We're in Florida which currently offers "bright futures" scholarships for resident students who attend State Universities. Our (mildly GT)daughter earned a "full ride" through this program, but opted to accept a full ride athletic scholarship to an out of state University (Maryland), instead. In addition to her athletic scholarship, she was a "presidential scholar" at the University and was actually able to bank $1000 per semester all four years at school. She had considered the Ivy's (Brown, Dartmouth and Princeton came calling), but because they don't offer athletic scholarships, their financial aid packages only covered about half of the $50,000 yearly undergrad fees. That didn't make sense to her, hence her decision. Anyway, she's in grad school now...at the University of Oxford. Her entire Masters degree, from OXFORD, will cost $42,000...that number includes a lovely on campus flat with weekly housekeeping, dining hall, tuition and books. A much better deal than American Ivy's...and even most American small liberal arts schools (the one in our town costs $50,000+ per year and no one outside of our area has ever even heard of the school!) And, Oxford is a terrific place for her family to visit (just home from a lovely trip...our son (highly GT nine year old) is inspired. Heck, undergrad is less than $20,000 yearly...we have a few years...but maybe we'll look into it when the time comes. Take home message...reasearch ALL options...start early...and find the best fit for your student and your family.

Last edited by LisaH; 03/29/12 04:37 PM.