We have a son who just finished his freshman year at Suffolk University in Boston. We are paying the tuition, as we are for all of our kids, which is obviously a lot of money. However, he did have a $10,000 scholarship. Over the summer he decided that he wanted to go to Boulder School of Engineering, so he applied and told us at the beginning of August that he got in. However, he did not remember that we were getting $10,000 off at Suffolk. Also, we live in DC and therefore can get closer to in state tuition at state schools. But, he applied too late for that. Now I just found out that he did not get into the engineering school, but did get into the school of arts and sciences. Feeling duped, and feeling frustrated about paying more than we should. Not sure what to do- any advice is welcome. Thanks!
What are the actual net prices (after scholarships and financial aid grants) of each school, and what is the price limit that you previously told him that you would contribute?
$42,000 for Suffolk and $52,000 for Boulder. We did not really state a limit; he applied without asking us and just assumed we would pay whatever.
I’d say the natural penalties are one of these:
- Take a gap year or semester, and apply to affordable programs with his major.
OR - See if his original school will take him back for this fall (if he is willing to do it). He could apply to transfer for next year with more input from you.
I wouldn’t pay for a school he applied to without thinking through the cost AND where he isn’t even accepted into his major. If anyone duped you, it is him (couldn’t tell if that is what you thought in your post). I wouldn’t reward this behavior.
Did he already tell Suffolk that he isn’t coming back?
Not sure – I need to find that out.
Yes, I did mean that I feel duped by him. And I agree with these consequences. The most I am willing to do is pay the same amount that we would have paid Suffolk. Does anyone know how these two schools compare? Not that that really matters with regards to my original question, but I am curious.
Colorado (aka CU or CU/Boulder) is a big non-selective (80% admit rate) state flagship out west. About 50% out of state enrollment with lots of kids from CA, TX and the northeast. Very popular college destination resort – pretty campus, pretty town, good weather, mountains, skiing, Pac-12 sports. Usually ranked very highly as a party school.
The engineering school is very solid (ranked 32; tied with NC State), but your kid won’t be doing that (at least initially). The academics for the rest of the school are OK but nothing special (ranked 92; tied with NC State) . You can get a good education at CU if you want to. But you can also slide through and party (as many do).
If he wants engineering it seems like a terrible move. I’d be as concerned with the change in major as the money.
And yes, find out if he has withdrawn from Suffolk yet.
I had a different reaction to this at first, but I don’t know you or your son. It seems to me that he is being entrepreneurial here. Boston and Boulder are very different: perhaps he didn’t like the city, or Suffolk. Boulder is beautiful.
The mystery is why he didn’t talk to you. Have you had a conversation about his reasons as yet? Perhaps they are good ones.
Was he in engineering at Suffolk? This is what the site says: “The Department of Physics and Engineering offers three distinct paths for students: Physics, Radiation Science and Electrical Engineering.” Boulder on the other hand, offers 14 different programs in Engineering and Applied Sciences, and is well-ranked. It sounds like a reasonable idea to me.
Do you now what his grades were? Boulder wants over a 3.0 average and B’s or better in math and science. Did he achieve those?
Does he still want to do engineering? Can he get into the program after a semester? It might be tough because the engineering sequence starts early.
I think that a loan for $10k that he is responsible for is a reasonable arrangement. Unless you can pay for it. It sounds like he had a good idea, for some reason didn’t discuss it with you, but then didn’t get into the program.
If that mean engineering is no longer his focus CU is still a good school in a great location, and I think of it as better than Suffolk for a lot of kids.
It looks like the biggest problem is the lack of or poor communication about expectations regarding both academic progress and college financing. The student really should not expect the parent to just go along with seemingly arbitrary transfer plans at higher cost, but is it possible that previous poor communication between the student and parent helped create the erroneous impression that it was ok?
Re: engineering
Suffolk has one ABET-accredited engineering major (electrical).
For Colorado, admission to an engineering major requires a 3.000 overall and 2.700 technical GPA with no grade lower than C in specified course work at Colorado:
http://www.colorado.edu/engineering-advising/intra-university-transfer-iut-engineering
Glad you found that ucbalumnus, I couldn’t find the intra-university transfer info! What do you think the outcome would be for a transfer student into sophomore year who wants to enter engineering as an intrauniversity transfer? Is it too late? Would this mean an extra year of college at this point?
Looks like the required courses to be taken at CU Boulder are typical first year courses in math, physics, and chemistry.
If the student has taken them already at Suffolk, then he may not be able to fulfill the course requirements at CU Boulder since he has already taken them, and would have to get some sort of exception (possibly having to take more advanced courses in substitution).
If the student has not taken them already, then he will likely be a year behind on the curriculum.
In either case, it is likely that he will need to complete two semesters before being able to change into an engineering major, if he otherwise meets the course, GPA, and grade requirements.
Thank you- this is all very helpful. He is a party person which is part of my concern. Any other comments are welcome- thanks again.
It doesn’t seem particularly entrepreneurial when he didn’t talk to the source of his capital before making this move. OP, one of my brothers attended CU – huge party school. I personally would not have paid OOS tuition for my kids there (and I think my dad was sorry he had afterwards).
Does he still have housing lined up for Suffolk if he can still go that route? My cousin’s daughter just graduated from Suffolk I think for psychology and was accepted into University of Pennsylvania where she is starting now. My daughter is interested in attending there and the accounting program has the aacsb accreditation she wants. They don’t have guaranteed housing after freshman year which is why I wondered if he still has housing.
No – he did not even get housing freshman year because he missed the deadline. another frustration in this situation. Unfortunately I am accused of being a hard ass!
I meant he of course
I meant he of course
Simple…he takes loan with interests for the 10K difference.