elizabethh

My H and I were discussing this last night, and I thought I'd pose this to the CC parents. What are your thoughts about whether this will help? My H and BIL both suggested that paying full tuition, especially as an OOS applicant, could really help our son's chances at schools where he is borderline. Is it wishful thinking, or could they have a point?

toast eater

It will at all but the 45 or so need blind schools. So for 2150 of the 2200 or so 4 year colleges in America, it helps. It also helps as an out of stater for state schools.

bluebayou

I don't think it makes that much difference for OOS publics since few publics offer much need-based aid to OOS students. IMO, the vast majority of the OOS applicants to a public are already full pay, so the competition is already self-selecting.

mom2collegekids

It can make a difference at some need-aware schools where your child's stats might be "borderline". So, if your child's app was competing with a similar kid's app who needed FA, your child would more likely get admitted.

My sis is hoping this will help her DS2 with one particular college where her son's stats are mid-to-low range at a competitive need-aware school, but my sis' son will be full-pay.

yabeyabe2

Can't hurt and may well help in this economy

elizabethh

I also have noticed that many state schools are actively recruiting OOS applicants to increase their tuition fee income. I am hoping this will help also. I feel like any little bit will help with a borderline applicant. With a 2.9 gpa, my son is borderline pretty much everywhere he's applied.

mom2collegekids

E,

Your wonderful son will get accepted to many of his choices You're doing a fine job helping find the best options for him.




BTW...I may have already asked you this...(senior moment LOL) But does that 2.9 GPA include all classes (such as PE and electives)? Or is that his GPA for college-prep classes only?

hmom5

I think for a kid with a 2.9 and a very strategic approach, being full pay would help at many schools.

But I think they would be primarily private colleges. As others have said, most state schools don't give much to OOS students anyway, especially if they are not very top players. But at private colleges that may usually want a 3.2 for example, filling up in this economy will generally be tough, especially getting the full pay percentage. This is where it should really help.

elizabethh

mom2 - that 2.9 is for everything. His college prep is a 2.7. You can see why I'm a bit stressed.

hmom - he isn't interested in any privates. Only wants big schools with football teams and greek life. I agree totally that privates would be more likely to look at him holistically, but that's the way it goes. A few of the schools he's applied to actually do look a little more closely - U of Arizona and the Oregon schools, for example.