Is dad around? Does he have a 4-year degree. If neither of you have a 4-year degree, kid is first gen at almost all schools.

1) Pick a dream private school for him that you think is out of the question for him.

2) google the name of that school and net price calculator (npc)

3) fill it out honestly.

4) it will tell you how much aid you will get. They are very accurate.

5) private schools give way more aid than public. Often a private is cheaper than in-state public if you get a lot of financial aid.

6) you owe it to you and your son to see how much aid you can get.

7) do this and let us know what the number is. We will help you make a great list. Sounds like a great kid.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are all just so damned stupid and clueless.

The kid wants Illinois and Purdue. Clearly he’s interested in top engineering schools. So why are you pushing a bunch of schools that don’t come close to fitting the bill?

The answer is Virginia Tech.

I know this board is brutal, but dang, you are mean for the sake of being mean. Obviously (to some) he’s looking at engineering schools. But why don’t you put a little less ugliness out into the world.

Well, if posters would think before they respond, I wouldn’t have to be mean. I’m tired of all the know nothings and their lousy advice.

Your posts are so recognizable and full of ad hominem attacks that they are irrelevant and everything you say should be disregarded.

One things my posts are not is wrong. And you know it.

They actually are also wrong. And mean.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are all just so damned stupid and clueless.

The kid wants Illinois and Purdue. Clearly he’s interested in top engineering schools. So why are you pushing a bunch of schools that don’t come close to fitting the bill?

The answer is Virginia Tech.

I know this board is brutal, but dang, you are mean for the sake of being mean. Obviously (to some) he’s looking at engineering schools. But why don’t you put a little less ugliness out into the world.

Well, if posters would think before they respond, I wouldn’t have to be mean. I’m tired of all the know nothings and their lousy advice.

Your posts are so recognizable and full of ad hominem attacks that they are irrelevant and everything you say should be disregarded.

One things my posts are not is wrong. And you know it.

Wrong and irrelevant are two different things. If you think your screaming and tantrum-throwing is actually influencing people, think again.

Let him figure it out. Baby.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are all just so damned stupid and clueless.

The kid wants Illinois and Purdue. Clearly he’s interested in top engineering schools. So why are you pushing a bunch of schools that don’t come close to fitting the bill?

The answer is Virginia Tech.

I know this board is brutal, but dang, you are mean for the sake of being mean. Obviously (to some) he’s looking at engineering schools. But why don’t you put a little less ugliness out into the world.

Well, if posters would think before they respond, I wouldn’t have to be mean. I’m tired of all the know nothings and their lousy advice.

Your posts are so recognizable and full of ad hominem attacks that they are irrelevant and everything you say should be disregarded.

One things my posts are not is wrong. And you know it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are all just so damned stupid and clueless.

The kid wants Illinois and Purdue. Clearly he’s interested in top engineering schools. So why are you pushing a bunch of schools that don’t come close to fitting the bill?

The answer is Virginia Tech.

I know this board is brutal, but dang, you are mean for the sake of being mean. Obviously (to some) he’s looking at engineering schools. But why don’t you put a little less ugliness out into the world.

Well, if posters would think before they respond, I wouldn’t have to be mean. I’m tired of all the know nothings and their lousy advice.

Who died and made you a moderator? We don't care about how tired you are. Or how lousy you think other ppl advice is.
Maybe get off the board.
Touch grass. You seem lonely. Sad. Pathetic.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are all just so damned stupid and clueless.

The kid wants Illinois and Purdue. Clearly he’s interested in top engineering schools. So why are you pushing a bunch of schools that don’t come close to fitting the bill?

The answer is Virginia Tech.

I know this board is brutal, but dang, you are mean for the sake of being mean. Obviously (to some) he’s looking at engineering schools. But why don’t you put a little less ugliness out into the world.

Well, if posters would think before they respond, I wouldn’t have to be mean. I’m tired of all the know nothings and their lousy advice.

Your posts are so recognizable and full of ad hominem attacks that they are irrelevant and everything you say should be disregarded.

Who died and made you a moderator? We don't care about how tired you are. Or how lousy you think other ppl advice is.
Maybe get off the board.
Touch grass. You seem lonely. Sad. Pathetic.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are all just so damned stupid and clueless.

The kid wants Illinois and Purdue. Clearly he’s interested in top engineering schools. So why are you pushing a bunch of schools that don’t come close to fitting the bill?

The answer is Virginia Tech.

I know this board is brutal, but dang, you are mean for the sake of being mean. Obviously (to some) he’s looking at engineering schools. But why don’t you put a little less ugliness out into the world.

Well, if posters would think before they respond, I wouldn’t have to be mean. I’m tired of all the know nothings and their lousy advice.

Your posts are so recognizable and full of ad hominem attacks that they are irrelevant and everything you say should be disregarded.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are all just so damned stupid and clueless.

The kid wants Illinois and Purdue. Clearly he’s interested in top engineering schools. So why are you pushing a bunch of schools that don’t come close to fitting the bill?

The answer is Virginia Tech.

I know this board is brutal, but dang, you are mean for the sake of being mean. Obviously (to some) he’s looking at engineering schools. But why don’t you put a little less ugliness out into the world.

Well, if posters would think before they respond, I wouldn’t have to be mean. I’m tired of all the know nothings and their lousy advice.

Anonymous wrote:Tell them how much you can afford. If they can get aid or scholarships that make the other schools workable then fine. If not, they go to a state school. Lots of people have this same discussion every year.

This is what my parents did. I so desperately wanted out of my home state that I secured all sorts of scholarships, including some renewable types that don't exist anymore. The point is, I was driven to get out. If he is equally driven, he will find what he can to afford OOS. Otherwise, he needs to learn to be grateful for what you CAN offer. Many kids in his position don't even get what you have been gracious enough to save up for him.

Many priviate institutions will give substantial financial aid making it the same or less than a public institution. Apply to privates, too.

Anonymous wrote:I'm a single working mom and .... I only make about $85K/year ... I cannot afford an OOS public or private school.

You likely can't afford OOS public, but don't rule out private. If he's a great student with stellar SAT scores and you're a single parent earning 85k there's a very reasonable chance you can qualify for significant financial aid from a private. Of course it depends on the private, but I know a couple kids/parents who I'd describe in similar situation who received enough aid to make their private in-line with in-state costs (in one case, far better).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, stand your ground and don’t let these other posters guilt trip you into doing anything beyond what you’ve already told your son. VT is an EXCELLENT engineering school. You’re doing the right thing.

If OP isn’t aware that there might be other options within budget, it’s worth pointing out that there are. If OP doesn’t care and only wants to allow in-state regardless of other options, then fine. But neither UVA nor VT is an easy admit, so if they are being restricted to in-state publics, they need to have at least one acceptable safety school on the list, too.

JMU has a well regarded engineering program as well, and OP’s kid is a shoo in there.

OP, have your son apply to UVA, Tech and JMU and be done with it.

Add Alabama to the list.

With his SAT, he will go for free with a stipend, plus they collaborate with all that space and rocket stuff.

You could use the college funds you have for grad school.

I told my kids that the limit of what I could pay was the cost of a Virginia state school. (And, honestly, that cost is very steep and I often wish our schools were as cheap as some other states). I then told them they could apply wherever they want (with a cap on application fees) and see if they can get an offer that comes in at that same price or cheaper. Obviously, running the NPC is your friend here and it is important to not get your heart broken by thinking you can go somewhere it is obvious you won't be able to afford. But, there are options other than state schools that can work.

That being said, I graduated from VT with an engineering degree and have zero regrets

Anonymous wrote:You are all just so damned stupid and clueless.

The kid wants Illinois and Purdue. Clearly he’s interested in top engineering schools. So why are you pushing a bunch of schools that don’t come close to fitting the bill?

The answer is Virginia Tech.

I know this board is brutal, but dang, you are mean for the sake of being mean. Obviously (to some) he’s looking at engineering schools. But why don’t you put a little less ugliness out into the world.