We are in a similar situation but my son is deciding between three different schools. I signed up for the decision day on Feb. 22. I’ll have to take him to the other two schools as well.
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Do they typically wait for a midyear report to send out the invites?
No.
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Looking for an opinion… my son was accepted to UD which is his number choice. We are in state and live @ 20 minutes from campus. He’s deciding between Drexel and UD with UD looking like his choice. He did get a scholarship but it’s small $5,000 per year which disappointed him but it is what it is. Since scholarship is low his thoughts are to join commute and not stay on campus. Here’s where I’m conflicted, he can commute and not stay on campus and won’t have to get a loan because we’ll be able to help him but if he stays on campus he will need a loan to pay what we can’t cover. He doesn’t want to be college poor and I get that but I want him to get the full college experience and there is my conflict. Any thoughts?
Have you thought about doing the 1st year on campus to get the full freshman experience, but then the other 3 years commute? I think after the 1st year, most people tend to move off campus anyway.
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Not a bad option. Housing is only guaranteed Freshman year anyway at UD. I’m going to mention it to my boy… he doesn’t like having bills.
Your son has a very good and affordable option with University of Delaware + if he can commute, you would save more money without have to pay for room & board.
My OOS daughter also applied in this cycle. Got accepted with 16K/yr, but that is still much more than our instate school (UMD). She will probably end up go to school instate, but UDel is one of her top choice.
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What level of loans are you taking about? He can take out $27k max during undergrad, starting with $5.5k his first year.
For some people, that $27K would be worth having a college experience, while others would make a different choice. If you are talking about more than $27K in loans then commuting likely makes more sense, especially since any excess loans would be on the parents, either directly or as co-signers.
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I think this is a great plan. Four of my kids didn’t commute (including my blue hen who moved off campus sophomore year, housing isn’t guaranteed but the vast majority of those who want to stay on campus do). I also have a commuter, very different experience from his siblings. Even working at the rec center, he’s not really involved, a party here and there. $5000 merit for an in state flagship is very generous, UD gave my daughter $17,000, Rutgers gave all of my kids $0, the only school not to offer any merit.
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UD > Drexel for sure (since you asked an opinion), but I know Drexel will be defended by many.
Commute or not to commute…always great to get the living on or near campus experience for sure (if budget isn’t in the way). I had people sleep on the floor at my dorm at Villanova who commuted so they could hang out more often…and also had a friend who did freshman and senior year on campus, and then commuted soph and junior year to save money.
So he got the first year friend group immersion…celebrated the senior year experience that last year. Always struck me as a smart cost saving, yet still socially enriching path.
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Thank you everyone for your input. I’m liking all these suggestions. Drexel scholarship was substantially larger than UD however it’s still very pricy. I’m not sure my boy is a city boy. Drexel offered honors and a particular program was son was interested in. My son was denied honors from UD so I thnk thats why he’s still considering Drexel. In the end I know my boy will make a choice that he’s happy with and of course my husband and I will support him anyway we can. Boy this process isn’t easy.
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good luck!
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It’s best to look at the final cost vs. size of merit when comparing.
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Yeah that’s what I’m telling my son. Waiting on final cost from UD. We’ll see what it ends up.
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Has anyone received DiScho scholarship invitation?
My daughter and her classmates got the invitation last Tue.
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Congregation!!!
When is Discho weekend?
We also want to receive an invitation…
UD decides who is invited. It’s not something anyone can request to attend.
Have all the invitations going out?
Congratulations! They selected more than one student from the same school?