Anonymous
Post 04/18/2025 05:55     Subject: Turning down T10
I know two families that had their kids attend the less expensive public options over T-10’s. The decision was driven by finances. Both families solidly middle class with both parents working full time, living in suburbs with good Public schools. The elite privates need to do better when it comes to being accessible to top students from middle class families. My kid is at a private T-30 and most of the kids there are either very well-to-do or on generous financial aid.
Anonymous
Post 04/18/2025 05:42     Subject: Turning down T10
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Independently wealthy and/or saved $400k without harming retirement - top 10

Anything else - free ride. FREE.


The majority of students accepted to top 10 schools can get free rides elsewhere. Dropping $400,000 for Stanford or a free ride to the state flagship is a very common dilemma for donut hole families with gifted students. It's another reason the demographics of the top schools largely resemble a bar bell with rich on one side and generous financial aid on the other. MC/UMC are increasingly absent from schools that give none or very little merit. The cost of these schools has become absurd so people are making different choices than they would have 10-15 years ago.

This is the answer. It's all about money and whether you have enough saved for each kid or can comfortably cash-flow it.
Anonymous
Post 04/18/2025 04:12     Subject: Turning down T10
Anonymous wrote:Independently wealthy and/or saved $400k without harming retirement - top 10

Anything else - free ride. FREE.


The majority of students accepted to top 10 schools can get free rides elsewhere. Dropping $400,000 for Stanford or a free ride to the state flagship is a very common dilemma for donut hole families with gifted students. It's another reason the demographics of the top schools largely resemble a bar bell with rich on one side and generous financial aid on the other. MC/UMC are increasingly absent from schools that give none or very little merit. The cost of these schools has become absurd so people are making different choices than they would have 10-15 years ago.
Anonymous
Post 04/18/2025 02:27     Subject: Turning down T10
Independently wealthy and/or saved $400k without harming retirement - top 10

Anything else - free ride. FREE.
Anonymous
Post 04/18/2025 00:42     Subject: Re:Turning down T10
Depends on kid’s personality, major, future goals, interests, and generally what they’re looking for in a school. Also obviously depends on your financial situation.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2025 23:35     Subject: Turning down T10
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If I can afford any of the schools in the T10, my kid would be going to the T10 if they feel they will be happy there.


Really, 400k for 4 years of happiness? Or Only for finance, pre law, pre med and cs? Is that where the happy kids are?


It is also your social and professional network for the rest of your life. My spouse and I went to top tier schools. Many of our friends are friends from college or people we met through those friends. Half of our bridal party was college friends.

That being said, it depends on your financial circumstances, your goals, your family situation, and so much more. But the binary here is pretty extreme. If it was top 10 vs. top 50 it would be a different discussion.


Truth. Opens doors for life
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2025 22:25     Subject: Turning down T10
Anonymous wrote:This hypothetical question doesn't exist in real world. If you can get in T10, many (so many) SLACs will give you a full ride. Williams being the most generous, but Amherst, Swarthmore, Pomona, ..., all give out generous aids like there is no tomorrow.


Ah, nah. My kid got zero aid from Pomona, or Hopkins, or Ivy, etc.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2025 22:23     Subject: Turning down T10
Anonymous wrote:Yeah, I would turn down say Duke for University of Oregon free ride if I really wanted to live in Portland post-graduation.

There are a number of variables to consider in these decisions.


This! Please, these questions make no sense absent context. Is the kid majoring in something where an Ivy makes an appreciable difference or are they majoring in elementary education? Are they well suited to an ivy? Which one is in the geography they want to live in? Is their major the area the ivy stands out?

I can think of a million reasons I would choose a full ride at a T100 over an Ivy that aren’t financially motivated.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2025 21:56     Subject: Turning down T10
Anonymous wrote:This hypothetical question doesn't exist in real world. If you can get in T10, many (so many) SLACs will give you a full ride. Williams being the most generous, but Amherst, Swarthmore, Pomona, ..., all give out generous aids like there is no tomorrow.


Yes, mine got good FA (not a full ride) at an Ivy. It was still more than UMD (multiple scholarships brought that under 10k/year), but we had some college savings, and the Ivy was a much better fit for her interests. Will average about 23k/year.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2025 21:55     Subject: Re:Turning down T10
what schools?
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2025 21:52     Subject: Re:Turning down T10
Anonymous wrote:
It is also your social and professional network for the rest of your life.

Not true for many people.

Especially those who attend grad school.


Stinks to be you. For many people I know, particularly those who went away to elite schools, it is.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2025 21:48     Subject: Re:Turning down T10
It is also your social and professional network for the rest of your life.

Not true for many people.

Especially those who attend grad school.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2025 21:48     Subject: Re:Turning down T10
It is also your social and professional network for the rest of your life.
Not true for many people.

Especially those who attend grad school.

Anonymous
Post 04/17/2025 21:41     Subject: Turning down T10
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If I can afford any of the schools in the T10, my kid would be going to the T10 if they feel they will be happy there.


Really, 400k for 4 years of happiness? Or Only for finance, pre law, pre med and cs? Is that where the happy kids are?


It is also your social and professional network for the rest of your life. My spouse and I went to top tier schools. Many of our friends are friends from college or people we met through those friends. Half of our bridal party was college friends.

That being said, it depends on your financial circumstances, your goals, your family situation, and so much more. But the binary here is pretty extreme. If it was top 10 vs. top 50 it would be a different discussion.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2025 20:38     Subject: Turning down T10
Anonymous wrote:If I can afford any of the schools in the T10, my kid would be going to the T10 if they feel they will be happy there.


Really, 400k for 4 years of happiness? Or Only for finance, pre law, pre med and cs? Is that where the happy kids are?