Virginia Prepaid Education Program -- closed?

[slim04]

Originally Posted by tamitrail

Surely, you're not saying that's what I'm doing?

My parents were not very well off at all and when I went to college in the 80's, I was told they made too much money for me to even get a loan. I had to save and pay my own way and would have welcomed ANY help at all.

Sorry, I'm totally not trying to say that. I was making a bad joke that we "responsible parents" often get short changed in the crazy education finance world.

[tamitrail]

Yes we do.

I wonder where the OP went after we took over his thread?

[athensvaasi]

Just looked at all your input. I currently live in Atlanta (and looking to move to NoVa soon), and I dont believe Georgia has a prepaid tuition plan, so it just great that atleast there is an option in VA. Glad to know that it is only temporarily closed.

Thanks to both for your opposing views, it will take me a while to figure out which view to take!

I understand that U. Va is very highly ranked. Other than U. Va and Va Tech, what are the other public universities in VA.

Thanks again.

[slim04]

Off the top of my head, Virginia has two of the "Public Ivies": UVA and College of William and Mary. Problem is their acceptance rates are about 35%, even lower for NoVa students.

They also have a lot of good, but not great schools where you can get a very good education, but they aren't well known outside of Virginia. Those are Mary Washington, George Mason, Virginia Commonwealth, James Madison, Virginia Military Institute, and Old Dominion. George Mason is up and coming and may become a major research institution in the future.

Great public schools overall, but what if you are in this situation: In at Georgetown, John Hopkins, and Virginia Tech, waitlisted at UVA and College of William and Mary. This happened to a very disappointed neighbor with a tough decision.

Or this: In at George Mason, Mary Washington, and Penn St., Out at UVA and Virginia Tech. Son wanted to play in a marching band at a major school and study in a major that Penn St. was really strong in. Ouch. Crushing debt at a school with a better fit, or relatively debt free at a school you might not be that happy with.

[athensvaasi]

Thanks for listing the VA public univs and related issues.

Also, just read the post with the Washington Post article on NoVa students having a tougher time. Interesting situation.

I used to wonder about that myself -- that kids in good suburban schools districts might have to super-excel; otherwise colleges will be filled with kids from just a few school districts. The article reaffirms that. If this situation is especially so in NoVa, I can see why you got into VEST and not the pre-paid. (However, the guarantee presented by a pre-paid has its own attractiveness.)

BTW, U. Georgia has an enrollment of 33000 (and I know it used to be much lower in the 1990s). U. Va has only 20000 -- has the enrollment just held steady or has it been going up?

[LVMYDACH]

My daughter is currently a sophmore at George Mason University. We purchased a Virginia Pre-paid Education Plan (VPEP) for her about 12 years ago and paid it in full. It was the BEST thing that we have ever done. Since thea cost of tuition has gone up so much over the years, we have definitely come out way ahead. It has saved us an enormous amount of money for her 4 years of college as far as the tuition goes. We are very lucky to live in Virginia where there are many excellent state colleges that accept the VPEP plans.

[tamitrail]

I believe the VCSP website has a link to all the schools in VA that the plan can be used at.

LVMYDACH, glad to hear it worked out for you...that's what I'm hoping for also although college is a ways off for us.