Starting to help D26 build out her college list. A good, not great, student. GPA low 3.3-3.4 and hasn’t take SAT yet but took online practice test for a 1050 (anticipate this probably closer to low 1100’s by the time she actually takes the test. Girlscout (Silver), plays Softball, works a job at a local daycare.
Goal is Early Childhood Education - which is a career path that while noble it’s not something to over-spend on the education to get there. We would be full pay. We are in MA and our local State school is very very good for this major ($30K) so that would be the benchmark. D26’s fear is that it’s a little “close to home”. We’d be willing to spend more ($40K?) if the fit justified it. Looking for small to mid-size schools (2K-5K) in New England/NY. Outside of our normal state schools we have the following on the list - which is a very broad mix that will need to be pared down substantially and hoping the brain trust here can give any guidance to help do that. If there’s suggestions to add, throw them out there. I know some at the top are much larger than target and some at the bottom are much smaller. I have little sense for how generous any of these schools are with aid but do recognize that without that aid many of them wouldn’t get to the budget number. Any guidance appreciated!
University of Vermont (Burlington)
University of Maine (Orono)
University of NH
University of RI
SUNY College at Plattsburgh
SUNY University at Albany
SUNY Delhi
Stonehill College
St. Anselm
Roger Williams University
Merrimack College
Lasell University
Regis College
Utica University
Hartwick College
Norwich University
Elms College
Bay Path University
University of New England
St. Joseph’s College of Maine
Are there any state schools that are a bit farther from home? If your daughter expects to teach in Massachusetts, getting her teaching certification there would be preferable. Here in Pennsylvania, many of the best early childhood/elementary teachers come from the state (PASSHE) schools, which originally were normal schools and then state teachers colleges before becoming universities.
So, ignorant question here. Is she looking for a program that will allow her to be a licensed teacher? Because if that is the case, this is a complicating factor. For example, where I live (different state) some programs lead to licensure, some don’t. And what grades each state calls “early childhood” seem to vary. Some places Birth-K, some birth-2nd grade, some birth-3rd grade. Does any of this matter to her?
One additional option is The College of New Jersey (TCNJ). They recently lowered their out-of-state tuition (and increased their in-state!) in order to attract more kids from outside of NJ. It is known as somewhat of a suitcase school (a fair number of kids go home over the weekend), but might be interesting. It’s particularly well-known for education and is well-regarded around here.
I would see which have merit tables, and check the CDS - because academically, she might be an admit but not above average and not merit qualified. I might find a full pay school $40K or less to be sure. UVM is $62K. With these grades and test, does that get to $40K?
Does an in state school like Mass College of Liberal Arts - which has the major - isn’t that just as much out of state (if you are from Boston and I don’t know that you are) - as a school in NY, etc. - I mean, it’s a whole other world. And you meet costs, etc.
Another example you’d get the tuition break at the following - there may be more as the website is terrible - but all majors get it here at these four - and there’s probably more if you can figure out the god awful website. They should have a by major search which pops up the schools.
All seem to be tuition wise in the $16-17K range so add dorm and mid 30s worst case.
Rhode Island College- tuition $16,200
C Conn State - $16,500
E Conn State
S Conn State
It sounds like she doesn’t want to go to community college, but just pointing out that community college in MA is now free for all income levels.
Check out this scholarship program in Massachusetts: Office of Student Financial Assistance / Massachusetts Department of Higher Education
I’d also recommend going to school in the same state where she plans to live, for licensure purposes. Eventually she may find that getting a job in a public school system (many have preschools now) will give her better pay and benefits.
Wheaton College in MA has an early childhood education major, is on the lower range of the size you want and offers a New England grant for anyone in NE of 1/2 off tuition. In addition, students can also qualify for merit scholarships that stack. Might be worth checking out.
The programs I’m aware of in MA don’t “lead to licensure”. They prepare you to take that State tests for sure but (maybe ignorance on my part) I would think that most of the programs in the surrounding States are going to be just as good from a prep standpoint.
Thanks! Will add Wheaton to the list. Salem was already on it (along with Fitchburg, Framingham, Bridgewater). My sense is Lesley won’t come close to the $$ but might be worth throwing in an app there to see what comes of it.
I hear ya - and that’s a super incentive, isn’t it?!?! Unfortunately she wants a residential program and both her mom and I think getting her out of the nest would be a good thing as well.
Right - I’m doubtful on some of the schools on the list getting close to budget yet at the same time “why not throw in the app and see what happens”. She’s not a kid that’s prone to get locked into a “this is my #1 choice and if I can’t go here I’m not going anywhere”.
I’m in metrowest - for anyone that knows the state… and yes, MCLA is absolutely “a whole other world”!
Is there anything I need to be aware of with the SUNY’s?? Completely unfamiliar with them as a “system” but they seem to have an inordinately small OOS population which usually signifies some sort of legislative restriction on % mix.
Totally understand about wanting a residential program. I highly recommend you check out the link I shared above for the Early Childhood Educators Scholarship Program; there are many residential MA colleges that qualify and looking at their list may help you build yours!
NSE is an exchange program that allows students to exchange with any of the other ~200 participating schools, while continuing to pay the same tuition they are paying at the home institution. You can exchange for more than one semester, and with more than one school. A lot of fun schools participate: St. Olaf, Cal Poly SLO, U of Alabama, University of Hawaii, various universities in the Virgin Islands, Canada, Puerto Rico.
Thanks! Was completely unaware of this! I’ve been on the board for a couple of years so technically I SHOULD have been aware of it… but this could provide an interesting option!
Thanks - another one to add to the list to give a look to. I could mix in some skiing with the winter visit.
Have you considered Endicott? Gorgeous location, and a particular strength in integrating internships and field experiences into the curriculum. Early Childhood Teacher Licensure | Endicott College She’d need merit to make it affordable, but they do give merit, so it could be worth an app.
Good luck paring down the list! It sounds like your local school sets a good baseline, and other MA publics give her options farther from home, so I’d weigh the merits of leaving the state carefully if she hopes to work in MA after college - in your shoes, I think I would limit OOS applications to a few schools that really stand out for specific reasons, not just farther away for the sake of farther away. The SUNYs are good about matching costs, though.
How does she feel about urban vs. rural? Just scanning your list, the difference in environment between SUNY Albany and SUNY Plattsburgh, for example, is pretty significant! Also, is diversity important to her, or not so much? The Albany campus is particularly diverse, if she’s looking to avoid racial homogeneity.
What foreign language has she studied? Depending on where she wants to teach, fluency in a second language could be a plus, and related programs, TESOL certification, etc. could be worth having on radar as criteria.
I would also discuss strategies for approaching her experience at the local public if she decides to go there. It often turns out that students worried too much about being close to home, and college ends up feeling like “a world away” even though it’s nearby, as long as appropriate boundaries are set with family (focus on campus life - no impromptu visits in either direction - behave as if the student is far from home even if they’re not).
I had NOT considered Endicott but will look at their program (familiar with it from location, etc).
Completely agree with you on the OOS apps. It’ll be a handful. With the current suggestions we’re up to a list of 30 schools and realistically wouldn’t anticipate applying to more than 10-12, lots of trimming to do. She’s studied Spanish and agree with what you’re suggesting around urban/city landscapes. She’s been tough to nail down on some of these things - partly because she’s a relatively easy going kid, which is good and bad. She’s in a pretty racially diverse school now - not sure she would have a strong feeling one way or the other but a good conversation to have!
We’ve had the conversation with her that “if you go to the local school, do not expect to be coming home every weekend and no - there will be no drop-in’s by parents”. The school can be as close or as far away as you want it to be!
If she’s true about 2-5K in size, she could eliminate some - like Albany, UVM, etc.
You need some way to get down.
As long as you have - let’s say - 2 that will meet your need full price (no merit needed), you’ll be in good shape no matter what you do quantity wise.
