Thanks for sharing all the experiences of your college kids living in a big city. I know it will be a greater cost than going to school in a small town.
The main reasons he wants to be in a big city aren’t about going out and spending money. He wants to be around lots of different people in terms of age, race, gender, politics, educational attainment, etc. He does not only want to be around college students. He loves the idea of going to new part of the city to walk around, explore, find new places (and yes I know even studying at a cafe in a new place probably costs $20 in NYC!). He thinks of walking in Central Park and finding a pick-up game of soccer. He really likes to idea of finding his way around. So not that he’ll never go out on the town, but his reasons for wanting a big city are more that he thinks the idea of wandering around in a sea of all different faces with different backgrounds and all different experiences sounds exciting and interesting.
Also, he won’t have a choice about how much money to spend because he will have to be working for that money so he can only spend what he makes. We (along with hopefully some generous financial aid) will pay tuition and room and dining all and then he will have to pay for everything else (eating out, uber, all experiences) with his own working money.
I went to college in a small city (Providence) and LOVED how integrated my life was with the community-- not just college kids. I totally understand what he’s looking for, but he doesn’t need to be in NYC to get that.
I tutored and substitute taught in a local school. I volunteered in a local nursing home. I had friends who worked in primary health care settings which focused on new immigrants, people in transitional housing. One friend recruited volunteers for a huge program which had a “birth to death” mandate-- social services for kids in foster care, ESL and citizenship classes, helping adults transitioning out of incarceration into employment, a safe house for women escaping abusive relationships, etc. Another friend taught violin to disabled kids- why violin? That’s what she played. Why disabled kids? That’s who signed up.
You can get different faces and different backgrounds all over the place if you look! Most colleges have funds and grants for students who want to start programs and services in the local community- and of course, there are likely dozens of programs sponsored by the college already doing outreach- environmental and sustainability, civic engagement/voter registration, working in underfunded local schools, etc.
Suggest he check out the Center for Community Engagement (or whatever it’s called) which is likely a section of the Student Activities website. It will show just a portion of the opportunities available to engage with “people not like me”.
He will not be the only kid on campus whose social life is self-funded, so don’t worry about that. But a good campus shuttle system if the area doesn’t have public transportation will be important.
But I think there is a difference between a student who wants to actively engage in social services and one who wants to explore large urban environments by wandering in and around different areas of the city. Sometimes these desires overlap, and sometimes they don’t.
No argument from me. Just trying to be sensitive to the OP’s financial constraints-- and if something’s got to give, seems to me that “big city” might be the logical piece to test. Even some small cities are highly diverse, have ethnic neighborhoods, interesting places to discover, and people who “aren’t like me” to meet.
If the family can find everything they want at an affordable price- terrific. But most of us end up compromising somewhere, right???
Agreed with @blossom that a medium-to-small city will give him a lot of experiences he wants out of a big city (I went to college in Providence, too, and loved that city). Places like Minneapolis, Denver, Pittsburgh, Madison, Portland, Seattle … will be far more diverse than he thinks, with international demographics and lots of cultural activities and distinctive neighborhoods. And don’t forget internships – regardless of where he attends school, he can look for internships in bigger cities, which will give him a taste of those environments. College is only four years – not a life commitment. So other than steering clear of environments that will definitely make a student unhappy, it’s hard to see the point of really limiting yourself geographically at the expense of a good education.
San Luis Obispo has a similar setup with private dorms housing students from both Cal Poly and Cuesta (https://www.cuesta.edu/). for reasons above, might not be right for OP, but including for those looking for the setup.
College Confidential question since I’m a newish poster… If I have an unrelated question about same child’s applications, do I post it as a reply in this thread or start a new one? Thanks!
Have him watch YouTube videos about the City of Houston and the University of Houston. So many cool neighborhoods. He would need to make friends who have cars (lots of Texas kids have their parent’s old car). There is a pretty big art scene, but you do have to get off the main roads to find the really cool stuff. There is plenty to keep someone busy for four years. There are many recent immigrant communities (all different countries). It is super hot and humid there, but there is a ton going on. And all the buildings have great AC. Then he could get first job in LA, NYC, etc.
@green1724 Have you taken a look at Boston College? I havent heard they are great at filling need but it is a great campus, has decent sports, good socially and just outside of Boston and very accessible with public trans out front gate. And this may be an option for your son. I know 2 kids who have gotten this and it is amazing in terms of access and opportunity.
He has a lot of schools on his list so we are still finalizing things.
We have checked every NPC and realize we are in an income bracket where the highly rejective schools are much cheaper for us than even our in state publics and most merit scholarships. The only problem is they are also highly rejective. And interestingly not his first choices. But unfortunately his first choice schools are not nearly as generous. So at a few of those he’ll apply for their merit scholarships and hope that brings the cost down so they are affordable. I will update when we have our final list.
If the 4.0 stays, then Bama about hits your price with free tuition and first year housing free.
Or community college which I know is not what you want.
Makes sense what you say about the highly rejective.
If you can bend or are willing to take the $5500 loan and the student can work 10 hours a week for $150 or so, that could help too to move up market a bit?
The stats are great - let’s hope you find an affordable school.
Green- don’t count on student earnings for ANYTHING but incidental living expenses, toiletries, laundry, etc. Working 10 hours a week on campus, means that he’s working zero hours a week during breaks and vacations. Can he get a lucrative summer gig? Perhaps. And that’s terrific. But a ten hour a week typical campus job is not going to increase the family’s budget in any meaningful way. And it’s pay as you go-- of course. You can’t spend December earnings in September…
I meant, a private employer - like my daughter does banquets $18 an hour. Starbucks type likely $15 an hour -and usually flexible - so if the student can get the $5500 loan and pick up another $7 or $8K - and with summer maybe more…
Obviously best if it’s not needed but if OP wants backups to highly reject colleges - trade offs have to be made. And there are ways to raise some money.