Need help picking best schools for daughter

NJRoadie
Fri, 20 Oct 2017 00:49:48 +0000

@MYOS1634 I didn’t see where the OP said more than good at math and computer science of interest?
I also hesitate to choose a college based on an 18 year old kid’s opinion of what they want to major in. I’ve seen and personally experienced too much to believe most 18 years olds will end up where they think they will

@MACmiracle Ramapo does give very good merit. Since she is coming from such a small school, she may not find Ramapo and Stockton’s smaller sizes to be a negative. My kids came from a huge high school (750+ in each graduating class).

TCNJ - unless they change course this year, they are not giving much in the way of merit and have limited “other” aid (there is some community service limited scholarship). They are also much more competitive to get accepted.

Rowan is also growing in competitiveness, but they were giving the best merit of any public in NJ. My kids both go there and love it. @SpacemanEd is very knowledgeable about this school as I recall.

I agree with the plan laid out above. Help her see that short term sacrifice may be necessary, especially if you help her see the longer goal - not drowning in debt. Show her the numbers, help her see a budget, show her some stories of kids who graduated a few years ago and are drowning and miserable in debt (I see these stories on FB neighbor friend .

When we told my daughter we might need to start at community college using the NJ Stars program, my daughter was very angry at first, then she got her game face on, and we figured out a plan. None of this was a mystery or sudden unpleasant surprise to her. In the end, she is overjoyed to attend Rowan in their Degree in 3 Year program. It will save us a full year of expenses, and while she will miss a year of fun in college, she will graduate with zero debt, having enjoyed 3 years living on campus. A happy compromise

Best of luck.