<p>Well, talked with my dad last night - they are going to devote $2k/month to the cause, which will likely be (depending on school) about 1/3 of the total cost of the twins’ payments. Good to know that. </p>
<p>Given all of that, I anticipate we’ll have the first 2 years covered before our savings runs out. From there, my dad wants to use their HELOC to make the remaining gap payments. The rate on his HELOC is under 4% right now. We’ll probably all team up to make those HELOC repayments after school is done.</p>
<p>Regarding the trip to Mississippi State/Murray State - my wife wants to kibosh that and instead go up to UWSP and Northern Michigan. The point annoyingdad made about working in the region where you went to school really hit home for her, and she doesn’t want to limit him to the South. I still think we should give him the choice, but that’s a battle for another time.</p>
<p>Well, I didn’t mean to overstate the regional aspect, but it is there somewhat. And like I said if he works for the feds he could wind up anywhere. If you were targeting HS spring break for Mississippi State and Murray State I think that’s a good plan unless it corresponds to college spring break. You could do NMU and UWSP on another Monday/Tuesday limiting school days missed. Leave on Sunday, do NMU Monday, drive to or closer to SP Monday evening, do UWSP Tuesday and drive home.</p>
<p>You really should visit when classes are going on, not during breaks or summer or even weekends even if tours are going on.</p>
<p>Regarding the trip to Mississippi State/Murray State - my wife wants to kibosh that and instead go up to UWSP and Northern Michigan. The point annoyingdad made about working in the region where you went to school really hit home for her, and she doesn’t want to limit him to the South. I still think we should give him the choice, but that’s a battle for another time.</p>
<p>First of all, he wouldn’t be limited to only working in the south. Eng’g grads get jobs everywhere. </p>
<p>Secondly, even if he started his employment in the south, that would not have to be a permanent situation. </p>
<p>The high tech companies at Cummings Research Park recruit at Miss St. A student could work in CRP for a couple of years and then transfer elsewhere or apply elsewhere. </p>
<p>With so many companies moving to the south (low cost of living and pro business atmosphere), your son may find that the regional companies in the pricier regions will be pulling out at some point.</p>
<p>I definitely want to leave Murray and Mississippi State on the list, and visit those schools. I think my wife just wants to hit the other ones first, as they are probably the highest likely schools they will attend. And it would be one school aimed for each kid - even. Also, doesn’t hurt that would could spend 1-2 nights at the Dells doing that other trip…</p>
<p>My son is not going into engineering. He is doing Conservation Law Enforcement.</p>
<p>The program at UWSP actually includes an entire semester (2nd semester junior year) where they don’t take any classes and do their LE training. That’s pretty cool, and appropriate. I think at MSU he’d have to do his LE training after graduation. So that’s a leg up for UWSP.</p>
<p>But if he were to get the full in-state tuition award at MSU, it would be the cheapest school on our already cheap list, which is appealing. The order goes like this from cheapest to most expensive:</p>
<p>1) Miss St with in-state tuition
2) Grand Valley state with auto award at 3.5/26 (unlikely to get this)
3) tie = UWSP (assuming MSEP) and Northern Michigan (assuming 3.0/19)
4) Miss State with 1/2 of OOS fees waived
5) Murray State
6) Southern Illinois
7) Grand Valley state without award
8) Ohio University (with award at 3.0/25)</p>
<p>Annoyingdad - if you are still reading and find this, we just got back from our trip. Mississippi State blew us all away with their campus, organization, admissions people, dorms and facilities. Just drop dead gorgeous there, and everything in tip top shape. My sons really liked it. I would say almost 1/2 the students were black walking around. There are a lot of minorities at their HS, so this wasn’t a big shock to them. Everyone with the yes sirs and yes ma’ams. Loved it. College of Forestry coordinator gave us a good speech on their program. My other son got to tou the art department.</p>
<p>They both liked Murray State as well. The town has nothing going on, and the campus is very compact, but traditional. Only about 8000 students at that campus. Tour was very good, well organized. Friendly place with all the bases covered. But nothing that makes you say “Wow”. Pretty decent school though, and I think they would be reasonably happy there.</p>
<p>Thanks for the update, almost missed it, there were a lot of posts this morning.</p>