<p>"The purpose of State U is to provide for the majority of Students not just the high GPA students who get merit money. The 3.0 GPA kid is really having his/her options limited due to costs." </p>
<p>Drizzt unfortunately that's quite true, and for the 3.00 GPA and above contingent it can be much more complex depending on where they are attending university. </p>
<p>As noted before there are Collegiate systems where the evaluation of student financial aid status has been handed over to private companies for vetting and that includes scholarships. For example its been a concern (for some) in Colorado because its unlikely that a fair assessment will be made. And under that problematic air, scholarships could actually be disadvantageous because its very probable that data is being skewed under those kind of questionable arrangements. </p>
<p>And State U, is already losing its moral battle to provide for the majority of students, and for numerous reasons. One is that they as have become too reliant on privatized funding (which is ironically often derived from redirected federal funds)some state schools have become less effective at obtaining legitimate funds from proper state and federal sources. And its unfortunately very easy to see how far this ill advised union has proceeded by visiting some state campuses.... </p>
<p>Therein one will find posters, brochures, and etc which supposedly are providing students with non biased information about funding their education. But these just happen to be produced by the same companies which have a vested interest in escalating college costs and debt levels. Granted since the NYS AG's case the presence of college logos has been lessened on this material, but having it presented along with proper University information is still misleading. As is the undue presence these materials often have on campus.</p>
<p>And the increased costs of college, and the frightening debts now necessarily incurred, is leaving many students with having to potentially make
the decision not to pursue their educations. I (and other teaching faculty) have had substantial discussions with students about the matter and that rising fear. But there are no easy answers...</p>
<p>For faculty it's a double bind, many of us can see the effects of these financial manipulations and the attendant escalating costs...on students and their families, but can do little but to warn. And since we are an accessory part of the same system which has allowed this mess to coagulate it is problematic to know what to do or to say.
And since much of the state systems are funded (albeit indirectly) by these entities and systems it presents the moral dilemma that our ability to teach within that same system is unfortunately contingent on that current funding structure.</p>
<p>There was an article in the Washington Post about 2 months ago titled No.Va. College Applicants Face Extra Hurdle. I can't send the link but you can Google it. James Madison U. has 70% instate, 30% OOS, deliberately set by the Board of Governors to bring in more money from OOS students. The article was about a VA student being denied admission to JMU (his SATs were 2270, NM semi F, great ECs and recommendations but a GPA that was 3.4 after mono, most recently 4.1) much to the dismay of his public HS. The U. may be offering admission to less qualified OOS to boost income and it also seeks regional diversity. He lives in Fairfax County, from which "higher" stats are expected. Poor kid.</p>
<p>Poor kid, and poor morally bankrupt system. </p>
<p>Silvervestersmom; What you described is virtually the same as what had happened earlier in Colorado. </p>
<p>And about the use of regional stats to increase income and supposed diversity. Well that would have some disturbing implications in regards to colleges and their PR to serve the public. Unless of course the PR is misunderstood and what it really is to have the public served to them. </p>
<p>And no doubt the financial aid offers to the less qualified students who do get the admissions will have lots of loans, provided by recommended lenders to meet the enhanced OOS tuitions. </p>
<p>Yeesh, there are times I wish I was in a more ethical field than academia. Perhaps I should look into selling pornography to nuns...</p>
<p>It is very competitive especially for Northern VA students for slots in the VA universities (UVA, William & Mary etc.) even with the 70/30 requirement. With the state of the economy, lots of VA students are attending the in-state school versus heading out of state/going to private schools. UVA was over-enrolled this year so I am thinking they might send out fewer acceptances next year.</p>
<p>There are some OOS schools with good merit aid. Arizona, Oklahoma, Pitt, SC are all great to out of staters with the right stats. But you are right when it comes to some of the colleges. I looked wi****lly at St Mary's of Md. The OOS premium and the chances of getting merit money from them made them a not so great deal for us. Schools like Virginia Tech and JMU are still good deals for out of staters but UVA and Wm &Mary have to be compared to private schools in terms of cost with their OOS supplemental cost. If you are looking for financial aid, they do not meet full need so you may do better with private schools that do.</p>
<p>I agree that it can be a very nasty surprise when you have a sophomore or junior happily placed at their OOS school and suddenly tuition balloons. I also understand Iron Maiden's point. </p>
<p>I personally found myself just having a bad reaction to being the one paying OOS tuition in the first place. This is a little irrational, I know, as some of these schools are wonderful and offer programs a child might really want.<br>
My D visited her (OOS) friend at UNC-Chapel Hill and heard that the instate students, upon learning of someone's OOS status, will say things like, "Wow, you must be really smart." Point being, it takes less to get in as in-stater and the tuition is ridiculously cheap. North Carolinians are so blessed to have that school -- my D LOVED it, feels it's the perfect all-around school -- but I just can't get behind the idea of having OOS students who bust their butts to get in to pay the privilege of paying more than the in-state kid sitting next to them in class.
It's all so market-driven and image-driven. Except for very, very few instances, one big state school experience is so very much like every other.</p>
<p>UNC Chapel Hill is not exactly easy for in staters either, nor is UVA. Friend's daughter turned down with a 1350 (1800) SAT and a 3.8 average. And I know how you feel about OOS tuition premiums. I feel the same way.</p>
<p>Economics/supply and demand... and it will only get worse with rising costs for the schools. The price of oil affects so many facets of life, including colleges' expenses. Of course OOS students help subsidize instate students- a known fact here. We benefit from the geographic diversity, they benefit from the better education (even if only perceived benefit...).</p>
<p>I actually expect to see fewer OOS students at most public colleges except for those offering merit aid or significantly reduced tuition to them.</p>
<p>It will be interesting to see if people stay closer to home adn avoid debt with this slumping economy and housing value decline. I am betting many will.</p>
<p>drizzit, I agree with you. As OOS tuition rises, without merit and financial aid, it makes little financial sense to attend an out of state public for a middle class and upper middle class student. For us it made little sense 3 years ago. We looked at COA at some public schools in the the northeast and they were out of reach for our family. I am sure the increases have continued, so we aren't even exploring those possibilities.</p>