<p>University of Southern Miss., Hattiesburg. They’ve made a lot of very strong improvements to the campus and curriculum; her new honors dorm is in final stage of construction and will be ready by fall so that’s a plus. She’s personally met the president and honors college dean when she gave them a tour at the state Math and Science School from where she graduates in May. Financially it is the right thing to do. She’s very familiar with the campus as she worked in the lab there last summer and her older brother attends. WHen he graduates that will certainly change our EFC factor, too. The more we think about it, the less appealing long term debt sounds. She’s coming around to that reality too. Mostly I think she is worried about being stigmatized for attending a public university when many in her class are attending top private colleges and universities; she too was accepted at U Chicago, Hendrix College, Millsaps College, and a few others in addition to Tulane honors, so not actually attending is a bitter pill to swallow. As a parent it does hurt indeed when you can’t give your children their heart’s desire. But I feel it’s in everyone’s best interests to be able to sleep peacefully, without that knot in the stomach everytime you think about next year’s higher tuition bill when the roof develops a leak and the car transmission throws a fit. Anyone else been there?</p>