<p>Carroll College, Montana State, Montana Tech, and U Montana are the four main colleges in MT.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I call “BS”: Kids with horses, trailers, and rigs to transport them for equestrian events don’t get full-rides to Yale or any other selective schools that offer mainly need-based scholarships.</p>
<p>Older son turned down Vandy, Rice, and Northwestern and he went a lesser rank private school that gave him a full-ride based on NMF.</p>
<p>My friend’s dad turned down a full-ride to Harvard and instead went to Cal State Long Beach for the groovy waves.</p>
<p>S2 turned down WashU for U of Minnesota. Full merit ride and was just offered a freshman research award with a $2000 stipend. He’s is happy and challenged in the Honor’s Program. I have $52,000 more in my pocket each year.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Maybe it’s not that weird to own a horse in Montana and doesn’t correlate with high income? It is the cowboy state after all…</p>
<p>Son turned down a great scholarship (really great…sorry…will get over it soon) to our Flagship U which has a higher ranked enineering school than that of the excellent school he ultimately chose.</p>
<p>But I knew when I saw him on campus during the accepted students weekend at his eventual choice, his shoulders were relaxed and his smile was more ready than usual. It turned out to be the right chice for him.</p>
<p>", his shoulders were relaxed and his smile was more ready than usual." - That’s great. One of the first pieces of advise I got from other parents is that “you’ll know” when you hit the right campus. The kid walks different, more comfortably.". It’s not always clear cut, but it’s neat when you can get that positive vibe. (Note - I don’t think it happens so much on summer tours with few students around. But Accepted Students weekends are great for getting a feel for current and future students.)</p>
<p>^^ that is what I am talking about.</p>
<p>But I don’t believe that all is lost if that doesn’t occur or if the finances don’t work. I still believe that our son could/would have made the Flagship work well if other considerations had not worked out (finances).</p>
<p>["Quote: I call “BS”: Kids with horses, trailers, and rigs to transport them for equestrian events don’t get full-rides to Yale or any other selective schools that offer mainly need-based scholarships.]</p>
<p>In many parts of the country owning a horse and trailer doesn’t cost much, and it can be a way of life. Someone in our family currently has a horse farm on a limited income, on a rural property. A used trailer can be purchased in some parts of the country for $2,500 (or even less). Neighbors help transport animals too. Farm trucks can pull a trailer - you don’t need a special rig. Many horse owners will worm their mounts themselves, let them down in the winter to avoid shoeing fees, etc. The feed bill isn’t that big if you’re living in a rural area and aren’t going to a Starbucks or other typical urban/suburban haunt frequently. Many rural kids grow up doing 4H horse shows. Not everyone rides in horse shows, does dressage or equitation, or joins a hunt. </p>
<p>However, I don’t disagree that it can be very expensive to own horses in a major metropolitan area, or certain parts of the country. I owned a few show horses many years ago, and it was certainly an expensive hobby to board, train and transport them. Fortunately my kids weren’t horse-crazy, so my madness was brought to a halt.</p>
<p>Loved Colorado Mom’s posting #389. That’s exactly what happened with three of my kids.</p>
<p>Did anyone notice that this old thread was revived by a ■■■■■/jokester in post 385?</p>
<p>JYM626 - Interesting thread though, and still applicable to each year of prospective college students.</p>
<p>Understood, Neonzeus. Some posters feel its better to start a new thread than pull up an old one. But it really is mox nix.</p>