Parent perspective - Bing with no debt, or UNH with surplus?

Parents Forum
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<p>About to send DS off ... accepted to SUNY BING, which he could probably graduate from debt-free (or no more than 5-10K, anyway). He's also been accepted at UNH, from which he could graduate with 25-30K in his pocket (from a grandparent's educational trust acccount), which would obviously give him a jump in his post grad career or educational plans.</p>

<p>Bright kid, (B+/A- student, college prep/AP track, scores well on standardized tests), but he's not especially focused in terms of having a definite career plan at age 17. Vague thoughts of trying to enter the foreign service, but probably just as inclined to follow a STEM path in reality. </p>

<p>Also accepted at UConn (no aid), Delaware (some aid - but he wasn't enamored of it for some reason); waitlisted (rejected with honorable mention) at Lehigh/NEU; and waiting for GWU/UNC, but GWU would no doubt be prohibitively expensive if accepted (I imagine he'd be at least 50-60k in debt) and UNC is an almost certain rejection.</p>

<p>The fly in the ointment is that he's grown up in Durham, NH (home of UNH) - and has always wanted to get out of town. He'd see half his class at the U, and even though he'd stay on campus (instead of saving even more by staying home) - he'd no doubt feel that home ties were too close (although we're not the type to keep the strings attached). </p>

<p>Academically, I'm sure he'd get a decent education at either place - with a slight nod to Bing for the caliber of students, a more diverse student body, and the potential for better networking with the NYC crowd. I imagine that UNH compares favorably in some programs, but as he's not ready to commit to an academic path - I'm not sure that counts much at this point. </p>

<p>The residential/learning community experience of Bing also appeals (maybe more to me than him). The dorms are surprisingly nice, and having a faculty mentor and targeted classes and in-residence classes and tutoring facilities also makes sense to me.</p>

<p>The downside to Bing is the weather - and IMHO, a fairly uninspiring campus and surrounding environs. He thought the campus was okay - was actually fairly impressed by the tour.</p>

<p>Logically, I know the money should play a large factor - but I would almost prefer him to have the fuller sense of independence and breaking away, and do think that Bing offers slightly more opportunity.</p>

<p>Not that he or I is likely to make a final decision based on forum discussion, but it'd be great to hear a few different perspectives.</p>

<p>Thanks,
The dad. </p>

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<p>If it were me, I’d encourage the kid to spread his wings and make his own decision- but I’d secretly be praying for Binghamton. For all the reasons you mention. I think Bing is more diverse; I think there is an upper tier of serious, academic students which is more dense than the top strata at UNH. I wouldn’t go into heavy debt for Bing- but if the money is there- well, isn’t that what it’s to be used for???</p>

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<p>I agree with blossom.</p>

<p>It’s too bad that the northern NE schools don’t have in-state reciprocity. This would be a case where the kid could go to, say, U VT, and get out of Dodge. (I live in ME, and when I last looked into this it was only available if the desired major wasn’t offered at the in-state U.)</p>

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<p>The money was saved to send him to college - send him to Binghamton, if that’s his top choice! I would only chose UNH and the money available for Grad School if he already knows he intends to go to grad school. Don’t think of it as money in his pocket - if it was meant for his education, that’s how it should be used.</p>

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<p>Thanks. I think it would be easier if it was his top choice. He seemed to like it well enough on the tour, but given his druthers - he’d probably pick UConn out of his current opportunites. Unfortunately - the total lack of merit … bastards … legacy and all :slight_smile: … makes it a pricey proposition. I honestly can’t see saddling a kid with more than 25-30K in debt. I do wish he was more obviously excited by Bing … He’s hard to read in that regard. He was disappointed by the Lehigh rejection, but that was the only school for which he openly expressed enthusiasm (although - from reading some of the commentary around these parts, I’m not sure it’s the culture for him). Honestly - I wish he was more enthusiastic about the whole process! I will say that from reading these boards, I’ll have a better idea how to navigate these waters when D rolls around to it in another year or so… </p>

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<p>Oh - and Consolation … I’m pretty sure that’s still the case (reciprocity). I didn’t actually think too hard about that option, as it probably leads to a pretty specific career path. Now if he wanted to major in puppetry at UConn… </p>

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<p>I’d be hard pressed to identify an academic area where U Conn is clearly superior to Binghamton.</p>

<p>What is it he liked about Lehigh? Maybe helping him identify what got him excited there will help?</p>

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<p>You do know that his debt will be capped at $27K, regardless of where he lands, right? Anything more will have to be your debt or cosigned by you. I’m not sure how much networking your S will see in a city 3 long hours away from the college.</p>

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<p>I know many kids who chose Binghamton. It’s a great school, but it’s nearly all New Yorkers. Those from NY who go there generally know a lot of kids there to some degree. it’s always the case that you are a bit of the outsider when you go to an OOS state school, but at the larger schools with more OOS kids in numbers, you are quite the outlier. UNH does have more diversity in terms of kids from other states, if I remember correctly. </p>

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<p>Thanks for replies. Yes - I realize he an only take a certain amound of federal loans, and we will be responsible for the rest. We do have a reasonable amount in a 529, plus the grandparents account. If nothing else, it would probably see him through two years at most schools (and just about the full four at Bing, as they surprisingly gave him a decent amount of merit and are still sanely priced for an OOS student). </p>

<p>That would still leave 60-80K out of pocket if he went to a little-to-no merit school though… of which, as you point out, we’d be legally responsible for. </p>

<p>There are certainly some areas where UConn has a decent reputation as well (pharmacy and education, for example) - but again, no certain area where he’d find an academic edge to it over Binghamton. I would say - that despite being as isolated (if not moreso) than Bing, the campus itself is very nice (a terrific integration between classic and contemporary, I think - and nicely landscaped) - and the weather is probably a lot nicer :)</p>

<p>I don’t think being considered an outsider would be much of a problem for him. He’s pretty gregarious and easy to get along with, so I think he’d fit in reasonably wherever he ends up…</p>

<p>UNH is definitely one of those cases where it draws more OOS than in (due to NH’s relatively small and shrinking student population, and crappy state support financially). But he’d still feel like he hasn’t left home at all - seeing familiar faces all the time, and walking around the streets he sees every day. </p>

<p>As far as networking, I’m not sure either. I assume Bing has pretty good inroads into the NY financial scene (not that I think he’d be particularly interested in that). I guess I was just assuming more from the people he got to meet on campus, and the potential to meet people who were interested in trying city life afterward. I guess networking is not something I thought much about back in the 80’s as a student myself, but it obviously has more significance now…</p>

<p>Oh - and Consolation. Thanks for the reminder about recipriocity. I’ll now inquire to UConn about the potential (they have a “Human Rights” degree which aligns with his current State Dept thoughts, and must be combined with a second major anyway). No harm in asking admissions… </p>

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<p>It’s great he got merit at Bing. Fewer than 50 kids do each year and the amounts are usually not a whole lot. If affordable, and it appears that it is, it’s always good when the kid can make the choice. You have so much more going for you when any issues arise, and the usually do, when the school was what the student chose, not got foisted on him.</p>

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<p>I also live in a college town, and many of our HS students go to school here because their parents get a tuition break and/or they can live at home if that makes things more affordable. I understand his desire to become a person from away…but financially, I would give him the choice of UNH or Bing. College debt is a profoundly bad idea. </p>

<p>My students both attend/ed here with success and independance, and if yours lives on campus, has minimal contact with you (mine were regularly treated to “what would you do about <em>laundry</em> <em>dead car batter</em> <em>late rent</em> <em>no food</em> if you lived in California? Well, then, do that”) and joins clubs that get him meeting other people (choose a random roomate!!) he should feel independant too. Maybe take some of that 25K “saved” and send him to a study abroad choice some semester. </p>

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<p>I live in a college town and work at the university…</p>

<p>My son chose to go to our other big state school (32,000 students) about 120 miles away and rarely sees anyone from our town…there are about 40-50 kids from his HS class at the school. He hangs out with no friends from HS. Others we know at the school room with and hang with HS friends. Son is an independent kid that wanted to meet new people and he has.</p>

<p>About 140 or so kids from his class attend our in town big state u. Many choose to room and hang with HS classmates. Others break from their HS mates and strike out on their own. Some of the townies never come home, others eat a meal at home every weekend. I think it largely depends on how ‘independent’ the kid is. If your son wants to, he can break from his townies.</p>

<p>The one thing that I hear from the townies at my school is that they discover a town that they never new existed before. They discover new events, places, things, people, etc.</p>

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<p>Thanks for responses. I certainly think he’d blossom at local U (and yes - his mother works there, so there would be a tuition break). Still - UNH is definitely not a big state U, and I don’t think he would see the town/environs in a whole new light (despite being able to take advantage of the events and programs of the university). I do think he’d probably try to find as many new people as possible though … This area is beautiful (don’t ge me wrong), and I think he appreciates much about having grown up in the area, but at heart I think he wants the change - and it’s just the dangling financial carrot that would make him consider. We aren’t suggesting it, but we’ve certainly made him aware of the cost-benefit…</p>

<p>That is a good suggestion about study abroad. I’ve brought that up in passing, and would consider it as a strong incentive (either that, or a semester in DC program, if he was serious about state dept. work). </p>

<p>I’m not sure what the attraction was to Lehigh, btw. It is a lovely campus (which might have been part of it), and I think it had a high “ROI” rating when he was investigating colleges. The new “ideas” campus/program might have had some draw as well … but I think overall there’s probably more growth opportunity at a larger research U (not to mention a more diverse populace). I should ask him more, and narrow down what actually drew him to it… .</p>

<p>As far as reciprocal agreements, it looks like it would be a 12-13k break off OOS for UConn. More palatable, but yes - likely some debt, and again - he’d really have to commit to an academic program to afford it. Still - I think I’ll bring it up as an option if I hear back from Admissions…</p>

<p>And yes - the thought of debt is a bit overwhelming. I can’t believe (coming from the era of 5k-6k per semester for tuition AND room and board) - how much pressure these kids are under before they even set foot into the hallowed halls of academia! And I consider him very lucky to have reasonable options on the table at all… </p>

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<p>We are in a similar situation… stay in town and go to a great university debt free or go out of town to attend a great college which would leave her with 10-15 grand in debt. I know how you feel… it SHOULD be easy. Getting an education with no debt should be a no brainer but it’s not always so simple. All the schools on our table are good but local is large public university and others are small LAC’s which are no doubt, the better fit for her. My head says… “graduate debt free” while my gut says “she needs to leave town and get the classroom environment she’s been trying to craft since preschool.”</p>

<p>I know, not helpful to you. I know nothing about the schools you mentioned but I certainly understand the hesitation. Just letting you know you aren’t alone. It’s easy to make money the priority when the options are equal but when they aren’t…well… just tough.</p>

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<p>I’m confused. OP- I thought the premise was that your kid could graduate from Bing debt free???</p>

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<p>Sorry - yes, he could (or fairly close to it). His merit aid brings it down to 20-25K a year … which our 529 savings and the grandparent account would just about cover over the 4 years. Any difference could fairly easily be made up out of his summer earnings, work study, and our out of pocket (although we have a junior-to-be daughter to think about in 2 years).</p>

<p>UNH would be an obscenely good financial deal (1/2 price in-state tuition because spouse works there, and he actually got merit aid and a scholarship as well … although I’m not sure if his tuition break would make them re-think those offers). The 529 alone would probably cover that, and leave the GP’s trust account in his name.</p>

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<p>The debt remark was directed towards attending UConn (which we’d be 30-40K short for, by the looks of things), or the off-chance he got accepted at GWU or UNC. I’m pretty sure those would be off-the table entirely for financial reasons. It sounds pretty bad, but I’m fairly glad he was waitlisted at Lehigh and Northeastern, as we don’t have to appear the bad guys in crushing his dreams… </p>

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<p>Regio,
I can tell you that some of the brightest kids in NY state pick Binghamton because of it’s affordability over more nationally known schools. I honestly think that the academic caliber of students at Bing is quite a bit higher than those at UNH. Quite a few of my “grown up” friends went to Bing and are generally nice successful people.</p>

<p>The SAT scores and rankings of the kids at Bing are significantly higher and there is more diversity at Bing, even though the majority of students are from NY.</p>

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<p>Good to hear, M3S. I suspect that would be the case. </p>

<p>I was also pleased to see that there was a larger percentage of international students at Bing comparatively (although there seem to be plenty at UNH as well, judging by the number I see locally). </p>

<p>I do suspect he would meet many more interesting and involved people than he would by attending UNH. </p>

<p>I wish we’d have visited in the two months a year when it was actually nice! Still … despite the fairly architecturally drab campus and the tundra surrounding it , some of the facilities were very nice, and I think he’d enjoy the large nature preserve behind it … </p>