<p>Your spouse should call the benefits office to clarify if the merit award can be “stacked” on top of the employee tuition break. You ought to be dealing in real numbers when you need to make a decision and I don’t know how UNH will choose to handle it in your son’s situation.</p>
<p>Is the money in the account an educational trust account in your son’s name set up by the grandparent and is there a comparable amount available for the younger child?</p>
<p>Thanks, blossom. Yes - I’ll make sure that the financials are clarified. I assume the merit aid/scholarship would stay in effect, but don’t know for sure. Either way, UNH would certainly be financially viable (although I don’t know if he would have the excess money if they decided to rescind the scholarships).</p>
<p>The money from the grandparents is not a 529, but it is a trust that would turn over to him at age 18. Not sure exactly what the legalities are, but I know the money is his no matter what happens - but it was explicitly set aside for college. As far as paying for college, I assume monies would come out of the 529 first (to avoid any financial penalties) - and the rest would come from the GP account.</p>
<p>Yes - a comparable amount is available for the younger child (not equivalent, as she has two years less worth of principle and interest put in - but the amount of money put into the accounts has been equal from their birth). </p>
<p>Since he’s not really sure, think I would bring him to BING for another visit. Could an overnight visit be arranged? It may help him decide if he can see himself there for four years.</p>
<p>SUNY Bing is an awfully good state school, at an awfully good price. The weather can’t be THAT different from NH! :)</p>
<p>Yes - as with the majority I’m thinking Bing is the best of options.</p>
<p>I think the weather is just rainier (certainly not colder, and probably not any grayer than this freakin’ never ending winter!). You know when lots of students mention it on message boards, there’s probably some truth to it… I get the feeling Binghamton’s just in one of those micro-climates that it’s often cloudy. Definitely not a weighty factor in the decision though!</p>
<p>I don’t think another visit is in the cards before commitment day - but it probably would have been good for him to get an overnight visit in. If there’s one thing that frustrates me about the process so far, it is DS’s lack of excitement. I think he’s just feeling overwhelmed with keeping up grades, going through the application and scholarship app process, not to mention that life could be easier at home sometimes (mainly due to having DD/DW under the same roof… men are definitely more laid back!). If he’d taken the opportunity to attend a class and see what dorm life is like - instead of taking a couple of whirlwind college tours - he’d have been more enthused.</p>
<p>Tried to broach a college conversation with him last night - but he definitely made it known that he wasn’t ready to talk until he got his final decisions from GW/UNC. </p>
<p>Unfortunately, everything seemed to be a bit crammed into his senior year (and I’d say that the blame lies on parental and student shoulders equally). We’ll definitely make sure the process starts earlier with DD in the hopes that it will be a bit more relaxing and enjoyable for all parties concerned!</p>
<p>Thanks for all your input so far … on this thread and others. CC has definitely provided a lot of good information. </p>
<p>My DD went to Binghamton. It is at the very top of Kiplinger’s “Best Value for Out of State Studetns” list</p>
<p>Regio…new England schools ONLY have reciprocity for programs NOT offered in the home state…not all majors are included. If it’s offered in YOUR state, no reciprocity.</p>
<p>Let the student choose. I’m not sure I see a huge issue with Bing over UNH except that it’s close to home. It sounds like he wants to go away from home, but NOT to Bing. Do I have that correct? And I agree with another poster…your thread title says NO DEBT for Bing. </p>
<p>Agree 100% with mom3sons. My son applied to both Bing and UNH. Bing was one of his reach schools and UNH was a safety. Bing is considerably more culturally diverse because NYS is considerably more diverse than New Hampshire. </p>
<p>That being said, my son was not crazy about either school, but since we are instate for Bing he would have gone there if he didn’t get into any of his top choices. I thought UHN was charming and had more a a feel of a private lac than most state schools, especially NYS schools, where most of the campuses are quite institutional looking (60’s architecture as many were built/expanded during that time.) </p>
<p>As for the weather, it is considerably cloudier in Bing . Central NY is very cloudy compared to other parts of the state and NE in general. It can be very depressing (I lived in Syracuse so know first hand.) Bing is #6 on worst weather list. <a href=“http://www.farmersalmanac.com/blog/2006/10/06/the-10-worst-weather-cities/”>http://www.farmersalmanac.com/blog/2006/10/06/the-10-worst-weather-cities/</a></p>
<p>OTOH, I get what you said about him not discovering anything new in town as a student at UHN (If I blinked I would have missed Durham ) and his desire to go to away to school. It’s only my opinion and preference - but I think it’s very important for kids to go away to school (if it is affordable) not only for the student but for the parents, too. </p>
<p>I told you what is considered the drawback at Bing. Other than that, a great choice. My son’s applying there next year, for certain. And I have a kid at an OOS public right now despite great NY state schools because he wanted to go away. We figured out what we could afford, and let him pick within that price range. We pay double what we would be paying had he selected a SUNY. But it gives him something HE wants as well, and we can afford it (though it hurts). </p>
<p>can’t help you with your decision, but my GF went to SUNY Binghamton while I went to a SUNY Purchase, late '70s early '80s. I visited her a lot, I mean a lot. I enjoyed that college and campus. I thought the social scene was fun but in control. I liked her classes, I sat in on quite a few. the area is very nice too w/ river trips & horseback riding. off campus housing apartments were normal and safe</p>
<p>Thanks for your input on the school, rumrunner (and emilybee). Fun and in control sounds good! I’m not naive enough to think my kid’s never done anything illegal as a teenager, but he’s had a lot more “clean” fun with friends and has never let anything become a distraction from doing well in school, or from being responsible in extracurricular activities and jobs he’s had. I can’t say that about every kid who’s gone through his HS … Being able to trust your kids to do what’s right is a wonderful thing. Sounds like it’s the sort of place that will let him let loose a bit, but will also encourage him to challenge himself and develop new interests. The outdoors life is definitely an attraction … I see there’s skiing within reach (good for a NH kid), and he’d definitely take advantage of the nature reserve and close by outdoor activities.</p>
<p>Cpt - if the worse thing is that he meets a bunch of kids from NY, that’s not so bad 
As I said, I don’t think he’s the type that be unnerved by trying to make friends.</p>
<p>If anything - I think his personal disappoiontment is not getting into any of his “reach” schools so far (which - to be honest, seemed much more like matches when we looked at Naviance). Being waitlisted isn’t much of a consolation - although from everything I can see (among his peers, and people chipping in on the individual college threads), it is indeed a crapshoot. I think when he accepts his realistic options (and he’s not the type to to dwell on what he can’t have), he’ll probably be more excited about tackling college… </p>
<p>“I see there’s skiing within reach (good for a NH kid), and he’d definitely take advantage of the nature reserve and close by outdoor activities.”</p>
<p>Greek Peak is probably the closest. I skied there a lot in high school (back in the dark ages.) It was a nice hill. I’m sure it’s been expanded and upgraded considerably since the early 70’s. </p>
<p>It’s also only a quick 3 hours to NYC and I’m sure the Megabus runs from Bing to the city. </p>
<p>My niece with Ivy stats (but who didn’t get into the two she applied to) ended up in engineering at UNH and did very well there. Is gainfully employed now while working part time on getting a masters at Tufts. But she’s at least from a different town in NH, if I were your son, I too would be anxious to get out of Dodge. Lots of bright students from our high school end up at Binghamton because it’s the most affordable choice. It’s true that Binghamton is 12-14% out of state, while NH is around 40%.</p>