Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two of my kids went to UVA. A third turned down William & Mary for a lot of merit aid at a top-ranked liberal arts college.

Jealous?

Proud of you.

And some say the UVA parents are impossible!

I'm PP. After deferral, DS should be formally denied in about 60 minutes!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The consequence will be that schools like VCU, CNU and JMU will continue to “gentrify” and become more desirable as students get shut out of VT, W&M and UVa.

This was my point! It will make it impossible for these students to get into one of these schools because more kids will only have them as an option. Unless you have a senior in a NOVA high school you don't know what I am talking about. Kids with 4.0's not getting into VT, their only option is JMU or out of state because they don't want to go to one of the other schools. Now JMU is becoming harder to get into because kids with 4.0's have to stay in state and JMU is recognized as a strong school. Some parents don't want to spend 100K on a Radford education!

But enough kids will go to those other schools that they’ll eventually become good and widely desirable.

Anonymous wrote:3.5 - 3.8 students are still going to great VA colleges. They are still getting into JMU, sometimes VA Tech, definitely CNU, VCU. and there are options that are suitable for those with lower GPAs as well.

They are NOT getting into these schools as easily as you think.

Anonymous wrote:The consequence will be that schools like VCU, CNU and JMU will continue to “gentrify” and become more desirable as students get shut out of VT, W&M and UVa.

This was my point! It will make it impossible for these students to get into one of these schools because more kids will only have them as an option. Unless you have a senior in a NOVA high school you don't know what I am talking about. Kids with 4.0's not getting into VT, their only option is JMU or out of state because they don't want to go to one of the other schools. Now JMU is becoming harder to get into because kids with 4.0's have to stay in state and JMU is recognized as a strong school. Some parents don't want to spend 100K on a Radford education!

Anonymous wrote:I think students should start thinking about trades if they're not top students. Welders, plumbers, electricians all can be interesting careers.

Yes, and they have their place for the people who want them (or just don't want the college path). But some of y'all glorify those careers. They are not easy. They are physically taxing. You -CAN- be paid well but that is not a given (I've known both sides of that coin in my own family). There are safety issues (I would not want my DD going into strangers' homes alone to fix the furnace or whatever). And the work/life balance can be problematic (working like first responder schedules, working in inclement weather, etc.) My DH's father was one of the trades listed and he has absolutely debilitating physical injuries as a result of the lifting, bending, stooping, etc. He is basically disabled and can't leave the home easily (because he "can" he is not on disability; but he's in great pain when he does).

So. Yes. These jobs are important. And can be a great path. But let's not paint them as the "answer" to the college issues of costs, enrollment, etc. They're not necessarily.
-signed, child of a family of blue collar workers who has seen those careers up close and personal

OP, your options are to go to one of the other VA schools that are less expensive; or do the community college route, or move to California now and take up residency and keep your fingers crossed. Write your legislator if you have an issue with W&M costs - but they will tell you the same. (UVA receives only 6% of its operating budget from the Commonwealth so can be less expensive and do its own thing).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two of my kids went to UVA. A third turned down William & Mary for a lot of merit aid at a top-ranked liberal arts college.

Jealous?

Proud of you.

And some say the UVA parents are impossible!

Anonymous wrote:Two of my kids went to UVA. A third turned down William & Mary for a lot of merit aid at a top-ranked liberal arts college.

Jealous?

No, many of us didn't get merit aid or financial so be kind to OP. Many of us can't afford multiple applications to shop at "top-ranked liberal arts colleges". Try to be helpful.


to OP. One way to save money which we did at UVA was to move DC off to a group house as soon as possible. She did her own cooking. no car. Took the train back and forth. And keep your child on your own medical insurance policy - you can save $3200 to $3800 a year. At that time the total tuition package was slightly over $12K in tuition only. We had another child at GMU at the same time - its package was more expensive than UVA. It fluctuates.

Anonymous wrote:Two of my kids went to UVA. A third turned down William & Mary for a lot of merit aid at a top-ranked liberal arts college.

Jealous?

immature and have self esteem issues?

-not a VA resident but

Anonymous wrote:Two of my kids went to UVA. A third turned down William & Mary for a lot of merit aid at a top-ranked liberal arts college.

Jealous?

Proud of you.

Two of my kids went to UVA. A third turned down William & Mary for a lot of merit aid at a top-ranked liberal arts college.

Jealous?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:However bad you think the options are in Virginia, agree that there are many more tiers and affordable options relative to other states.

UF and UGA are as good as or better than comparable Virginia options, larger, and virtually free in state

But most reading this are OOS so your point is irrelevant. UF is $46,000 OOS and UGA is $48,000 OOS. GMU (where DC went) is $13,404 tuition and $27K all in when housing is added. Add is the benefit of driving instead of flying and you can see why in-state Virginia is so popoular.

OK, but why are we celebrating Virginia for having in state options that cost 40k a year when other states manage to offer comparable schools for far cheaper

Isn't the only in-state option that's about $40k W&M? Which really doesn't have a comparable public U anywhere. I think it's too expensive and my DD ended up elsewhere because of the cost but really most VA Us are much less. We pay about $25K for DS at VT (including cost of living off campus).

W&M is at the top end at $40K. Almost all of the others are less (UVA is $38,000 for College of Arts & Sciences; more for engineeing). Here's the costs of public schools in VA as of 2021. You can find this in SCHEV. If W&M is too much, pick one of the others. Or go community college.

2020-21 FULL-TIME RESIDENT UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT CHARGES

(BEFORE financial aid, grants, scholarships, etc.)

Institution Tuition and Total
Mandatory Fees Average Room
and Board1 Total Cost


Christopher Newport University $ 14,924 $11,760 $26,684
College of William and Mary2 $23,628 $13,356 $36,984
George Mason University 13,014 $12,090 $25,104
James Madison University3 $12,330 $11,348 $23,678
Longwood University 13,910 $12,020 $25,930
Norfolk State University $9,622 $10,844 $20,466
Old Dominion University $11,160 $11,064 $22,224
Radford University $11,416 $9,743 $21,159
University of Mary Washington $13,574 $10,104 $23,678
University of Virginia $17,296 $12,083 $29,379
UVA-Wise $10,837 $11,277 $22,114
Virginia Commonwealth University $14,710 $11,297 $26,007
Virginia Military Institute $19,210 $10,060 $29,270
Virginia State University $9,154 $11,544 $20,698
Virginia Tech $ 13,749 $9,556 $23,305


2-Year Colleges
Richard Bland College $8,100 $12,103 $20,203
Virginia Community College System4,5 $4,620 N/A $4,620
Average for 4-year Institutions $13,902 $11,210 $25,112
Average for All Institutions $13,015 $11,266 $23,618

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:However bad you think the options are in Virginia, agree that there are many more tiers and affordable options relative to other states.

UF and UGA are as good as or better than comparable Virginia options, larger, and virtually free in state

But most reading this are OOS so your point is irrelevant. UF is $46,000 OOS and UGA is $48,000 OOS. GMU (where DC went) is $13,404 tuition and $27K all in when housing is added. Add is the benefit of driving instead of flying and you can see why in-state Virginia is so popoular.

OK, but why are we celebrating Virginia for having in state options that cost 40k a year when other states manage to offer comparable schools for far cheaper

Isn't the only in-state option that's about $40k W&M? Which really doesn't have a comparable public U anywhere. I think it's too expensive and my DD ended up elsewhere because of the cost but really most VA Us are much less. We pay about $25K for DS at VT (including cost of living off campus).

No.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:However bad you think the options are in Virginia, agree that there are many more tiers and affordable options relative to other states.

[b]UF and UGA are as good as or better than comparable Virginia options, larger, and virtually free in state

But most reading this are OOS so your point is irrelevant. UF is $46,000 OOS and UGA is $48,000 OOS. GMU (where DC went) is $13,404 tuition and $27K all in when housing is added. Add is the benefit of driving instead of flying and you can see why in-state Virginia is so popoular.

OK, but why are we celebrating Virginia for having in state options that cost 40k a year when other states manage to offer comparable schools for far cheaper

What other states? BTW USC (private) just announced it's going to $90K this fall. UVA with its 35+ campuses is a great deal.

[/b]



OP, I don't think you know what you are talking about. Next to California with its 9 UCs and 23 Cal States and huge community college system, Virginia is the next best thing in the United States. But the problem with the UC system is the extreme expense for OOS (most everyone reading here) and the fact that UC has tightened the reigns for admission of OOS (an a no-go for the Cal STates - they are reserved almost exclusively for Californians) and International to 10% (UVA is 26% OSS International) which makes it virtually inaccessible to anyone in the DCUM area. Even if you get in OOS, Berkeley is $73K a year.

Florida, as pointed out is more expensive for OOS.

Texas, like California, is mostly limited to in-state students The voters in that state, like California, have objected to having state schools educate so many OOS.

Maryland has, well only 12 institutions of varying quality. https://www.usmd.edu/. UMCP is a great deal but you have to get in and $56K OOS.

UVA has 35 institutions of higher learning and a generous community college transfer system that allows anyone to attend a 2-year college, live at home and transfer to their choice of Virginia 4 year institution if they meet the GPA and course requrements. Only California offers a similar system. All of the Virginia 4 year schools are cheaper than any other OOS public or private.

FWIW, GMU's board entertained a motion to increase tuition this past year. Friends on the Board voted it down. Expenses have to be covered, especially as a large number of OOS and International students are included in Virginia's school. Many Virginians would like to see UVA and others cap OOS at 10% or less like California and Texas.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:However bad you think the options are in Virginia, agree that there are many more tiers and affordable options relative to other states.

UF and UGA are as good as or better than comparable Virginia options, larger, and virtually free in state

But most reading this are OOS so your point is irrelevant. UF is $46,000 OOS and UGA is $48,000 OOS. GMU (where DC went) is $13,404 tuition and $27K all in when housing is added. Add is the benefit of driving instead of flying and you can see why in-state Virginia is so popoular.

OK, but why are we celebrating Virginia for having in state options that cost 40k a year when other states manage to offer comparable schools for far cheaper

Isn't the only in-state option that's about $40k W&M? Which really doesn't have a comparable public U anywhere. I think it's too expensive and my DD ended up elsewhere because of the cost but really most VA Us are much less. We pay about $25K for DS at VT (including cost of living off campus).