<p>It sounds like they give more to out-of-staters than instate because, obviously, the tuition is more. My daughter’s $7,000 is less than half tuition (She also has great extracurriculars, including Girl Scout Gold Award and lots of APs), while your $3,500 is quite a bit more than half of the instate rate. There is a state university here in my home state (Florida) which typically gives good students (anyone with over a 4.0 weighted) full tuition and fees, then allows them to keep their state award, so they’re actually being paid to attend college there . . . but it’s not a very prestigious university.</p>
<p>That is, of course, the Catch-22 – the great school you have to pay for or the so-so school where they will give you more.</p>
<p>She did not apply for WISE or Honors. She applied for Stony Brook at the last minute.</p>