<p>@2018RiceParent
That’s absolutely true. And yet stigma still arises from not going to college immediately after high school.
I went to a H.S. where everyone is expected to go to college. People were very surprised when I told them I wasn’t attending college this fall.</p>
<p>@Fredjan I agree that there can be some stigma for those who delay college, but it seemed to be limited mainly to those who sounded like they didn’t have a plan/direction/goals - at least from among those my son knows. Average age of freshman at college is above 18 at many colleges, and I didn’t see any evidence of stigma, even when I was in college, once an older student in early 20s actually started college (one friend who served in the navy before college mentioned that it felt weird to him as a 22 year old freshman - probably because he was more mature than a 17 or 18 year old by a lot - but I don’t think it was viewed as a negative by his classmates). Bigger issue is catching up academically in some areas (Math and Writing) if not doing online work in the gap between High School and college.</p>
<p>This definitely depends on the HS. At some elite HSs (where 99% of the graduating seniors go on to a 4-year college), there is definitely social pressure to go as well. You’re seen as a failure if you don’t go, even if that may be the best decision for you.</p>
<p>@2018RiceParent
Yeah, I can see catching up being an issue as well. I intend to begin my education with Multivariable Calc. and Electricity & Magnetism, so I have to make sure my math/physics skills don’t wither, haha.</p>
<p>If one gets in to a very prestigious top school like Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, etc (y’all know these by heart), then it may be better to go rather than live one’s entire life regretting not going even if it means taking on some debt. </p>
<p>That decision isn’t for everyone though.</p>
<p>@Mandalorian: I don’t know how old you are, but once you get older, you’ll realize that the only people who’d regret choosing another (presumably cheaper) option over HYPS are those who aren’t successful, but if you can get in to HYPS, chances are pretty darn good that you’ll do quite well regardless of where you go.</p>
<p>I actually have heard more anecdotes of people regretting taking on massive debt to go to an Ivy or equivalent over a cheaper/free option than the reverse. There just doesn’t seem to be many folks who spurn HYPS for a cheaper option and don’t do well in life.</p>
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<p>I think this applies more to the other highly selective private colleges, rather
than HYPS themselves. By the debt measure Princeton was the #1 most affordable
college (their huge endowment helps) in the country. For those minority (only 25% of
Princeton graduates who had to borrow, their average debt at graduation was only $5,000.
Yale was higher, $9,200, but still far better than most publics much less privates. Harvard’s was
up a little, and similarly only 1 in 4 had to borrow - and an average of $13,000. It takes
an unusual family income situation to make HYPS unaffordable. For the upper
class, state universities could be a better value though since they could be paying
full price at HYPS. For the majority of the population though HYPS are cheaper than
state schools would be due to MUCH more generous need based scholarships at
those four in particular. I have heard sad stories (various stepparents, complicated
family business finances) where need based aid didn’t work out - but hard to
imagine.</p>
<p>See e.g. <a href=“HuffPost - Breaking News, U.S. and World News | HuffPost”>HuffPost - Breaking News, U.S. and World News | HuffPost; and NCES.</p>
<p>The problem of course is HYPS is only appropriate for a few percent of the graduates each year
(assuming they could even get in)</p>
<p>@2018RiceParent Thanks for the info. The amazing thing is that nearly all the students that are accepted to “Elite” schools could attend other less prestigious colleges with little or no debt because those institutions provide Merit Scholarships. If you don’t mind going to a school ranked 100+ on USNWR’s rankings, debt would not be an issue for high achieving high school students. These students will earn about the same as those who graduate from HYPS et. al.</p>
<p>The real issue is going into debt if you are an average student coming out of high school from an average family income taking a college major that is not in high demand or a major that does not command a good salary. This is a recipe for disaster. High debt in these cases can cause financial hardship not only for the student but also for the parents who usually cosigns the loans to send these students to school. This is why it may be a good idea to evaluate the cost of going to college much like the OP is asking. For way too many high school students, going college right out of high school really doesn’t make sense because of the debt or because they lack any sense of what they wish to accomplish in getting a college degree that will put them in debt.</p>
<p>I hope all students and parents take heed to really do the cost benefit analysis before making this potentially life affecting decision.</p>
<p>Actually, for kids who can get in to HYPSM, full-tuition scholarships to top 30 schools should be quite probable. Full-tuition scholarships to schools in the #31-50 range would be very likely.</p>
<p>Rice, Vandy, Emory, USC, UVa, UMich, UNC, Wake, and even Duke and UChicago give a ton of merit money to their very top applicants (CalTech, WashU, and JHU give out a handful of large merit awards as well).</p>
<p>Given the choice between a full-tuition scholarship to UChicago, Duke, or Rice (or even UMich/UVa/Emory/USC) and being full-pay (or close) at HYPS, I’d choose the former over the later every time.</p>
<p>And if you include the top 30 LACs, I know that W&L, Macalester and Richmond give some kids full-tuition scholarships as well.</p>
<p>What I find amazing about Princeton (and the other four or five schools mentioned) is that even at family income of 125,000 they are giving full tuition (on average) in need based aid (and gets better as family income decreases). That is significantly better need based aid (full ride tuition to those earning 125,000) than most elite universities. At least at that income level or lower, it is hard to beat (if you can get in).</p>
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<p><a href=“http://repository.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=psc_working_papers”>http://repository.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=psc_working_papers</a> indicates that the death rate of US troops in the Iraq theater in 2003-2006 was 2.78 times higher than that of overall (mostly civilian) US men age 20-34. However, this varied by service. Marines were at 6.01 times, while Air Force personnel were at 0.28 times (i.e. lower than the death rate of all US men age 20-34).</p>
<p>@2018RiceParent :</p>
<p>May be true, which is probably why their yield rate is so high.</p>
<p>Keep in mind, though, that roughly half the student body at elite privates don’t need/get fin aid, which means family income of 200K+. That isn’t <em>that</em> hard to achieve, either. If one parent is a doctor or both parents are professionals who have advanced in their careers, 200K+ would be par for the course.</p>
<p>@ucbalumnus: yep, joining the Air Guard would be safer.</p>
<p>Re: The comments on “step down” for Millersville and IUP, what are the thoughts about their Honors Colleges? Comparable in experience/preparation/reputation to Pitt or Penn State? </p>