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.
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Originally posted by Unregistered View PostIt 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'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.
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Originally posted by Unregistered View PostIt 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.
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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.
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Originally posted by Unregistered View PostYour 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.
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
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Originally posted by Unregistered View PostThis 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.
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Originally posted by Unregistered View PostYour 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.
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Originally posted by Unregistered View PostWhat’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?
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Originally posted by unregistered View Postthe 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
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Originally posted by Unregistered View PostYour 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.
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Originally posted by Unregistered View PostThe 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
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Originally posted by Unregistered View PostWhat’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?
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Originally posted by Unregistered View PostSounds 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.
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Originally posted by Unregistered View PostWhat'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?
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?
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