I was a top student at a lousy high school and got into an Ivy League university. I doubt that I would have been accepted had I gone to a top high school. Something to think about for all those who want their children to go to the best high school - perhaps their chances of admission to a top college will be better coming from a lesser h.s.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:if the choice is $60K for GW or $20K for UVA (tuition, R&B), there is only one way to go.

We are longtime VA residents and the chances are far greater that our kids will be attending GW because they probably won't get into UVA. Big frowny face.

+100

Lifelong VA resident. UVA, Tech, William&Mary, JMU, GMU are uber, uber competitive to get into these days. My oldest nephew is in one this year, next nephew goes next year and so on...so I am hearing all about it from my sister. Her boys are TOP, TOP students and star athletes and it is near impossible to get into these place as a VA resident--competition is fierce.

The schools (and there was a big article in WashPost) prefer to select out of state students because they get a higher tuition from them. VA residents are pissed and want the schools to save a percentage of spots for VA residents---not in place and the schools don't want to. F*ckface UVA is the worst---they quote Thomas Jefferson as wanting a diverse university and have specific quota on the number of NoVA students they will accept even if they have better academic records than other students.

I wouldn't bank on your kid getting in--even if they are a star student so wouldn't necessarily consider a move.

I was under the impression, based on the info sessions at both W&M and UVA that there was a 1/3-2/3 OOS-in state balance. Based on the stats we were told it is harder to get in from OOS because there are more applicants but of course that's compared to VA overall. I'm sure if you carve out nova it's harder. I, for one, am glad we live OOS and my DC will be applying to both.

You're right. I wish they had a box we could check: "In state resident but for admissions/tuition, consider applicant OOS." UVa And W&M are still top "value" colleges for out of state students.

Anonymous wrote:Why on Earth would I want my child to attend UVA?

because it's an excellent school where he or she will get a great education.

Why on Earth would I want my child to attend UVA?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:if the choice is $60K for GW or $20K for UVA (tuition, R&B), there is only one way to go.

We are longtime VA residents and the chances are far greater that our kids will be attending GW because they probably won't get into UVA. Big frowny face.

+100

Lifelong VA resident. UVA, Tech, William&Mary, JMU, GMU are uber, uber competitive to get into these days. My oldest nephew is in one this year, next nephew goes next year and so on...so I am hearing all about it from my sister. Her boys are TOP, TOP students and star athletes and it is near impossible to get into these place as a VA resident--competition is fierce.

The schools (and there was a big article in WashPost) prefer to select out of state students because they get a higher tuition from them. VA residents are pissed and want the schools to save a percentage of spots for VA residents---not in place and the schools don't want to. F*ckface UVA is the worst---they quote Thomas Jefferson as wanting a diverse university and have specific quota on the number of NoVA students they will accept even if they have better academic records than other students.

I wouldn't bank on your kid getting in--even if they are a star student so wouldn't necessarily consider a move.

I was under the impression, based on the info sessions at both W&M and UVA that there was a 1/3-2/3 OOS-in state balance. Based on the stats we were told it is harder to get in from OOS because there are more applicants but of course that's compared to VA overall. I'm sure if you carve out nova it's harder. I, for one, am glad we live OOS and my DC will be applying to both.

19:11 I really relate. Thanks 19:10 but I have to give all credit to DC. I am 19:03. We didn't even try to apply to UVA because the stats are bewildering. But remember you can always go to NOVA or other VA schools and transfer to UVA if that is really where your heart is providing you meet certain criteria which I haven't memorized.

But, for the OP question about the move to VA to obtain in-state pricing, here it is, just for GMU:

Tuition VA in-state $9,420 + $5500 (double*) room and + $2800 board = $18,810 per annum

Tuition VA out-of-state $27,564 + 5500 + 3000 Board = $36,014 per annum.

In sharp contrast, tuition at my small so-so liberal arts college is now $60,000 per annum. x 4 years = $240,000 not including airfare and hassle.

So 18:50 is right on the money. Private college is just unsustainable for many families now. Especially when you consider that you are mailing off after-tax dollars to these schools. In other words, you have to go and make an additional $100-$120,000 a year just to send one child off to a $60,000 a year private school for one year. And we aren't even talking about grad school or the other children following DD still in private high school.

Interestingly I was just now on the GMU website and learned that GMU is 29% less expensive than the other Virginia state colleges and universities. That was news to me - I thought they were all priced the same - but since we only applied to GMU Early Action, I hadn't been paying attention

Hope that was helpful.

____________________________
* You can also choose a single, which is more expensive, or a triple or a quad, which are less expensive than this figure. You can also pick varying meals plans too, off course

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:if the choice is $60K for GW or $20K for UVA (tuition, R&B), there is only one way to go.

We are longtime VA residents and the chances are far greater that our kids will be attending GW because they probably won't get into UVA. Big frowny face.

+100

Lifelong VA resident. UVA, Tech, William&Mary, JMU, GMU are uber, uber competitive to get into these days. My oldest nephew is in one this year, next nephew goes next year and so on...so I am hearing all about it from my sister. Her boys are TOP, TOP students and star athletes and it is near impossible to get into these place as a VA resident--competition is fierce.

The schools (and there was a big article in WashPost) prefer to select out of state students because they get a higher tuition from them. VA residents are pissed and want the schools to save a percentage of spots for VA residents---not in place and the schools don't want to. F*ckface UVA is the worst---they quote Thomas Jefferson as wanting a diverse university and have specific quota on the number of NoVA students they will accept even if they have better academic records than other students.

I wouldn't bank on your kid getting in--even if they are a star student so wouldn't necessarily consider a move.

I'm not going to pick my kids' universities for them. ???

Anonymous wrote:if the choice is $60K for GW or $20K for UVA (tuition, R&B), there is only one way to go.

We are longtime VA residents and the chances are far greater that our kids will be attending GW because they probably won't get into UVA. Big frowny face.

Anonymous wrote:We did it and DC will be attending GMU in the fall. (No. 1 up-and-coming university in U.S. World & News Report: http://newsdesk.gmu.edu/2012/09/mason-1-on-u-s-news-2013-up-and-comers-list/).

DC would have picked GMU even if out-of-state because of its serious game design program. www.masongamedesign.com. Not easy to get into, btw. And only 60% of the slots go to Virginians. Statistically, GMU is now more difficult to get into than JMU or VT. Then, if you want the College of Game Design, you have to apply there, as well, after being accepted by the University. DC submitted his portolio and was accepted.

Best VA college story I've read on DCUM. Congrats!

We did it and DC will be attending GMU in the fall. (No. 1 up-and-coming university in U.S. World & News Report: http://newsdesk.gmu.edu/2012/09/mason-1-on-u-s-news-2013-up-and-comers-list/).

DC would have picked GMU even if out-of-state because of its serious game design program. www.masongamedesign.com. Not easy to get into, btw. And only 60% of the slots go to Virginians. Statistically, GMU is now more difficult to get into than JMU or VT. Then, if you want the College of Game Design, you have to apply there, as well, after being accepted by the University. DC submitted his portolio and was accepted.

if the choice is $60K for GW or $20K for UVA (tuition, R&B), there is only one way to go.

I grew up in Northern Virginia. A lot of my friends' parents had done this when the kids were little. When it was time for college, the parents held it over their kids heads as a major sacrifice they had made for the kids. They wouldn't agree to help with college costs if the kid chose to go private or out of state. So my friends ended up going to VA colleges and resenting their parents.

No, even in-state tuition is not enough to live in VA. While NoVA may be relatively liberal and modern, the state laws and legislature are dominated by the conservative, redneck southern parts of the state. Scary.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FYI, your child probably has a better chance of admittance to UVA as an out of state applicant than an in state applicant from NOVA.
Separately, what states have reciprocity with other states for in-state tuition?

Aside from the fact that I'd spend whatever it took not to have to live in NOVA, I wouldn't bank on my kids getting into UVA, especially coming from NOVA. They have a better chance of getting in having graduated from a DC private school or a MD public, even though you're stuck with out-of-state tuition.

Best chance of all getting in from DC public, probably, given raw numbers.

And what PP says about how hard it is to get into UVa from NoVa is all true; I went to UVa as an out-of-state student in the 90s, when it was nearly as hard to get in from some parts of NoVa (Arlington/Alexandria/Fairfax) as it was to get in from out of state. Today, I know smart kids who are legacies who can't get in from NoVa, even from elite private schools; same with William and Mary. Lots of these kids are going to JMU.