Please Chance My Son

Pennylane2011
Mon, 24 Nov 2014 11:35:41 +0000

While your son has a chance of being accepted at Alabama, and USC, I am concerned about the financial aspects of attending an OOS state college for a family that will need to be taking loans. I understand you want to do your best to support your son, but how much a family can do that is a reality for all of us- and also considering that you have younger children, you want to be able to help them too. Beyond expenses like tuition and dorm fees, are those extras that add up- dorm stuff ( bedding, towels…) travel costs, some fun ( ordering pizza and going out with friends) and travel that needs to be considered.

There is a lot to like about Alabama- however, when finances are a concern there is also the consideration of quality at the best price- and that is often in a student’s home state where your taxes are supporting the college and you can attend at a lower price. The OOS colleges might be glad to have your son, at OOS prices. The total cost of attendance at Alabama for OOS would be about $35K and a NC college is about $20K a year, with a total difference of $60K- and if you have other children, could you do that for them too?

There is another reason kids love OOS colleges- they are unknown and exciting, whereas that state college down the street isn’t because it is familiar and kids know the good and the bad about it. Then there is the peer talk, and living in a state where the flagship is a superstar like UNC, that takes the focus and shadows the other good schools. If you consider selectivity alone, Alabama is about as selective as UNC Wilmington, and they both have graduation rates of approximately 70% ( good for a large state college) . I’m not suggesting that any two schools are the same, but if you could attend a college that had similarities to Alabama: selectivity, graduation rate, sports, an honors college, for almost half the price, wouldn’t you take a closer look at it?

Now your son might not be too enthusiastic, because looking at Wilmington while all your peers are talking about UNC is not as exciting as an OOS college, and also, because I don’t think many students at this age truly understand the costs- they are just such large numbers to begin with. However, if you have not done it yet, now is the time to discuss the role costs will play in the decision of which college to attend. Your son loves some schools that are either reaches (UNC) or have costly OOS fees, and that could be a set up for disappointment. It is understandable that he loves these schools- but it would be good if he also loved some financial and academic safeties and matches too.

It’s fine to apply to the schools he likes- he should do that, as the financials may not be known until acceptance, however, I hope he has applied to others- UNCW, UNCC, ECU, and Appalachian State (reach) are possibilities. A safety would be UNCG. Through the website- CFNC- he can apply to all of them with one basic application. The investment in application fees is worth it if it adds to much savings later. Although he may not be enthusiastic about some of them, let him know that applying is simply that. Where he goes will be decided later, when all the choices and the costs are known.