Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do any other states have a fund like VA’s VTAG, which is a yearly grant for state students who choose a private in VA

My daughter applied to Randolph and almost applied to Shenandoah and Emory & Henry - that money would have been helpful on top of the scholarships they offer

but VTAG was only $5k last year, which isn't a lot when looking at privates getting near 90k a year.

Not everyone is looking at $90k/year schools.

Not to mention every little bit helps.

Randolph was our cheapest option on the table with merit+talent award+VTAG+another discount or two

It was cheaper than Radford full pay.

Randolph is $46 a year; Randolph Macon is $64k. $5k might be of some help but at least be honest with stats if you know them. $5k is chump change for most parents on this board who will get zero from FAFSA and no merit because their kids have the stats fot T50.

My kid wasn’t shooting for T50. She was on the other end of things-community college was definitely on the table.

She managed to get into 4 schools. FAFSA only said we could get unsubsidized loans.

Randolph College in Lynchburg gives merit to everyone they admit. My daughter even got something ($13k, I think?) She was then awarded $2k in talent money, a $1k visit scholarship and then would have applied for the $5k VTAG. Iirc, the all in number (without factoring in any Fed loans) was $21-22k/year.

Look, the OP is from FL with a kid who likely won’t get into UF or FSU and doesn’t seem to like other options.

A fund like this helps people with all in costs, be it a $40k private or a $90k. Sure, at $90k full pay, it feels like “chump change” but it’s still better than zero and it doesn’t have to be repaid.

I believe I said Randolph was an admit for my child, but we also had considered Shenandoah and Emory & Henry and the $5k on top of expected scholarships would have helped to bring costs down further.

Her in state public option was Radford. She in the end decided on an out of state private that was somewhat pricier even with a talent award. It is absolutely the right choice for her-it’s just more like $40k all in. We had her take the fed loans and are encouraging her to be an RA starting next year to help with costs a little (we do ok, but we are definitely not $90k full pay folks) We’re making it work.

For most of us who aren’t in the top 2-3% wealth wise, we need to chase merit and weigh options carefully. And yes, $5k from the state is a decent incentive. You just have to know how to make the scholarships and other things stack up in your favor.

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:If we lived in VA, we would probably not have ours apply OOS because there are so many options. We are in MD. Ours only wants UMD which is a major reach. They don’t consider any other state school appealing but they will apply to a few as backups. They’re also applying to JMU and Mary Washington since both would fit into our budget and maybe some UNC regionals as they seem affordable for OOS. We’re looking at privates known for merit aid but I don’t think that’s a likely path.

WVU or Pitt?

I know that most MD residents do not love their in state options, but Towson, UMBC and Salisbury might be worth another look.

A parenting board friend's son actually chose Frostburg (which is my dad's alma mater), but I think he also looked at some of the other privates in MD that give good merit - I think Mt St. Mary's and McDaniel?

Pitt doesn’t give much merit anymore. High SATs may get you something, and they do try to recruit women to their engineering program.

But in general, if Pitt gives a Maryland student merit, that student is definitely getting into UMD.

fair enough. I just know a lot of kids use it as their safety

Yes, they have a 49% acceptance rate. But most merit money dried up 3-5 years ago. OOS COA is $55K for us this year, more for engineering, nursing, business, CS, and some pre-health majors (up to $10K more).

Pitt is in financial trouble. see posts here and news today

Probably because they've given away millions in merit aid over the years in an effort to lure students and raise their ranking.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do any other states have a fund like VA’s VTAG, which is a yearly grant for state students who choose a private in VA

My daughter applied to Randolph and almost applied to Shenandoah and Emory & Henry - that money would have been helpful on top of the scholarships they offer

but VTAG was only $5k last year, which isn't a lot when looking at privates getting near 90k a year.

Not everyone is looking at $90k/year schools.

Not to mention every little bit helps.

Randolph was our cheapest option on the table with merit+talent award+VTAG+another discount or two

It was cheaper than Radford full pay.

Randoph is $46 a year; Randolph Macon is $64k. $5k might be of some help but at least be honest with stats if you know them. $5k is chump change for most parents on this board who will get zero from FAFSA and no merit because their kids have the stats fot T50.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If we lived in VA, we would probably not have ours apply OOS because there are so many options. We are in MD. Ours only wants UMD which is a major reach. They don’t consider any other state school appealing but they will apply to a few as backups. They’re also applying to JMU and Mary Washington since both would fit into our budget and maybe some UNC regionals as they seem affordable for OOS. We’re looking at privates known for merit aid but I don’t think that’s a likely path.

WVU or Pitt?

I know that most MD residents do not love their in state options, but Towson, UMBC and Salisbury might be worth another look.

A parenting board friend's son actually chose Frostburg (which is my dad's alma mater), but I think he also looked at some of the other privates in MD that give good merit - I think Mt St. Mary's and McDaniel?

Pitt doesn’t give much merit anymore. High SATs may get you something, and they do try to recruit women to their engineering program.

But in general, if Pitt gives a Maryland student merit, that student is definitely getting into UMD.

fair enough. I just know a lot of kids use it as their safety

Yes, they have a 49% acceptance rate. But most merit money dried up 3-5 years ago. OOS COA is $55K for us this year, more for engineering, nursing, business, CS, and some pre-health majors (up to $10K more).

Pitt is in financial trouble. see posts here and news today

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your dc knows for sure they want to attend a public university in-state, they don't need to apply anywhere else. There will be a public in-state university that will accept them. Make sure there are safeties on the list.

Our issue is he is not quite good enough for his 1st choice to be a target (it's possible he will get in, but it's a reach-ish school), target he is good for, but not thrilled about. Safeties he is not thrilled about. So unless he gets into his reach preferred school, he will be disappointed to some extent. So I am wondering if we need to find some merit, more exciting options out of state or doable big schools out of state.

It depends why he is staying in state. If cost is a factor and he doesn’t want to go far, it would be better to apply in-state to a range of colleges and see where he gets in and evaluate from there. He might get a spring admission to his 1st choice (if that’s a possibility) or can consider starting at community college or from one of the other in-state colleges and seek a transfer to his 1st choice.

If he is looking for big state school experience and he is willing to go further away and/or you can afford more than the in-state cost, give a budget, geographic distance and if sports program is important and people can make suggestions. In my experience, my kid that wanted a big state school experience had to be willing to look a little further and a tier down in prestige from our state flagship to have a good chance of getting accepted OOS with with enough merit to get the cost a little closer to in-state tuition. … and closer meant a 15K tuition difference rather than a 30K tuition difference.

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Anonymous wrote:One, plus service academies (we needed in-state for financial reasons, not actual geographic requirements/preferences).

Want to add, I don't really recommend applying OOS to dream schools if you can't afford them or really can't have your child away for whatever reason. You don't want to put them in a situation where they're accepted somewhere they want to attend and can't.

My ds's dream school is in-state, but it's a reach. In state safeties and targets he is not thrilled with, just ok.

What state? You won't give yourself away, I promise.

Florida

Hmmm, okay. We're Florida residents (military), so I get that the landscape can be tough, and yeah, Florida is a tough admit, even in-state. What program?

He is hoping for FSU. UF he is applying but knows he has almost no shot so it's not really in the picture. Then there is UCF, which is okay, USF, okay as well but not as exciting, and then FAU, FIU which would be a big disappointment as they are so close to home.

Not as many people here know about Bright Futures - how much would you save going in state? And, how much of a financial hit would you take going out of state, like can you easily afford even if you question the value?

If you can afford it, I probably wouldn’t insist he stay in state if the choices are FIU or FAU. If it’s UCF or USF, maybe ask him to keep an open mind, attend admitted students days etc…but I’d look out of state if you can afford it. I think the overall vibe at some of these schools is going to be a bit more like a commuter school which is why I’d consider out of state but as you can see on this board we know a lot more about VA and MD options.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do any other states have a fund like VA’s VTAG, which is a yearly grant for state students who choose a private in VA

My daughter applied to Randolph and almost applied to Shenandoah and Emory & Henry - that money would have been helpful on top of the scholarships they offer

but VTAG was only $5k last year, which isn't a lot when looking at privates getting near 90k a year.

Not everyone is looking at $90k/year schools.

Not to mention every little bit helps.

Randolph was our cheapest option on the table with merit+talent award+VTAG+another discount or two

It was cheaper than Radford full pay.

Why do you care what other people are doing?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One, plus service academies (we needed in-state for financial reasons, not actual geographic requirements/preferences).

Want to add, I don't really recommend applying OOS to dream schools if you can't afford them or really can't have your child away for whatever reason. You don't want to put them in a situation where they're accepted somewhere they want to attend and can't.

Why not? My kid will be applying to a few dream schools they know it’s unlikely they’ll be accepted into and unable to afford. But they want to anyway, and I am fine with it. Kids are not as fragile as you imagine.

As long as your kid is fully aware that they cannot attend "dream school" unless it costs less than $X. But most 17 yo who have a "dream school" would be very disappointed to apply, actually get accepted to the Reach and then be told "nope you cannot attend".
Just make sure they understand your reality

Of course. That’s why it’s a “dream school.” ie - in your dreams

My kid wants to apply to a few. I won’t stop them. We are very open in our home. I personally think it’s just to scratch an itch, which I get. They can choose to apply where they please, as long as they have a good handful of targets/safeties in our price range that they’re excited about. Beyond that, it’s up to them.

Is this for real or satire?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One, plus service academies (we needed in-state for financial reasons, not actual geographic requirements/preferences).

Want to add, I don't really recommend applying OOS to dream schools if you can't afford them or really can't have your child away for whatever reason. You don't want to put them in a situation where they're accepted somewhere they want to attend and can't.

Why not? My kid will be applying to a few dream schools they know it’s unlikely they’ll be accepted into and unable to afford. But they want to anyway, and I am fine with it. Kids are not as fragile as you imagine.

Way to set your kid up for disappointment

Anonymous wrote:Do any other states have a fund like VA’s VTAG, which is a yearly grant for state students who choose a private in VA

My daughter applied to Randolph and almost applied to Shenandoah and Emory & Henry - that money would have been helpful on top of the scholarships they offer

but VTAG was only $5k last year, which isn't a lot when looking at privates getting near 90k a year.

Do any other states have a fund like VA’s VTAG, which is a yearly grant for state students who choose a private in VA

My daughter applied to Randolph and almost applied to Shenandoah and Emory & Henry - that money would have been helpful on top of the scholarships they offer

Anonymous wrote:how many non in-state colleges is your dc applying to?

CA

DC plans to apply to around 7, ~ half public half private (which obviously have no in-state tuition benefit apart from low/no travel costs).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If we lived in VA, we would probably not have ours apply OOS because there are so many options. We are in MD. Ours only wants UMD which is a major reach. They don’t consider any other state school appealing but they will apply to a few as backups. They’re also applying to JMU and Mary Washington since both would fit into our budget and maybe some UNC regionals as they seem affordable for OOS. We’re looking at privates known for merit aid but I don’t think that’s a likely path.

WVU or Pitt?

I know that most MD residents do not love their in state options, but Towson, UMBC and Salisbury might be worth another look.

A parenting board friend's son actually chose Frostburg (which is my dad's alma mater), but I think he also looked at some of the other privates in MD that give good merit - I think Mt St. Mary's and McDaniel?

Pitt doesn’t give much merit anymore. High SATs may get you something, and they do try to recruit women to their engineering program.

But in general, if Pitt gives a Maryland student merit, that student is definitely getting into UMD.

fair enough. I just know a lot of kids use it as their safety

Yes, they have a 49% acceptance rate. But most merit money dried up 3-5 years ago. OOS COA is $55K for us this year, more for engineering, nursing, business, CS, and some pre-health majors (up to $10K more).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If we lived in VA, we would probably not have ours apply OOS because there are so many options. We are in MD. Ours only wants UMD which is a major reach. They don’t consider any other state school appealing but they will apply to a few as backups. They’re also applying to JMU and Mary Washington since both would fit into our budget and maybe some UNC regionals as they seem affordable for OOS. We’re looking at privates known for merit aid but I don’t think that’s a likely path.

WVU or Pitt?

I know that most MD residents do not love their in state options, but Towson, UMBC and Salisbury might be worth another look.

A parenting board friend's son actually chose Frostburg (which is my dad's alma mater), but I think he also looked at some of the other privates in MD that give good merit - I think Mt St. Mary's and McDaniel?

Pitt doesn’t give much merit anymore. High SATs may get you something, and they do try to recruit women to their engineering program.

But in general, if Pitt gives a Maryland student merit, that student is definitely getting into UMD.

fair enough. I just know a lot of kids use it as their safety