<p>You submit your FAFSA to the college. The college determines what financial aid you will receive. </p>
<p>No guarantee for anything beyond the $5500 Direct Loan.</p>
<p>It’s all fine and good that you THINK that you will get $10,000 from SOMEONE, but the reality is…you probably won’t. “Assistance institution” what are you talking about??</p>
<p>your words are different from my son’s. He told me he’ll receive $10,000 from the Institution, if he can’t I’ll pay the diffrenses.</p>
<p>Taehonchoi, that your son really wants to go there, is a driving reason, and I can understand that. I have my son at an OOS public school and am paying that premium right now. Monetarily, not worth it and I know it. I’m doing it because that is the school he chose, and we had allowed him to make that choice as long as the cost was under a certain amount. That he could find options even less than that amount was not something we went into. So, he picked and we pay.</p>
<p>As for judging schools by test score ranges, that isn’t always the way it works around here. There are certain schools in this country that do have a lot of lustre, Harvard, Princeton, Yale, MIT. No one will argue about that. But when you are talking about schools that are not those on the top of the name recognition scale, no one really cares and hardly knows whether UCSD has a higher or lower test score range than Cal Poly. And they do not care. That’s the case with most of the colleges. I know some relative differentials but for many schools, I have no idea and I track things like this more than most people. Many of us on this board are interested in this sort of thing so we do track it. But it’s not what most people do. They have no idea.Perhaps right in the California area there are pecking orders by UCs, and Cal States, but other than the biggies, Berkeley and LA, most of the country doesn’t really know one from the other. </p>
<p>When you harp on things like this, it leaves a bad taste in a lot of people’s mouths. It’s literally considered in bad taste. There are schools that have lower ranges that are actually considered better school by ratings, reputaiton and recognition. Because that isn’t the only thing that makes a school “better”.</p>
<p>Also, the test score range, and even other indexes such as starting pay, pay scales after say 10 years, does not determine that a “better” school by those standards is better for a given individual. Studies have shown time and again that those who are accepted by a very top school and then decide to go elsewhere tend to do just as well as the peers at that top school. I’ve seen that many times myself, and there are times that the less competitive atmosphere, being big fish in small pond may be beneficial to some people. </p>
<p>Also in terms of standard of living, you’ll find that the Seattle area is much less expensive than CA, in general. My brother lives in a small ranch that costs as much as my big house in an area that is considered high COA. JUst not as high as California. Those are considerations about moving.</p>
<p>You should ask your son to SHOW you what he has received IN WRITING that says how much financial aid he is receiving. </p>
<p>I think your son is in the drivers seat on this whole process. He has bamboozled you into believing that his choice of college is SIGNIFICANTLY better than U Washington. That is simply not the case. He now has you convinced that he will absolutely receive $10,000 in financial aid. If he HAS that award, it should be IN WRITING…and he should be able to show it to you. There should be no guessing. Or maybe he really doesn’t HAVE that amount, but he knows that if he DID, the college choice would be a non-issue. </p>
<p>If you are able to pay $30,000 a year, then fine. There is no issue.</p>
<p>Cal Poly SLO has a $2000 CPS Cal Poly Outreach Scholarship for OOS students. Not sure if this is annual, but if the student becomes in-state, then you will probably lose that scholarship. </p>
<p>Did you get the OOS scholarships in your RD decision from Cal Poly? </p>
<p>Also, does Washington have something similar to the Cal Grant? If so, I don’t think that will transfer to an OOS school. </p>
<p>My son has a strong belief that Cal Poly is 3rd Public Univ in California after UCB & UCLA, Very prestigious one.
Sometimes I agree with him. Is that right ?</p>
<p>Cal Poly is a great school. Clearly, it is your son’s number one choice. If you can pay for him to attend, then fine…so be it.</p>
<p>I do NOT believe Cal Poly SLO is SOOOOOOO much better than U of Washington. That is where I disagree with your son. . But if the finances are not an issue, then send him to Cal Poly. Just be prepared to pay the bill!</p>
<p>I told to my son I can pay maximum $25,000 a year, the rest you’re responsible. my son answered me Don’t worry.
I can make it. </p>
<p>and Univ of Washington, almost 60% of appliers are accepted, not competitive one. But Cal Poly around 30% of the appliers are accepted. very competitive univ. </p>
<p>Your son needs to PROVE to you that he really has this money. Here is what I think will happen. Your son is counting on you letting him matriculate to Cal Poly. He also KNOWS that if they don’t give him the money, you will NOT make him switch schools. You will pay the bill.</p>
<p>If it were me, and I REALLY only had $25,000 to spend, I would INSIST on seeing the financial aid from the college IN writing on the school portal. I would also be very clear that $25,000 was ALL I could afford, and I would NOT pay a nickel more than that. </p>
<p>If your son HAS this $10,000, he should be VERY willing to show you proof to seal,the deal. If he doesn’t have the proof, I would be VERY suspicious of his ability to come up with the money.</p>
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<p>What subject does your son plan to major in?</p>
<p>@calmom - his major is math.</p>
<p>
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<p>Cal Poly SLO is an excellent school, especially in engineering. But no, it is not generally considered more prestigious than most of the UCs. Especially for a math major.</p>
<p>Mathematics</p>
<p>taehunchoi, if you want to support your son attending his first choice school and you can afford to pay the cost of out-of-state tuition, then by all means, send him to Cal Poly.</p>
<p>But don’t make that decision under the false belief the Cal Poly is a more prestigious or well-regarded option than the flagship university of your home state. It just isn’t. </p>
<p>You might find it helpful to review the data available at each school here:
<a href=“College Navigator - National Center for Education Statistics”>http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/</a></p>
<p>After you look up each university, you can compare information like the graduation rates of each school; you can look up the programs offered and see how many students graduated in each major. </p>
<p>You can also go to the web sites of each university and look up the faculty in the mathematics department to get a sense of the credentials of the professors. (Somewhat easier to find on the UW web site). </p>
<p>But those are the numbers that are more significant, and a better way to compare the universities.</p>
<p>It is obvious that Cal Poly’s SAT & Act score is No. 4 and No. 3 in california Public Univs. and its acceptance rate
is No.3 , That means it’s Rivalry with UCSD. I guess this year’s average stats will over come UCSD.</p>
<p>And He (My son) has another alternative. ROTC… Navy and Army gives Him whole money of OOS tuition. </p>
<p>I dont think its fair to compare the test score ranges of UW with SLO. SLO is a techie school so its not likely offering much in the so-called softer fields, performing fields, fine arts, etc…where fabulous right-brained kids may have lower test scores. UW is a flagship and more likely has full depts of fine arts, performing arts, etc.</p>
<p>I would bet that the test scores of the students in the math depts of UW and SLO are very similar.</p>
<p>At this point, since you are not going to listen to us anyway, do what you want to do. Odds are you will end up in a very difficult situation, with your wife moving to CA and the school pointing out that that doesn’t matter, since your son graduated from a WA high school. If he has to drop out because you cannot continue to afford school, he will look back and regret not going to school in WA at a very good school at an affordable price. A degree from a very good school is a lot better than a drop out from one you consider to be so much better (but really isn’t). </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Oh…so now he claims to have an ROTC SCHOLARSHIP at Cal Poly? Really? I would want to see THAT in writing too.</p>