<p>I got a full tuition from Pitt when I applied earlier this year, so I think she has a great shot at having that affordable safety. The only issue may be the fact that it’s a little late now (I applied by Oct. 15 priority deadline). Deadline for consideration for merit scholarships is Jan. 15, so I would try to submit ASAP. </p>
<p>@cptofthehouse I really don’t know how she is ranking those schools, except that Caltech and MIT would be the equivalent of a lottery win. There were still 4 apps left to be done when she was accepted to Pitt, and Delaware didn’t remain on the list. Her final ranking will come once she gets accepted to schools, and visits the schools. I have my own preferences, of course…
@ivyhopes12 that’s fantastic news!</p>
<p>She should keep the lottery tickets and any school she prefers over Pitt on the list. Nothing wrong with a reach heavy list The chances are lower for reaches, so having more makes sense. As long as she has a safety, which the rolling decision from Pitt gave her she’s good. Might as well shoot for the moon.</p>
Update:
Rejected @ MIT and Caltech
In at StonyBrook, Pitt, URochester, Case Western, USC, UCSD, CalPoly, UMich, OSU. Costs range from 16-50K after merit aid (of course she loves the 50K option )
It’s been a rough winter and that turned her against cold-weather schools
Still waiting for a few full-price schools 
but those were mostly in the mix in case no-one offered ANY money
I’m struggling to overcome my frugal ways, and balance that against her aims. I’m not sure her personality is cut out for the high pressure in some of these schools, but then again, she may rise to the challenge and mature
My 2 preferred schools are URoch and Case because of the sizes but those are definitely ‘cold’
I’m going to take money into consideration and imagine what your net costs are likely to be since our Ds have similarities.
Warm schools: USC for both net cost and quality.
Not so warm: Pitt is less expensive and not far off line from CWRU and better than OSU and SB.
Cold: Rochester because it’s much cheaper than Michigan and a darn good education.
Overall: USC followed by Pitt. If not, Rochester if she can take the weather.
USC is the 50K school, though, and Pitt is the 20k one…
The nice thing about lower-priced schools is that they might offer enough financial flexibility for the student to afford a warm-weather spring-break getaway.
Obviously, I was expecting USC to provide more FA than that. So Pitt.
Update: No from Stanford, waitlist at Berkeley, almost done with the results.
It was another gloomy day today in DC, light snow flurries after hitting 78 on Thursday. I guess there is value in living in a warm pretty place. I myself might be far happier and more productive in Cali.
It’s been a long, cold, lonely winter in DC, but you know it’s not anything like this most years. I’ve been here 25 years and this is the worst winter I can remember. We’ve had winters with much more snow but never this sustained cold that just won’t let go.
Still, if you don’t like what DC had this year, Pitt is not for you. Think even colder by 10-12 degrees this year. PA was just an icebox this winter. I jones for Colorado, but Cali would do temporarily until i can get there.
Funny enough, my nieces just moved to Colorado for grad school, both left their home state of Florida to attend after undergrad in NYC. They love it!
No from Brown, BTW, so that was the final school. Didn’t get into any super-reaches, but good choices overall. Looks like USC, and I’m trying to reconcile my brain and pocketbook to the final choice
Interesting thread, thanks for updating so others in the future can learn from the process. Newbie question: is USC California or S Carolina?
It’s California
I hope that you’re not about to go into serious debt for USC if she has other excellent choices at significantly lower cost.
Actually @gettingaclue USC applies to both places. In this case it’s Southern Cal.
Can you give us the costs for you (tuition, fees, R&B) - (scholarships, grants)?
What’s your budget - can you afford USC’s 50KX4 without parent loans, HELOC, jeopardizing retirement?
My main concern is that D maintains that small amount of scholarship money from USC. I think/hope that once a younger sibling starts school in 3 yrs the EFC will drop a bit. IF my finances don’t go haywire, it should be do-able with a small HELOC 15K? With the less pricey schools, there would be money for grad school.
I went to a school based on a very restrictive scholarship, could not change majors etc. I want my kids to have a bit more. I’m just not one to take on debt. Retirement is on track, so far but there won’t be a ‘pension’