I am wondering if you should consider UVM and/or UNH and/or U.Maine. At least for us the UVM Net Price Calculator did predict merit aid, was spot on, and brought the total cost close to $40k/year. This was a while ago and it would not surprise me if costs have gone up.
How much merit aid you get might depend upon whether you can get your SAT up some. This might depend upon which university you end up attending.
I would not take on debt to attend an out of state school unless your in-state school just did not have your major, or cost more, or you couldnāt get accepted to your major at your in-state public school.
I think that this is a good plan, particularly if the total cost of attendance matters to you.
What is her rigor - highest math? Which APs is she taking?
I think she gets into LSU, Kansas and Lousiville and makes budget. And they are all fine schools. You neednāt hope on merit. KU, as an example, gives you $12k per year as a 3.7-3.84 so if costs stay flat youāll be $30kish for tuition, room and board.
I donāt think she gets lots of deferrals. I think the rest say no but perhaps her rigor is stronger than I realize.
I think Penn State canāt get merit and Iād take it off. Sheāll be branched - itāll be far over budget. Same region but not a huge sports school but a fine program - SUNY Cortland.
If her SAT comes up, re post.
All that said, you can only go to one so take the shots she wants. You never know.
Iām in state in TN and have a kid who worked as an ambassador at UTK and it is extremely tough out of state right now. I think the test score has to come up quite a bit.
My kid has a 34 ACT and a ton of leadership and awards and her guidance counselor told her UGA is a bit of a reach for her as OOS. I think South Carolina is getting the same way as UTK.
Iām not trying to be negative Iām just on my 4th kid so Iām big on being realistic on the outset. My daughter is looking at those three so Iām a little familiar and have been watching them for a couple years. Those three just favor in state so much it is hard for oos.
Hopefully the SAT will come up and things will look a little more promising. Some of those schools have just gotten hot lately.
We are MA and UMASS has a great program, but she really wants a big time sports atmosphere. After seeing the southern campuses, not enthralled with UCONN & UMASS, but still applying.
Rigor just okay, honors in Spanish, Accountimg, & History. Regular Calc, doing AP Econ, stats, Spanish this year.
Yes we know UGA is a huge reach, as is FL State likely.
Ok just to give you an idea of job types - I imagine these post everywhere (see link). I know of a SUNY student interning with a major venue in nyc. But is a finance major.
LSU, if the program is good, is that environment. Cheapest flights are to New Orleans and an hr 10 drive but Baton Rouge has an airport on the outskirts. KU is 45 mins. Louisville very close and a fine school but less spirit but the new hoops coach is bringing some.
KU is a great fit. Cost wise. LSU will be. Itās a bit over full pay. Nearly all get merit. They donāt pre specify how much. Lville currently $42.5k tuition, room and board. Should get $10k if I read right.
If not interest in UCONN and UMASS, why apply? I suppose they are targets but Iād lean against both. Maybe 40-60. Maybe less at UMASS given Isrnberg. You have other safeties. Miss State is another to check - hits budget full pay. Texas Tech too (airport nearby, Southwest flies there). W Carolina - low end D1 should be $20kish all in as a NC Promise school. Youād fly to Asheville or Knoxville and drive a good ways - 1 hr to Ashevilleās airport but cheap cost.
Frankly these majors are more in demand than the supply of jobs. One might find a smaller school or LAC where kids have little interest - yes you wonāt have the spirit and maybe even not the major - but youāll likely have access to roles in the SID office or other places you likely wonāt unless youāre a real hustler at a large school. Itās those small schools where you have a better chance to build a resume.
If you want spirit, then great. Iād suggest a business degree - so if you can double with sports or minor in it.
Just to give you a sense of what types of listings schools may seeā¦they list some from Handshake on there (the college LinkedIn - probably sent to many schools).
Even at 1300 theyāre not happening - UGA and FSU. Doesnāt mean you shouldnāt try. Canāt get in if you donāt apply. You have plenty of sure bets.
Ya, she realizes that but why not not, as she loves both. āMom, maybe I could get waitlisted and get in late.ā Then at UGA, she wouldnāt get merit, but oh well!
I think on your list maybe U of SC defers. But I like her attitude !!!
Btw LSU is a gorgeous campus if youāve not been - compact in ways like U of SC and FSU. KU is in a great town. Louisville is a FANTASTIC CITY - Louisville Slugger and Muhammad Ali Museum - not a college town but great downtown.
@tsbna44 Thanks for the detailed response. Weāve been big UCONN basketball people for a while, but she didnāt love the whole campus as much as she thought.
Also looking at majoring in marketing or business w/ a sports studies/management minor. She knows itās a tough business to break into and is willing to be a go-getter.
Cut out Penn State, itās not going to fall within budget. (If you found 60k, she should apply for Communication&Summer with hope of doing the Sports Communication minor). Thereās no merit to be had at PSU. Even Schreyer students only get 5k.
What about Miami Ohio (not sure if itād make budget but very pretty campus and sounds like the vibe she wants) or UCincinnati (urban, great architecture, excellent business school, sports, scholarships)?
SUNY Cortland was a great suggestion. SUNY Albany for business/marketing. Sheād have a shot at the Honors Program at both - it makes a large university experience more personable. JMU?
In Virginia, a reachable reach could be VTech - they have a very good business school and lots of āspiritā. Same for Christopher Newport, a likely, even if itās not the same level of athletics. The PLP sounds like itād be right up her alley.
What about Southern Miss if she wants large/public/South with scholarship (&beach access almost year round - 1 1/2 hour drive perhaps)?
Thereās Ole Miss also but Iām sure you know about it already.
In Florida, although itās small, Eckerd is on the beach, has D2 sports, and excellent scholarships. And of course you have USF to consider, with Honors program to make the school more personal.
I was going to suggest USF. D1 sports but also all the pro sports teams in Tampa are opportunities for work experience and internships. When my kid was a student at USF he worked with the Yankee affiliate minor league team there.
A typical recommendation for students who want to āwork in sportsā is to major in a solid major or combine any major&a tech/quant minor rather than sports management AND have internships, starting with on-campus basic experience to parlay into pro team or D1 internships summer after junior year.
In that respect, USF (honors) + D1 experience would be much better than simply attending FSU.
It all depends on whether the student wants to attend home games or wants to work with sports.
Sport teams need accountants, physical therapists, psychologists, community managers, Hudl specialists, etc.
I agree with this. I donāt think OP said specifically what type of job their D is targeting, but sports management is often seen as a not quantitatively rigorous major. So getting those quant skills whether thru a different major or major/minor combo makes sense. Sports management majors will be competing for many of the sports management type desirable jobs with people who majored in math, finance, stats, data science, etc. I also agree that getting career oriented internships is so important in this area and requires a high degree of networking and self-motivation.
My daughterās college roommate works for an NBA team and was a data science major with a sport management minor. She did a masters concurrently while she was working in sports analytics. We know another young person who has a double major with Econ and sports management who has been very successful in getting summer internships with college teams and announcing. (TBD about full time as heās still a student).
Have an older friend at ESPN who does all the digital marketing and creative work. He has a BFA.
Thank everyone. PSU is definitely off the list. Weāve considered doing business with a sport admin/management minor, as she would be more marketable after college, and I may suggest to her to lean that way. Kansas fits perfectly. She has been getting a lot communication from Miami Ohio. Their cost is listed at $57,000 with possible merit āstarting at $13,000ā for her GPA. Does anyone know if they are pretty generous with more merit? They would also fit the business major/sp manage minor. Not sure if sheād like the very āpeach/Florida-ishā campus of USF, but Iāll mention it. Loves Florida State b/c of the classic college buildings. USF Also has the right minor and pricing, but not sure on the right vibe after reading up on it.
She wouldnāt get into the business scho at South Carolina, but their sport management program is top notch, so weāll continue that route there.
JMU is Sport & Recreation Management, & we donāt want anything with the recreation side to it. She is interested in working for a pro sports team (arenāt they all), in a college athletic department, professional organizations like the PGA Tour, USTA etc. Really isnāt 100% sure yet. She knows she has to hit the ground running with internships, because that is key to landing better jobs.
Nothing in Mississippi. Iāve been there and definitely not a fan.
If you have an extra slot, sure to Miami. But your true budget is $30k and even $40k, Miami is unlikely. Their merit is typically but not always the starting at - at least in years past.
In other words, very unlikely to happen but you have 20 slots soā¦.
WVU is a yes tho - and itās in the Big 12 since she wants big sports.
If you want to be in cities - for pro sports - consider UNCC but their degree is sports analytics. It doesnāt sound like what your daughter wants though although even marketers today need quant skills. It has multiple colleges, Hendrick Motor Sports and pro teams all nearby.
I encourage you to focus on cost - many schools that will hit cost were noted above. Not all suggested will.
U of SC - I get the appeal but itās $54k. Sheās unlikely to get close to $40k. Like Miami, itās a wasted add. SC, to me, is most like Florida State - which gets you close $$ wise (without loans) but is a harder admit.
I think KU is a splendid choice but LSU, Louisville and WVU too and I listed a bunch of FCS schools, no loans needed.