<p>I know one that doesn't provide generous (or any) aid for out-of-staters - UC Berkeley. Trust me on that one!</p>
<p>Could I get a reality check from someone, please? (The equivalent of a bucket of water thrown on head)
My D's dad makes way too much for D to quality for financial aid. Yet Dad only willing to pay the instate $11,000.</p>
<p>I hate to send my D off to Texas Tech or some other college where she will be way above the other students academically, even if it is free (she will be NMF and let's hope, scholar). </p>
<p>What a trade off. Smart kids not quite good enough for merit aid, but with no fin aid prospects, can go to college very cheaply, but to not such well-known colleges. Or else can get LOANS to go to slightly better known colleges. Places like Hopkins, where they have the ability to be quite successful, are just too out of reach if you don't qualify for fin aid (and even if you do, frankly--I just discovered the cost--$49,000 for tuition, R&B for this fall--I'm still just stunned). </p>
<p>Who else is in this boat and what are you doing?</p>
<p>The idea that your D will be "way above the other students academically" at flagship state universities that offer big merit packages ignores the fact that, at many of these schools, she will have the option of living in honors housing with those whom you would consider her academic peers.</p>
<p>I agree with EMM1, look into the honor programs and honor colleges within the state universities. Kids in those programs are very bright and some have given up top schools to go with the "merit" money instead.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I live in a state with a flagship univ that just isn't that great, compared to some other great states like Michigan, etc. It also has such a reputation as a party school. </p>
<p>Discovering this reality is a bit of a crushing disappointment.</p>
<p>It is good that you know NOW. Encourage your D to focus on schools where she could get good merit aid. Have her apply to the best state school that she likes. Look into other state's schools that might have good merit opportunities (like in state tuition for OOS).</p>
<p>juststoppingby--the fact that your D is a NMF is a huge plus. She will undoubtedly be able to get a full (or near-full) ride at a highly regarded state school. You just have to figure out which state. :)</p>
<p>Not to be obvious, then, but should I start calling state university financial aid offices to find the states with the almost-tuition free scholarships for National Merit finalists? Whoops--in addition to careful reading of the earlier posts on this thread!</p>
<p>I know there is a list somewhere of completely free rides if NMF, but I am not so aware of generous partial scholarships if NMF.</p>
<p>Looks like I better start getting educated like everyone else has been doing.</p>
<p>"Unfortunately, I live in a state with a flagship univ that just isn't that great, compared to some other great states like Michigan, etc. It also has such a reputation as a party school."</p>
<p>Does this school have an honors college with honors domitories? If so, I repeat, D will have an ample opportunity to get whatever intellectual stimulation she needs.</p>
<p>On the school being a party school, trust me--if your daughter wants to find a party, it will be easy to do so, wherever she goes this side of Brigham Young.</p>
<p>juststoppingby -- The cost of college is out of control. I've told my daughter that she could look anywhere but when it comes down to cost I will pay no more than the in-state rate of Penn State --- which currently is about $22k for room, board and tuition. I'm sure she'll get some academic merit money but it's hard to make any decisions until we know just exactly what will be out there. We won't get any financial aid at all.</p>
<p>I would love it if my daughter will choose Penn State....and if she could get into Schreyers (Penn State's Honors College) -- just take a look at the statistics - </p>
<p>Schreyer</a> Honors College - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
My younger brother went to the Penn State Honors College in the 1980s. He went to college for free. (He was a National Merit Finalist.) He earned his BS and MS at Penn State. He was then accepted at John Hopkins and earned a PhD in Computer Science. He didn't have 1 cent of debt and actually had money in the bank because he had a decent stipend and didn't spend much. </p>
<p>Many of the public schools have the best research departments and also have law schools, medical schools, dental schools, etc and get National Science Foundation Research grants, etc. I think there is more chance of your daughter being amongst her academic peers at a great public university then at many, many private universities. It's all a personal choice but private schools are very expensive. I'm sure you'll daughter will get academic money offers at many, many schools both public and private.</p>
<p>Good luck in the search!</p>
<p>Juststoppingby, I do feel like we are in the same boat. We will not qualify for any need based loans, and just barely not qualify I might add, and so I feel too rich for help, but too poor to send son to top tier school. He actually might get in to an ivy, and will apply, but I don't feel too good about spending almost 1/4 million dollars over 4 years. </p>
<p>We do see the benefit however in his going to a big OOS university without the big name, where he would get very generous merit, and be in the honors program and be able to do research with a professor starting freshman year. I already said this, but check out the honors program at MSU. It is quite impressive, and they REALLY WANT THESE KIDS, and make no bones about it. </p>
<p>In the long run, many of these kids will go on to grad school, and that is where it might make more sense to spend the money. We are lucky, because our state school is UIUC, which is very good. Still not cheap for in-staters (28K a year in 2008) but better than some schools. </p>
<p>Good luck juststoppingby, I "feel your pain."</p>
<p>I will second MSU's program ... for the right kid. My D's good friend was accepted to Duke & Vandy, but had to turn them down due to the fact that her parents would not pay (I will not say "could not," because they would have paid for the ivy she applied to, had she been accepted). She ended up at MSU in an honors college, with amazing aid. She got a ridiculous amount of credit from her APs (much more than privates grant), she has a professor mentor, and she is making the most of her time in school. She will easily get into vet school. Another of D's friends also went to MSU in the same program (a couple years older) & he was accepted to 4 med programs in our state. My D needed something smaller,though ... so that is why I say "for the right kid." MSU is a very large school, and while many kids will thrive there, some need a different environment. Of course, had we been in a position that D did not have other viable options for school ... she would have had to suck it up & deal! :)</p>
<p>Thank you Kelsmom for that. Sometimes I wonder if accepting an offer from MSU would be like shooting yourself in the foot, but you have examples of 2 kids who were successful in the program. I know MSU isn't considered one of the top schools even by state school standards, and the fact that my son has the capabilities of a much "better" institution gives me pause. Still, there is something about the program that is very enticing.</p>
<p>These kids are smart and will do well anywhere. I was concerned about the "being surrounded by your academic peers" factor but our daughter has found just that at University of Pittsburgh. As mentioned, the full tuition scholarship is full no matter what increases might incur. This is for OOS also.</p>
<p>Yup, I agree with Bluejay -- full tuition scholarships that adjust with tuition increases is nothing to sneeze at! If son had chosen to go to U of Delaware, his scholarship award ($20,000/yr) would not have covered the OOS tuition increase they just announced so in four years time, we would have to pay thousands out of pocket. Still waiting to hear what Pitt's increase will be but his UHC scholarship will increase with the tuition increase. I have no concerns about his academic peers as these kids have turned down some very impressive universities to attend Pitt.</p>
<p>juststoppingby,</p>
<p>Having your daughter attend a public school where her academic ability would place her among the top students is not necessarily a bad thing, particularly if the school has a strong department in your D's area of interest. That is exactly what my daughter chose to do, and it's working out beautifully. Her undergraduate department is great, she received an offer of early admission to the university's college of veterinary medicine (her dream fulfilled), she's in the honors program, she works as a research assistant to a professor and loves the job, and the school has thrown merit money at her. She has recently been invited to apply for an undergraduate research fellowship. If she gets that, her cost of attendance will be ZERO, and she's getting a great education. In short, take a closer look at what some "lesser" schools have to offer for exceptional students. You might be very surprised.</p>
<p>MTnest --
Your comment:</p>
<p>"I have no concerns about his academic peers as these kids have turned down some very impressive universities to attend Pitt."</p>
<p>Very well stated. I know that at our local high school the top senior of last year's class chose Penn State Honors. This student was incredibly high achieving. The rumor was that he had a perfect SAT and about 10 APs. He has a complete full ride at Schreyers. </p>
<p>I think it's a personal choice. In my opinion I'm reasonably certain that my daughter will be successful wherever she goes in whatever career she pursues. For us the cost will definitely be a real consideration. </p>
<p>My daughter will definitely be visiting Pitt!</p>
<p>Another interesting tidbit about attending a top public with merit money is that if the student wants to take a year or semester abroad--and many do--you normally pay your home schools tuition and they set you up at a partner school abroad where, most of the time, the student is in the same program as students from very expensive, private schools who are paying their home schools tuition--several people on CC have commented on this. Most of the large public universities are partners with universities all over the world.</p>
<p>And in the SUNY system -- of which Stony Brook is one of the flagships -- you have access to study abroad programs at any of the campuses, not just the ones you attend. A nice perk, I think.</p>
<p>Chris</p>
<p>SUNY system - OOS tuition is pretty reasonable compared to some other state schools. My niece will be attending SUNY Binghamton this fall versus attending her state's flagship and the cost is almost the same :)</p>