Anonymous wrote:So, I think the message is if you (a VA resident) really want UVA (or other highly competitive VA school) the thing to do is move to rural VA for your child's senior year.

CA may accept more in state, but you cannot manipulate admissions with geography.

I know a family that did this and it worked! Their daughter was an above average, but not star student here. They moved to (name withheld) in southern Virginia after her sophomore year solely for the purpose of giving daughter a better shot to get into UVA. The dad worked fom home. Daughter got the big envelope from UVA. Haven't heard if they moved back!

I guess one thing to take account of is, as the PP pointed out with GMU, is major and connection to regional industry. The U.S. economy is really organized into a set of regional economies built around a variety of industry clusters that self reinforce one another. In very many metropolitan areas, this leads to interweaving networks among business, government and academe that enhances and supports innovation. So, for example, Maryland has a strong bio-tech sector driven by the existence of NIH, NoVa a strong IT sector driven by the tech companies in the Dulles Corridor, etc. For more on this, you can read the work of Prof. Michael Porter of Harvard Business School. Fascinating stuff. In any case, this might lead one who has an interest, as the PP did with GMU, to loo at a school strong in game design b/c your studies will have immediate application to regional industry where you will build experience and develop connections that will assist you in your career.

Anonymous wrote:

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

Ah, since I'll be paying for them, yes. College costs a king's ransom now; it's a new f**king day. I'll give them a range of choices, but with 4 kids, if the don't a substantial academic scholarship to one of the ivies (if they get in, they're not going...I'm an upper middle class parent living in the boundaries of DC proper--HHI of @350-400. We have 3 of our kids who will be in college at the same time. 75k x 3 a year? Not going to happen.

Have you ever heard of saving, you have had 20 + years to plan? Our HHI is half yours and we have 2 children and we have saved so that if needed, our children could go to an Ivy (this point - not likely for one and the jury is still out for the other). Last time I heard the Ivies don't offer many academic or merit scholarships, mainly need ones. With your HHI, they will not qualify.

That said, there are plenty of good schools that cost less and are easier to be admitted.

"While I think all of the VA state schools can provide a great education, when it comes to job hunting, the name of your university matters."

Hmmm, so I am 20 years out and into my career and someone is more interested in where I went to school rather than my experience and ability to add value?

Oh, and I know, it's different for lawyers!!!! Ha! Ha! Ha! Although, one of my friends is a partner is a large DC firm and he went to GMU (gasp)!

Anonymous wrote:If my child ended up at JMU or GMU - I would be so upset. Those are crap state schools. Sorry, but outside of VA they are nothing. Ugh.

Sorry, I have to agree. I'd rather pay for a private school with better name recognition than have my kid go to JMU or GMU, which no one outside of this area has heard of. Outside of the VA-DC Metro Area, people think highly of UVA, somewhat highly of W&M, and VT. While I think all of the VA state schools can provide a great education, when it comes to job hunting, the name of your university matters.

Generally, outside of the DMV, no one cares about UVA. They have a large proportion of out of state applicants because of their proximity to DC, which doesn't have a viable "state" university.

Anonymous wrote:If my child ended up at JMU or GMU - I would be so upset. Those are crap state schools. Sorry, but outside of VA they are nothing. Ugh.

I feel sorry for your child, regardless of where he/she goes to school.

Anonymous wrote:If my child ended up at JMU or GMU - I would be so upset. Those are crap state schools. Sorry, but outside of VA they are nothing. Ugh.

UDC is excellent

If my child ended up at JMU or GMU - I would be so upset. Those are crap state schools. Sorry, but outside of VA they are nothing. Ugh.

So, I think the message is if you (a VA resident) really want UVA (or other highly competitive VA school) the thing to do is move to rural VA for your child's senior year.

CA may accept more in state, but you cannot manipulate admissions with geography.

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

Ah, since I'll be paying for them, yes. College costs a king's ransom now; it's a new f**king day. I'll give them a range of choices, but with 4 kids, if the don't a substantial academic scholarship to one of the ivies (if they get in, they're not going...I'm an upper middle class parent living in the boundaries of DC proper--HHI of @350-400. We have 3 of our kids who will be in college at the same time. 75k x 3 a year? Not going to happen.

Yes bring in libs since their school suck donkey

Anonymous wrote:What's UVA?

Wut.

16:20 - yikes. Lighten up, Francis. You seem very angry. Perhaps you should not give up ice cream for Lent - it'll only make you grumpier.

First: "Then, instead of thanking the poster, or adding any additional useful information to the debate as set up by OP, the nasties and the haters appear and start slinging mud and attempt to rip up the Poster's helpful essay by correcting grammar, spelling, vilifying him or her, making fun of being a red-neck, etc." There wasn't any of that in the post, so I don't know what you're up in arms about.

Second: You wrote an interminable post about how Virginians should have more seats at state schools, mixed in with a PSA extolling the virtues of GMU. I replied that Virginians have only themselves to blame - they elected the people who decline to fund the state schools at the lever that would make their desires a reality. It doesn't appear that you dispute that notion - again, it's just math. So what's the problem?

Third: Your real complaint is that I somehow maligned Virginia's Governor, to whom you appear very attached. But again, you really don't dispute the notion that he, and his right-wing compatriots, have not pressed to fund Virginia state schools sufficiently that the institutions could afford to admit more in-state students. (And the shallow education to which I refer is, of course, Regent "University." But you knew that.) If you have a philosophical problem with people criticizing (and yes, snarking at) politicians, may I respectfully suggest that this internet thing isn't for you?

Fourth: If you were suffering from insomnia when you wrote your initial diatribe, you really had nothing better to do, right?

Fifth: To go on a rant about keeping a post on point, and then wander into an inquiry about the President's grades and the First Lady's thesis? Oy.

Sixth: Of course you'll be back to check this thread. If for no other reason that you appear to have an extraordinary amount of free time on your hands, coupled with insomnia.

Well, the governor's plan could work. If UVA just lets men in everything would work out.