<p>Hornet, community colleges can differ widely just as 4 year schools can differ. A problem I have noticed is that if a student is planning on transferring to a rigorous university, he may not be prepared for those advanced courses if the community college he attends do not give the same preparation for those courses in the foundation years. This has been a big problem for many. My family includes a group in Delaware. Kid after kid has gone to CC there with excellent grades for two years, only to bomb out when transferring to Uof D for the final two years. One cousin who did manage to hang in there, ended up repeating intro level courses and found a big difference in the material covered. This is not the only time I have heard of this occurring. </p>
<p>It is not just CCs that can cause this issue, and it is unfair to "pick" on them. There are kids here who go to some local 4 year colleges, and then get their heads handed to them upon transfer to more rigorous programs. It is more the disconnect among schools in general.</p>
<p>A good friend of mine went to medical school when she was in her mid fifties. She took all the premed courses from a CC that really did not have the best rep for preparation for a rigorous 4 year program, but she excelled in the MCATS and gained entry to medical school. She did due diligence with her courses and worked hard. Saved a lot of money going there rather than to a private school that has an official premed program for those who graduated with other degrees. Also saved a lot of time and trouble since the CC was right nearby. However, the CC does not have a good track record with kids that it transfers to the state schools, and I would hesitate to recommend that route to those who need to have the school spell out what is needed. </p>
<p>I understand that a number of CCs in California are specifically set up to transition kids to the UCs, and that the preparation at those schools is equal to what you could get in the lower level courses at the UCs. That is ideally what should be the case. But that does not always happen.</p>
<p>Here's how we pay for it. Affording it is another thread!!</p>
<p>Both of us are professional folks. Both of us work full time. ONE whole salary is dedicated to college costs and has been for 7 years (and will be for 2 more). The only other thing that ONE salary contributes to is a retirement account.</p>
<p>We use DH's salary to pay our other bills, and mine to pay for college. If one of us wasn't working, we would NOT be able to pay for these schools. We also did some very significant belt tightening...no vacations, no new furniture or cars, no expensive dinners out, reduced cable to the basic (we didn't need over 200 channels anyway), turned down the thermostat, bought CF light bulbs, unplugged the extra freezer, and used some of our HELOC.</p>
<p>For some this would not be worth it. We made the decision it was for our family.</p>
<p>Oh...and our kids also work during vacations and during school. We do not contribute to their spending money (including books) at all.</p>
<p>Is it doable...well...for us it is, as long as both of us are working the jobs we have now.</p>
<p>don't the kids watch tv these days?? I'm sorry but all these stories about kids whining and crying over how their parents can't afford their dream schools i just ridiculous
they need to wake up and toughen up</p>
<p>I'm an international student applying this december to get in next year
and obviously for an international, many schools don't even offer need-based so i'll have to reply mostly on merit based.
And I know the financial situation of my parents - paying 50000 a year out of their 1000000 salary isn't the best option.
so I know that if I don't get a decent amount of merit aid (i.e. half the tuition) then I won't go. </p>
<p>But then again there are also a lot of small, LAC universities out there that may not have the high SAT records of its students but still can provide good education (hopefully this is the case with one of my unis i'm applying to) where I can also probably get almost full-ride</p>
<p>I know my options and I know that I'm not going to put my parents and myself in dept just to go to university in america. If I have to pay exponential amount of money to get a bachelors degree, then I'll just go to a uni in my own country</p>
<p>We did not always handle our money the best way we could have. We have shared that information freely with our children. Hopefully they do better in saving, planning, providing than we have. So I would not be upset if any of my kids threw the "where's my college fund" question at me. I've also explained to them what their inheritance is going to be. I should buy each of them a mirror to emphasize the point. We spent most of our money on our children, not always in the wisest ways, but tried to make the best decision at the time, keeping future in mind while tending to the present.</p>
<p><a href="from%20HappytoGraduate's%20posts">quote</a> Esp. when these other parents have a vested interest to get their kids into top notch schools, don't you think they may have an ulterior motive with fespect to the advice THEIR giving you? Do you really think those courses are on par with university courses and YOU'RE daughter will gain the knowledge she is supposed
[/quote]
Capital letters mine. Troll, or some young student out to get a rise out of us. Certainly not a medical doctor... :eek: or I would seriously worry about the state of pre-med and medical education...</p>
<p>As an owner of a large and successful business, I have interviewed and employed lots of people over the years. I can honestly say I prefer to hire good students from State schools than students from private schools. Plus, a few years after you graduate from college, nobody really cares where your degree is from anyway. Or what your major was, for that matter. There are occasions when it matters, but by and large it does not. And there are huge advantages to being debt-free once you graduate.</p>
<p>There are some excellent reasons why the most selective schools are so sought. They are not all illusions. Though there are business that do prefer kids from State schools or other school types, the kids who as a group seem to be earning the most and having the most prestigious jobs around here are the ones from those "elite" schools. Not to say that they are all employed at dream jobs or even employed at all. I think the numbers are better for certain industries when you come from certain schools. </p>
<p>All things equal I would love to send my kids to the top schools. If I could swing it financially without compromising other important things in life, I would love to pay for whatever school my kids wanted. But reality calls.</p>
<p>no problem moviemania...I understand you can identify with my daughter being the same age. She will be fine though and the more i investigate the PA schools the more convinced I am they are a great bargain. She also applied to 2 SUNY schools which are fairly reasonable for out of staters...I would hope she gets into one of them at least (New Paltz and U of Buffalo were her choices) and we can visit and see how she likes them...I could definitely see her in a SUNY or a PA state school..I think with what we are willing to pay and small loans SUNY would be an excellent OOS alternative...dont know if she will get admitted but we wont know until february...We did go to Kutztown this past weekend and she really liked the school...I am concerned after reading reviews that the academics there are lackluster and thats a concern. We are planning a trip next weekend to another state school 2 hours away..I want to take her to all the ones she applied and has been accepted to to see how she likes it..I even told her I would take her down to temple one day if she wants. I dont need to do a formal tour there bc I know the campus very well..She has been ok with it and I think things wil be just fine! Thank you all for your help and suggestions..I am taking all of them under advisement of course...</p>
<p>"Isn't it heart wrenching to go to the same state university with the guy from your class who took moderately rigorous classes and only a few ECs to boast, al the while partying his butt off in high school? Your child will definitely feel "ripped off" and that all his or her extra effort amounted to nothing." </p>
<p>u just totally read my mind!!!!</p>
<p>i second that wholeheartedly. that's exactly how i feel right now, even though i do support the idea that i have been speakin of this this whole time -- go to state school if not admitted to an 'elite' university/college and save money for grad school. </p>
<p>i would honestly HATE to have to go to Rutgers. and i spoke to my parents about it long time ago. it has always been something i have on my mind ever since this whole college thing started. drives me nuts!!!</p>
<p>I know some top kids who are at Ohio State, Penn State, UBuffalo, Rutgers, UMichigan...the list goes on. Their experiences at these state universities have been wonderful. I've visited these schools and many other state schools. There are some private schools that have nothing on those schools. In fact, with so many students, there are often many more amenities at the state schools than at some of the privates that are straining with their budgets. </p>
<p>My son goes to a small private that he really likes. But it does not have many of the choices that his brother's state school has. It's just all about the numbers. I don't think either of them feel the way the Yourname does.</p>
<p>When I was an undergrad & grad student at very good publics, I never felt the way YourName does either. I enjoyed my experience at both schools. </p>
<p>My brother went to Stanford undergrad as a transfer (started at flagship U to save money) & turned down all the elite private med schools to go to UCSF because it was so much cheaper & he was convinced he'd get just as good an education there. He had his pick of internships, residencies & jobs & does not regret his choices. All of the private elites also offered him internships & residencies, so it didn't handicap him as far as any of us can tell.</p>
<p>MomfromPa, i know RU is a good school. never said it wasn't. but the thing is, a kid w/maybe a 1700 can easily get into it along w/mediocre GPA. it just bothers me. maybe b/c i'm chinese? LOL</p>
<p>People where I am look at Rutgers as an excellent choice for an OOS public university. Isn't it odd that someone from NJ doesn't find it as appealing?</p>
<p>It sounds like you think people should adjust their efforts based on their target? Unfortunately, I think that's a common but sad and very limiting point of view because you really can miss some great opportunities if you put in minimal effort, no matter what your target. Sometimes you overshoot your target and wind up with options and opportunities you never even contemplated!</p>