<p>I read many posts on this bb, and I think it is safe to say, most people want to go to schools where the student bodies have a lot of diversity. Diversity in races, religions, financial backgrounds, where people come from, etc, and diversity of thought.</p>
<p>I want my kids to go to diverse schools.</p>
<p>We also want student bodies made up of very intelligent, high achieving kids. Good connections wouldn't hurt, either.</p>
<p>We also want schools where our kids will get personal attention and have research or internship possibilities.</p>
<p>Do you have to go to schools that cost $40,000 and year and up (And going to $65,000 a year...thanks mini)? Can you get these things at cheaper schools? If so, which schools are these?</p>
<p>Dstark, you won't like my answer to this question, but I doubt you're likely to find these things at a lesser expensive school. It is endowment that allows a school to focus on diversity. Does anyone have a list of schools with large endowments? I expect they will be the usual suspects. State schools all will have a large majority from in state, UCs more so than others. They also can not use race as a factor in admission, further reducing diversity. And even mid range privates seem to be in the $40K range. It is an interesting question. I haven't looked at this for colleges, but in looking at boarding prep schools, diversity goes in a straight line with prestige, difficulty of being admitted and cost.</p>
<p>Maybe a better strategy is to look for schools where your child could qualify for merit money, which also value diversity. Often the two go hand in hand as merit money can be used to increase diversity. </p>
<p>As for getting merit money, unless you have some other hook, being in the top 25% of the applicant pool gives you a pretty good chance at schools that have merit money to spend.</p>
<p>Good connections? What does that mean exactly? Rich kids?</p>
<p>If so, the best option is to move to California and establish residency. Then, send your kids to UC schools.</p>
<p>If you can get past the 'connections' factor, there are hundreds of less expensive 'diverse' schools; Fordham and Hunter in New York City, for example.</p>
<p>Ucs are some of the least diverse schools in the Country. 95 plus percent or less in state. Little financial diversity with 75 plus percent on financial aid at each, and under 5% income below $30K and above $115K.</p>
<p>kirmum, I am not looking to like an answer. I am interested in reading other people's opinions and reading about other people's experiences. Maybe somebody's experience or opinion will click with me (or some other reader).</p>
<p>There are a number of such schools. I lived down the street from Pitt for years, and I can tell you that the school has diversity and connections up the whazoo. Many of the schools in cities fit that description. Although American U is not cheap, it cost a bit less than many of the other private schools in the area, and is great with the merit and financial aid. I consider that school a great value. I have heard raves about UNC Asheville, and College of Charleston in this area. New York's Pace University or Manhattan College are good choices, still expensive but under the $40K line. I like U of Delaware for diversity, price and connections. Georgia Tech is another great one that way. Ohio State, though not diverse percentage wise is so danged big, you'll find anything you want there, and as a Big Ten school , you certainly get the connections there and even out of state the cost is not outrageous. I saw a Virginia Tech reunion of sorts, last year, and the comraderie and diversity were apparent. Cost is not high even for out of staters.</p>
<p>I was thinking about this topic when I re-read Condoleeza Rice's educational background--two degrees from university of Denver. Formative relationship with European professor at Univeristy of Denver (Madeline Albright's father). </p>
<p>C'mon. University of Denver barely gets a mention on CC. Who would think a student could get a terriffic IR education in Denver?</p>
<p>Yet, look wher she is! (Qualifier: Didn't vote for that admin. Don't like the policies).</p>
<p>You know, Cheers, U of Denver was not a school on my radar screen and I never knew anyone who went there. But then I got a "We've moved" card from a friend who is now in Colorado, and their son is going to go to U of Denver, and they are thrilled with the choice. Then I sat next to woman on a plane from Detroit whose son is applying to U of Denver-they once lived in Denver. And it is his first choice school. Then in a short time span, the bio info on Condaleeza Rice was front page news, and where did she go to college? </p>
<p>There are any number of great schools out there that many of us don't really consider. Many are regional schools and unless we have lived in the area, it is difficult to get the true flavor of them. That's why I wish there were a Fiske type guide for every single school in the US. The schools that tend to get the greatest number of app are the ones that tend to get the narrative write ups. </p>
<p>I read a book several years ago, "Bright College Years" ,and the description of College oF Charleston really caught my eye then. Not long afterwards, a friend of mine in the midwest told me her daughter had chosen CofC. Loved it, great choice. Former neighbor took a position at the school, his D went there, some neighbors kids visited, and suddenly several kids I know are there. Nothing but positives about the school from all I know. Now I'm seeing the school show up on matriculation lists of some prep schools. I'm just hoping the school isn't going to get too selective by the time my 3 little ones are of age, because it it really looks like a great choice for quality, offerings, location, diversity, and atmosphere and still is a bargain both in selectivity and cost.</p>
<p>Seems clear that the poster who suggested that merit aid should be the strategy as opposed to seeking low cost schools was on the money. No pun intended!</p>
<p>American U is not cheap but it is $36215 this year for average RB costs and required tuition and fees as compared to the $44450 of GW and $40492 of GT. Given its location, its courses available, quality of faculty, name recognition, it campus and amentities, it is a good value, I think. Many kids who would not get merit awards elsewhere get a $5K sweetenr that brings the cost close to the $30k range.</p>
<p>Maybe this is obvious, but the top state universities are a bargain if you're instate. Even though there is a large percentage of in-state students, the top publics pull in the rest of the students from all over. They are big enough that you can certainly meet all sorts of people. Most of the best state schools are very big, which is not for everyone, but for a self starter, able to seek out advice and opportunities, it could be great. Lots going on, lots of choices. Not as great a bargain if out of state, of course, but some awesome merit opportunities, honors programs and so on.</p>
<p>You can't assume that the very top schools would be the most expensive, and as Kirmum said, at a well-endowed university or LAC, the aid may be quite good. You can get need-based aid that is more generous than you'd guess, or when you might not think you'd even qualify. </p>
<p>Wish<em>It</em>Was_April is absolutely right about merit aid, I think; there are some really enticing offers at great schools. </p>
<p>No bargain is worth it if it's not right for your kid.
(Reminds me of my mother's advice: don't buy something just because it's on sale.)</p>
<p>The question is a really good one, because there are a number of families I know that are unlikely to qualify for financial aid and are on a pretty strict budget for college finances. If the student is an average student that wants to broaden his horizons a bit, he may have some issues in finding the right school. I know in our state, the State U is really only for kids in the top 30-40% of the class. Many kids do not get in there, and then the options are limited. The local schools tend to be very local with mostly commuter or suitcase students. And getting into the flagship schools of other states could be even more difficult. And some state schools do not have much diversity. One issue my oldest son had with SUNY Binghamton where he could have gone for free was that it was 94% New Yorkers. He really wanted a school where there were kids from all over the US. Depending on the budget, it can be a tough go.</p>
<p>To the OP, we are also looking for diversity in all its forms. Try looking at Knox College in Illinois. It is certainly not perfect as most kids are from the MidWest but at least there are a (relatively) large number of international students and substantial merit scholarships. That coupled with a sticker price that starts lower to begin with makes it a school with significant appeal.</p>
<p>Jamimom, when posting above I was thinking of the OP's "high achieving" kids, but I too am worried about what you're talking about. Where we are, many kids end up going to the state schools even though they hadn't initially intended to. Often this is because they can't afford the schools they got into because they applied to ones without very good aid or where they weren't eligible for merit awards. Plus, because everything is so uncertain, many more apps are being sent out by each student than used to be the case, and the state schools are almost automatically applied to as safeties. Then, many of the kids who wanted to go to the state college all along don't even get in. Have seen some waitlisted and denied that would have been easy admits just a few years ago. It's pretty crazy. </p>
<p>Dstark, just a thought, but have you looked into any of the Canadian schools?</p>
<p>Cricket, I have looked at some Canadian schools. I am not writing them off.
There are also a few schools mentioned in this thread that sound interesting.</p>