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I would be interested in opinions regarding safety-full ride opportunities versus Ivies (or "Stanfords") and huge loans....is the benefit of a "name brand" worth the cost?

By Me1 (Me1) on Monday, October 13, 2003 - 02:55 pm: Edit

I don't think there's really a "right" answer. I think you have to consider several factors. 1. The profession your children want... Like a elementary school teacher graduating from Harvard would probably make around the same as an elementary school teacher who graduated from a state college. For someone going into a super-competative field the Ivy leage diploma would be more helpful. 2. How good are the state schools in general & in relation to any field your child might want? Do they have good honors programs that would give your child more opportunities than the regular applicants? 3. Where would your child be happy? Some people really want to be in a top college with the brightest students from all around the country/world & would thrive off of that environment, while others might not really care about it. 4. Graduate school? Do you want it? Would u be able to afford it after 4 years at an expensive college? Would working after college & then returning for grad. school after earning some $ be acceptable?

By Wisconsinguy (Wisconsinguy) on Monday, October 13, 2003 - 07:18 pm: Edit

I worried about that too, but then I discovered the wonderful world of fin aid. Now I go to an Ivy for less than 10k per year. So it's not impossible.

By Lowa (Lowa) on Tuesday, October 14, 2003 - 06:15 am: Edit

hi
i was given fin aid as an int student but apparently it is not enough does anyone know where i can get some more aid

By Momof3boys (Momof3boys) on Tuesday, October 14, 2003 - 08:35 pm: Edit

Wisconsinguy,

When you speak of fin aid, are you talking loans that have to be paid back or grants/merit scholarships?

Thanks.

By Giovanni (Giovanni) on Tuesday, October 14, 2003 - 10:42 pm: Edit

Dude, I'm ALL ABOUT the full ride, I mean its Undergraduate... I want to go to my state school for free, do the honors college, study abroad, have FUN!

And THEN go to a really nice (expensive) med school.

How much more can a "name brand" graduate POSSIBLY make? Okay, I can become a Medical Examiner or a Neurosurgeon for about 1/4 as much as they can, and how much more can they make than me?

????????????????

Good luck!

By Wisconsinguy (Wisconsinguy) on Wednesday, October 15, 2003 - 08:56 am: Edit

I am talking grants/merit scholarships. Combine the two, and I received full grant down to my EFC.

And Giovanni, while I understand your position (indeed struggled with it for many months), I feel that the opportunities I'm receiving here are ones I could not receive anywhere else. Just my opinion.

By Giovanni (Giovanni) on Sunday, October 19, 2003 - 07:15 pm: Edit

Wisconsinguy! Thats amazing that you can do that for $10K! I'm doing EA to Georgetown, I might get in (yay!) and maybe I'll look into financial aid... my mom's REALLY against and Ivy or a G-town though

She's against paying for out of state as well

I don't know why. We are financially well-off.

By Trisana (Trisana) on Tuesday, October 21, 2003 - 11:22 pm: Edit

Some career paths lie outside the debate of full rides vs. ivies. I want to have a major in history, possibly Medieval History. There are only a few schools in the nation that offer good Medieval Studies programs, and all of them lie outside of the state that I live in. Sure, I could get a full ride staying in state, but then I wouldn't be studying what I want to. It'll cost a lot anyway, whether or not the schools are Ivy-league, because the out of state tuition is so high.

~Tris

By Wcolsher (Wcolsher) on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 09:14 am: Edit

Tris -

Look at majoring in Classics + History as an undergrad. Most places will have at least a little Medieval Latin to offer you. Network like crazy with your local professors, attend seminars and so forth.

Then head for the best grad school you can find.

You'll find that grad school is amazingly affordable for us humanities types. In many cases a combination of grants, teaching, and other work will completely pay your tuition.

Cheers,

-bc

By Jamimom (Jamimom) on Wednesday, November 12, 2003 - 03:27 pm: Edit

Me1 is ever so right. It depends on the child, the family, the money. Most families I know who are middle to upper middle income families have the following attitude,"If you get into HPY____, we'll scrape up whatever it takes to get you through. Otherwise, it's State U or a merit scholarship, because there is no way we qualify for much financial aid but we just don't have $200,000 to get you through the next four years unless it is really, really worth to us."
There are variations to that theme and people are in gray areas as what comes after HPY, but that is usually the story.
A friend of mine was so committed to letting her son go where ever he wanted that she condemned this philosophy, but immediately joined the refrain when her son started looking U of Hawaii and other surfing locations for college. She really did not want to pay for that sort of recreational activity out of her pocket. When the time came, she realized that she did have some qualifications on the school if she was writing the checks. Families with no worries about the financial aspect do not have to go through this process, though even they may have certain qualifications for the school their children attend. My son really scared me one year when he talked about transfering back to a local school and living at home like some of his friends because he was unhappy with the social life and pressures at his school. He just had too good of a time the summer before, access to the car, lots of spending money from a lucrative summer job, and really missed the good times and wanted that "endless summer". As far as I was concerned, I wanted him far from home, because all we did was fight--little impression on him, great whack on me. So even if he could save money going to Local U, get a part-time job, a car, live at home, I did not want him around. It was time to cut that cord. So many of us do end up with stipulations especially if you are unlucky enough to have a wise guy type at home that knows how to pull your chain, by counting the number of days they have to go to school at particular colleges, and looking for the most meaningless requirement poor programs. Who wants to spend $45000 a year for that?
On the other hand people who swore that they would not pay that exhorbitant tag are doing so, when they realize the best bet for their child is a good, small private college and the child gets no aid. When there is good reason, we will tend to do anything for our children. For some kids Gettysburg, Ursinus, Susquehanna Colleges are exactly what they need to make the next step and to send them to Penn State or even the smaller state schools like WestChester is not doing the kids a favor. They may need the type of kids at the schools that have a "prep boarding school" environment. Actually, in my opinion, that kind of school helps out most kids who are not really quite ready for the university experience but are bright and well rounded and full of promise and need a step away from home but not into an impersonal environment. I have found that these schools really work with the kids and help them achieve their post graduate goals. The alumni network is usually excellent and the professors are very close to the kids. No TAs and huge lectures halls. It takes an independent child to deal with the Ohio States and Boston U's, and many of the Ivies are not particularly friendly to immature freshman. They do have to grow up quickly and if they do not, they can pay dearly.

By Tsdad (Tsdad) on Wednesday, November 12, 2003 - 06:56 pm: Edit

Giovanni:

History is a profession best learned at the graduate level. Go to a state school. Get good grades and then go on to graduate school. They're lots of money at the graduate level.