I second the recommendation for Rochester (assuming your son likes cold weather). I was impressed with the campus and the Hillel.
I also liked SUNY Binghampton and Geneseo, but my DD ultimately decided that OOS public wasn’t worth the extra money.
I just wanted to follow up. We went to u of Rochester for a visit yesterday and my son didn’t like the feel. He thought it was a beautiful campus and everyone was so nice but it felt too serious. The search continues.
^ that’s why you do visits
as a long time reader of this thread, I will really miss RVM. Without her inspiration to start this thread, I would have suffered thru my first two kids going thru this process alone. (I used to use a different name, but was forced to change by second child). RVM, don’t leave us…
Now my third is a junior, and we are on top of it…with that…
Looking for thoughts, opinion, insights…After multiple extended college visits, my S has decided on his dream school. I know and have read that ED increases the odds of admission significantly at this highly rated school. His stats put him in the middle 50% of accepted students. I also read that ED is a tool that really benefits the wealthy, who have little concern for Aid. Our situation is now different this go round… Due to layoffs, a failed business, and now looking for a new career, we will qualify for a lot of aid. At his dream school, the net price indicator shows that we could afford to send him if he gets even 75% of what they project. Do you think when a school says it is need blind, it really is? Will they consider a kid with need equal to many full pay kids in the ed round? S has worked hard, we set aside some 529 money a long time ago, and it will fill the shortfall post aid…Thoughts on trying ED when you are need qualified? College advisor says it is best shot at getting in, but not sure she considered need part of the equation…
Most schools are need blind. All that means is the admissions office doesn’t consider if you’ll need money. It doesn’t mean you’ll get more money if you need more money, just that they won’t deny you admissions. What you want is a need blind school that meets full need - Harvard, Yale, Williams - that if you get in, they’ll meet your need.
It is the ‘need aware’ schools that will look at how much you need before admitting you.
My son attends a need blind school and I would hope that they are true to that concept but there are definite indicators of income (to some extent) by zip code, boarding school/private school attendance, etc. They have a ton of Questbridge kids who get full rides and plenty of wealthy kids who are full pay so maybe it just works out without them noticing need at all. I would have to think they would consider need far more in the wait list stage than the ED stage of admissions though if they do at all. Our NPC was exactly what our EFC says and my son’s school did somewhat better than that. Our financial situation is very straight forward though. Our 2nd child is going to ED a very expensive school and if somehow they don’t offer what the calculator says we can regroup or decline.
BigPapiofthree: If you haven’t already, to determine if your DS’s ED college meets full need (as twoinanddone suggested), go to www.collegedata.com and enter the name of the college in which your DS is interested. When your DS’s college pops up, follow its row across right to “Financial Friendliness” & “Need Met” column. You want to see “100%” to know the school meets full need. If you click on the college name and then “Money Matters,” you’ll see the financial picture further broken down. Very useful tool!
One quick thing to remember with schools that say they meet full need. Meeting full need isn’t enough, the school needs to say they meet full need without loans.
^^^^ @spectrum2 That’s extremely rare, and rarer still for schools that the ‘B’ student is likely to attend.
Yes you are right, I was just bouncing off the conversation above. Just saying that 100% meeting full need doesn’t necessarily make it a doable choice.
Just out of curiosity, anyone know anything about Jewish life at U of Texas in Austin?
My S has several friends at UT Austin. I know his friends are been in the Jewish Frats and that their Hillel is very active. Do you have any specific questions.
“It is the ‘need aware’ schools that will look at how much you need before admitting you.”
But only after the financial aid budget is depleted, affecting only applicants on the cusp.
“One quick thing to remember with schools that say they meet full need. Meeting full need isn’t enough, the school needs to say they meet full need without loans.”
Such schools are hard to find and be admitted to without loans. Modest federal student loans are manageable, and allow schools to offer their limited financial aid to more students.
@spectrum2 , my biggest question is actually about overall life for the Jewish student. From the reading I have done about fraternities, a lot of frats have their list together before school even starts.It’s supposed to be a Greek school but very competitive. Do you know anything about the Jewish fraternities and Jewish life when NOT involved? When I visited UT with my daughter, she actually got a LOT of “bible banger” rhetoric, even in the bars. She was asked if “she was a believer” and on 6th street people were passing out Jesus pamphlets and coming up to her and talking about Jesus. ( Not that this is a bad thing…Just a bad thing for us!)
Oliver17,
My D graduated two years ago from UT, and our town has a large jewish population. We send 2-5 jewish kids a year to Austin. They have no problem assimilating to life there as OOS students. I have not heard of one unhappy kid. While most are in greek life(three Jewish Frats, and one Jewish Sorority), some are involved with other aspects of student activities. Majority of Jewish kids seem to be a Mafia. They live in the Private dorms freshmen year, and have a great four years in Austin. I think it is a special place to go to school. Yes they will have exposure to conservative religious kids, but that is a good thing. A little thought provoking. On another note, Texas is the best economic deal going for out of state folks who may not qualify for aid. With a little research and work, it is very achievable to get instate tuition for last three years…
For what it’s worth, visiting UT with my S1 several years ago, Hillel or Chabad (forget which now) had a table set up on campus to pass out Hamentashen for Purim and it seemed pretty popular.
This is not unusual at any college (or college area) in the country. State Street in Madison, Pearl Street Mall in Boulder. It has nothing to do with the college, just that college students are who they are looking to convert, to sign up for their groups. those who are christian often do not want to talk to the pamphlet people either.
This is all very helpful @BigPapiofthree , @quakerstake and @twoinanddone, thank you. My son has it on his list because of the engineering program, but like most schools he is interested in, it will be a reach for him. He has a very long list now, so hopefully he’ll have some options- unfortunately most of the schools he likes will be a reach. We are going to research Kansas and Iowa too, hopefully he’ll be interested. The search continues.
@oliver17 it looks like you got some good information about UT Austin. All of the Jewish kids I know have really enjoyed their time there. My son considered going and would have probably lived in that private dorm if he had. He has visited his Jewish friends there many times. My son is just finishing up with finals now but if you have any specific questions I will ask him when he gets done. He btw is studying engineering at Texas A and M. Not a school you would choose if you are looking for a sizable Jewish population but it has a small but surprisingly strong Jewish community.