Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That graph indicates that nearly 1 in 3 Princeton students have a household income below $70k and 1 in 5 have a household income of less than $45k. Sure, there are still lots of rich kids, but a poor student is in very good company there.

No, a poor student is not in “good company” if the vast majority of students are either rich or poor. The society these kids need to be prepared for is not a dumbbell distribution. Poor students don’t like to be patronized by the rich kids, nor do they want to constantly be reminded of where they came from (by being expected to hang with the fellow poors). This is why a great state school is a better place for these kids on so many levels.

Hugely depends on the state school. Some of them have extremely Greek dominated social scenes that encourage extreme conspicuous consumption.

Agreed. I’m a recent college grad and came from a poor background. State universities seemed like they’d suck- many are built on partying and Greek life that require pretty deep pockets and there’s so much social stratification based off class.

At my top private college, I didn’t have to worry about housing my whole 4 years and all the housing was pretty similar and equitable. My school had no Greek life, so rich kids actually did have to talk with the normal people and occasionally learn a thing or two about privilege. And there was a general emphasis on student life being pretty fun, so I didn’t have the issue of feeling like I needed to shell out on expensive bars or whatnot to have fun.

Which college?

This is ANY state school.

Ivies, privates with a lot of money to give out, or in-state publics. If poor enough and smart enough, there are a lot of options.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sons roommate at UvA has free tuition because his family makes under $100 k

But still paying room and board, meal plan, textbooks, etc?

Would you like to interrogate the in-need roommate?

Anonymous wrote:Kansas State University. Seriously.
In-state tuition for several students with right GPA + SAT/ACT with less than normal Greek life.

But then you’re attending college …. In Kansas

Kansas State University. Seriously.
In-state tuition for several students with right GPA + SAT/ACT with less than normal Greek life.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That graph indicates that nearly 1 in 3 Princeton students have a household income below $70k and 1 in 5 have a household income of less than $45k. Sure, there are still lots of rich kids, but a poor student is in very good company there.

No, a poor student is not in “good company” if the vast majority of students are either rich or poor. The society these kids need to be prepared for is not a dumbbell distribution. Poor students don’t like to be patronized by the rich kids, nor do they want to constantly be reminded of where they came from (by being expected to hang with the fellow poors). This is why a great state school is a better place for these kids on so many levels.

Hugely depends on the state school. Some of them have extremely Greek dominated social scenes that encourage extreme conspicuous consumption.

Agreed. I’m a recent college grad and came from a poor background. State universities seemed like they’d suck- many are built on partying and Greek life that require pretty deep pockets and there’s so much social stratification based off class.

At my top private college, I didn’t have to worry about housing my whole 4 years and all the housing was pretty similar and equitable. My school had no Greek life, so rich kids actually did have to talk with the normal people and occasionally learn a thing or two about privilege. And there was a general emphasis on student life being pretty fun, so I didn’t have the issue of feeling like I needed to shell out on expensive bars or whatnot to have fun.

Another (formerly) poor kid who went to a top-ten private here! Couldn’t agree more! It wad a great experience and I have close friends who are rich , poor, and in between. No one cares at all. The two of us who were the most poor are now making over 300k each as a doc and a lawyer

Had you gone to a state school, you would probably be making the same, but would not feel the need to share your salary. Therein lies the difference.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are MC around 140k. Mine are both at Ivy League schools. Sure they have some rich and entitled friends, but also middle class and QB friends too. Great FA and similar to state school cost. Cheaper at the moment because I have 2 attending college at the same time. They (and many other private schools) still consider that.

#1 kid had been interested in some LACs. Wondering if the disparity would have been more of an issue on a smaller campus. Have a friend doing QB at a Maine LAC. Also have an UMC friend with very down to earth kid at that LAC, so that concern might be more at some than others.

OP described the student's situation as POVERTY. $140k is not poverty. OP is describing a situation where the student regularly had to skip meals and probably only owned one pair of shoes, likely donated.

These students make up a surprisingly large portion of top schools - likely more than state flagships due to the former being significantly cheaper for them than the latter.

+1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That graph indicates that nearly 1 in 3 Princeton students have a household income below $70k and 1 in 5 have a household income of less than $45k. Sure, there are still lots of rich kids, but a poor student is in very good company there.

No, a poor student is not in “good company” if the vast majority of students are either rich or poor. The society these kids need to be prepared for is not a dumbbell distribution. Poor students don’t like to be patronized by the rich kids, nor do they want to constantly be reminded of where they came from (by being expected to hang with the fellow poors). This is why a great state school is a better place for these kids on so many levels.

Hugely depends on the state school. Some of them have extremely Greek dominated social scenes that encourage extreme conspicuous consumption.

Agreed. I’m a recent college grad and came from a poor background. State universities seemed like they’d suck- many are built on partying and Greek life that require pretty deep pockets and there’s so much social stratification based off class.

At my top private college, I didn’t have to worry about housing my whole 4 years and all the housing was pretty similar and equitable. My school had no Greek life, so rich kids actually did have to talk with the normal people and occasionally learn a thing or two about privilege. And there was a general emphasis on student life being pretty fun, so I didn’t have the issue of feeling like I needed to shell out on expensive bars or whatnot to have fun.

Another (formerly) poor kid who went to a top-ten private here! Couldn’t agree more! It wad a great experience and I have close friends who are rich , poor, and in between. No one cares at all. The two of us who were the most poor are now making over 300k each as a doc and a lawyer

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are MC around 140k. Mine are both at Ivy League schools. Sure they have some rich and entitled friends, but also middle class and QB friends too. Great FA and similar to state school cost. Cheaper at the moment because I have 2 attending college at the same time. They (and many other private schools) still consider that.

#1 kid had been interested in some LACs. Wondering if the disparity would have been more of an issue on a smaller campus. Have a friend doing QB at a Maine LAC. Also have an UMC friend with very down to earth kid at that LAC, so that concern might be more at some than others.

OP described the student's situation as POVERTY. $140k is not poverty. OP is describing a situation where the student regularly had to skip meals and probably only owned one pair of shoes, likely donated.

These students make up a surprisingly large portion of top schools - likely more than state flagships due to the former being significantly cheaper for them than the latter.

I think a kid like OP describes can probably find a group to fit in at most colleges. I think they just need to seek out others with common interests. He could join a sports team, either competitively on an official one or just for fun on an intramural one. He could hang out at his school’s gym/rec center. He could join clubs, either related to his major or just random interests. My impression is that fraternities tend to require $$$ and be status conscious, so he might want to avoid schools with a major Greek influence (I have no direct experience with fraternities/sororities so I could be completely wrong.)

I highly recommend he investigate the Honors programs at whatever schools he applies to. Depending on the school they may offer special sections of some classes that might be much smaller than the standard class and/or have extra electives or other opportunities for Honors students. They may also offer Honors dorms which can be an excellent place to meet other kids who may be there on merit scholarships, who while they may still party are respectful of others’ needs to study. Back in the dark ages, I was on an Honors floor and met some fascinating and fantastic people. It was a very close-knit group.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know why everyone is saying big flagship state schools. Not only do they they often have a major Greek scene, many of them have most of their undergrads living off-campus after freshman year. A poor student may get a housing stipend, but it will not be enough to live in the "nice" off-campus apartments with pools and gyms (nor will they have parents with high enough incomes to co-sign on these nicer apartments).

a
You're going to pay for housing no matter where you go.

There is no "right" to live in "nice off campus apartments" and if you're poor you're not going to live like that no matter what school you attend.

Okay, but there are schools where most everyone lives on campus for four years and the housing the same for rich or poor students since it is one price.

This is the best model. Creates strong community and makes on campus housing pretty decent to live in.

It is not the best model when the vast majority of the students are either rich or poor — with no middle class. It is a weird, synthetic barbell bubble. As for the flagship detractors: there will be frats/sororities at some, and some conspicuous consumption. That’s not the point: a significant proportion of students will be middle class. That’s good for the poor kids and the rich kids alike.

Almost every institution of higher education with a need blind policy is actively solving what you’re talking about, but it is much much easier to complain incessantly I’m sure

I guess you have never heard of donut hole families. I guess you do not understood that need blind = no or almost no merit aid. I guess you do not know how tuition increases have surpassed inflation for some time. But, OK, the schools are, as you say, “actively solving” the problem. I sure am relieved.

I guess you didn’t save enough money?