on the top10 overall: the opportunities have been almost without bounds and the chance to study with intellectually elite peers who on average are on the same level as themselves has been fantastic. Even with the NIH triggered funding cuts there are still many paid options for their own students this summer.
Prestige matters. Those that say it doesn’t do not have students at different tiers to compare.


Which school offers this merit? It sounds like a Jefferson Scholar (UVA) or Morehead-Cain (UNC).

My DC also received a full cost of attendance plus summer stipend offer to attend a private school that better fit DC’s academic interests. We had a 529 funded to cover DC’s college, but we question all the time whether we should have allowed him to make the decision and whether it was the right one.
Anonymous
Post 03/25/2025 21:49     Subject: Turning down merit for full pay
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:DD is fortunate to have good options to consider and feels very grateful but conflicted. She was accepted to six schools, five of which offered generous merit and/or talent scholarships. The sixth school offered nothing but acceptance, which was a reach. She’s feeling guilty about wanting the more prestigious school she loves when the other schools seem to love her more. We have the money to pay for the sixth school (OOS public), but it will hurt. Thoughts? Advice?


The schools that gave merit do not love her more, they need her more and she is that much above the average student at those schools thst they want her for their own gain.

She may not fit in academically if she is too far above typical. Let her go to the prestigious school: you can afford it and you admit it is more prestigious, which helps with outcomes.

Mine turned down full cost of attendance and summer $ for an ivy on the top10 overall: the opportunities have been almost without bounds and the chance to study with intellectually elite peers who on average are on the same level as themselves has been fantastic. Even with the NIH triggered funding cuts there are still many paid options for their own students this summer.
Prestige matters. Those that say it doesn’t do not have students at different tiers to compare.


OP clearly states "it will hurt." Doesn't sound like they can afford it....hence the post.
Anonymous
Post 03/25/2025 21:43     Subject: Turning down merit for full pay
Anonymous wrote:W&M


OOS William and Mary is 100% worth the cost compared to the schools that gave merit due to the fact that there is little chance the merit giving schools are anywhere close to the same level.
William and Mary functions like a private T30 school with its size, intellectual level of the students, and availability of opportunities/respect from MD/law/business programs as well as companies