Virginia's Struggle with In-State, Out-of-State Balance

Some states have what seems to be an enviable problem: colleges that kids from other states really want to attend. One of the most obvious examples is Virginia -- particularly the University of Virginia and William & Mary. A long time ago William & Mary rejected me. Sounds as if it would be no different today.

These schools are so popular that in-state families complain about the inability of their children to be accepted. And sometimes they blame the out-of-staters, as described here. A state legislator wants to put even greater restrictions on the numbers of accepted students from out of state.

It's a real problem. Here in New Jersey, it is becoming increasingly difficult to get into state colleges because the economy is forcing students who might normally have gone elsewhere to stay in their home state. We don't seem to have the influx that Virginia faces.

As easy as it is to understand the frustration of Virginians who see carpetbaggers coming in and taking their kids' spaces, it's also true that college should be a horizon-expanding experience -- and that would include gaining the viewpoints of students from all over the country, and the world.

What do you think? Should state schools be more restrictive when it comes to who's accepted?

States Deal with the Out-of-State Conundrum

I understand the economic and emotional issues related to the number of out-of-state students accepted by state schools.

A Virginia legislator has an idea. He wants to limit the number of non-Virginia students accepted to the state's schools to no more than 25 percent. The upside: more Virginia students (straight A, high test score kids who today are rejected) will attend. The downside: the state loses money because non-state students pay roughly three times as much as their Virginia classmates. Today, some of the schools in the system take as many as 40 percent out-of-staters.

Unfortunately, diversity would fall victim if Virgina and other states followed this course. And one of the great joys of college is meeting people from all over the country, and gaining insights from their different perspectives.

I was curious about our state's main university, Rutgers. Only 13 percent of its students aren't from New Jersey. I wonder if that is by choice, or because some states' schools just attract more out-of-state students than others.

State College Grads Appeal to Recruiters

The Wall Street Journal is out with a ranking of colleges as determined by recruiters from the largest public and private corporations and nonprofits in the U.S. These 479 recruiters were responsible for 43,000 hires in the past year.

According to the recruiters, the top three schools in terms of providing academically prepared, well-rounded students fully able to succeed in the business environment were state schools: Penn State, Texas A&M and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Of the top 25, 19 were public colleges, one was Ivy (Cornell) and five were private, including Carnegie Mellon, University of Notre Dame and MIT.

Increasingly, in this new world that many of us can barely grasp -- of fewer positions, less pay, reduced expectations, higher college debt -- the ability to get a job may increasingly be a critical part of the college selection process.

Are the days now gone when college meant a time to broaden horizons, take courses in areas that intrigue even if they are not ultimately part of the career picture? Do the most selective schools lose a little cachet if their graduates don't seem as prepared for real world work? I don't know.

But these questions may need to be factored in as our teens start thinking about their prospects, for getting into a specific school and for their financial futures.

Pressure on State Colleges to Serve Their Own

In many ways it is good news that 70 percent of the high school class of 2009 nationwide went on to college. It is causing undeniable capacity issues, however, in the schools long thought to be the good safe choice for students: in-state public colleges.

What's a public state college to do? There are constant reminders -- in the media, by counselors and others -- that out-of-state public schools are worth considering. And they are. Good facililties at a fair price. Also, bringing in students from the outside provides a more diverse experience, different perspectives -- all the things that are a valuable part of the college years. The other important benefit is out-of-staters are charged considerably more, helpful when state governments are cutting education budgets.

But if you read this, you'll understand the flip side issue. Bringing out-of-staters in means in-state kids who'd planned on attending can't get a slot. According to this opinion piece, the University of Maryland reserves a third of its freshman class for non-Maryland students. Towson University, the second largest state school in Maryland, gives 28 percent to kids who hail mostly from New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

That's a blow to parents paying taxes that support these state schools, and to the teens who thought that if their applications were reasonably competitive that they would get in. The upshot is that these teens might be forced to go to a private school (or ironically, an out-of-state public school), at greater financial hardship for the family.

It's ugly out there.

Woe for State Colleges

A good state school (your own state's, or another's) has always seemed like a decent option when considering colleges. There would be a diverse student body (if a little top heavy geographically), decent instructors and the unfailing and usually generous support of the state. That was then.

This is now. Granted, New Jersey is in deep financial trouble. Also granted: something must be done, no matter how unpopular the actions. But it is still difficult to fathom the long-term effects when $173 million is cut from state universities and colleges. The result, according to the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities, will be larger class sizes, fewer faculty hires, less choice in classes, cutbacks in technology and financial aid.

The national economic picture is looking brighter, but it is tough to imagine when things will look better for individuals. Right now it feels as if we are caught in an infinite domino effect that won't be alleviated by the time our freshmen are ready to enter college.