Yes, I think we were both on the thread for the Pitt Johnstown student. 
I did not see the Bradford one, good for them.
A bit off topic, but has anyone else been following the NACAC list of colleges that still have openings for fall 2018? PA leads the pack (by a lot) with 44 schools so far. I’m sad to see that so many of our fine private LACs and others are struggling to meet their enrollment goals. I guess the non-elite privates, where many middle class students went in the past, have priced themselves out of consideration for many families. Schools that 50 years ago cost ~$2000 including room and board are now above $50,000. Incomes just haven’t kept pace with the meteoric rise in college costs. Also, prestige, size, and access to cities are now of much greater importance to many students than they were way back in the dark ages when I was in school.
@kidzncatz The NACAC is self reported, so it could be that there are even more schools that are in this situation.
I am conflicted on this. Yes it is sad. As a full-pay parent with kids who do not are not super high achievers (so NO top merit OR need aid, and we are not rich and live in a high cost of living area), I have a hard time feeling bad for schools (or even a whole system) that put themselves into this situation. I see this as an eventual outcome for a system that drove up prices in the era of cheap government money,and giving away tons of aid, only to push it onto the backs of kids that don’t get aid by raising tuition.
Also, in reference to my thoughts above, a lot of middle class families are looking at community college lately:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/05/education/learning/community-colleges-middle-class-families.html
Interesting look at the PASSHE Board of Governors…
http://www.passhe.edu/inside/bog/Pages/Board-Members.aspx#shapira
I wish it listed all of the members educational backgrounds.
@Portercat I think you will always have those parents who will pick the more expensive route. They truly believe it is better than to go to a lesser ranked school. I can only see a few instances where I would consider that based on the major.
If DD didn’t get the Board of Governor’s scholarship at West Chester, she would be attending community college! We have a satellite campus not too far from here, so she would be busing there, then transferring to one of the state schools. The CC main campus is highly rated, but is just too far to commute for us.
What frightens me is parents who take out loans for $80K plus for their kids on the expectation that the kids will pay them off. I sometimes wonder if a lot of these parents/kids are hoping that the “student debt crisis” will result in loan forgiveness.
Friend’s son had visited East Stroudsburg University & applied. He also applied to Bloom. During the indecision time, ESU actually offered him a scholarship, and even upped it slightly. He’s not a top student, so his mom was thrilled. Kid chose Bloom.
Interestingly enough a neighbor of mine received a scholarship to attend IUP as a transfer. Not a great student but a good one.Wanted to closer to home. Small scholarship but still something. He decided to transfer to Bloom. He spent one year at South Carolina. Oh and Bloom did not give him a dime.
Went to NHS night and scholarship award night and most kids seemed to choose regional options or places that gave them scholarships.
Lots of PASSHE schools and PSU branches, some catholic colleges. Not many LACs.
Lots of nursing majors, some engineering and CS.
Ours NHS night is coming up soon as well. I enjoy it and always find it interesting to see where the kids plan on attending.
DD came home the other day and said they were discussing this in one of her AP classes. Teacher said most kids end up going very close to home, within a couple of hours. Said he has only ever had one student that went very far away, in this case, the University of Alabama. That is her brother!
Like @mommdc posted above, most end up at PASSHE or PSU branch or local junior colleges. We are definitely a district w/ lower income kids, so I expect to see the same for this year’s graduating class as well.
The new chancellor of Pennsylvania’s state universities is a director at the Gates Foundation
http://www.wtae.com/article/daniel-greenstein-new-chancellor-of-pennsylvania-state-system-of-higher-education/20777646
Former Gates Foundation director selected as PASSHE chancellor
http://www.thecourierexpress.com/news/state/former-gates-foundation-director-selected-as-passhe-chancellor/article_555f1e71-8cb1-5d7a-8d4e-b2f0e3863686.html
New chancellor for Pa.'s 14 state universities stresses better-equipped students, not closing campuses
http://www.pennlive.com/news/2018/05/new_chancellor_for_pas_14_stat.html#incart_river_index
Looks like we truly have a believer in the important role of higher education and the PASSHE system. This could be a game changer for the Commonwealth.
@laralei, hopefully your D can utilize this next year, and be nominated
http://www.pheaa.org/funding-opportunities/rtss/
FAFSA needs to be done asap on October 1.
From Gates to Pennsylvania’s Struggling System…
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2018/05/22/pennsylvanias-state-system-higher-education-be-led-former-gates-official
Does anyone have a good summary and eligibility for PA state grants (Not federal grants or loans) available for college? Are these specific to state schools? I know it has been discussed above. Thanks!
@Portercat Not sure if this is what you’re looking for but there is grant info here:
http://www.pheaa.org
http://www.pheaa.org/funding-opportunities/state-grant-program/index.shtml
Thanks @sevmom. I have researched those, just looking for an “easy” chart if available. Even ballpark (or EFC based) would be helpful.
<Income X + net worth Y = eligibility?
Did you look under the " Prepare " section? There’s an estimate based on income. https://www.pheaa.org/funding-opportunities/state-grant-program/prepare.shtml
Got it, thanks. Yes that is helpful. Do state grants ignore net worth? I know someone with a lot of money in assets (little in income) but still receiving substantial grant aid.