Dave Berry offers strategy insights for the best chances of admissions success: https://www.collegeconfidential.com/articles/use-these-tips-to-strategize-your-application-process/
From the article: “Your list should not be HYPSM plus your local state university. That’s an irresponsible and foolhardy strategy.”
Why is HYPSM plus local colleges a bad strategy for a family that does not qualify for need based aid and may not be keen on paying full price for non-HYPMS colleges? I am putting aside/ ruling out the possibility of merit aid in this scenario.
I agree with you. Kinda dumb to call it irresponsible and foolhardy. Way too many different family scenarios and majors where it would or wouldn’t make a difference. Personally, I see the value in the high end name brand institutions. When I saw what my son made this summer, after his sophomore year at MIT, price starts to seem justified. If you have to pay full price, hard to see it for lower level private schools. How long does it take to earn that $300K in salary? Especially if the student isn’t sure of their major, or their major will be a lower paying job. If there’s some major that school is especially respected for, maybe. Otherwise, why not go to state school and save the difference for grad school… or retirement?