College selection-Better "package" or Better "selectivity"

Parents Forum
1

<p>Here's the situation, D plans to major in Environmental Science and was accepted to the following schools: Univ. of IL-Urbana, Univ. of Missouri, Indiana U-Bloomington, Michigan State Univ, Iowa State Univ and Univ. of Minnesota-TC. </p>

<p>Top 3 FA "packages" were Univ. of Missouri-Columbia, Iowa State Univ. and Univ. of Minnesota-TC</p>

<p>The other schools FA packages were ok but expected me to take our parent loans to cover quite a bit that was left over...(between 9k-28k range)</p>

<p>Her top choice was Univ. of Minnesota-TC and they finally sent her package offer which totaled about 55-56k over 4 yrs with me taking our about 5k parent plus....Their package was specific to the college so she's be locked into a major within that college. Also, it was a set $ amount so if tuition goes up (which it probably will next year, the awards wouldn't cover as much, naturally) </p>

<p>Iowa State was the "richest" package which covers "full tuition" for 4 years (it actually stated full) and with the other grants she received from the school, I wouldn't have to take out a parent plus loan.</p>

<p>We visited both schools and both were nice (ISU actually went from safety to one of her top choices after the school visit).</p>

<p>Here's the concern--- I've gotten feedback from others that she should choose Univ of Minnesota (or Univ. of IL) because they are "better" reputation etc. in sources like US News, Petersons etc.</p>

<p>Would she be doing herself a disservice by picking the school with the best FA offer and she also likes it? -or- should we bring the other schools back to the table and discuss again? </p>

<p>She is ranked in the top 10 of her senior class, "A" student, team captain and so on.... She actually stated over the weekend that she wants to go to ISU but it's just me (mom) that has this nagging question. </p>

<p>Any other parents in the same boat.... any honest insight would be appreciated...</p>

2

<p>Why would you want to make a choice based on a US News or Peterson’s rating? If you look carefully, much of what goes into the ratings are things that might not be so important to your family or your student (i.e. size of endowment, average standardized test scores, how applicants are turned away - to me these factors could be debated, but not here).</p>

<p>Where you choose to go, imo, should be based on the academic, social and financial fit. Also when you speak of 5,000 in loans, is that per year? To me, 5000 over 4 years is not too bad, but 20,000, could be more challenging.</p>

<p>As to the schools, or the major, I can offer no specific advice. I have known only a couple of graduates of each of these schools, since I have always lived in the east. I would suggest that she get in touch with current students in her major via the admissions office, or the department office at the colleges. She can find out specifics of the program and the campus life from those in attendance. One negative about being locked into a major is that many students do change their minds as to major. We have heard this over and over on college tours, and I know from real life.</p>

3

<p>Congratulations college4! Your D appears to be in a great no-lose situation. My D was in a similar situation, and my S will be facing the same situation hopefully in another year.</p>

<p>My D visted IL-UC, Iowa State, Purdue and Northwestern, and although she loved Iowa State, decided on NU because they gave her more money, though not a free ride. But one of her travel team teammates went to Iowa State, and now they both work in the same city for the same company but at different locations, and probably make the same money. My D also works with peers that attended NU, Vandy, Carnegie Mellon, MI and MI State, so the lesson to be learned is that it didn’t really matter where they went.</p>

<p>BTW - What kind of stats DOES your D have, in order to get a free ride? I talked to Iowa State yesterday, and checked them out online, and it looks like he qualifies for their $7,000 award, but that is NOT a full ride! My son has better stats than D, but applicants at NU have gone form 10,000 when my D applied to 30,000 last year, which is worriesome. So I’m doing the donkey work to check on money, and hopefully give him a list of 5-8 schools that we can afford to consider. Iowa State would be on that list, but not with only $7,000 FA. So, if you could shed some light on what your D did to merit a Full Ride, we would appreciate it.</p>

<p>Thanks, and good luck with a tough, but can’t-go-wrong decision.</p>

4

<p>Depends on her plans after college - work? grad school? I would look at these universities and their career placment offices. Which institution partners with major corporations? For instance, amongst the Ivies, only Cornell can be found as the most frequently listed university partnering with companies in multiple fields, not Harvard or Princeton or Yale!</p>

5

<p>Congratulations. I would advise Uof I. Not locked in the major, and kids change their mind a lot. Also breathing room for cost increases, which I know will be coming. If she goes to Minnesota and wants to change her major, and if cost go up drastically, you can be in for a lot of loans.</p>

6

<p>ISU hands down! Here is my thought:</p>

<ol>
<li>ISU is a very strong science based school, even in ranking, not far from the rest. I would say, they are neck-n-neck.</li>
<li>In general, BS drgree in environmental science may limit career growth potential. A MS or Ph.D. may be required? If that being the case, who cares where the UG degree is from?</li>
<li>Kids may change their minds on interest. Are we sure she would not change?</li>
</ol>

<p>So, follow the money! I personally don’t see the benefit of extra cost from the other schools.</p>

7

<p>Here is a thread from last spring written by a student who followed the money: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/905843-top-student-3rd-tier-school-four-years-later.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/905843-top-student-3rd-tier-school-four-years-later.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Personally, I say follow the money. But if you’d like to see how the numbers (and some other variables) work out side-by-side, run them through this calculator from the folks at FinAid.org [FinAid</a> | Calculators | Advanced Award Letter Comparison Tool](<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid)</p>

8

<p>Congratulations to your daughter, either USI or UMN would be excellent choices. You said USI was her top choice - since this is the school that she likes best and the one that will cost you no money, definitely go with that one. UMN is an excellent school also and at $5,000+ a year (even if tuition rises) it would still be a bargain but there might be problems if she changes her major. It sounds like the choice is made for you already. I only wish I have the same problem when my S2 goes to school!</p>

9

<p>I forgot to ask which school is closer to your home. Would being far away from home make any difference to your D? Don’t forget to figure in the traveling time, costs and hassle involved, especially if there is no bus, train or plane nearby. This might make a difference in her choice.</p>