CT 1417, thanks for sharing that.
That’s absolutely ridiculous … gun possession on campus at a university like the University of Texas, a university at which one of the things it is most famous for is the 1966 UT Tower shootings in which 48 people were shot and 17 were killed.
@billythegoldfish you are fortunate to be able to pay the full costs to attend these colleges. That is a wonderful gift to your child.
These three schools are all wonderful in different ways.
I would suggest that your student visit where she is accepted, and go from there.
You are fortunate that you aren’t compelled to chase less costly colleges. Some of us are like you, and were (or are) willing to pay the full cost of attendance…because we can and we want to.
I’ll keep my fingers crossed that your student has these amongst their acceptances!
I’m sure she won’t get into all 3 and very possible she gets into none of them. I’m just wasting everyone’s time with this hypothetical but I appreciate the responses and it seems like maybe a helpful thread to others as well.
We CAN do full-pay, but that doesn’t mean I want to. I kind of want her to take the large merit $ she got from Arizona and call it a wrap.
We are full pay also. Does not mean that merit is easy to turn down, even though we could. My oldest got into Michigan and UVA out of state but we just couldn’t justify that tuition of almost $80,000 a year (engineering has a surcharge at UVA). My current applicant is similarly strong academically, legacy at UVA, good chance of admission based on that, his class rank and results from our school, and he didn’t apply to either. We are in Georgia, where they will get free tuition at Georgia Tech and UGA which makes it even more difficult to justify.
One of our friends has a full pay kid at a private top 20 school and she said it’s like driving a fully loaded Mercedes off a cliff every year😂.
Oh, if you threw U of A into the mix and I didn’t know anything about the schools - I’d be there. Gorgeous school. Nice weather. Great honors dorm. It doesn’t have the historic charm of UVA but it’s the nicest of the campuses (to me). But I’m not your child. What is to them?
So I think yeah you go see all four or wherever you get into - when school is on.
This is a huge decision. First you set budget - wasn’t aware it was a consideration here. With that you can then eliminate a school(s) if needed.
You might also see what your child is interested in long term. Does it matter where they go ? What is each school’s outcomes look like ?
But do the trip - better sooner than later. Why ? For you - you might actually find that your child prefers the safety. Or you might find she prefers the most expensive - but then you made the mistake up front ( I know you know this) of not putting that out there. That’s ok - but emotionally it becomes harder to unwind !! So the sooner the better !!
Interesting analogy. For many people driving a Mercedes is a materialistic self indulgence that immediately depreciates.
Conversely providing your children the freedom to choose educational options independent of (or with some) financial limits is a labor of love and selflessness that can accrue monetary and non financial benefits over a life time.
Personally I would rather “indulge” my child allowing them to choose an academic area of interest or school that “fits” versus pursuing the lowest cost option, telling my kid all collegiate experiences are largely the same, and having a car that impresses my neighbor.
I appreciate the reality that not everyone has the luxury or blessings to make cost a secondary consideration. Far to often however on CC those that “pay up” are described as “foolish” amongst the loudest voices who use cost as the beginning, middle and end of the decision while declaring they choose not to spend the money versus didn’t have the resources. Such an approach is the imposition of a personal value system not a universally held truth.
I certainly admire the driver of the 20 year old beat up Honda with the Williams and Yale window sticker more than the new Mercedes driver with a vanity plate.
No judgement either way and wishing all of your kids the type of success that allows them to give their children opportunities and choices for generations to come.
Amen.
My D18 attended the most expensive of the colleges she was accepted at, turning down, among other schools, one that offered her a full ride +. (And she was a NMF that never applied to schools like Alabama). On the surface, I’m sure it looked like we were chasing prestige. The reality was that the school was the best fit for her from among her choices, and I have zero regrets.
D23 just applied ED and EA to a total of 10 colleges. If she gets in to the ED school, it’ll be by far the most expensive. She’s currently a NM semifinalist, but also didn’t apply to the schools that would give her really pretty scholarship packages. Part of me cringes, but the other part recognizes that those schools are really not what she’s looking for.
And honestly, I don’t have much else I want to do with my money than to pay for my children’s education. I recognize that I’m really privileged that there is money available to do so.
That’s great - you earned it and it’s your right how to spend it.
Money is now only being discussed because OP brought it up - so it become relevant to the discussion.
At first, three schools were listed and no financial discussion was mentioned or brought up.
Then OP stated in response to @thumper1,
We CAN do full-pay, but that doesn’t mean I want to. I kind of want her to take the large merit $ she got from Arizona and call it a wrap.
and that’s why @VirginiaBelle gave her anecdote. It’s clearly a stumbling point for OP. So that others are willing to go full-pay is great for them and perhaps topic for another chat, but in this case, OP introduced the concern (late in the chat) - hence the perspectives of budget are legit here.
Many that can afford, have different perspectives on the subject.
I think it has been summed up pretty well… all 3 are good academically and have a good reputation. So really it comes down to fit and “vibe”. If your daughter gets into all 3 then visit them and see which one feels more like home to her. I’d also look at the curriculum and research the professors – read some of their published works if she has time. But it would be a great position to be in, “having” to choose one of those options.
Something to consider about UT is the manner in which they accept their in-state students. I know you mentioned you were OOS but this policy has dramatically changed the student composition and vibe of the student body.
It used to be “the top ten” rule. This is where the kids in the top 10% of their high schools get automatic acceptances. Now it is around the top 6%. Certain majors though are like top 2-3%.
Kids in Texas change high schools just to gain admittance. It is an entire cut throat game. I am originally from Texas and have family members and friends every year trying to gain acceptance and reporting on the changes.
Many top Texas students pass on UT because of the competitive, cut throat environment of the students. They are opting for Bama, Auburn, Georgia and OU instead.
It is hard school to pass on if you are in state due to the value/price tag. But I definitely would not pay OOS tuition for UT.
And the homeless problem is very, very real.
Interesting insight, particularly the mention of UGA. UGA is getting a lot of Texas students. A friends daughter passed on UT Austin in state auto admit last year even though she was admitted to her major, in favor of UGA. From my understanding talking to my friend, she is not alone in taking this path. Your observation seems to confirm it!
and I know you know as you posted, but while OP mentioned three schools in this thread and then Arizona as a fourth - they also mentioned UGA Honors in another thread…and if one wants to study the international aspect of poli sci, then UGA is a national leader!!!
OPs problem is going to be, if admitted to all these schools, a nice problem to have!! If I remember older posts, there was Florida State too 
The good news is, come decision time, there’s likely no wrong one.
and I forgot to mention Arkansas as well… lots of Texas students
@mtnsun13 we’re in Texas. All the kids we know, going to Arkansas, didn’t get in to UT or A&M. UA also offers in-state tuition, for a pretty average gpa or scores (I can’t remember which one).
Most of the kids we know at OU are the same…they didn’t get in to UT or A&M; not all, but most.
Hopefully, there was a budget provided before applications went out. The initial posts seem to have morphed from being full pay and prepared to pay to hoping to be done with an offer now from a very good school that offered lots of money . And hoping that offer was taken and to be done with it. What is the plan if there is an acceptance to one of these $60,000 type OOS schools?
And op knows this from reading his past messages but for future parents this is why you need to have the budget chat first. UVA and unc might be like in size, pedigree and location, but they are not alike in cost. I would have paid for UNC but not UVA. Others, of course, are full pay and willing.
But for any full pay parent that doesn’t want to be - it’s why it’s so critical to set that budget b4 any apps go out.
I hate to think this but I’m guessing OP deep down hopes his daughter strikes out at a few - at least UVA and UT which cost more :). I know OP has others on the list besides Arizona that are more cost effective.
Had the apps been limited to them up front, he’d avoid his upcoming conundrum :). But It is a good problem to have and dad can always put his foot down budget wise if he decides to do so. It’ll just be a tad more messy than if done b4 the app period started.
Some of your previous posts state that your daughter might also major in education or psychology. Is this still true? Keep in mind that your daughter may need grad school depending on her major and career goals. If she is an education major she may need a car for student teaching. This may be a moot point if she is definitely poly sci.
Also keep in mind that all of the possibilities (not just these 3) will provide a fabulous education. What matters is fit and what you are comfortable spending.
Is your D interested in study abroad? She may choose a less costly program, but she may choose one that is pricey. Will that matter?
I know I come off a little wishy washy regarding budget. the fact is we aren’t eligible for financial aid and we had enough $ in 529 funds to pay for 4 years- but that has dwindled some in recent times and no longer will cover all 4 years unless the economy rebounds while she is in college (I suspect it will). either way, there won’t be a lot left for grad school if she goes.
I am all for saving the $ now and choosing a cheaper school or one that offers her merit $. My wife, though, is more eager to let her go where she wants and not let $ be a big factor. and most of our 529 funds come from her family…
If it wasn’t for ED it wouldn’t be such a big issue because we could wait and see which honors colleges (if any) she gets in to and who offers her $, but I’m not sure how many we will hear from before ED decisions. My daughter is pretty easy-going, and if a juicy offer came in before her ED decison I might be able to convince her we should take it and withdraw her ED application. We have U of Arizona in hand with good $ but not the honors college. We might hear from UGA this week but I don’t think her honors chances are so great thius wave…
My thought about budget is the same as yours. Our 529’s are healthy but wouldn’t fund UVA for each child. Now that we’re on the third child and two have gone in-state there’s plenty of 529 money lying around to cover it, but as much as I love UVA we couldn’t justify $82,000 a year for their engineering program, no matter how much the third child liked the school. Thankfully he’s on the same page.
It is nice to have these budget conversations before applications, which we have now learned. My oldest got into both Michigan and UVA and both are head and shoulders above a lot of other state schools pricewise. Thankfully he also got into Georgia Tech, which is on par with Michigan for engineering and which he loved, so it all worked out.
The calculus would be different if he wasn’t set on engineering, but he is. I’ve always said I would love one of my kids to go to UVA, but their engineering facilities just aren’t what they were looking for. Whatever we don’t spend for college can go towards grad school. We have at least one who will take that route. And anything left over can be divided among grandkids. It’s money that we’ve saved for the past 20+ years for education, and it will be used for somebody’s education Just trying to use it wisely!
I didn’t realize she applied ED.