<p>arisamp–</p>
<p>URI offers merit for OOS students. We were there last week and they said so. They have a great ocean sci major too & I think the geol program is not shabby.</p>
<p>nj2011–</p>
<p>Really, did Corzine get away with selling part of the Turnpike? I thought that idea got shouted down.</p>
<p>Indiana did the same thiing, and now they are regretting it. The outfit that owns the highway is not installing EZ Pass-type booths; drivers have to stop & pay tolls the old fashioned way. Let’s see if they make paving repairs!</p>
<p>amandakayak-</p>
<p>This economy has slammed both state budgets (and subsequently state schools) and the endowments of private colleges and universities. I attended a presentation by the president of my alma mater, where the discussion of the budgetary issues and employment decisions that had to be made were unfortunate.</p>
<p>NJ2011–</p>
<p>We are in a similar boat. D in 11th gr, I took 2 girls to visit RU last fall, beautiful day. One girl was crushed because she realized (words from AO instead of Mom this time) that her slacking in frosh & soph years wd hurt her getting into many schools (She is a PA res so RU was not such an issue for her; she’d gone for the visit experience).</p>
<p>My D was not impressed. She did realize that she can get in & prob. with scholarships, and she is willing to apply as safety, but she really does not – with caps–want to go there. </p>
<p>They both did realize that RU has many excellent majors and lots of opportunity for those willing to use it. They just did not like the location & size.</p>
<p>My D also has that notion that she will either be visiting us “too much” or we will be pestering her, if she goes to school anywhere in our state or nearby PA, Del, etc.</p>
<p>I got a sad little letter from NYU after Madoff scandal hit, they lost a good chunk because finan. planner invested (supposedly after NYU said “don’t invest”) and lost. That crossed my grad sch alma mater off the list (for a number of reasons actually).</p>
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<p>At some point they will realize that WE also have a life, and it doesn’t always revolve around them.</p>
<p>I have told her that she will very shortly be taken up in the school’s social scene and need to do homework & papers, and there will be no time for visiting Mom & Dad other than Thanksgiving, etc. And that goes as much for Princeton 13 mi down the road (as if she could get in) the same as for some school in California.</p>
<p>In 1992, NJ sold the northern 4.6 miles of what everyone considered part of the Turnpike to the NJ Turnpike authority (an indepenent agency) to balance the budget. Later attempts to sell the turnpike have not been well received. A current idea is to sell the naming rights to the rest stops.</p>
<p>^^ Please tell me they are not going to have a Gov. Jim McGreevey reststop!!! Not sure I’d want to stop in their restroom ;)</p>
<p>Always loved stopping at the Vince Lombardi stop, though.</p>
<p>UC Davis has one of the top vetrerinary schools in the country. (Big science school) Go Aggies! Great Equine program… and every other farm animal you can thing of! And I am sure UC would happily accept your brilliant daughter paying her wonderful out of state tuition!</p>
<p>California is broke—in todays paper it said UC Berkeley has accepted more out of state kids this year than ever before. I am sure it is the same with UC Davis—</p>
<p>I would suggest that at least she look at the vet school when it comes time in 4 years!</p>
<p>Many state flagship universities are wonderful and comprehensive universities with much to offer many students. For instate students, the prices are usually competitive. For example…Ohio State University is a WONDERFUL school…so is Purdue, so is UMich, Wisconsin, UMDCP, UVA, UNC-CH…I could go on and on and on. Students and often parents have this misguided notion that the “grass is greener” someplace beside their own state. The reality is that out of state kids are clamouring to get into some of these schools. If “no one” did their homework (as DAD II or his kids seem to think) then why would this be the case? There are MANY affluent families who have kids who to public universities. </p>
<p>Now…if your family decides that for some reason, a private school is more to your liking…wonderful…that is your decision (our kids went to private schools…so there you go). But the reality is that our DD would have done just fine at the OOS public university she was accepted to. And for her…it was a tough choice to make. </p>
<p>Re: proximity to home…I agree with Oldfort…my life doesn’t revolve around my kids when they are at college. It didn’t matter if my daughter was 3000 miles away or 30 miles away…I was NOT visiting her every week and did not expect her to come here frequently either.</p>
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<p>Yes, we know, Dad II. However, that is not a “strategy.” You keep assuming that any smart student can just reasonably expect to get into one of the elites with the deep pockets.</p>
<p>PG, I am not assuming. I know that will happen based on all have gathered. I also want to thank you for giving me the idea word - strategy. I finally realize how important it is to develop a correct strategy for the college application. it will invlove financial planning, test taking, GC relationship, school visits, and ED/EA planning. </p>
<p>In DD’s case, I did not do well because the lack of experiences. In DS’s case, I think our agreed strategy worked very well. </p>
<p>I guess that is one of the reasons some parents are spending so much time here.</p>
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<p>You have the guaranteed magic formula to get a smart kid into a top 20 (where FA will be just fine and dandy and the money will flow, too)? Do share!! If you have such a formula, you will be middle-class no longer!</p>
<p>And how can you say you “didn’t do well” in your daughter’s case when she is going to STANFORD?</p>
<p>LOL pizzagirl. Maybe thats how that expensive hawaiian vacation is being funded ;)</p>
<p>*At some point they will realize that WE also have a life, and it doesn’t always revolve around them. *</p>
<p>LOL…my older son had the same concern (he’s about 3 hours away). He’s now in his 3rd year and he knows that there’s no way we would just show up without an invitation.</p>
<p>PG, DD did well but I did not. If you know what I mean. </p>
<p>I do think I could get any decent kids into a T20 with above average need based FA if I could have the control from freshman year in HS. It will be such a piece of cake, a walk in the park, etc.</p>
<p>Maybe I am coming down with the flu. I sure am beginning to feel nauseus…</p>
<p>“I do think I could get any decent kids into a T20 with above average need based FA if I could have the control from freshman year in HS. It will be such a piece of cake, a walk in the park, etc.”</p>
<p>Dream on, unless by “decent kid” you are talking about someone who either a) already has the natural ability and background to be in the top 5% or so of his class or b) is a URM or has the natural ability to be a recruited athlete. Even with respect to a), you are grossly overstating your ability to get get admissions for many of the kids.</p>
<p>EMM1, this is the arugement none of us can’t win, can we? While I do have two data points to support my claim, I could probably need a couple more to make you believe. Since I am not in business, I don’t think I would get those additional data points. </p>
<p>We had a very important discussion with HS GC at the beginning of DS’s junior year. The said GC draw up a full plan for him - this is good, that is good, however, we need this and we must do that. That was so instrumental in the overall presentation of DS’s application. </p>
<p>In other words, the GC’s experiences from many years of sending students to T20 schools paid off for us.</p>
<p>Also, there are about 4000 colleges/universities in this country alone. T20 is top 0.5%. So, when I say decent, I don’t mean top 5%, more like top 2%.</p>