Part II: Mapping the New Admissions Landscape – 3. The Rise of the Out-of-Sate Recruit: What’s Driving Teenagers Across Borders

• Out of state students pay a lot more, which has caused colleges lacking state funding due to two recessions between 2001 and 2008 to increase recruiting out-of-state talent. Some make it more difficult for in-state students to enroll and offer more merit money to out-of-staters. Southern states have done better due to fewer COVID restrictions, fewer political protests, better weather, more social life, and more honors programs. Some students also like the idea of getting away from home.
• Students who ground their way through high school often look to avoid more of the same in college. When it comes to honors programs, you have to do your homework. They can offer study abroad, internships, and opportunities to do undergraduate research. Look for how much mentoring you might get, the exact curriculum, and housing options. Also, consider the idea of attending a school in another country, like the UK or Canada.

4. Value Over Prestige: Skipping the Next Tier of Schools to Get a Deal

• Students who don’t get into the Ivy+ schools are faced with the next tier of selective schools that may cost just as much but give little or no merit scholarship money to families making in the vicinity of $200,000. Many of these families are choosing to pass on paying full price for such schools in favor of high-quality state schools that are much less expensive or the next level of private schools that give abundant merit scholarship money. A student who almost gets into an Ivy+ school will be very attractive and is likely to get offers with desirable options.
• How to maximize value: 1. Create a search list that reconciles your financial situation with your ability to get in. You could be better off standing out rather than being just another wiz kid at an Ivy. 2. Don’t apply for early decision. Wait until you have multiple offers on the table to decide. 3. Don’t be in a rush. It takes time to find all of your options and what various schools can offer beyond finances. 4. Start at a community college where you get smaller classes and more attention from people hired to teach. The money you save will give you more options, and employers will focus on the four-year school you graduate from. You are also spared the process discussed in this book. 5. Talk about money, but don’t obsess about it.

5. The Age of Agency: Why This is Your Time to Explore

• Very few employers care about fancy alma maters. You have more control than you believe. Enrolling in trade degrees or certificates is way up. The key is to think about what you are preparing yourself for. You need to get a realistic sense of the career you are choosing and look for something fulfilling rather than lucrative. One third of undergraduates switch majors, which can extend college beyond four years.
• Humanities majors have significantly decreased while STEM and engineering majors have increased, as they seem to offer better job prospects. Try to discover what you love, which skills don’t feel like work, and what kind of lifestyle you want.

Share this: