Nescacs Style of Play

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It is true that the way to get good merit aid is to target 2-3 tiers below where your kid might be able to get in, but it is also true that hardly anyone ever does that even with the additional truth that the prices of especially elite colleges are absurd. Whether folks should target Wooster or Wheaton when the kid can get in schools considered more elite is another issue. Most don't dip down 2-3 levels.

[Unregistered]

It is true that the way to get good merit aid is to target 2-3 tiers below where your kid might be able to get in, but it is also true that hardly anyone ever does that even with the additional truth that the prices of especially elite colleges are absurd. Whether folks should target Wooster or Wheaton when the kid can get in schools considered more elite is another issue. Most don't dip down 2-3 levels.

It varies of course. Some won't think the drop is worth it, especially if they can afford it or don't have to take on crazy loans. But for others they will, especially if grad school is in the cards. I know an Ivy accepted kid who didn't qualify for much FA (even though Ivies are more generous on that) but went to a pretty elite LAC for under $15K a year, an amount they could afford with no loans. Kid is crazy smart and just started at a super elite and very pricey law school. Not having any undergrad loans was a big decision factor for him.

It's always good to have 1-2 financial safeties. There's no telling what packages your student will get, and your financial situation might change from application to decision time.

[Unregistered]

It varies of course. Some won't think the drop is worth it, especially if they can afford it or don't have to take on crazy loans. But for others they will, especially if grad school is in the cards. I know an Ivy accepted kid who didn't qualify for much FA (even though Ivies are more generous on that) but went to a pretty elite LAC for under $15K a year, an amount they could afford with no loans. Kid is crazy smart and just started at a super elite and very pricey law school. Not having any undergrad loans was a big decision factor for him.

It's always good to have 1-2 financial safeties. There's no telling what packages your student will get, and your financial situation might change from application to decision time.

Your key words were "pretty elite LAC." That softens the blow, especially if the pretty elite LAC has a good track record for getting kids in strong law and med schools.

[Unregistered]

An elite lac isnt 2-3 steps down from an ivy. Just like with prep schools, if you need FA, apply to a variety because some give more aid than others even though they all base it on the same info.

[Unregistered]

Your key words were "pretty elite LAC." That softens the blow, especially if the pretty elite LAC has a good track record for getting kids in strong law and med schools.

I would consider it pretty elite lol but you know how some TS posters poo-poo certain schools :) Anyway, worked well for him.

Personally I'm a big advocate of trying not to graduate with a lot of debt no matter what your future plans are. It can also depends on the majors involved, how strong school A vs school B are for that major, future earnings potential etc. Sometimes the debt may be worth it, other times not

[Unregistered]

This is fantastic advice and the most important for NESCAC families.
Let's face it, if your kid could play, she'd be looking at Ivy. Right?
She doesn't really matter to soccer, why should soccer should matter to her?


But, maybe just but, soccer does matter to her. Maybe she actually is pretty good and wants to play for a Championship Contending team, while also getting a great education. If she wants to play, and wants soccer to be a positive part of her college experience, then you better darn look at style, cuz there ain't much worse than dedicating your life to soccer practice and not playing.

Sounds like this family’s priorities are a bit off if soccer is driving this much of the decision. There are plenty of great college with club soccer teams that can fulfill this particular itch.

[Unregistered]

Your key words were "pretty elite LAC." That softens the blow, especially if the pretty elite LAC has a good track record for getting kids in strong law and med schools.

What’s wrong with taking soccer out of the equation and just picking the best fit irrespective of it. Why force a kid into a second tier LAC just to enable the soccer part. At some point everyone hangs up their cleats. Why let soccer limit choices?

[Unregistered]

What’s wrong with taking soccer out of the equation and just picking the best fit irrespective of it. Why force a kid into a second tier LAC just to enable the soccer part. At some point everyone hangs up their cleats. Why let soccer limit choices?

Because some kids wouldn’t even go to college if it were not for the opportunity to play soccer for 4 more years. Sometimes, just sometimes the tail does wag the dog. and if my kid can get her college degree where she may not otherwise get one, then that’s a bonus!

[Unregistered]

the logic is actually sound.
Ecnl/da isn't about soccer anymore than nescac is about academics.
It's about selectivity, status signaling, and parent validation through their kid's achievements.

The demographic that aggressively pursues and pays for selective prestige-based club soccer experiences is also highly likely to pursue selective prestige-based higher education experiences.

Ps: Not on a high horse, our family is 100% guilty too, merely sharing the logic

spot on

[Unregistered]

Wasted rant: no academic $ at Amherst or Williams. Joke is on you!

TS doing its job and providing useful information. Good to know. We’ll put it on the list of “Nice to dream, congratz on being accepted, but we can’t afford it”.

[Unregistered]

Your key words were "pretty elite LAC." That softens the blow, especially if the pretty elite LAC has a good track record for getting kids in strong law and med schools.

There are a number of fine colleges like Rhodes, Oberlin, Kenyon, Grinnell, and Denison which offer lots of merit aid.

[Unregistered]

The logic is actually sound.
ECNL/DA isn't about soccer anymore than NESCAC is about academics.
It's about selectivity, status signaling, and parent validation through their kid's achievements.

The demographic that aggressively pursues and pays for selective prestige-based club soccer experiences is also highly likely to pursue selective prestige-based higher education experiences.

ps: Not on a high horse, our family is 100% guilty too, merely sharing the logic

Brutally honest and guilty as charged, as well. But nothing like the thrill of going to a school near the Charles back in the day. Speaking for a friend.

[Unregistered]

What’s wrong with taking soccer out of the equation and just picking the best fit irrespective of it. Why force a kid into a second tier LAC just to enable the soccer part. At some point everyone hangs up their cleats. Why let soccer limit choices?

What's wrong with having soccer IN the equation? Why can't a kid go for both just like some go for both with D1? And why is it a continual problem for you? Is sending a kid to Grinnell or Carleton or W&L THAT horrible?

[Unregistered]

Sounds like this family’s priorities are a bit off if soccer is driving this much of the decision. There are plenty of great college with club soccer teams that can fulfill this particular itch.

Saying this once in five minutes was plenty, BTNT.

[Unregistered]

What's wrong with having soccer IN the equation? Why can't a kid go for both just like some go for both with D1? And why is it a continual problem for you? Is sending a kid to Grinnell or Carleton or W&L THAT horrible?

The "never let soccer drive the decision" types make me laugh. How many of their kids are going to end up picking a school because it:

a) has a good football team
b) has Greek life
c) has a mascot she likes
d) has nice dorms
e) happened to serve a meal that she liked on her visit so now she thinks the food there is always going to be great
f) happened to have nice sunny weather on the day she visited, even though it was summer in the Northeast and she'll rarely see that type of weather when she's there.

What's wrong with the soccer team being a big part of the decision, given that it's one of her favorite activities and she'll spend a lot of time doing it while she's in college?