Tulane (full freight) versus a solid state school

Parents Forum
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<p>I am hoping I find some parents whose kids may have had to make this type of choice.</p>

<p>If your child (undecided major) was admitted to Tulane but you knew you had to pay full freight (about $52,000) and the other choices were solid (flagship) state schools such as University of Maryland, University of Connecticut, University of Delaware, or Penn State (OOS costs about $38,000)...would you feel that his/her education and/or job opportunities would be better at this particular private school versus those particular public schools? (I'm leaving out the stronger public schools such as Michigan, Virginia, William and Mary.)</p>

<p>I realize every person's situation is different, so I'm hoping to find people that actually had to make this very decision and get some feedback.</p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

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<p>Do you have any highly ranked in state flagships? If so, I’d say that’s the way to go. Tulane isn’t really ranked all that high. I don’t think full freight at Tulane is a very good value.</p>

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<p>Tulane’s ratings were affected by Katrina, so I would be cautious about being too linear about its ratings. I also think Tulane is one of those schools that has popularity and a network “above” its ratings, if that makes sense.</p>

<p>Not an easy one. It’s hard to spend someone else’s money! Good luck to you either way, RTR.</p>

4

<p>It’s a really good question. I think I’d lean towards the state school. In all honesty, what can Tulane give a kid that UConn can’t (I’m choosing UConn because that’s my state flagship.) Except debt? Can your child get into the Honors program at UConn? That would be even cheaper than the 38K and would look great on a resume. </p>

<p>Unless my kid was going to be studying something that absolutely couldn’t be studied anywhere else but Tulane, I’d lean towards the flagship.</p>

5

<p>Don’t know why you would limit the question to Tulane vs a solid state school. There are lots of other options. I would think it always comes down to not only money, but also what’s best for the student. Every school and student is different.</p>

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<p>What is your home state?</p>

<p>What are your child’s stats?</p>

<p>I think just as fine an education can be found at a flagship. I wouldn’t spend that much on Tulane (or hardly anywhere for that matter.) for undergrad. </p>

<p>There are many, many fine schools where a very good education can be had for less money.</p>

<p>:)</p>

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<p>I would not go entirely by money - at least, we didn’t. I see no harm in keeping Tulane on the table and in the meantime applying to other schools that might afford a less expensive option. Then, come spring, you can take a detailed look at Tulane to see if it offers any special perks or programs to your child, that the others would not. Any of these schools or numerous others can become more or less attractive depending upon whether a student is in a honors program, would have trouble getting registered for all the courses they would need for four year graduation, or would have access to a sequence of courses not available elsewhere. A student who does not fit in to the dominant social mode on campus could end up miserable, even if they are getting a bargain in tuition.</p>

<p>But, if your child hasn’t applied yet, I would get them to hurry up and apply to those state schools. It is approaching the time of year when many of these schools are passing their priority deadlines. Penn State (our state flagship) in particular can become impossible for main campus if even a strong candidate dawdles with the application, and Schreyer essays (I would advise looking at Schreyer if your child might have any kind of chance, for all the non-monetary perks as well as the stipend) have November 30 as their first priority date. I believe that Michigan also has an earlier priority deadline. OTOH, I do not think there is any harm in waiting until deadline to finish a William and Mary application.</p>

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<p>Tulane is ok school, but it is not worth that much money, IMO. </p>

<p>Most state colleges has honor college. Maybe look at that as well.</p>

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<p>Tulane is very generous with merit money. Is your son a candidate for merit $$.</p>

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<p>Tulane sent some simple applications, no fee, etc. is this to higher scoring students? It also says that it will tell about scholarships as soon as someone applies.
Anyone get those emails? How good is the merit aid?</p>

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<p>Thanks for the ongoing input. Merit aid would change the picture but my question above is about full freight only. Merit aid has not been offered and probably will not be, so for now I would like to know how people feel about the initial parameters.</p>

12

<p>Our kids are instate for UConn. Neither of them even applied to the school. It wasn’t what they were looking for. DD and DS both wanted an urban setting (UConn is not urban at all). DD also wanted a smaller school. </p>

<p>Tulane was an consideration for DD at one point, but her intended major was eliminated by Tulane after Katrina. But the school was the size she was looking for and the location was urban enough…much more urban that UConn.</p>

<p>DS absolutely wanted an urban school AND his intended major was not worth pursuing at UConn. </p>

<p>Both went to much more expensive, private universities. </p>

<p>Sometimes, it’s not all about the money (if money isn’t an issue).</p>

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<p>Not a parent, but hopefully my answer can still be helpful.
I think it’d depend on what the child in question wants from their undergraduate college. If they’re okay with or even like the idea of a large state school and the implications thereof, I’d probably go with the state school. In my case, even though my state has a flagship school along the lines of those mentioned, I’m not even considering it because I want a more personal environment and don’t particularly want to encounter half my high school class there.</p>

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<p>If you are saying that your son has been admitted to Tulane, congratulations! I can’t give an informed opinion about money’s worth vs. state school, but it certainly is a great and very early way to start out the decision season.</p>

15

<p>One factor to consider is where your child is likely to work after graduation. Penn State, for example, has a great alumni network in the East: I would be less sure about Tulane in the East (although it draws a fair number of Eastern kids).</p>

<p>I do not know about Tulane, but, in general, with flagships vs. privates, the privates sell themselves on smaller classes, the truth of which varies from place to place and the importance of which varies from child to child. I did not need a small school, but my son does.</p>

<p>There are also kids who will love attending nationally ranked teams’ games, which Tulane does not offer, but those 3 do, or who might be happier with a less affluent student body than Tulane may have.</p>

<p>Conversely, a child interested in grad school might either need the dollar savings even more, or find that Tulane is better is than respect.</p>

<p>From the Northeast, I would guess that the added travel cost of Tulane would likely add a few thousand more to the $14K difference.</p>

16

<p>As your son’s decision will soon be upon him, I don’t know why your bothering posting hypothetical questions. After all, your son is only getting the in-state rate at one of these schools … so lay it out there.</p>

<p>But to answer your question … with an undecided major I would pay MORE money and select Penn State (University Park Campus), UCONN (Storrs Campus) or University of Maryland (College Park) over Tulane. More pointedly, in-state kids that can’t get into the flagship campus can get into Tulane. University of Delaware or URI … depends on your son’s financial standpoint but certainly Tulane will have higher scoring students.</p>

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<p>Thank you for the advice (that you gave after this quote) but I don’t understand your comment above. The price I quoted for the state schools was the out of state price, not the in state price. He is not really interested in our in-state option, unfortunately. And the question isn’t hypothetical at all.</p>

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<p>Well, because that’s the choice in front of the poster and her family … Tulane versus some other solid state schools. We could add in “What about Harvard?” and “What about East Montana Vo-tech?” but that seems rather pointless, no?</p>

<p>RTR - I have a feeling people didn’t read your OP well, and they think you’re asking a general question about Tulane vs state schools, as opposed to Tulane vs some other schools on your son’s list, which happen to be state schools from states not your own.</p>

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<p>Since the ultimate decision doesn’t need to be made right now (thankfully :slight_smile: ), this is what I’d do…</p>

<p>I’d have my child apply to Tulane (since your child seems to be interested) and apply to some OOS schools, but I would also try to find at least one school that will be more affordable (just in case) you decide that paying $40k (OOS publics) or $50k (privates) is just not reasonable.</p>

<p>I would be very hesitant to spend $200k for the questionable major choice for a child. That’s a lot of money for a possible degree that could easily have been had for much more reasonable price.</p>

<p>There are also some cheaper OOS publics that your son could consider. :)</p>

<p>What state are you in? What are your son’s stats?</p>

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<p>Just to give you an idea of the wide range of COA for OOS publics… :)</p>

<p>COA per year for OOS students , State University
$25,787, U MINNESOTA
$31,872, VIRGINIA TECH
$31,000, U ALABAMA
$33,000, AUBURN
$34,812, U IOWA
$35,029, U WISCONSIN
$36,210, OHIO STATE
$35,311, U N CAROLINA
$40,086, U GEORGIA
$36,977, RUTGERS
$34,696, TEXAS A&M
$34,922, U DELAWARE
$36,094, U FLORIDA
$32,752, U PITTSBURGH
$37,416, U MARYLAND
$36,985, U WASHINGTON
$37,548, CLEMSON
$36,848, PURDUE
$39,146, U CONNECTICUT
$38,120, GEORGIA TECH
$40,130, U ILLINOIS
$39,510, PENN STATE
$37,644, INDIANA U
$38,566, MICHIGAN ST
$48,041, UC IRVINE
$49,193, UCLA
$50,306, UC BERKELEY
$38,974, WILLIAM & MARY
$43,742, U TEXAS
$49,926, UC S BARBARA
$46,699, UC SAN DIEGO
$48,049, UC DAVIS
$39,483, UC S CRUZ
$42,570, U VIRGINIA
$47,188, U MICHIGAN</p>