<p>res,
I think hmom’s comment has a lot more to do with common sense than bias against OOS publics. </p>
<p>Paying OOS tuition at a public (or a private that is not offering some financial incentives) when one has a low-cost, home state, very high quality alternative is very expensive. I suspect hmom would be making the same comment if a student in Michigan was considering selecting UC Berkeley or UCLA over U Michigan. In some circumstances, it might make some sense, but in most cases, it probably would not. As the figures below show, there is a big cost difference.</p>
<p>In-state tuition & fees cost for four years:</p>
<p>$33,408 UC Berkeley
$32,912 UCLA</p>
<p>Out-of-state tuition & fees cost for four years:</p>
<p>$144,652 U Michigan</p>
<p>Big difference. </p>
<p>BTW, I suspect that there are plenty of privates where some merit aid would be offered to a student with those stats. That would include several schools that are known to offer the experience that the OP mentions (“a big college because he likes people, sports and activities. He wants to be at a more urban area not too close to home”).</p>
<p>Due to their excellent ability to offer a premiere blend of great academics, great social life and great athletic life, you might want to also look at Stanford, Duke, Northwestern, Rice, Vanderbilt, Notre Dame, Georgetown, and Wake Forest.</p>