@collegemomjam @WineLover Her GPA was unweighted at 3.99. She didn’t apply to BC. Happy to give you the full 14 list and results when I have them. I went to a Catholic HS and appreciate the value of those educations. Understand your point on the essay but we started as early as possible on essays and forced lots of re-writes, etc. (not every school required full additional essays) so I expect her essays were up to snuff. And honestly ok not to be sympathetic. I really wanted to address this as an academic exercise and ask a question around very well qualified students not getting in. It has sort of morphed into the idea of value. First off I understand if you ever mention any school people will get all bent out of shape, I realize that and sorry if I am ruffling some feathers there. My arguments are probably no different than other pockets of the country and many other schools vs. this school, so not here to incite a riot. My comment on Nova and the NCAA championships was simply two things: 1. More applicants and 2. Great marketing tool. Never implied that people are going to 'Nova just for sports. Schools market anything they can - on most school visits they all talked about dogs being available to pet during finals and the great award winning food! Hey, why not.
I am a native New Englander and know many, many people, good friends that went to BC and their kids looking at BC. I am not bashing BC. BC is a good school. Not saying UMass and Rutgers are better. Beautiful campus, good sports, etc. I am sure that your children will do well and have a great 4 years there and I know your kids will get good jobs afterwards. What I am saying is at $73,357, I just think it is hard to justify nearly $300,000. They give little to no merit so unless you are getting grants or an athletic scholarship or if money is no issue it’s a lot of money to be saddled with as a parent or adult. The idea that you can have a good job is excellent, but I know plenty of state school graduates also getting good jobs with 1/3 the debt. It’s hard to justify $70k+/year on any school, but perhaps there are a handful of schools and I am just not sure BC is one of them (and friends that are BC alums from 20 years ago have told me the same that the price has grown astronomical since they went and it is changing the equation). That was my point. And this goes for lots of schools not just BC or 'Nova, I don’t mean to pick on them. I could rattle off a list of 50 more that are similar. That was my point. My daughter has applied to several others in that category, but has a shot at significant scholarships at two. If she gets in but does not get the scholarship, same story, not worth it, won’t be attending. Perhaps I didn’t express that enough. I think 'Nova and BC are good schools, it’s the price point that changes the equation for me. Please don’t mistake me trashing the school vs. trying to weigh the value, that is where the overrated part comes in.
Specifically to @collegemomjam I think willing to pay depends on who is paying. All of the schools you mentioned are about the same price $65k+ (assuming you’re out of state). If parents are willing to pay and it doesn’t affect their retirement or life then I guess there is no issue with money and no real argument (or a separate argument). But a student saddled with that debt or parents putting themselves in debt is where it comes up. I have no doubts your kids will be/are in a good place for jobs and had a great experience (assuming no $300k debt), but with that debt, I guess I would need a stronger brand name that an Ivy brings or maybe a small handful of other schools bring (MIT, Stanford, etc.). After that the value question is real. Look, I know good examples of state school millionaires and some Ivy league slackers, so this is a very linear argument and all depends on the kid. But I have found that what you do after college is so much more valuable, than where you go. Very quickly people stop asking you where you went and start asking you what you have done.
@TheBigChef yes, thanks for the clarification on Jesuit. I should have said Catholic schools. I am a Catholic and should know better!
Thanks all for reading and for spirited debate!