Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work for an organization that helps low-income students go to college. In the past few years we have definitely seen that there are fewer slots for our students at some of our previously reliable schools (particularly true at good but not elite SLACs). Our more forthright admissions reps, as well as some enrollment managers we know, have told us that schools are trying to get more full pays-particularly, as the pp said, for students on the bubble. A superstar who can't pay may still get in over a solid student who can, but among those middling students schools are looking for the money.

Your candor is much appreciated. We are trying to decide whether to live on one salary and use the other to pay the full undergrad tuition and outside expenses at the college of choice ASSUMING our child gets in. We pay full high school tuition now at great sacrifice, and college would add another $20,000 approximately. Paying high school was a huge stretch but DC is such a great kid and has put forth so much effort, I guess we would pay college. For us, the high school tuition was a good investment as we didn't have a quality public in our area.

If I were you, I would not provide any additional personal information. If you are expecting to receive unbiased, non-judgmental advice here, it's not going to happen but count on disparaging remarks about what you have or don't have, what you have done or not done with your money. The best advice? Talk with your accountant and if you don't have one, check with your bank or credit union for a financial planner to see how you can make it work.

I know a few people who monetarily sacrificed significantly to ensure their kids received quality education that wasn't available in their neighborhood schools, even for safety reasons. Yours is not an unusual situation. Obviously, you did what you think best for your kids. Nobody else matters. I hope things work out.

Thank you for your words of wisdom. I have been following comments, and your suggestion to quit while I'm ahead is well received. I will definitely give my credit union a call because they do have a financial planner. I can put up with a lot but when some anonymous coward hiding behind a keyboard takes a swipe at my kid, I'm done. Again, thanks PP and others who had positive comments.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work for an organization that helps low-income students go to college. In the past few years we have definitely seen that there are fewer slots for our students at some of our previously reliable schools (particularly true at good but not elite SLACs). Our more forthright admissions reps, as well as some enrollment managers we know, have told us that schools are trying to get more full pays-particularly, as the pp said, for students on the bubble. A superstar who can't pay may still get in over a solid student who can, but among those middling students schools are looking for the money.

Your candor is much appreciated. We are trying to decide whether to live on one salary and use the other to pay the full undergrad tuition and outside expenses at the college of choice ASSUMING our child gets in. We pay full high school tuition now at great sacrifice, and college would add another $20,000 approximately. Paying high school was a huge stretch but DC is such a great kid and has put forth so much effort, I guess we would pay college. For us, the high school tuition was a good investment as we didn't have a quality public in our area.

If I were you, I would not provide any additional personal information. If you are expecting to receive unbiased, non-judgmental advice here, it's not going to happen but count on disparaging remarks about what you have or don't have, what you have done or not done with your money. The best advice? Talk with your accountant and if you don't have one, check with your bank or credit union for a financial planner to see how you can make it work.

I know a few people who monetarily sacrificed significantly to ensure their kids received quality education that wasn't available in their neighborhood schools, even for safety reasons. Yours is not an unusual situation. Obviously, you did what you think best for your kids. Nobody else matters. I hope things work out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work for an organization that helps low-income students go to college. In the past few years we have definitely seen that there are fewer slots for our students at some of our previously reliable schools (particularly true at good but not elite SLACs). Our more forthright admissions reps, as well as some enrollment managers we know, have told us that schools are trying to get more full pays-particularly, as the pp said, for students on the bubble. A superstar who can't pay may still get in over a solid student who can, but among those middling students schools are looking for the money.

Your candor is much appreciated. We are trying to decide whether to live on one salary and use the other to pay the full undergrad tuition and outside expenses at the college of choice ASSUMING our child gets in. We pay full high school tuition now at great sacrifice, and college would add another $20,000 approximately. Paying high school was a huge stretch but DC is such a great kid and has put forth so much effort, I guess we would pay college. For us, the high school tuition was a good investment as we didn't have a quality public in our area.

If I were you, I would not provide any additional personal information. If you are expecting to receive unbiased, non-judgmental advice here, it's not going to happen but count on disparaging remarks about what you have or don't have, what you have done or not done with your money. The best advice? Talk with your accountant and if you don't have one, check with your bank or credit union for a financial planner to see how you can make it work.

I know a few people who monetarily sacrificed significantly to ensure their kids received quality education that wasn't available in their neighborhood schools, even for safety reasons. Yours is not an unusual situation. Obviously, you did what you think best for your kids. Nobody else matters. I hope things work out.

People are snarky b/c there are a *lot* of affordable options with excellent public schools in DC metro, but this PP decided they had to live somewhere either cool but terrible schools or somehow justified their snowflake needed private.

At $30k/year tuition, that alone could have afforded a condo or th in burke, no other income involved.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work for an organization that helps low-income students go to college. In the past few years we have definitely seen that there are fewer slots for our students at some of our previously reliable schools (particularly true at good but not elite SLACs). Our more forthright admissions reps, as well as some enrollment managers we know, have told us that schools are trying to get more full pays-particularly, as the pp said, for students on the bubble. A superstar who can't pay may still get in over a solid student who can, but among those middling students schools are looking for the money.

Your candor is much appreciated. We are trying to decide whether to live on one salary and use the other to pay the full undergrad tuition and outside expenses at the college of choice ASSUMING our child gets in. We pay full high school tuition now at great sacrifice, and college would add another $20,000 approximately. Paying high school was a huge stretch but DC is such a great kid and has put forth so much effort, I guess we would pay college. For us, the high school tuition was a good investment as we didn't have a quality public in our area.

If I were you, I would not provide any additional personal information. If you are expecting to receive unbiased, non-judgmental advice here, it's not going to happen but count on disparaging remarks about what you have or don't have, what you have done or not done with your money. The best advice? Talk with your accountant and if you don't have one, check with your bank or credit union for a financial planner to see how you can make it work.

I know a few people who monetarily sacrificed significantly to ensure their kids received quality education that wasn't available in their neighborhood schools, even for safety reasons. Yours is not an unusual situation. Obviously, you did what you think best for your kids. Nobody else matters. I hope things work out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work for an organization that helps low-income students go to college. In the past few years we have definitely seen that there are fewer slots for our students at some of our previously reliable schools (particularly true at good but not elite SLACs). Our more forthright admissions reps, as well as some enrollment managers we know, have told us that schools are trying to get more full pays-particularly, as the pp said, for students on the bubble. A superstar who can't pay may still get in over a solid student who can, but among those middling students schools are looking for the money.

Your candor is much appreciated. We are trying to decide whether to live on one salary and use the other to pay the full undergrad tuition and outside expenses at the college of choice ASSUMING our child gets in. We pay full high school tuition now at great sacrifice, and college would add another $20,000 approximately. Paying high school was a huge stretch but DC is such a great kid and has put forth so much effort, I guess we would pay college. For us, the high school tuition was a good investment as we didn't have a quality public in our area.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work for an organization that helps low-income students go to college. In the past few years we have definitely seen that there are fewer slots for our students at some of our previously reliable schools (particularly true at good but not elite SLACs). Our more forthright admissions reps, as well as some enrollment managers we know, have told us that schools are trying to get more full pays-particularly, as the pp said, for students on the bubble. A superstar who can't pay may still get in over a solid student who can, but among those middling students schools are looking for the money.

Your candor is much appreciated. We are trying to decide whether to live on one salary and use the other to pay the full undergrad tuition and outside expenses at the college of choice ASSUMING our child gets in. We pay full high school tuition now at great sacrifice, and college would add another $20,000 approximately. Paying high school was a huge stretch but DC is such a great kid and has put forth so much effort, I guess we would pay college. For us, the high school tuition was a good investment as we didn't have a quality public in our area.