<p>Curm, that is exactly right. Bottom line, my kiddo got into 10 schools, and we had to take 5 off the table because there was just no way we were able to financially handle what they were asking us to pay. Now I am smarter. I won't even encourage apps. where the average FA met is going to leave a large financial gap. It is enough of a gamble that I can send my kid if they meet 90-95% of financial need. If I had a star student that stood a chance at amazing merit aid (not talking about 10-16k, because that amount does not solve the problem, don't mean to sound ungrateful, but without additional FA at a school nearing 45 or 50k, it isn't going to solve how we pay the rest), then I would not worry so much about % need met.</p>
<p>
[quote]
If I had a star student that stood a chance at amazing merit aid (not talking about 10-16k, because that amount does not solve the problem, don't mean to sound ungrateful, but without additional FA at a school nearing 45 or 50k, it isn't going to solve how we pay the rest), then I would not worry so much about % need met.
[/quote]
Again, an A+. By jove, I think she's got it. ;)</p>
<p>Curm, I learned this lesson the hard way! I hope that I am saving someone else the same "expensive" lesson. Fortunately, my son had 10 options in the ring, so he still could choose from 5 more affordable options!</p>
<p>And that's the way we do things. We learn. We share for the benefit of our community and we all grow.</p>
<p>I really don't want to think about money right now, but...If D gets into one of her dream schools (both of which do not gap BTW), I will find a way to pay even if I have to borrow against my retirement. However, I really see no reason to pay for a mediocre LAC when there are perfectly good state school options available which are just as mediocre and cost a LOT less.</p>
<p>Yep, and really no regrets. Son applied to some nice schools, and they are affordable for some, but not with son's stats and our efc. If we did not try, we would never have known.</p>
<p>Another pitfall that we fell into was that our son graduated from a top public hs. His gpa was in the B/B+ range. His combined SATs were pretty good, but not CC great. There are some schools that use a chart for merit aid. My son met the criteria on the charts for those schools with his SAT scores by a very large margin, but missed the money for gpa. Those schools that did not take the hs one graduates from into consideration. There is simply "the chart". These 2 schools were also not good for FA, so they were off the table right away.</p>
<p>Queen Mom, I agree with you, unless one has a child that really does require the small classes and nurturing. Many do not require that, but some students really do. Some 2nd or 3rd tier LACs can come in costing less than state schools. It would depend upon stats, EFC, and MA/FA package offered.</p>
<p>phishfan- son is planning on majoring in engineering or computer science. He is phenomenal at cs, really gifted. Self taught by teh "dummies" books when he was 11-13 years old. Was even on a website and made some $ with programming for people over the internet.</p>
<p>Septembermom- all info welcome and appreciated. Withe the largest expected graduating class this coming spring and the state of the economy, I am pretty nervous about the whole procedure. Nothing seem safe to me. Also, with his very tough majors in mind, I am nervous about all the work he will encounter. He is very bright and would do better if he studied and put in 100%. The classes he loves he does well in. (ACT 31- great in all parts... except only 6 in writing.- not surprised by that. Great vocab and great reader but he hates to write.) He does have 3.8 or so UW GPA, but only 3 AP's to weight it through Jr. year so it won't go up too much. Class rank is likely only top 20 percentile as our school is competitive and the top kids take so many AP classes (other son took 13).</p>
<p>I am jaded by older sons stats and apps- acceptances/rejections and waitlisting. It really is a game. No hooks on our end.</p>
<p>I appreciate this thread as it seems realistic and supportive of our less than 4.0 kids. Seeing others class lists are really helpful too!</p>
<p>Thanks everyone.</p>
<p>well then, crazed, i would not recomend SUNY Geneseo for your son. It's much more of a humanities school than science. If you are strongly considering SUNYs, I'd say look at Binghamton(as you listed). It's at the same level as Geneseo but much more known for its sciences.</p>
<p>phishfan-
Son and husband toured upstate NY last week. Visited Syracuse, Binghamton, Ithaca and Geneseo. He really liked Bing. I was surprised although I haven't been up there in ??????? years!!!! It certainly is a popular and great SUNY and the price is right! Stats wise I think it will be tough to get in. On the tour my husband asked about triples. Told- none. So much for college tour guides. According to the Bing FAQ website, they are tripling over 800 freshman this year (2 desks for 3 kids) due to over enrollment (which is common this coming year at many schools from what I've heard.</p>
<p>My plan is to have my son apply to 10 or so schools and tour the schools he gets into to see what he likes.</p>
<p>Are you on LI? Upstate?</p>
<p>You should meet my college son- he's a phishfan too!!!</p>
<p>im actually right outside the city but not LI. Binghamton's my first choice but its a tiny bit of a stretch. I actually have a friend going there this year and he got tripled.
I'm applying to all SUNYs--the price is just too good. You should also have a look at Stony Brook. AMAZING school for the sciences. They just got a grant for 60 million towards the science dept. It's also a little bit easier to get in. My school doesn't do GPAs so I believe the average is around an 88. The only problem is it's not so reputable for social life.</p>
<p>curmudgeon, </p>
<p>You are right and that's why I mentioned IU. Indiana gave my out-of-state kid with about a 3.0uw merit aid. </p>
<p>Arizona did not although I think Arizona and Temple (like the SUNYs) are not too bad for out-of-state students (AZ and Temple: about $20K/ year for out-of-state tuition plus room and board; SUNY: about $12.5K). Little side note: According to the website, AZ charges out-of-state students <em>in-state</em> rates for summer classes.</p>
<p>phish-
We are just 15 minutes from Stony Brook so it's too close for us. It has a great reputation for the sciences, you're right. So so for social life, but I'm sure there are nice kids to meet. The school is not hurting for students. I know some there and some starting in Sept. There is a Long Island Rail Road stop in walking distance form campus so you can get to the city, or closer in anyway.</p>
<p>HI, ya'll, this is my second time around. The first time was with the typical CCer DD - hi Curm - but now we have DS, who is a different kettle of fish. I'm proud to say his apps may be finished, except for one or two short essays and an abbreviated resume for the UA scholarship application. I'm hopeful that he will know some decisions by early Oct.
His stats - B, no B plus here, 27 ACT - yay! this is as big for him as DD's 34 - but he is taking it again because a 28-29 will make a big difference in housing and honors college at a couple of his schools.
his list - LSU, Alabama, Pittsburgh, B'ham -Southern, and maybe Georgia. We consider those two reaches and 3 match safeties for him.</p>
<p>For the B student in need of aid or inexpensive schools a good hard look at public schools in certain states really widens the selection. Try Wyoming, Montana, NC, the SUNY system and many others in the South and Midwest. For a kid on the east coast- NJ, Pa etc the out of state cost at those schools is about the same as instate.</p>
<p>Hey all- (certainly recognize cangel and curmudge from "back in the day." )I am reading this thread with earnest as I begin helping my DS (3rd and final!) plan a future. DD was the amazing overachiever, DS #1 gifted musician---both with pretty sweet $$ deals at schools they love. Final chapter will be more in line with this thread. DS has not taken his ACTs yet and he will be a junior this year. He has always underachieved IMO but we will see how these next 2 years go. Older sibs just real tough acts to follow, but I believe DS #2 will be fine.</p>
<p>MSU-Check out some of the Big 12 schools. Both Kansas and Mizzou have nice freshmen living/learning communities to help shrink the large University setting. We just left my new freshman at the University of Kansas and he couldn't be happier.</p>
<p>Northeast-
she took the ACT- horrible results on that as well- 19!! My son scored a 19 and he is by no means a student! I have gotten her to agree to give Oct SAT one more shot. She is really one of those kids who lose their minds in important exams. Some of her regents exams were the same way! Frustrating for both of us! I have lined up a private tutor for CR...that's the best we can do. Fate will be a big factor for us. She is a dedicated student. Test anxiety is a real problem for her.</p>
<p>hayze, I empathize with the test anxiety. My D cannot seem to take a test without going completely crazy. It's bad enough for school tests (hence the B average) but on standardized tests she completely loses it. She is taking her PSATs this October, and I am hoping for a halfway decent score. I am not sure if the SAT or ACT would make any difference in her case. She will freak on on either.</p>
<p>Hayze, there are many schools that are SAT optional...you do not have to submit standardized test scores. Consider looking at that list...there is a wide range of schools on that list.</p>