<p>son wants to go to USC because he lives in Charlottesville and feels like it is an extension of high school. He has been a Trojan fan his whole life. But he is in the echols program and the cost is half of USC. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>Did you talk about finances and possible choices before decisions were released? I can’t in a million years fathom anyone turning down UVA Echols for USC if the costs were half as much. All that money could go toward graduate school. (Most people I know, for that matter, would choose UVA Echols over USC even if costs were equal.) I understand his reluctance to stay in his hometown and want to get away; however, this simply isn’t worth an added $100K over the course of four years. I know many kids choose the private u in our home city because they often receive generous merit money. To make it seem more like the true college experience, they all live in the dorms. Most of my friends (moms of these kids) say their child rarely comes home and is immersed in their college life. It’s no different than if they chose a school that was 300 miles away.</p>
<p>we did talk about it. was really thinking he might get merit money from USC. I agree, if he does go to UVA it will feel totally different than I think he envisions it. We probably will see him the same amount of time as if he were 3000 miles away</p>
<p>You will also save a good bit of travel costs to CA :). It is often helpful to remind students that there will be more money for travel - Study abroad, visiting friends, Spring Break etc.</p>
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<p>Uh, no. Not here. At UVA you will be going to a school with 70%+ Virginians, and a huge cohort specifically from NOVA. A little limiting on the “diversity” side, wouldn’t you say? Further, the whole Echols thing is vastly, vastly over-rated. There is absolutely no $$$ with it – you just get to roam the campus and choose classes you like instead of having to fulfill any core requirements. I think you also get priority registration. The Echols is no biggie, frankly. The money difference is a biggie, so that may force your hand. But as far as being an “Echols” or being at “UVA” is concerned, USC is more than equal if not much, much better – how about that $6.0 billion fundraising campaign for USC?!! Just look at CC posting for all the new professors moving from Berkeley, Cambridge, Oxford, etc. to USC and you might think differently re your post.</p>
<p>We live in Charlottesville as well. My son chose UVA last year (over other fantastic OOS schools with merit aid). As you likely know from living here, UVA is kind of an oasis all its own. We do see our son (in fact he is here now to watch the game with his dad), but we don’t see him all the time:). It is very different from high school. Next year he is renting a house with some buddies, not moving home. My daughter also recently decided on UVA; she also had some fantastic OOS choices, but none of the packages (even with the generous merit aid) beat what we will be out of pocket with UVA. I suspect she will also live away from home all four years. Both of my kids are thinking of going to grad school (and studying abroad) and will need money for that. UVA is a fantastic deal and a fabulous school!</p>
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<p>USC is ~50% IS/OOS - not that big of a difference between 66%/33%. It also costs $50K+ a year to attend and doesn’t have as good of a financial aid policy as UVA does. A bit limiting on the diversity side, wouldn’t you say?</p>
<p>To help push your son towards UVa, maybe you should provide some incentives - such as promising no surprise visits by mom on a Sunday morning, no pressure to come home at any time, etc. You can also encourage him to use some of the savings for a semester abroad, etc., to get some real diversity.</p>
<p>Also, let’s keep in mind that a large percentage of UVa students listed as Virginians are actually from families who moved to Va from other parts of the country, including large numbers from other countries. It is not 65% first families of Va.</p>
<p>Some people have complained about safety issues once you leave USC’s campus after dark.</p>
<p>I agree with the other posters, but an additional consideration could be area of study. E.g., if your son is interested in journalism or film, or any other area where USC is strong and UVa doesn’t even offer a program, that could tilt the decision toward USC.</p>
<p>business/econ> he is accepted into marshall would have to apply like all others for macIntire</p>
<p>Where does he want to end up after school? Does he have any idea, yet on that? If he thinks he wants east coast, he would be well served at UVa. If he wants a change and to tryout the West, then USC might be better.</p>
<p>But the financial differences are a huge consideration. Can he talk to other C’ville area students at UVa to get their perspectives on going to college “at home?”</p>
<p>Both are great options. Ultimately, I would say that if he wants to branch out and leave home, let him go to USC. Was he National Merit?</p>
<p>Had the same issue two years ago with D when she got into a equivalent (at least in my eyes) school OOS. We gave her the option of accepting a very generous pledge to fully fund the cost of tuition at one of the finest schools in the nation or go to the private “dream school” out of state and figure out how to fund the difference. That way it was her decision to make and not ours. She quickly did the math and is now at UVA and loves the school. Make sure your D includes travel to/from California, no small amount these days in her breakdown if you go with this option. Also have a detailed discussion regarding the term “financial aid” and the difference between a loan and a grant. Always get a laugh out of the use of the term “we meet 100% of your financial need” when it comes to tuition cots. It normally means we will have no problem lining up loans that you will be saddled with for the next twenty years so you can attend our fine institution.</p>
<p>Yes, I also gave my son a choice - go to UVa and you only need to work during the summer, or go to the more expensive college and you need to work during the school year to make up the difference. That helped make up his mind real quick.</p>
<p>Make him feel the pain and let him decide - I think 25% of the cost either way is fair.</p>
<p>Funny how the instate or less expensive options suddenly become more appealing to many kids when they know some of the cost of their education will be on their own dime!</p>
<p>Yes sevmom, it is an amazing difference between parent money and Their money!</p>