<p>I wonder if this is pretty common: My son has been accepted at York College and Arcadia. Both in Pa. Arcadia is over $40k for tutition/room and board. York is just over $21K. He likes both colleges but we live 8 miles from York College and he wants to go to Arcadia because of this. (it is 2 hrs away) He knows that finances are the deciding factor. Anyone dealing with an issue like this?</p>
<p>Mike A.</p>
<p>Is the issue that he thinks that you will show up unannounced and too often on campus? Perhaps he will be happy to go to York if you let him know that you won’t visit more than other parents unless invited to do so.</p>
<p>Both of my kids go to college within 30 minutes of home. Not an uncommon thing in the greater Boston area. Mom and Dad give them plenty of space and, for the most part, they only come home during regular school breaks.</p>
<p>I don’t know anything about either of the schools in question, but for $20K per year I would sign a contract regarding keeping out of his hair. :)</p>
<p>There is always an allure to being away from home. Put your foot down. He can’t get loans without your cosigning to you can help him decide. DD2 is waiting on her last college acceptances and knows finances are part of the evaluation.</p>
<p>We are having the same problem with my DS. His problem is not really my DH and I (at least that’s what he says) since we know how important it is for him to leave the nest at this point. Instead, he’s worried that his high school friends will still be a big part of his life, and he wants to meet new people and try new ways to spend his time.</p>
<p>He, and your DS, need to know that they can put their foot down and take control.</p>
<p>I would explain the reality of the price difference. I have discovered recently when explaining financial decisions to my D that she is often more than happy with the less pricey choice when it is put into context. 80K to be 90 -120 mins farther away, 37 weeks of the year, for 4 years, is REALLY expensive – .</p>
<p>OP - I wish your S well during his four years at York.</p>
<p>Never heard of Arcadia, and neither York nor Arcadia are listed in the 2009 Fiske Guide to Colleges or the Princeton Review’s The Best 366 Colleges. I don’t know about paying 40K a year for a school not listed in either of those guides. I wouldn’t do it. </p>
<p>Anyway, I have the opposite problem. My kids like it around me so much they don’t want to go away to college. I’m going to have to shove them out the door.</p>
<p>I’ve visited both colleges and can understand why your son would rather attend Arcadia. It’s a much more exciting college with an outstanding study abroad program, in a different part of the state. York is also a great college but if it’s so close to home, no surprise to me that he doesn’t want to go. Are there any other options closer to the York price range? We have a lot of great State schools here in PA. How about West Chester? It’s got a great town (fairly similar to Arcadia) and it’s well priced. </p>
<p>If those are your only options, I would strongly encourage you to make sure you attend any accepted student events at York.</p>
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The $19K difference in price would fund a LOT of travel for your son. </p>
<p>If I were in your shoes, I’d tell S. that he has to choose York, and give him a graduation gift of a summer travel adventure - for $6K you could fund some really exciting travel and you’d still be $15K ahead for the coming school year.</p>
<p>Whose idea was it that he apply to York? I’m wondering if he did so only to appease the parental units, but was never interested in it.</p>
<p>Plainsman - Arcadia is right out your back door! </p>
<p>Did he get any merit scholarships? Finances rule. However, I agree with kathiep - he can still look around, it is definitely not too late. Other schools he might want to consider are IUP, Millersville, Bloomsburg or Kutztown.</p>
<p>They are both good schools. Arcadia is in tier 1 Master’s - North in USNews and York is in tier 1 Bac - North in USNews.</p>
<p>question - if he were to go to York would you expect him to live at home and commute? if so the price won’t be $21,000.</p>
<p>Dealing with it now. Best financial choice is about 25-30 minutes away from home. I work about 10 minutes away. DD is concerned about the people she knows from hs thing. We’ve tried to help her see that how much she interacts with people from HS will be entirely up to her, and that the university is large enough for that to happen. She can create a new life if she wishes. We have promised that contact, to a great extent, will be up to her. She will lead the way unless she fails to keep in touch every week or two. I don’t think that’s really out of line.</p>
<p>It seems that colleges are really going the extra mile when it comes to finances. The amount of mail we get is tremendous. We are waiting to see what assistance Arcadia is willing to do. If it is not close to York, he knows where he will be going. He understands that and is not complaining. He wants to major in Public Relations. Both programs seem to be very good. </p>
<p>Mike A.</p>