My son was originally accepted to ISU last July. Today he pushed the button for ISU over Arizona State, Arizona, Michigan State, and Alabama. He will be part of the Freshman Honors Program and intends to study Mechanical or Materials Engineering. We are thrilled – and I am a Michigan State Graduate.
Congratulations to you and your son. My son recently said yes to IAState over Univ Minnesota. He will also be in FHP and wants to study computer engineering. I am relieved that he made a decision. On to the next chapter of his life.
@Beaudreau what do you estimate you will spend per year in travel costs? We are in Colorado, so I’m trying to get a rough idea. Thanks!
@iamgriffinsmom - Direct flights from Phoenix average around $400 round trip. For our son’s first year, we budgeted one trip for him and for me for orientation, one trip for my wife, my son and I for dorm move-in, one round trip for winter break, and one flight home. So that’s five round trips and two one-ways, for around $2400 total. He went home with a friend for Thanksgiving and plans to stay in Ames and work on his research project over Spring Break. After this year, I doubt that my wife and I will travel, but he would have two direct flights (beginning and end of year) and one round trip at winter break for sure. I think I would budget one more trip either over Thanksgiving Break or Spring Break. So that’s around $1200.
We’re in Denver, so the cost of flights is fairly comparable. It’s “only” a 10-hour drive for us, so we may choose to drive out for orientation and dorm move-in. I was wondering about trips home for Thanksgiving and Spring Break, so I guess we’ll just have to play that by ear. Thank you!
Jut interested in why your son chose Iowa State over Minnesota? My son is on the wait list for Minnesota and really wants to go there. I’d rather him go to ISU for the cost. Just wondering what made your son choose ISU.
@63659699 - He didn’t apply to Minnesota. He picked Iowa State over Arizona State, Michigan State, and Alabama. All those schools gave him very good merit aid.