[quote=deadzone]If both kids and parents actually want to live in Austin it makes sense. Not sure about this case.

I am fortunate my kid is only three so I don’t have to deal with this non-sense for a long time. Also, I fully expect that within the next 15 years this “Higher Education Bubble” will have burst.[/quote]

deadzone, if your kid is only 3, just put away the $ you can right now and chill. He/she will be able to get into a CA public university if they apply to several. You’ve got awhile before all his/her A-G requirements in HS become an issue as well as your student trying to raise their GPA and “look better” on college apps by taking AP classes. It’s a stressful jungle out there for CA public HS juniors and seniors but the schools do an AMAZING job of herding these kids through the system! The only advice I can give you and your kid is to stay flexible and apply for multiple campuses on the same common app. Also, if your kid shows an interest in UC by the time they’re 13-14, you might consider enrolling him/her in a HS where they have a good chance of qualifying for the ELC …. that is, where your kid will qualify for “guaranteed admission” to a UC (the applicant can’t choose the campus on their offer of admission) based upon scoring in the top 9% of his/her senior HS class. Considering the high percentage of OOS and OOC applicants the UC routinely accepts in lieu of in-state applicants (as Gata pointed out here), admission by ELC is very valuable! If offered admission by ELC, don’t ask questions, take it and don’t disappoint! Endeavor to do as well as you possibly can when you get there 🙂