Please let me know your vote and the reason for your vote.
My daughter’s final two choices are LSU or TCU. She is strong academically (4.0 UW, 35 ACT), social, does not drink, is from the west coast, some extended family is in Texas, and interested in psychology or an allied health related field (PT). She was accepted to Vanderbilt but that does not seem practical in terms of cost. Please let me know your thoughts!
How hard will it be for your family to come up with 27k each year for TCU?
What does she need to keep the scholarship at LSU and any merit-based aid at TCU?
How did LSU come to be on her list?
The 27k is within an area that we are comfortable with. We are just looking for the best fit for her since either way she will be so far from home.
I believe a 3.0 to maintain the scholarship which I am confident she would take care of. Yes, TCU scholarship is 35k per year.
LSU was on her list as I am an alum so she grew up a fan. With that said, we just want what is best for her.
I don’t know anything about LSU. Daughter (from CA) is a senior at TCU and had similar scholarship. She was able to maintain the required GPA with no problem. TCU is different from CA unless she is from a conservative area (OC, East Bay, etc). I imagine LSU may be similar so not sure that’s a differentiation. TCU is pretty small and has small class size; which was a plus for our daughter. Greek is important (but I bet it is a LSU too). TCU is pretty affluent relative to most schools. I don’t know if those things are good or bad for your daughter, just the description of TCU that creates a culture. Good Luck.
If affordable (no loans), then TCU. It is hard for me to endorse the school as I am a Baylor grad but my brother in law and nephew both attended TCU and loved it. I know that there is a fairly large west coast contingent at all three of the main religious privates (TCU, SMU and Baylor). I suspect she will get personal attention at TCU and that will carry over into graduate or professional school.
take the full ride. no brainer. you can use that money for something else that’s important to you. maybe grad school.
Big LSU fan. Legacy. Full Ride. I’d vote for LSU too. You can get matching sweatshirts and drive the rest of your family mad with your insider jokes. 27k each year saved will go a long way toward football tickets, sorority dues, a more than just decent car for her to drive to any internships off campus, and to help cover the costs of PT school if she sticks with that goal.
Even as a Bama fan, I’d have to say LSU
Unless you’re wealthy, that 100k+ saved will go a long way for retirement, paying for PT school, etc.
Going to agree with the folks saying LSU. Especially because it doesn’t seem (from here) that you have a preference for one or the other, why spend the extra money? If she’s a fan of LSU and you’re an alum you’ve already got a head start to her liking the place and feeling comfortable.
LSU 100% - a fan and free, both will have there fair share of party culture, but LSU by sheer volume will have more people who do not partake.
LSU for the $$$ alone, and check out the honors college for a “smaller classes/school” feel.
That is if she doesn’t fall in love with TCU. Even then, $100k+ is a lot of retirement, grad school and/or house down payment money.
LSU is dropping in rankings, prestige, and funding. If you look at the LSU CC page, it’s pretty dead compared to the more stellar public universities such as UT Austin, U of Michigan, U of Florida, U of Virginia, UCLA, Berkeley, etc.
TCU is rising in rankings, prestige, and funding.
LSU is in the business of buying students b/c the best and brightest in Louisiana are usually more apt to go to Tulane or out of state for their degree(s). The most alluring thing about LSU is the school spirit and maybe “reasonable cost” for a decent education … that’s it. … there’s nothing else really stellar or noteworthy about LSU.
Contrary to some opinions on this thread. LSU can afford you much better than a decent education- especially for someone who applies themselves.
Just Ask…
James Carville
Don LeMon
Donna Brazille
Hubert Humphrey (heck if you’re a Democrat you better hope it’s a good school)
Will Wright a game designer and founder of electronic arts
lolo Jones
gen Claire Chennault
Col John lejuene of camp lejuene note
OP. Remember you never know who’s responding / what agenda and level personal unhappiness or inflated self worth is behind any post.
Including my own.
LSU for the great value. TCU for a different and I bet super experience too
MODERATOR’S NOTE:
At this point, the OP and daughter decided 4 days ago. So really, the only additional post needed is for the OP to return and tell us the decision.