<p>As someone who had “skin in the game” I highly recommend instead “cash in the pocket”.</p>
<p>PolarBearVsShark, take the money and not the tier? Give me your reasoning?</p>
<p>So, for post #83; what’s the point so far? are you (OP) any closer to an answer?</p>
<p>The consensus I’ve read is; depends on affordability. If that is NOT an issue? do what you want - if it is? go with the money. Is that accurate?</p>
<p>No. We will wait to see the award letter, and discuss a final time, and decide. I am leaning a bit more in one direction after reviewing the responses here.</p>
<p>so, affordability has no bearing, but you will wait for the award letter?</p>
<p>Affordability is and has always been a factor. I think I mentioned I am not rich. Yes, although accepted and chosen, why would I not want to see an award letter? It is called comparing offers, I think.</p>
<p>And let me clarify, I initiated this post to inquire about what would you do if you had this choice. My hope was to get feedback to help me make a wiser decision while we
waited for the award letter.</p>
<p>albeit “comparing after an acceptance”</p>
<p>…and kill a little time? (my guess). Mission accomplished. I just wanted to make sure I was seeing what was apparent… the consensus is, with money a concern, most here would recommend you “follow the money”</p>
<p>There is money concern, and there is money concern. If it means not attending a relative wedding overseas or buying a fancy car, it is one thing. If it means not be able to afford health insurance or save money for raining days, it is another thing. OP would know what her risk tolerance is. She should absolutely wait for the award letter before she makes a decision. Of course there are parents out there who could afford to pay more, and just in principle, refuse to because it is not worth it.</p>
<p>Giterdone, it is a tight race opinion wise. I have had a few sidebar conversations that made great sense. I do know now that clearly it is saving money vs. potential future opportunity for my son.</p>
<p>…I think. As I need that award letter to make sure. :)</p>
<p>True - values and principles run the spectrum here, like anywhere else.</p>
<p>A friend of DD is “stuck” (some would trade places with her in a minute, I know) going to instate State school (not on any list :() because very well to to do, upper middle class parents don’t think undergrad is worth it. They will pay no more than 15k/year for college, defend that decision vigorously, and even resent paying that much.</p>
<p>It takes all types.</p>
<p>Great word… “potential” not many people pay much for that.</p>
<p>Parents. We all have so many varying opinions on what is best for our children and still in the end they grow up to be us…who do what we darn well please.</p>
<p>Well, Mamaof1, I hope that you get a generous award letter that makes the decision easy. Good Luck!</p>
<p>The cost of college and the price of “potential” and “prestige” makes me think back to a very underrated movie; Vegas Vacation</p>
<p>Here’s an idea: Why don’t you give me half the money your were gonna bet, then we’ll go out back, I’ll kick you in the nuts, and we’ll call it a day! :D:D</p>
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<p>Including rational types who make decisions based on facts, it would appear.</p>
<p>Yea, I guess we have to include “those” types, too.</p>
<p>It’s a bitter pill I’m not able to give my kids - but I don’t think they (the parents) are evil or are shorting their kids… as mentioned earlier, its (their) principle. I’m a little farther down the scale, but stop way short of “paying anything at all costs” Even for HYPS.</p>
<p>Knowing the schools involved, I would say that the higher-rated school is in another class altogether, academically. The regional school is a completely different type of school, not only academically. The OP knows what I’m talking about. If that aspect of the school strongly appeals to this particular kid, that’s fine. If it doesn’t, I’d say it is another strike against the regional school. There is a third alternative that I would pick over the regional school in a heartbeat, but I don’t know how the money would stack up. If the third school turns out to be significantly more affordable that the top school, I would go for it over the regional school. There is also a wait list school that, if in-state, probably trumps all of the above. But I get that the OP and son are not counting on that coming through, and that is undoubtedly wise.</p>
<p>I should disclose that the top school involved was my kid’s safety, albeit not as safe as some would like! But it was the only relatively safe place I could get him to apply to. (Ironically, I tried to get his to apply to the third school also, to no avail.) The FA offer we got from the top school, which was a combo of merit and need, was grossly unrealistic, so it is a good thing that he had alternatives. BUT our situation had some peculiarities that led to widely divergent packages, and we never appealed that award since he preferred other schools. I hope that the OP has better luck with them, because I think it is a fine school and her S would be able to spread his wings there.</p>
<p>Mamaof1, it is not possible to answer what I would do, not knowing the schools or the financial situations. It would take an awfully large gap in quality and a “doable” financial amount to make me pick the more expensive school. My kids knew they had to get a certain amount of money in order to attend private schools of choice. But we weren’t comparing Harvard to a regional U, we will comparing tier 1 with tier 1.</p>
<p>Annasdad: It is very difficult to know what the resarchers are comparing because it appears to be a meta-analysis where they tried to decipher meaning from many different studies. It is not clear to me that they (or any researchers) set out to specifically study whether or not the differences in selectivity make a difference in learning and college outcomes.</p>
<p>The difficulty is that there is no one college that is made up of students that fit a specific profile and there is lots of overlaps. An athlete at a top school may have an academic profile simlar to a good student at a lesser school. A student that needs substantial aid may fit the profile for a top school, but did not get the money needed.</p>
<p>Certainly, comparisons among the top 50 may well be meaningless. However, from what I hear from professors, students and parents, there is a huge difference in the level of interest and ability in the average student at a tier 3 college or a community college, than in a student at a top 50. I don’t believe the study you cite refutes that in any way. Most college educated people end up successful. Many people without college educations end up earning more than a college educated person. It is not the be all and end all. The college itself may not have as much to do with it as the level of students coming in. Given others have said you don’t really care about the facts or about research that refutes what you said, I am sure you don’t agree.</p>
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<p>– Pascarella and Terenzini, op. cit. upthread, 75</p>
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<p>– Ibid., 76-78</p>