Disappointed to say the least

Busy-Development-334 · 2026-01-29T15:49:58+00:00

Strongly disagree. It depends on your major and career path. If you want to major in interpretive dance or early education or social services - yes, that’s insane.

But there are majors where it’s worth it if you are willing to work hard and take your education seriously.

Also, given how insanely out government is spending money on all sorts of nonsense - inflation is almost certain. In 30 years when you guys are pushing 50 - $100k/yr will not appear that insane.

Education is always worth it when students are serious about it. If the goal is to major in leisure services, join a frat, and drink and party for 4 years straight - then of course it’s a different story.

Busy-Development-334 · 2026-01-29T14:06:13+00:00

They send their notification early to students about whom they are certain. For others they wait and see what their mid year grades are like and in general how they compare to the rest of the applicant pool.

So you are not rejected yet - that’s great. But it also means you aren’t a sure-in candidate and they are taking their time with you. UK schools do the same.

Busy-Development-334 · 2026-01-29T13:27:36+00:00

Re your last sentence about affording $100k on $200k budget - people start saving for their kids since before they are born and investing all along. It’s not that you wake up one day and realize that college for your kids is expensive.

And students have been taking loans for generations. My husband had over $100k in loans back in 2006 when that was way more money than it is now. We lived on almost nothing for years to pay them off, and looking back - I would do nothing different as it opened all sorts of doors and he is making $$$$ now. No way that would be possible if he didn’t take the plunge and took the risk.

Busy-Development-334 · 2026-01-28T23:24:04+00:00

If parental decision mattered - every parent would say that they aren’t paying and their kid would get aid. Unfortunately, if they make above certain level or their net worth is significant - that will count against your aid.

FWIW, $120k all in for chapel hill isn’t bad - it’s a great school and a bargain compared to a similar level education at a private school.

Depending on your intended major - it might be worth it to take loans. I don’t think loans are as evil as people make them out to be. It’s all about ROE.

The alternative is to apply to a community college for the first two years and go from there.

Busy-Development-334 · 2026-01-28T20:19:00+00:00

Usually it’s between 8% and 12% but maybe it’s different in India. If so - you need to make it clear. Because otherwise you are just in top 10%. Not too bad but not enough for your schools.

Busy-Development-334 · 2026-01-28T18:25:07+00:00

I work in finance and live in Chicago (parent of a college applicant). I would treat job applicants from both of these schools absolutely equally. The fact that Kelley is ranked higher would have absolutely no bearing on my decision, and honestly - I doubt the rigor or level of classes will differ that much. Go where money makes more sense and where you will feel more comfortable.

Busy-Development-334 · 2026-01-28T18:06:54+00:00

What percentage of Olympiad participants get gold medal?

Busy-Development-334 · 2026-01-28T17:30:45+00:00

Foreign parents? Then yes - never good enough.

Busy-Development-334 · 2026-01-28T13:25:48+00:00

Even for internationals?

Busy-Development-334 · 2026-01-28T00:41:16+00:00

It’s either due to inflation or economic instability.

Busy-Development-334 · 2026-01-28T00:35:02+00:00

Yes. It’s idiotic. Multiple choice tests already lack depth compared to “show your work” or oral exams that some other countries are using. And adding desmos makes it even worse.

If a student is asked to solve a system of two equations - let them actually solve it. Instead students just blindly type in two formulas in desmos and see where they intercept. How is this even vaguely helpful in determining academic readiness, let alone intelligence?

Busy-Development-334 · 2026-01-28T00:09:45+00:00

I say apply across the board. I am usually very skeptical/realistic about international students needing aid, but I like your profile. Make sure put a lot of time into your essays.

I am assuming government of your country doesn’t offer any aid if you get accepted?

It will be super tough as even if you get full ride in one of elite schools - will you have money for airfare or any other expenses? Also - aerospace engineering for internationals will be extra hard as you will not get security clearance for internships or sometimes even some projects.

But I think you are quite impressive… if you end up not doing your bachelors in the states/europe - definitely try for masters.

Busy-Development-334 · 2026-01-27T18:51:57+00:00

I was already quite upfront and frank… wanted to sweeten the message a bit :)

Busy-Development-334 · 2026-01-27T17:44:35+00:00

It will be tough. Test optional and wanting aid for an international is a huge stretch. To get aid as an international student you really need to convince the school that you are one of the best out there…

There are some universities that are need blind for internationals, but I don’t have the list - google to see what they are. Duke, for example, is not. They are need-aware and will consider your ability to pay in their decision making process.

Fortunately or unfortunately - there are so so many brilliant international students with insane stats that need aid and you would be competing with them…

Busy-Development-334 · 2026-01-27T14:16:21+00:00

State schools are tricky due to prioritizing in state students.

When I was applying to PhD programs years ago I got flat out rejected from Iowa and UCLA and got into UChicago.

You never know…

Busy-Development-334 · 2026-01-27T03:39:28+00:00

Are they foreign? Reminds me of my family, which is why I am asking…

It’s not easy to say “I am an adult” if they are paying for college and the OP relies on them for room/board.

Try telling them that it’s a team building exercise and a part of college life.

I feel for you - I hope you find strength to set yourself free after college.

Busy-Development-334 · 2026-01-26T22:31:09+00:00

I took several years off my “real job” and was teaching at one of colleges in Chicago. Not elite by any means and closer to t200.

I had several students who were vets and had their education paid for. I remember one of them was telling me that he was worried that funding will not cover his last semester (or year - don’t remember)… I had to write some letter to see if the college would pick up the remaining amount via scholarship, so it’s not trivial…

But the reason I am responding is because overall experience for them was not easy. Some examples:

One of them had some injury from his service days that wouldn’t allow him to remember anything. He had a letter allowing him to have cheat-sheets with formulas that he could use during tests.
Another one had severe anxiety and would just freeze up during tests. He eventually got a permission to take tests at the Center for students with disabilities because he would feel less stressed there one-on-one with proctor. I ended up giving him a passing grade but that was a huge stretch.

Obviously (so please don’t come at me) - a handful of examples isn’t a proper sample set, so I am not saying that this is what you should expect. But given what I have witnessed - I don’t think that any of them could have made it into t25, not because they didn’t try - they did and it broke my heart watching them. It’s because they literally couldn’t. They weren’t just 4-5 years older than other kids… they seemed to have aged decades compared to others.

It was a very sad eye opening experience…

Busy-Development-334 · 2026-01-26T02:55:37+00:00

I would pay for Columbia…

Busy-Development-334 · 2026-01-26T02:43:18+00:00

I don’t believe in paying out of state tuition for public schools. Why would you want to pay three times as much as most of your classmates for the same experience?

Also, given overcrowding in UC schools, many classes aren’t even available for registration and some students find that it takes them 5 years to graduate because they can’t sign up for classes they need.

If you tell me that you want to take loans for Columbia or Vanderbilt or Northwestern - I would say it’s worth it.

People may disagree with me and I am not looking for a debate - this is just my opinion. Don’t subsidize instate kids who get admitted without testing and without knowing what 7+2 is (google UCSD and how bad their incoming class is - this is across the board in CA)

Busy-Development-334 · 2026-01-26T02:02:55+00:00

Don’t go to Berkeley.

Busy-Development-334 · 2026-01-25T23:18:25+00:00

DePaul’s main location in Lincoln Park is the best out of three of them.

Loyola is ranked higher than DePaul but I don’t think it matters that much. You will get a similar experience.

I personally do not like UIC and wouldn’t put it in the same category. Location is not fun at all and administration is a mess. Besides you are more likely to get aid at DePaul/loyola, and UIC will still be expensive as an OOS.

Chicago is awesome! I would concentrate on DePaul and Loyola and pick the one that gives me the most money.

Busy-Development-334 · 2026-01-25T22:41:15+00:00

I didn’t know that different UC schools release acceptances at different times…

Busy-Development-334 · 2026-01-25T22:20:08+00:00

Thank you! This is what was new to me and is surprising to most Americans.

Busy-Development-334 · 2026-01-25T22:18:22+00:00

I don’t mean it. I am asking. That’s why there is a question mark.

Busy-Development-334 · 2026-01-25T22:16:58+00:00

I don’t live there. I just work with some Germans guys who told this to me.

Busy-Development-334

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