high school girl doesn't get to be valedictorian

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by alum

Virginia doesn't have a Hope Scholarship. There are enough ISers fighting for a spot at our flagships without needing a financial enticement. The Jefferson Schol is for OOSers.

Washington doesn't, either. Does UT make applicants do an admissions essay? The University of Washington implemented that several years ago because the formula they used to use (like many state institutions do) just wasn't effective anymore with so many highly qualified applicants. Can you imagine having to read tens of thousands of essays?

[TexasWSP]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

Washington doesn't, either. Does UT make applicants do an admissions essay? The University of Washington implemented that several years ago because the formula they used to use (like many state institutions do) just wasn't effective anymore with so many highly qualified applicants. Can you imagine having to read tens of thousands of essays?

UT as in Texas?

Yeah, I had to at least.

[AGDee]

Michigan has the Promise Scholarship.. a whopping $4000 for your entire college career if you make a certain score on the standardized test everybody takes Junior year.

The top 10% thing seems odd. Isn't it conceivable that the top 10% in one school district/one school is still lower than the top 30% in another? So you could be really screwed if you're in a better district?

[jubilance1922]

Originally Posted by AGDee

Michigan has the Promise Scholarship.. a whopping $4000 for your entire college career if you make a certain score on the standardized test everybody takes Junior year.

The top 10% thing seems odd. Isn't it conceivable that the top 10% in one school district/one school is still lower than the top 30% in another? So you could be really screwed if you're in a better district?

I read an article a couple of years ago that pretty much highlighted that problem. Some parents even went so far as to enroll their kids in lower performing schools or districts to ensure their child would be in the top 10%.

[Munchkin03]

You know, I'm not so sure how much we should rely on our states to provide scholarships, especially in the cases of top state schools (UT, UVa, or the Cal system). In-state residents basically get a discount on these relatively inexpensive schools anyway, while most out-of-state residents make up for the fact that they're not paying taxes in the state with out-of-state fees. Schools like the one I mentioned above are a great bargain in the first place.

If I had chosen to go to UF (fat chance, I basically applied because our college consultant required us to apply to a state school), my education would have been free, but it was so cheap anyway that it didn't feel like a major honor. I actually got even more money from William and Mary.

[AGDee]

See, now our main state schools are VERY expensive. At one time, U of Michigan was the most expensive public university in the nation. They are not affordable AT ALL. All the schools are insanely expensive now. I have a friend whose son is at Western Michigan and he's paying $16,000 a year for a (hate to use the word) lower tier (read: Less selective) school. That's a 400% increase over when I went to school and tuition, room and board were less than $4000 a year.

[srmom]

Originally Posted by AGDee

See, now our main state schools are VERY expensive. At one time, U of Michigan was the most expensive public university in the nation. They are not affordable AT ALL. All the schools are insanely expensive now. I have a friend whose son is at Western Michigan and he's paying $16,000 a year for a (hate to use the word) lower tier (read: Less selective) school. That's a 400% increase over when I went to school and tuition, room and board were less than $4000 a year.

The tuition rate for UT is around $9000 a year for instate, but what they fail to mention is that the cost of living is pretty darn high in Austin - my son is living in a 12 bedroom duplex (6 baths) with a bunch of his pledge brothers next year (I know, it's insane, but what's a mom to do) and the cost of that one stupid room is $795 a month, not including his share of utilities. So, after adding up tuition, rent, food, books, and dues, we will be spending upwards of $30,000/year for our state public.

College costs are getting astronomical - so for you young parents out there - Start saving your pennies

[epchick]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

In-state residents basically get a discount on these relatively inexpensive schools anyway.

How do you figure this? Are you just comparing In-state vs out-of-state?

In no way does it seem like I got a "discount" from being an in-state student. In fact, I paid more tuition for 1 semester at UTEP then I did for a whole YEAR (3 quarters) at CSUEB.

When I started UTEP back in '03, tuition was around $80 per credit hour. Now this fall its going to be close to $200 per credit hour.

The out-of-state students that come here get pretty good scholarships. I know a girl who came from Michigan (she wasn't an athlete or anything) and got a full scholarship to UTEP, yet many native El Pasoans (who could definitely use some aid money) rarely get aid.

[nate2512]

Originally Posted by epchick

How do you figure this? Are you just comparing In-state vs out-of-state?

In no way does it seem like I got a "discount" from being an in-state student. In fact, I paid more tuition for 1 semester at UTEP then I did for a whole YEAR (3 quarters) at CSUEB.

When I started UTEP back in '03, tuition was around $80 per credit hour. Now this fall its going to be close to $200 per credit hour.

The out-of-state students that come here get pretty good scholarships. I know a girl who came from Michigan (she wasn't an athlete or anything) and got a full scholarship to UTEP, yet many native El Pasoans (who could definitely use some aid money) rarely get aid.

Here we have two tuition rates, one for in-state and one for out-of-state.

[srmom]

Originally Posted by TexasWSP

UT as in Texas?

Yeah, I had to at least.

Yes, depending on your major, there is a choice of essays. All very PC and all kind of begging for you to bs your way through it.

Considering you are guaranteed a spot if you are in the top 10%, I doubt very seriously that they pour over them with a fine tooth comb.

For the honors colleges (Plan 2, business honors, etc.) the essays are critical, from what I've heard (don't have a dog in the hunt so can't vouch for sure).