US News College Rankings

[catherine]

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/princeton--williams-take-top-spots-in-u-s--news-best-colleges-rankings-153155189.html

US News did their best college ranking, and here's something that I found interesting:

#70 is the college my sons went to: state university, $14k a year
#71 is the college my daughter went to: private university, $40k a year

Key takeaway: Two schools, essentially the same ranking for quality, but one is almost 3 times more than the other. Something to think about.

[bae]

My daughter just started today at the #1 school on the list, that article lists $41,820/year, but mind you, that is tuition/fees only. I believe that is not a correct representation of the cost, with room/board/etc, it will be about $61,000/year this year in necessary costs. And that doesn't include any spending money, clothing, recreation, etc.

The university itself says for next year "The estimated cost of attendance for 2015-16 is $61,275". Ick. Ouch ouch ouch.

[Packy]

So, what field is she planning to enter, Mr BAE? What are her interests? Just Curious.

[ApatheticNoMore]

There's a lot of reasons not to go to a state university though. In CA many of the UC schools are near impossible to get into. It's much much easier to qualify for a private school. Then even those that are relatively easy to get into (some of the lesser known UCs, much of the Cal State system, the community colleges), the overcrowding problem is so much that it's nearly impossible to graduate in 4 years even if you really want to. Why some people give up and go to a private school as graduating is taking too long. So info like that hides as much as it shows.

[catherine]

Congratulations on your daughter, bae! I live around 20 minutes from that school--I believe you are an alum? It's a beautiful school and a beautiful college town. I'm proud just to live near it! (And I guess a lot of us feel that way, judging by our property taxes.)

Best of luck to her!


ETA: She's welcome to visit me any time!

[Packy]

My school, where I attended the first part of one semester, is The University Of Southwestern North Dakota, East-Central Vo-Tech Campus. I don't recall what the tuition was, or what the schools' ranking is. But, I just barely remember that it was a popular school for those "stoner" types.

[pinkytoe]

Book in my queue called Excellent Sheep - about the ivies - which I look forward to reading.

[lhamo]

We're doing our best to prepare financially to support our kids through whatever program they think is best for them, but at the same time being very open with them about the costs/relative value of different options and what our limitations are financially. As a 3x degree holder/graduate of the University of Washington, I am a huge fan of public institutions. I got a great education as an undergraduate --including very personalized mentorship from several faculty members -- in the College Honors Program. Many large public institutions have those programs, which typically function like a small, elite liberal arts college within the larger public research university (with all its amazing faculty and research opportunities).

For us, one of the huge quandries about our expat life is that we do not currently have residency in any US state, so would have to pay non-resident tuition for our kids unless we move back before their senior year. This is a huge issue financially for us. We have a plan in motion that might address it, though.

My DS (age 13) is going to be applying to a special program at the University of Washington. If admitted, he would spend next year in an intensive program that would prepare him academically for direct entrance into the university the following year. The cost for the transition program is $15,000/year, plus the cost of one college course in the spring quarter (we will not have established residency yet at that point, so that will be another $5000. After the first year, we will again be state residents so his annual tuition costs will be around $13,000-15,000. We are currently paying roughly $28k/kid/year for their private school in Beijing, so we'll actually save money on this option if it works out (though it will mean at least me and maybe also DH quitting our jobs -- I'm ready to quit anyway, but DH isn't quite there yet). Added bonus is that we should be able to fund the entire program from what we already have saved for DS for college (his 529 is currently at around $75k).

The program is very competitive to get into (only admit 16-18 kids with around 200 applications a year). But in his first trial run on the ACT he scored at the 91st percentile. I know his recommendations will be good. And I think he can put together a solid application. We'll see. Trying hard to keep it all very low key and let him know that ultimately it is his choice. But the financial ramifications for the family are huge, and I hope it works out.

DS plans to pursue a computer science degree (probably with a second major in physics, math, or maybe a "fun" subject like music), and I think he will probably "launch" pretty smoothly (though he might go straight into a Master's or Ph.D. program). A bit more worried about dreamy DD, who would like to find a job where she can play Minecraft and draw cartoons all day. Maybe game development for her. She's only 9, so I'm trying not to worry about it too much at this point.

[Gardenarian]

Bae - Congratulations to you and your daughter!

[iris lilies]

hey bae, I had wondered if The Offspring would be attending The Alma Mater. Good show! And at least you are getting #1 for your money. She's a long ways away, hope her parents and pets are coping.

[bae]

Yup, I encouraged her to go elsewhere in England or Scotland, but she finally picked the wilds of New Jersey all on her own.

Today is Day One of Empty Nest, we shall see where this goes :-)

[Packy]

Book in my queue called Excellent Sheep - about the ivies - which I look forward to reading. There are numerous reviews of this book online; but just as interesting are some of the commentaries about the reviews. Generally, they(commenters) seem to agree with the premise of the book: Higher education has become an industry, in our post-industrial economy; Too many students anymore are just engaged in a credentials-chase with one goal: to obtain the very highest-paying job, with the most prestige. Supposedly, they don't care what it is, as long as it meets those two criteria. And so on. But, you already knew that.

[pinkytoe]

Too many students anymore are just engaged in a credentials-chase
This whole evolution has been interesting to me as I have observed it first-hand working at a university and also having grown up in a different era. I have even been part of the very secretive admissions process. There is a sort of Stepford feel to how we are turning out our new citizenry.

[bae]

I have even been part of the very secretive admissions process. There is a sort of Stepford feel to how we are turning out our new citizenry.

My wife and I have been involved in interviewing candidates for Princeton for decades now. It has been terrifying - the majority of the kids have had perfect GPAs, super high SAT scores, the same tailored laundry list of extracurricular activities and interests, etc. etc. Indistinguishable from one another really. Their parents clearly have hired some advisor to tell them how to package their kids.

Odd thing is, none of the ones we've intervewed who fell into the Stepford-kid mold has ever been admitted.

By contrast, our daughter got in every place she applied (except for one music conservatory) , and all we mostly did is let her run around in the forests and on the beaches on this island. She was home-schooled/unschooled for most of her school years, and she spent the bulk of her time pursuing her own interests, not ones we had pushed her into.

[iris lilies]

My wife and I have been involved in interviewing candidates for Princeton for decades now. It has been terrifying - the majority of the kids have had perfect GPAs, super high SAT scores, the same tailored laundry list of extracurricular activities and interests, etc. etc. Indistinguishable from one another really. Their parents clearly have hired some advisor to tell them how to package their kids.

Odd thing is, none of the ones we've intervewed who fell into the Stepford-kid mold has ever been admitted.

By contrast, our daughter got in every place she applied (except for one music conservatory) , and all we mostly did is let her run around in the forests and on the beaches on this island. She was home-schooled/unschooled for most of her school years, and she spent the bulk of her time pursuing her own interests, not ones we had pushed her into.

Before you even said this, I was thinking that she's got an advantage because she's an island kid. How different is that? Plus she can evaluate cattle for market and likely sheer a sheep. Those 4H skills are pretty impressive.

[Spartana]

Neither of the 2 universities I went to (Cal State San Fran and Cal State Long Beach) are even on that list! They are both pretty inexpensive even now (under $7000/year for 2013 - 2014) and much less when I went. So, after looking at the top ranked school pricing, maybe price does equal value. Not that my education didn't have value (especially when it was paid for by my dear old Uncle Sam using my GI benefits) - and being an "elderly" first year student at around age 30 meant I wasn't part of the party crowd (usually :-)!) so was more serious and dedicated so graduated with honors. But I had a full time professional job already while going to school and stayed with that pretty much until I retired - baring a long break to travel in between. So the education didn't help me "get" my job (time in the coast guard did that), but it did help in terms of promotions to a job in the same field/employer that required a degree.

[Packy]

FWIW, I have a suggestion that is crafted along the lines of Voluntary Simplicity. Since you are a Graduate of the same school, and have some spare time, why not go to the College bookstore, get the texts for the entire curriculum(outdated, used ones are REALLY cheap, but there's hardly any difference) and Homeschool her, yourself! Sure--she won't have a Degree from an accredited school--but what's the difference, besides a Credential? You've been out in the Real World, and have so much more wisdom to impart, than some eggheads in their Ivory Tower. It would be like money in the bank--a quarter of a million dollars! Then, after she "graduates", she can follow in your footsteps as a top-notch First Responder. You heard it here first. Thank Me.