Is It Harder to Get Into Northwestern Engineering or Liberal Arts

A highly effective way to make college more affordable is to enroll in my upcoming form, The College Cost Lab. Yous can learn more about the class and enroll here. Lynn O'Shaughnessy

Will your kid end upwardly going to his or her dream schoolhouse?

The odds are that your kid won't if the college or university is a rankings blastoff dog. And that'due south especially true if you don't relish a powerful hook such as beingness a celebrity or billionaire's kid, a legacy or an athlete.

The story I'm sharing today is of a brilliant girl from the Chicago suburbs who did beat the odds. She got into Northwestern University, which was her dream school. She will, however, exist attention a different university in the autumn. And it'south not because the parents can't afford the Northwestern cost tag.

Before I let her dad share her story, here is background on this super-achieving student:

With a GPA of roughly 4.7, she will graduate second in a class of about 350.  She earned a Deed score is 35.  She has taken ix AP courses then far, including Calculus AB/BC, Physics and Macro and Micro Economics, and received a v on every AP test but one.   She is taking six more than AP courses in her final semester of high school. She has been on Educatee Quango and is a member of the NHS.  She is agile in her church and she knows sign language.

Northwestern University

I received an email last week from this teenager'south dad  well-nigh the decision to either pay a quarter million dollars for their only child to attend Northwestern or select Door No. 2 which would toll them peanuts.

I'd love to hear what your thoughts are well-nigh the parents' decision.

 A Dad's E-mail

My wife and I accept read your books and nosotros keep up with your weblog.  Our only child volition exist graduating from high schoolhouse in a few weeks.

In the fall, she volition exist attending the University of Pittsburgh on a full academic scholarship.

Your writings got us thinking nearly the price of higher and how to pay for same.  Since we have only one child and we both piece of work, our task in financing education is a lot easier than that of others.  We have been able to accumulate about $200,000 in higher savings.  I thought that would exist enough (silly me), just every bit you know the cost of "top tier schools and flagships" can be as much as $250,000 plus.

U. of Pittsburgh

My daughter was accustomed at University of Wisconsin, University of Minnesota, Northwestern University, University of Pittsburgh and Drew Academy, my alma mater.  Drew gave her a 25k-per-yr scholarship, simply she wasn't actually interested in attending.

She had her heart set on Northwestern.  As you know, Northwestern does not give out merit scholarships.

Parents Saying No

We had "the conversation" concluding dark.

We explained that with the full ride at Pitt, her college fund would substantially remain untouched (we volition have to pay room and board at Pitt, but in the grand scheme of college costs that's no large deal).  When she graduates higher, she will take perhaps $150,000 or more for graduate school.

Nosotros could have immune her to go to Northwestern, just her college fund would have been wiped out and we would accept had to come up with some other xl – 50k or so.

Ultimately, my wife and I had to be the adults in the room and say "no" to Northwestern.  It wasn't easy, simply I truly believe it was the right affair to do.  Your written advice (books and blogs) was, at least in my heed, crucial to our conclusion.

Nosotros accept visited Pitt twice and were very impressed on each occasion.  She wanted a big school in a big city and Pitt satisfies both of those desires.

As fine a school as Northwestern is, it's hard for me to believe any bachelor'south degree is worth up of 250k.

I am confident my girl volition receive an outstanding education at Pitt.  In four years, she will have her undergraduate caste forth with the power to finance a graduate education….possibly at a place like Northwestern!

None of this might have happened if we had not read your materials.

You have described how good schools but below the and so-chosen "top tier" give pregnant merit awards (or tuition discounts) to skilful students.   Having considered your communication, we did some research and suspected that our daughter had a shot at a merit award at Pitt (that'south one of the reasons we considered Pitt), but I have to say the full ride was a chip of a stupor.

Anyway…..thanks Lynn for getting us to recall outside the proverbial box.  Non but volition  our daughter's college education be funded (thanks to her hard work and perseverance in loftier schoolhouse), but we volition be in a position to provide a large chunk of money for graduate education !!

Your advice was correct on the money (pun intended).

When You Can't Attend Your Dream Schoolhouse

After reading this dad's email, I was curious most how his daughter had reacted to the news that she would not exist attention Northwestern. I was peculiarly curious because the family did have the money to embrace most of the cost. Hither is what the dad said:

Our girl's reaction to the Northwestern veto was tearful and emotional.  It was difficult to watch and experience.  We all want to do everything we can for our kids and we typically want to say "yes" to their requests.  We knew her reaction would be teary and full of profound disappointment, but we felt we had to do what we ultimately did for her long term benefit.  We had to say "no."

At present, 2 days later, my daughter is online in a Pitt forum looking for a roommate!!  Seems like she is happily looking toward her future every bit a Panther.

Another Parent'south Story: Saying No to Barnard Higher

Last week I as well heard from a dad in Nebraska whose daughter had her heart assail going to Barnard Higher in New York City. Her family didn't have enough coin to cover the cost – the parents didn't qualify for financial aid – and the dad'southward job situation is a bit iffy. The smart teenager did receive merit money from some liberal arts colleges including Goucher College in Maryland.

Barnard College

The dad was stressing as he anticipated his daughter's reaction to the news that she would non exist able to attend Barnard. Actually, he and his wife had contemplated assuasive their girl to go to Barnard fifty-fifty though it would take posed a financial hardship. The thought of disappointing his girl seemed to counterbalance heavily on the dad'southward shoulders.

I asked him to permit me know what happened and here is the follow-up electronic mail he sent me in which he shared that his girl volition be going to Goucher College:

She's disappointed that we couldn't beget the "dream" schoolhouse, but she has been doing a lot of research the last few days on Goucher and has a programme for which dorm she wants. She made contact with the head of the IR section and she's planning to apply for the International Scholars Program. In other words she'south moving forrard and starting to accept accuse, so that she can make the well-nigh out of the feel.

 What Do You Recall?

I was glad to hear that both girls seem to be quickly moving on.

I am particularly interested in what you think about the Illinois parents' conclusion.

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Source: https://thecollegesolution.com/saying-no-to-northwestern-university/

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