Scholarships: Ignatius & Magis

Colleges and Universities A-Z Marquette University
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<p>We visited two summers ago. We were in Chicago and drove up to Milwaukee. Flew from Milwaukee to New Orleans, missed our connection in Charlotte, stuck in a hotel with no luggage for one day, and missed a big swim meet. Am still toying with the idea of flying to Chicago and driving to and from Milwaukee for future activities, but heard the construction between the two cities is horrible and also not used to driving in winter weather. Will depend on the time of year and how much time have to visit. In the meantime, thankfully, Southwest now flies to Milwaukee, and I’ve saved a free flight from mom visits for son to go up for the schollie competition. Also saved Marriott points from swim meets and Dad’s work for the hotel room. So, if son doesn’t get anything from the schollie competition, at least he’ll have gotten a “free” visit. </p>

<p>Here’s my budget tip. Use car rentals and hotel stays as Southwest rewards. When I can’t stay Marriott, I make sure I can earn Southwest credit. There are many car rental specials where you can earn extra trip credits. Those can really add up. </p>

<p>I have not been able to find any direct flights to Milwaukee from New Orleans. It’s those missed connections that are killers. If anyone has any recommendations, I’m glad to hear them.</p>

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<p>In addition to the Walgreen’s, there is an Open Pantry on Wells and they take Marquette cash.
You can bring a fridge and a microwave.
Brutus, I think you mean Cobeen. Schroeder has good food too – mostly Italian. But the quality of the food is definitely always up for debate – could be better. Go with the smallest meal plan for sure. My daughter also eats breakfast in her room – ironic, really, since I’ve heard the breakfasts are actually pretty good.</p>

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<p>I was interested to see that MUSG - is that the student govt? - had recently voted to recommend to administration to can the food contractor, Sodexo, but the administration is balking. It’s clear there’s no great affection for the food on campus.</p>

<p>dbwes, you’re saying the food is different in different dorms? That’s interesting to me as I’d have thought it would be easier or fairer or something to make it uniform. Or maybe better because you can eat in any dorm and this gives you a little more choice??</p>

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<p>Yes, I would have made the same assumption you did – that it’s all the same. But the kids seem to think certain dining halls are better, and they seem to have unanimous opinions about which ones those are – Cobeen, Schroeder. They also like the food court at the Alumni Memorial Union which is partially on the food plan (certain menu items, I believe) and takes dining dollars and Marquette cash.</p>

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<p>Yes, the students did vote out Sodexho, but they have no power to change anything, and nothing, in fact, is going to change.</p>

<p>I know this because I work for a division of one of Sodexho’s largest competitors. When I saw that headline on the Marquette Tribune when I was up there a couple of weekends ago, I immediately notified our sales department. They made contact with the school, which told him the students were out of line, and that their contract with Sodexho runs through 2014.</p>

<p>Let’s hope for our kids’ sake that the food service isn’t really all that bad.</p>

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<p>stacey – You probably have insight on this, then, from work. The kids have been complaining for awhile. Why can’t Sodexho make more changes? They revamped Schroeder into a kind of Italian restaurant, and it has proved very popular.<br>
D’s boyfriend goes to Purdue, and they seem to have many more choices, with things like taco stations, wraps, stir-fry stations. That school is so much bigger – if they can do it, why can’t Marquette? Would it take too many facility upgrades to the kitchens?</p>

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<p>Univ of Iowa is similar to what you describe at Purdue – the so-called food court format. From my perspective it seems to be the cutting edge and future of dorm food. They’re quite large with many many stations, but they (due, no doubt to the cost) are in just a couple dorms on campus, two at Iowa, a school of 20k students. It’s an interesting question you raise dbwes, and one wonders what Sodexho’s incentive for change is if they’re locked in until 2014.</p>

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<p>They never had to deal with Saga which was the catering company that had the food contract when I was at MU. Staceyglow, hoping you aren’t with them or I have offended you…and if so, I am sure they are different now…:)</p>

<p>Mushrooms were in EVERYTHING as a filler…can’t eat them to this day :wink: and then there was the famous “mystery meat” on Thursdays which seemed to be a mix of everything we had eaten Mon-Wed mixed in with spaghetti and some kind of sauce…</p>

<p>We rejoiced when they put in a sandwich station where we could eat PB&J to our hearts’ content…</p>

<p>My son is a UNC grad and they had two main dining facilities; At Lenoir which was the main facility, the first floor had a Chik-Fil-A, Subway, Jamba Juice and other similar type chain fast food spots while the second floor dining was all you can eat with numerous stations including a burger station, pizza and pasta station, salad bar, carving station, etc. I thought it was amazing. In the morning they had cook-to-order omelets and eggs, a smoothie bar, pancake and Belgian waffle station and more. I know I would have never missed breakfast there…</p>

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<p>eadad, I started at Marquette the year after they booted out Saga – we had ARA, which apparently became part of Sodexho (which used to be Marriott). Our sales guys were told that Sodexho had been in there for 25 years - which would be about when ARA took over.</p>

<p>As far as why Marquette doesn’t have same options as Purdue, for example, I think the fact that Sodexho has been in there for so long is as good of a reason as any. It is quite possible that they have become complacent, and that the school has not put much pressure on them to innovate and improve. I would also guess that their contract with the school does not require them to do any more than they are doing right now. With a long term contract, Sodexho does not have much of an incentive to improve the status qyo unless the school leans on them. I do know that in the past year, my company has won contracts with customers that Sodexho had previously held for 30+ years – so they better get their act in gear!</p>

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<p>Did someone actually post that they choose a MU education over UND or Northwestern? Are you kidding me? If you are that worried about paying for a top tier education, you don’t see the big picture. Its not about the next four years, but about the next forty years. If your kid can get into a top tier school then go out and get a second mortgage, take out a loan, etc. Face it, MU is a very good back up school, but its not top tier. Go to the best school you can get into. </p>

<p>Someone also put down they choose MU because of its diversity. What diversity? The student population at MU is 95% white, upper middle class with about 60% being Catholic and 55% being from the north and western suburbs of Chicago and southeast Wisconsin. It is a far cry from being considered diverse.</p>

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<p>No, I am not kidding. S was admitted to the School of Engineering at Northwestern, but chose MU over it. Perhaps you are only seeing your big picture. His included a future near where he grew up, not Minneapolis, Chicago or Milwaukee. We live in a county with a median income of around $30,000. Graduating from Northwestern would have put him in what he considered unreasonable debt and would have effectively kept him from ever living anywhere near here. There simply are no jobs available to generate enough income to pay that kind of debt back. A low debt load allows him more options, as he will be able to follow his heart and not only the dollar. Rural areas need college kids to come back and bring jobs and opportunities with them. And some people value education in more ways than just potential salary. What sounds to you like the voice of mediocrity is to us one of reason and common sense for an average kid. </p>

<p>The quality of education was never in doubt and any assumed prestige isn’t an issue, so why spend so much more? There is life outside the fast lane. To each his own.</p>

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<p>Wow, brutus, there are lots of reasons for kids to pick their schools. My Ds were candidates for “top tier” schools, but they didn’t even apply because we would not have qualified for need-based aid – and we wanted some merit aid. Older D immediately felt at home at Marquette and has been very challenged there, I assure you. Younger D toured Northwestern, and couldn’t get away fast enough.
No way would I take a second mortgage out for any school.<br>
I sincerely hope your son isn’t carrying around the idea that he is at a “back up” school. Every school is what the student makes of it.</p>

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<p>Brutus, I think the posts you allude to talked about the lack of merit aid available at both NW and Notre Dame, a fact that makes them accessible to only the very wealthy and the needy. Just pop over to those forums and you’ll see posts by parents despondent over the money they’re paying at those schools.
I think it would be difficult to find anyone closely associated with the business side of the college game to support your argument that parents incur massive debt to finance an education of that cost UNLESS there is a pretty clear case that the additional cost will pay greater dividends, the likelihood of which is minimal. While a prestige school will undboutedly help in getting the first job, I think it helps less in getting the second job, and by the time the graduate is 28 or so their work experience overshadows their college in helping him or her advance in their career. I don’t know if you interview or hire job candidates, but if you do, I don’t imagine you consider closely their college education once they hit 30 years old.<br>
Additionally, I agree completely with dbwes and 1tgmom in saying that a choice of college involves dozens and factors, and a kneejerk decision to go to “the best” school possible is pretty simplistic. I’d take a school that my kid likes while not threatening my financial stability over the illusive prestige of NWU or ND any day.</p>

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<p>I guess it is to each his own. Your families all have your stories and I am glad for all of you that MU works out for you. I have never found anyone to say a negative thing about attending or graduating from MU. All the students and alumni are very fond of Marquette and carry a great deal of pride for the school. I am not being negative, but realistic. I will say for me, I will do whatever I have to do financially to have my two kids attend the best possible private or public school they can get into and all of us can afford. I am not afraid to get school loans or a second mortgage. That will only motivate me. My long term picture is to put my two kids in the best possible position to succeed. They both understand that its about their future and the next 40 years. My kids and I have visited about 20 different schools over the years and I always explained to them to look beyond the boundaries of the campus. When you go to work in the world its not about the bricks and mortar of the company that hires you.<br>
As I said before, if your son or daughters are looking for diversity for their college experience, it will not be found on the MU campus.</p>

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<p>This thread is of interest to me as my D just got accepted into Notre Dame. Notre Dame is her dream school. When we visited it in November, we knew she loved it I did as well. She was originally set on Marquette and on first visit she loved that too, but since then many of her teachers at her HS have been telling her if she can get into a top school she needs to go there over Marquette(: I would love to send her to Notre Dame but we are having a hard time justifying taking a 2nd mortgage out on our home, to pay over $200.000 for an undergraduate degree. Her High School stresses test scores, AP is a huge emphasis there, and I think the more kids that go on to attend elite schools brings them more recognition. </p>

<p>She is a NMSF, and probably a NMF and she could have had multiple full rides in different parts of the country, full tuition at Bradley, but she either didn’t like the schools, or they were too far away. So we are looking at some serious decisions ahead.One of the big draws for Marquette was the direct admit PT program. She applied for it but now is wavering if she wants to pursue PT as she realized she doesn’t enjoy AP Biology and there will be a ton of science if she pursues that field. We will see if she gets accepted to it. With her good stats we are hoping Marquette gives her plenty of aid to make that choice easier. </p>

<p>I can see how amazing it would be to send my daughter to ND, and would love to do everything within my power to make it happen, but at some point we need to step back and look at how that decision will impact our lives. Our decision has not been made yet. Should be an interesting few months ahead. She also applied to Northwestern, Wash U Stl Louis, Vanderbilt, Illinois Wesleyan, got accepted at Illinois, U W Madison, Indiana, Bradley so far no rejections. I really think Marquette is a wonderful school and a great option for my D! When we visited there she felt that she fit in so well. Hopefully when she visits again for the scholarship competition, she will realize how much she likes it.</p>

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<p>Wow, the Marquette thread is starting to sound like the rest of CC…</p>

<p>Taking out a second mortgage to fund an undergraduate degree especially in these times does not make good sense. A graduate or professional degree is almost a necessity anymore and you would be far better served helping your D with that than going so far in debt for her UG education.</p>

<p>In all honesty, where she gets her post grad degree matters far more than the UG degree unless she is looking at Investment Banking and with the list of schools you provided that does not appear to be the case.</p>

<p>I have one in his second year of Med school and my D is headed to Law school in the fall…both are very glad not to be saddled with enormous UG debt.</p>

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<p>Maybe I am the only one out there that feels that paying now is better than paying later. Top employers usually pay at least half to have their best educated employees get their masters, but times are changing.</p>

<p>I think the best thing to do is to fill out your FASFA and see how much money they say you should have to pay. This effects what the schools give you in grants. Much depends on how many other kids you have in private high schools and colleges. I have two and both are receiving scholarships and grants. The college loans I have now are less than the car loan I had two years ago. Out of all the parents I know with kids the same as mine, only the ones who go to state schools are paying the full fare. If the school really wants you kid, then the FA office will make it work for you. Ask before you write off a top tier school because of the cost.</p>

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<p>I agree with you eadad. If she is planning on going to grad school then it would be nuts to spend that much on your undergrad. That is what we are stressing to our D. We are probably going to wait and see what kind of financial aid ND gives us, although we don’t expect to qualify for much. Hopefully once we get the figures for ignatious and magis, and then when she goes to Marquette in Feb. she will decide that is where she wants to be and there won’t be much to think through.</p>

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<p>nkl, like you, probably, I have attended every college planning session offered at my son’s HS and the speakers unanimously advise parents AGAINST getting caught up in the emotional inclination to jeopardize themselves financially to get missy to the dream school. I’d offer three things further:

  1. do a side by side evaluation of the program of her interest at Notre Dame and MU and see how they stack up, what the job prospects are, avg starting salary, etc. I think it’s important to compare MAJORS rather than generalizing to the UNIVERSITY level as MU may have a niche that actually makes them equiv to ND.
  2. crunch the numbers to see what the additional cost will do to your finances: 401k value, debt load at age xxx. Do you really want to find your retirement delayed or jeopardized by this?
    Most college planners urge parents to keep emotions in check to always “pay yourself first.” This does not make you selfish, it makes you a realist.<br>
  3. ask how badly D will “suffer” if she goes to number 2 choice. Will she really get a lousy program or hate the school? If so, OK. But in all likelihood she will be happy as hell, and as a bright, highly motivated young woman somehow manage to go exactly where she wants to go!!</p>
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<p>

eadad – you are so funny. And so right.</p>

<p>nkl – Good luck to your outstanding young lady. Hard decisions for you all ahead.</p>

<p>She is right not to underestimate the amount of science in the DPT. It has thrown my D for a bit of a loop – in her case, though, she has worked in the field as a PT aide and seems to still know it is what she wants to eventually do. In that case, these classes are seen as the necessary hurdles. It IS a lot of work. </p>

<p>Many of those schools, particularly ND and Vanderbilt, were considered at our house. Not that either girl was a shoo-in (who is, these days), but they certainly had good shots. University of Michigan, too – that particularly appealed to D1. I asked both if they would regret not applying. It was their choice, knowing that we would let them be debt-free up to a certain point, but not to the tune of 50,000+ per year. Both decided on their own that, should they be lucky enough to get in, they didn’t want to have to make that decision.</p>

<p>Every family has to do what is right for them. It’s very hard. We all want what’s best for our kids.</p>

<p>brutus, I hear what you are saying, but once parents have a certain amount of savings, really, schools like ND will only offer loans. Now Vanderbilt has gone to no-loans, but again, it all depends on what they figure your EFC to be. Northwestern, I will say, gave out a pretty upfront little pamphlet in which they outlined different family scenarios. At the upper end, they declared quite plainly that family X, with certain income and assets, would be offered loans. And that scenario was a typical upper middle class one.</p>

<p>At the level of these schools, where every applicant is outstanding, your child has to be quite the superstar for the school to want you badly enough to make it work.
And employers only pay for certain kinds of master’s degrees.</p>

<p>ND is a great school, a special place with probably one of the strongest alumni networks in the country.<br>
But a debt-free future, with money for travel and that first house, is a beautiful thing as well.</p>

<p>Merry Christmas and good luck to all!</p>