<p>I just got a pretty hefty scholarship from Tulane that would make going there about half the price of going to Penn. I still would definitely choose Penn, and of course I am bound to my decision to go to Penn, but has anyone else been feeling kind of... idk, wishing that Ivies gave out some merit money to ease the blow? $51,3000 is quite a lot...</p>
<p>Keep in mind the price only goes up from here. 51K doesn't include good stuff like furniture (no lighting in any of the dorm rooms), travel, spending money, and other misc costs along the way. It also doesn't include the fact that the tution increases a few k every year. College is really expensive. At times I wish I went to Maryland for free.</p>
<p>^^ Yes it actually does include those expenses. The actual tuition is less than $40,000. The figure they give includes estimated costs for traveling to/from home, room and board, and other living expenses (spending money, if you will).</p>
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Keep in mind the price only goes up from here. 51K doesn't include good stuff like furniture (no lighting in any of the dorm rooms), travel, spending money, and other misc costs along the way. It also doesn't include the fact that the tution increases a few k every year. College is really expensive. At times I wish I went to Maryland for free.
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<p>Same. I'm not really loaded, and I'm sure my parents would appreciate a full ride at UMD (College Park of course)</p>
<p>My estimated travel expenses were $50 for the year. That was a tank of gas to get to school when I was a freshman. I guess if I took the bus that would be enough for one round trip. Tuition + Room&Board nears 50k. Add at least $50 and up to $300 of textbooks for each class, lab fees, buzzer for class, computer, Microsoft Office 2007 (for those taking OPIM), and other costs along the way Penn gets really expensive really quickly.</p>
<p>Don't forget that tuition has been outpacing inflation for the past 30 years. Look at the last few years' tuition increase, and assume it will increase by at least that percentage each year. My parents and I probably wouldn't be able to afford Penn if I applied today.</p>
<p>Then again, financial aid has improved even more...</p>
<p>Penn is very expensive, and living in Philadelphia is more expensive than you might think (especially if you are MY kid). I would think about those things in advance if I were doing it over.</p>
<p>the cost of attending penn is ridiculous</p>
<p>they gave me no financial aid</p>
<p>and now my parents are extremely worried</p>
<p>now i will never know if i could have gotten better aid elsewhere</p>
<p>but i was looking at half or full scholarship to USC</p>
<p>which would have made it a lot easier on my parents</p>
<p>if you simply can't afford it, you can get out of ED...</p>
<p>^Talk to the financial aid office. Technically, Penn gave you "100% of your demonstrated aid" so idk. You'll probably be able to go to your local state school, but don't count on another Ivy or peer institution.</p>