College tuition hike too much

[RangerPooh]

Doesn't California have a program where you can go to college for free for 2 years or have they done away with that?

I know that when I attended a community college back in the late 90s you could apply for the BOG (Board of Governors) fee waiver, but you either had to have a family hardship (which I did) or be of lower SES to qualify for it. And even then it wasn't guaranteed every year or at every CC.

 

[bicker]

They have over spent for years. I know. I worked in that system. They need to look at how they manage their money at some point.

Right, but that's separate from paying this coming year's bills. I think a lot of times -- no most of the time -- issues like this get totally lost in the weeds, because of the distraction (yes, "distraction") that stems from the sidebar of waste inherent in the system. Like you said, addressing waste will help in the long run, but its counter-productive in the context of the discussion of the issue raised by this thread.

 

[luvmy3]

When the State can't fund the school what exactly did everyone expect to happen? I'm amazed that in the dire financial straits CA has been in that it didn't happen this past year

 

[golfgal]

So you're basing your opinion on what your personal friends say? That's rather subjective. People like to have people think their kids are super-smart and are winning everything; for example, the number of people on the boards who claim their kids attend Ivy Leagues (it's true that I live far from these hallowed halls, but I have personally taught exactly four students who've gone on to Ivy Leagues). People tend to exaggerate and they SAY "Ivy League" when they mean "very good, competative school". Same thing with scholarships; people say that their kids got scholarships -- that could mean anything from a $500 scholarship to a full-ride. Also, we tend to hear what we want to hear; parents HOPE that these scholarships are everywhere, so they tend to hear only the positives.

If your son's a good student, he probably tends to hang out with other good students. I'm sure there are positive stories among his peer group, positive stories about students earning great scholarships. BUT none of these students are putting themselves through school on the "you've just gotta look for them" scholarships. REAL scholarship money is not going unclaimed. That myth is flat-out false.

On the other hand, my opinion is based upon having taught high school seniors for 17 years. I've taught a wide range of students: some top-top academic students, some who just barely graduated, some who had money, some who had tremendous need, some who had lots of extra things going for them, some who were very run-of-the-mill. My opinion is based upon the reports that our guidance office puts out at graduation. These reports detail (to the penny) how much scholarship money the class won, how many students won large scholarships, how many students won small awards, etc. Based upon years of having read these reports, I assure you that MOST college students are paying the majority of their college expenses out of pocket, through federal financial aid, or through student loans.

Yes, you CAN "get paid to go to college". I know a 2008 graduate who's doing it, but this is extremely rare. See, you just cut that huge number in half -- before even filing the applications! The "you just have to look for them" scholarships just aren't what you think they are. They aren't just out there waiting for the people who bother to search.Again, this is more of a myth that the truth. Private schools turn out to be less expensive than public schools JUST OFTEN ENOUGH that people keep talking about it. For the vast majority of students, this nice situation isn't going to happen. AND, for those who are offered such a deal, you need to be sure that it's an every-year thing. There's not much point in getting a great deal on your freshman year if they just expect full-priced tuition for the next three years. Just be careful what you buy into.

I'm assuming this is the first child you've prepared for college. Look for these things, but don't assume that they're going to come through for you.

Having worked with high school students for over 20 years either teaching or coaching I would say that for our area our experience is very typical. Frankly, I don't know anyone that has gone on to college and had to pay even half of their tuition either through scholarships, grants, federal aid, etc. Maybe there is just more money to be had on the schools around here and in the community.

Mrs. Pete, if you have only had 4 students in 17 years go on to Ivy League schools perhaps the reason your students aren't getting the level of scholarships that we see is that your schools aren't as good as what we have here. In my first couple years out of school we had several kids go to Ivy League or Ivy League calliber schools (Notre Dame, Stanford, etc.). The top graduating seniors from our high school last year have all gone on to outstanding schools-MIT, Notre Dame, Julliard, Stanford are just a few from our DS's friends that I know of for sure. Maybe YOUR experience is not the norm.

 

[MrsPete]

Having worked with high school students for over 20 years either teaching or coaching I would say that for our area our experience is very typical. Frankly, I don't know anyone that has gone on to college and had to pay even half of their tuition either through scholarships, grants, federal aid, etc. Maybe there is just more money to be had on the schools around here and in the community.

I find it hard to believe.

Mrs. Pete, if you have only had 4 students in 17 years go on to Ivy League schools perhaps the reason your students aren't getting the level of scholarships that we see is that your schools aren't as good as what we have here. In my first couple years out of school we had several kids go to Ivy League or Ivy League calliber schools (Notre Dame, Stanford, etc.). The top graduating seniors from our high school last year have all gone on to outstanding schools-MIT, Notre Dame, Julliard, Stanford are just a few from our DS's friends that I know of for sure. Maybe YOUR experience is not the norm.

I think it has more to do with the fact that we are geographically FAR from all the Ivy Leagues. My students DO attend excellent schools such as Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill -- schools I'd be very pleased to see my girls attend in a few years.

However, my point was that people tend to exaggerate everything educational dealing with their children; for example, an abnormal number of people on these boards seem to have kids attending Ivies. You actually just proved my point by brining up Julliard and Stanford -- schools that ARE certainly top-top schools, but they aren't Ivies. MANY people exaggerate. I remember my aunt bragging about my cousin having won a Morehead scholarship (something that any student would love to win), and he was using it to go to Appalachain State University. Um, no, he isn't. ALL Morehead winners go to UNC-Chapel Hill. When I asked her about that, she said, "Oh, well, it's a scholarship." That's the kind of exaggeration I'm talking about.

Regardless, please let us all know once your son's had time to finish searching for that "unclaimed scholarship money". Come back and let us know how he did.

 

[arminnie]

I think it has more to do with the fact that we are geographically FAR from all the Ivy Leagues. My students DO attend excellent schools such as Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill -- schools I'd be very pleased to see my girls attend in a few years.

However, my point was that people tend to exaggerate everything educational dealing with their children; for example, an abnormal number of people on these boards seem to have kids attending Ivies. You actually just proved my point by brining up Julliard and Stanford -- schools that ARE certainly top-top schools, but they aren't Ivies.

So what if a school isn't in the Ivies.

As an educator you must realize that the schools in the bottom tier of the Ivies while very, very good are not necessarily tops in the country. UC Berkeley is a much better school than say Cornell or Penn. So is Duke. UNC is also outstanding.

Stanford competes as an equal with Harvard, Yale and Princeton, but it is NOT in the Ivy League (which by the way is an athletic conference). Nor does it ever claim to be. Unlike schools like Emory where people refer to it as the "Harvard of the South".

It sounds like you are in North Carolina. NC is not so geographically removed from the Ivies (approx. 700 miles Raleigh to Boston). Hawaii and Alaska are geographically far away.

(I am a Stanford grad. I turned down Harvard- and no that is NOT an exaggeration. But it was grad school not undergrad.)

But back to the original topic. Really smart kids with good records (like the ones at UC Berkeley) most likely could get merit scholarships to other very good universities around the country. Not everyone gets to attend their first choice of schools. I went to an expensive undergraduate school that now costs over $45,000 a year for tuition and fees. That ended up being financially possible because of financial aid. I never could have gone to the University of Arkansas (cheap) because they had no aid programs to help.

Stanford and Harvard (and many other schools) admit on a "need blind" basis. The admission office makes the admit decision without looking at financials. If a student is admitted the school is committed to providing the financial resources needed. At Harvard most students are not required to use student loans.

I am a real believer in students earning their education. Being a stellar achiever is one very good way to do it. My parents didn't pay a penny for my education, which is good because they didn't have an extra penny to spare.

 

[undertheradar]

Having worked with high school students for over 20 years either teaching or coaching I would say that for our area our experience is very typical. Frankly, I don't know anyone that has gone on to college and had to pay even half of their tuition either through scholarships, grants, federal aid, etc. Maybe there is just more money to be had on the schools around here and in the community.

Mrs. Pete, if you have only had 4 students in 17 years go on to Ivy League schools perhaps the reason your students aren't getting the level of scholarships that we see is that your schools aren't as good as what we have here. In my first couple years out of school we had several kids go to Ivy League or Ivy League calliber schools (Notre Dame, Stanford, etc.). The top graduating seniors from our high school last year have all gone on to outstanding schools-MIT, Notre Dame, Julliard, Stanford are just a few from our DS's friends that I know of for sure. Maybe YOUR experience is not the norm.

So, first you and your husband go to school for free due to "hard work"(searching for EVERY scholarship possible)? Now your school has an increased number of "Ivy League" students compared to schools elsewhere? Which fantasy world is it? My son's graduating class of over 650 had 20 students go to Ivy League schools, how many went to Ivy League schools from your school's most recent graduating class? Better yet, what is the name of this mystery school in MN? There are many posters on the Dis who are not impacted by the recession, live 100% debt free, kids are the top student from preschool on, the list goes on and on. The reality is that most kids are average, households have debt, and college students take on debt to get an education.

 

[jlima]

Unlike schools like Emory where people refer to it as the "Harvard of the South".

Ahem.

That would be Tulane.

 

[allison443]

Ahem.

That would be Tulane.

No, no, no...according to my brother-in-law, that would be Vanderbilt!!!

 

[allison443]

Having worked with high school students for over 20 years either teaching or coaching I would say that for our area our experience is very typical. Frankly, I don't know anyone that has gone on to college and had to pay even half of their tuition either through scholarships, grants, federal aid, etc. Maybe there is just more money to be had on the schools around here and in the community.

Mrs. Pete, if you have only had 4 students in 17 years go on to Ivy League schools perhaps the reason your students aren't getting the level of scholarships that we see is that your schools aren't as good as what we have here. In my first couple years out of school we had several kids go to Ivy League or Ivy League calliber schools (Notre Dame, Stanford, etc.). The top graduating seniors from our high school last year have all gone on to outstanding schools-MIT, Notre Dame, Julliard, Stanford are just a few from our DS's friends that I know of for sure. Maybe YOUR experience is not the norm.

Well, Stanford, MIT and Notre Dame DO NOT give merit-based aid, which is usually what people refer to as "scholarships". All aid from those schools is strictly based on financial need. The Ivies and a number of other top schools have the same policy.

You said you don't know anyone paying full cost. Notre Dame costs around $50K a year. You're saying the kid who went there is paying less than half? Is the kid getting need based financial aid, or did he receive numerous small local scholarships that total $25K per year?

If you are referring to need based financial aid, no amount of effort in searching out "scholarships" will help someone qualify for need based aid, if the numbers on FAFSA don't qualify them.

 

[allison443]

However, my point was that people tend to exaggerate everything educational dealing with their children; for example, an abnormal number of people on these boards seem to have kids attending Ivies. You actually just proved my point by brining up Julliard and Stanford -- schools that ARE certainly top-top schools, but they aren't Ivies. MANY people exaggerate. I remember my aunt bragging about my cousin having won a Morehead scholarship (something that any student would love to win), and he was using it to go to Appalachain State University. Um, no, he isn't. ALL Morehead winners go to UNC-Chapel Hill. When I asked her about that, she said, "Oh, well, it's a scholarship." That's the kind of exaggeration I'm talking about.

Regardless, please let us all know once your son's had time to finish searching for that "unclaimed scholarship money". Come back and let us know how he did.

Mrs. Pete, I totally agree about the exaggerations. I have seen posters here and elsewhere talk about kids getting full scholarships to Harvard or another Ivy League school. Those schools do not give scholarships (let's face it, everyone admitted would qualify!) They only give need-based financial aid, although they are reportedly very generous.

 

[allison443]

Having worked with high school students for over 20 years either teaching or coaching I would say that for our area our experience is very typical. Frankly, I don't know anyone that has gone on to college and had to pay even half of their tuition either through scholarships, grants, federal aid, etc. Maybe there is just more money to be had on the schools around here and in the community.

In 20 years you've never known anyone that had to pay even half of their tuition? I think it is quite possible they are not telling you everything.

 

[allison443]

I just typed this up, and my computer shut down -- if I'm double-posting, sorry.

While what you're saying is true, it's not the whole story. I've taught high school seniors for almost 20 years, and I see students (and their parents) delve into this idea year after year: They think they're going to get loads of scholarship money just by searching for scholarships and going to the trouble to fill out the paperwork. I have yet to see anyone actually GET one of these mythical "unclaimed" scholarships. No, no, I am not telling you the truth: I've seen people GET them, but I have yet to see anyone USE them. And I've seen a great deal of disappointment over these "unclaimed" scholarships.

Here's the catch:

These too-good-to-be-true scholarships -- the ones that promise money to a blue-eyed athlete with asthma, or a future business major whose parent was in the miltary, or a left-handed student who can prove Italian ancestory -- are real, BUT they are only available to students who are going to attend CERTAIN SCHOOLS (usually expensive schools). In reality, accepting these small scholarships would mean the student would have to pass up an affordably-priced state school near their own home . . . and instead attend an expensive, often private school several states away. Often students don't realize that the scholarship has significant strings attached until he's already put a good bit of work into obtaining the award. In the worse situations, some of these scholarships charge "application fees", and students who don't read the fine print (scholarship can only be used at University of Alaska's community college branch, and only by students planning to study dentistry) may pay before they realize that they'll never use this particular scholarship. The math doesn't work in the student's favor; money is not sitting around unclaimed.

Oh, if you're the right person in the right place and you know to apply, it's a great little perk -- but it's not going to be enough to put you through college, and it's not going to be enough to justify choosing that other school.

Let me give you a real-life example: My own daugthers are very involved in scouting, and GSUSA is always talking about scouts earning scholarships. So I decided to look into it, thinking that my girls would definitely qualify. Oh, they'll qualify all right . . . they can get a couple-hundred dollars IF we choose to send them to private schools in the $30,000 range, the closest of which is two states away. It makes much more sense to investigate the in-state options, which run $10,000-12,000.

It's kind of like Disney's get-a-free ticket on your birthday special. Yeah, I can get into the parks for free . . . if I pay for the rest of my family's tickets, transportation to Florida, a hotel, meals and more. It's a great deal FOR THE PERSON WHO WAS GOING ANYWAY. It's not enough to convince you to make the trip.

I hope you can prove me wrong. Go through those 89 scholarships, and see how many of them are REALISTIC CHOICES for your son. Not things for which he's qualified, but things which he'd actually be able to use.

I totally agree with this post! I had one child enter college in 05 and one started this year. The availability of these "millions in unclaimed scholarships" was as described above, in our experience. For example, at my dd's high school, there is a $2000 scholarship for a particular university offered to a graduate of the high school. Some years, no graduate goes to that university so the scholarship is unclaimed. I also noticed that some of the Catholic colleges we looked at would offer a scholarship for a graduate of a particular Catholic high school, sometimes there would be other stipulations like a particular ethnic background or field of study. I'm sure some of those scholarships are unclaimed each year. That doesn't mean that with a little extra effort your kid could get those scholarships.

A few kids at the high school did get the local foundation and business scholarships. Of course they were the students near the top of the class, with great scores, activities, etc. Not the average students or even anyone below the top 5 or 10 percent.

I did just think of another scholarship source-the parents' employers. I do know kids that have gotten scholarships from their parent's company and in one case a union that the parent belonged to. Also things like the Knights of Columbus and Columbian Association (Italian American club). They are small amounts but every little bit helps!

 

[golfgal]

So, first you and your husband go to school for free due to "hard work"(searching for EVERY scholarship possible)? Now your school has an increased number of "Ivy League" students compared to schools elsewhere? Which fantasy world is it? My son's graduating class of over 650 had 20 students go to Ivy League schools, how many went to Ivy League schools from your school's most recent graduating class? Better yet, what is the name of this mystery school in MN? There are many posters on the Dis who are not impacted by the recession, live 100% debt free, kids are the top student from preschool on, the list goes on and on. The reality is that most kids are average, households have debt, and college students take on debt to get an education.

What are you talking about??? What mystery school??

I guess I just feel sorry for everyone else that doesn't have access to the scholarships that apparently are only available to students in MN . Our high school sends out daily emails and in those emails are lists of scholarships that have come into the guidance office that are available. At the end of the school year there is a senior ceremony and at this ceremony they list all of the scholarships kids have received. Your schools don't have something like this???? We had this way back when I was in high school.

Oh, and I double checked with the schools DH and I attended-it isn't $12,500, it is $16,000 now

Regents'/Trustees' Scholarships (Renewable;
4-year value $64,000)
$16,000 Minimum GPA of 3.60 and minimum ACT composite score of 30* or minimum SAT combined score of 1980.
Demonstrated leadership and service.
Faculty interview.

Student should apply for admission by December 15 to be considered for the scholarship.
Eligible students applying after December 15 deadline should contact the admission office.

* Subject scores from multiple test dates may be combined to calculate the composite score.

President's Scholarships (Renewable;
4-year value up to $54,000)
$10,500-$13,500
GPA, high school rank, ACT/SAT scores, leadership and service; typical range of past recipients: ACT composite of 26-29*, or, SAT combined score of 1760 - 1920. GPA 3.70-4.0
* Subject scores from multiple test dates may be combined to calculate the composite score.



Dean's Scholarships
(Renewable;
4-year value up to $40,000)
$4,000-$10,000
GPA, high school rank, ACT/SAT scores, leadership and service; typical range of past recipients: ACT composite score of 23-25*, or SAT combined score of 1590-1700. GPA 3.35-3.65
* Subject scores from multiple test dates may be combined to calculate the composite score.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[allison443]

What are you talking about??? What mystery school??

I guess I just feel sorry for everyone else that doesn't have access to the scholarships that apparently are only available to students in MN . Our high school sends out daily emails and in those emails are lists of scholarships that have come into the guidance office that are available. At the end of the school year there is a senior ceremony and at this ceremony they list all of the scholarships kids have received. Your schools don't have something like this???? We had this way back when I was in high school.

Oh, and I double checked with the schools DH and I attended-it isn't $12,500, it is $16,000 now

Regents'/Trustees' Scholarships (Renewable;
4-year value $64,000)
$16,000 Minimum GPA of 3.60 and minimum ACT composite score of 30* or minimum SAT combined score of 1980.
Demonstrated leadership and service.
Faculty interview.

Student should apply for admission by December 15 to be considered for the scholarship.
Eligible students applying after December 15 deadline should contact the admission office.

* Subject scores from multiple test dates may be combined to calculate the composite score.

President's Scholarships (Renewable;
4-year value up to $54,000)
$10,500-$13,500
GPA, high school rank, ACT/SAT scores, leadership and service; typical range of past recipients: ACT composite of 26-29*, or, SAT combined score of 1760 - 1920. GPA 3.70-4.0
* Subject scores from multiple test dates may be combined to calculate the composite score.



Dean's Scholarships
(Renewable;
4-year value up to $40,000)
$4,000-$10,000
GPA, high school rank, ACT/SAT scores, leadership and service; typical range of past recipients: ACT composite score of 23-25*, or SAT combined score of 1590-1700. GPA 3.35-3.65
* Subject scores from multiple test dates may be combined to calculate the composite score.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

That college you are referring to is College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University in Minnesota? That is a substantial scholarship but the tuition at that school is just over $30,000 a year...plus room and board, books. So that scholarship is not going to make college "free", of course depending on financial status, the student could get need-based aid or loans, but that's not what we were talking about earlier when you said with a little extra effort, college doesn't have to cost anything. I think it would be tough to find additonal outside scholarships in the amount of $24,000 a year for four years. That's great if it can be done though.

We looked at a number of smaller private schools in our area and many/most of them give similar type of scholarships. It's enough to bring the cost down to approximately what a state school would cost. But not free (I wish!).

Anyway, good luck to everybody in managing the college process~

 

[MrsPete]

So what if a school isn't in the Ivies.

TOTALLY missing the point. It was an analogy. a comparison made to make the point. I'll give it one more shot, then I'm giving up on the use of abstract thought:

The OP says that ALL the kids she knows win scholarships.
This is far removed from my experience, and I do not believe it is true.

As a possible explaination of how this can be, I pointed out that parent exaggerate their children's academic achievements. As an example of that fact, I pointed out that people tend to claim that their children are attending "Ivies", when the reality is that they're attending good colleges.

Given that people tend to exaggerate this, I am led to believe that people tend to exaggerate their children's scholarship winnings as well. I've personally heard this done; I've heard parents whose children've won small scholarships imply that the actually won "full rides", etc. I've heard people refer to financial aid as scholarship money.

To be exceedingly clear: I believe the OP's friends have "stretched the truth" about their children's academic achievements, which has led the OP to believe that "everyone" wins big scholarships.

 

[golfgal]

That college you are referring to is College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University in Minnesota? That is a substantial scholarship but the tuition at that school is just over $30,000 a year...plus room and board, books. So that scholarship is not going to make college "free", of course depending on financial status, the student could get need-based aid or loans, but that's not what we were talking about earlier when you said with a little extra effort, college doesn't have to cost anything. I think it would be tough to find additonal outside scholarships in the amount of $24,000 a year for four years. That's great if it can be done though.

We looked at a number of smaller private schools in our area and many/most of them give similar type of scholarships. It's enough to bring the cost down to approximately what a state school would cost. But not free (I wish!).

Anyway, good luck to everybody in managing the college process~

Which is exactly what I said originally and yes, if your grades are good enough to qualify for these scholarships chances are pretty good at making up the vast majority of the difference in other local scholarships from the various foundations, etc. around the area.

 

[Alphabetsoup]

I think if colleges ran like a business; require professors to work 40 hours a week, and get government out of college, tuition wouldn't have sky rocketed. Colleges and universities know that parents are willing to pay X and the government will pay Y. When the government raises its contributions to Y + 5, the tuition goes up accordingly because parents are always willing to pay X, so they are betting that they will be willing to pay X+3.

I'm a university professor and this quote really gets my hackles up! I may spend 12 hours in the classroom a week...but I work OVER 60 hours a week - many while 'normal' women are home with their families dealing with dinner, kids homework and bathtime. While you get to do that, I am juggling those things PLUS marking papers, answering emails, answering emails from my boss, planning assignments, doing research, writing lectures, writing the obligatory 'publications', preparing for conferences, etc.... I do not work a 'normal' 9-5 job. NO -- I work way more!

I am in my office by 7:30am, in the classroom by 8am, have office hours, committee meetings, other meetings and obligations ALL DAY LONG. Sometimes I don't even get a chance to eat (I once ate my PBJ sandwich during a faculty meeting because that was the only time I had - yes...it was PBJ because I don't get paid peanuts!). I rarely leave campus before 7pm during the semester. AND...I am not paid for summer breaks which I am sure you must think are just a paid holiday for me - I WISH!.

A few more things you need to know...I am expected to answer emails up until 10pm, with some students expecting quick responses until well after midnight. I have around 100 students this semester. A 2 page assignment takes 20 minutes to grade -- a 5 page assignment runs close to an hour PER STUDENT. Since I teach communication, the average assignment length is 10 pages -- Do the math! That type of grading does not get done during the 'work day' in your proposed '40 hour' week because it is spent going from one meeting to another and teaching. Which means the marking eats up all of my 'off time'. So unlike women who work a 'normal' job...I work all day, every day, most weekends from the time I get up until the time my brain crawls out my ear and cowers under the couch in pain.

All of this...60+ hour work weeks, the expectation of being available 22 hours each day, disrespectful students who expect to be given A's for sub-par work....all for under $28,000 a year...and you think I need to work a 40 hour work week?!?!?!

I'D LOVE TO WORK A NORMAL 40 HOUR WORK WEEK!!! Then maybe I wouldn't have anxiety attacks and high blood pressure.

It is this kind of "I don't understand how the system works but I can fix it" attitude that is causing so many problems in this country. We have people with law degrees who have decided that THEY know how to fix the healthcare system just because they have been to the doctor a few times in their lives, have paid health insurance, and therefore know exactly how the system works and how to fix it. Baloney!

Get real!

NOW...as to California's problem. The state is bankrupt. It was inevitable that they would raise tuition. It is terribly unfair and wrong -- but should not have come as a surprise to anyone. What would you rather they do? Release the prisoners and close down the prisons, or raise tuition? Or maybe close down the police force and public hospitals? At the moment, there is going to be NO popular solution to their problems. That said, you are at least right about one thing...the big whigs in administration do not deserve the ridiculous salaries they are paid when your average Assistant Professor is struggling just to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table.

And quite frankly, the problems facing CA are going to become problems that other states will need to face. My university is 'furloughing' teachers. Think about it a second....students are paying for a certain number of face-to-face teaching hours, so that means teachers can't just cancel classes. No, they are taking money from us but expecting us to work the same number of hours -- personally, that isn't a furlough -- that is THEFT.

The problem is long term financial mismanagement in state governments around the US. The only solution is to get the fat cats who feel 'entitled' to their positions and power out of office and get some people in who actually take their responsibility to represent the BEST INTERESTS of their constituents into office.

 

[QueenRocks]

Our local paper had an article today about Virginia state colleges. They are accepting more non-residents because they pay 2 to 3 times more in tuition. William and Mary actually admitted more non-residents than residents this year. I'm so glad we did the Virginia Pre-paid Tuition Plan with our 3 children. My son is a freshman this year and it is a relief to not have to worry about tuition increases.

 

[undertheradar]

Which is exactly what I said originally and yes, if your grades are good enough to qualify for these scholarships chances are pretty good at making up the vast majority of the difference in other local scholarships from the various foundations, etc. around the area.

When did you say this previously? I reread the thread and cannot find it. Your statement was that anyone can fund college by working hard at finding scholarships. My question about the mystery school was pertaining to the high school with such a wealth of above average students. Again, what is the name of the school?