<p>My family would be able to manage paying for the schools, however if I were to attend OOS I just want to make sure that it’s completely justified as we are definitely a middle-class family where the cost of OOS/private schools would hold an impact.</p>
<p>SwimNSchool, If you are clearly in that middle range where you are not poor enough to receive need based aid but your family is not rich enough to comfortably pay $50,000 plus for your undergaduate education, the Virginia public schools may be your best bet. My older son had dreams of Ivy , Duke, etc. for undergad but went undergrad instate to UVa. No regrets. Funny thing is now that he has graduated from college and is potentially looking at graduate school down the line for an MBA, all of these other schools are totally off the radar when he knows it will be on his own dime. Again, please have a financial discussion with your family.</p>
<p>Sevmom: “…all of these other schools are totally off the radar when he knows it will be on his own dime.”</p>
<p>I often wonder what the choice would be if a family said that if a child selected the in-state school, the parents would hand over $100K at graduation. How many kids would choose the big name–or at least big price–school?</p>
<p>If your family is middle class, go to virginia. It will just be your job to work hard and get the benefits of being a top grad.</p>