Advice on college decision

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https://www.collegeconfidential.com/policies/rules

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This is a site where applicants can come to ask questions and re five information by people with experience. The posts I deleted from adults who should know better ate a perfect example of why some label this site as toxic. There is no place on this site for that type of behavior.

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The OP wouldn’t take on debt to accomplish an educational objective. The educational objective here is a psychology degree from a reputable university and they can get that from FSU at a third of the cost, and at OSU at two thirds of the cost, in both cases without debt. Wanting to go to Tulane is a lifestyle objective. A luxury. As a parent, I’d refuse.

In fact, taking on debt for their undergrad degree may keep the OP from accomplishing what is arguably the real educational objective here, which is a viable qualification in psychology, which means grad school.

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You bring up some good considerations.

Mine is actually doing exactly what you describe - working 20 hours per week at an internship (was supposed to be 15 but employer has been pushing for 20+), keeping up grades, applying for and interviewing for summer internships, staying involved in clubs including leadership positions, doing major-related competitions, and applying for and attending various seminars etc with potential employers. She has almost zero free/fun time.

So, is it doable? Yes, but definitely comes with a price.

Just for clarity is doing it for experience not due to financial needs.

I would not borrow $50,000 for a “Tulane experience” when you have excellent options that do not require loans. Your ultimate goal is PA school (unless you change your mind) which will require more loans. There is no guarantee you will get into a SUNY grad school program. What if you are accepted to private schools that are double the cost? Why add an additional $50,000? What will happen down the road when you love the one bedroom that costs xx, but you can only afford yy because you wanted that experience at Tulane?

FYI our HS sends plenty of kids to Tulane and Ohio State, so don’t fall into that “everybody from my HS goes to Binghamton” trap. When we visited Cornell my D counted 16 kids who attended our HS. She waved to 5 kids when we visited Binghamton. If you attend Bing …be a leader and not a follower. Make some friends from Rochester, Brooklyn, or Plattsburgh NYS has a tremendous amount of diversity.

OS is also a great school, but there is no shortage of kids from NJ or Long Island. Not at all.

Do yourself a favor and choose a school that does not require $50,000 in undergraduate loans, that provides you with the education and volunteer experiences you will need, and the social life you want. You have great options on the table without Tulane. I know a successful PA living in NYC who went to Binghamton for undergrad.

One more thing. Do you plan to study abroad one day (hopefully Covid will make that possible)? Some study abroad programs are very costly. Do you want that experience to be diminished or limited because you chose Tulane over one of your affordable options? What if you make some friends who want to move off campus and spend xx, and your cost is capped at yy because you spent more than what your parents could afford? Then what?

Just my opinion. Go to an affordable school where you can have some of those extras without hardship, and count your blessings.

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What about UGA?
You’d get a Southern vibe and if you got into the Honors College it’d be as good as Tulane (UGA overall is a strong university and their honors college is topnotch).
As for tOSU: What does Health Scholars involve?

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Totally! Athens is an awesome college town. UGA fits into your parents’ budget too. Plus, it’s a doable roadtrip to NOLA to get your Tulane fix.

$48,000 is too much debt! And since you will need to your parents to co-sign, it will also affect their credit and ability to get any loans they may need. Don’t do it to yourself and don’t do it to your parents.

Here’s something to think about. If you can afford an exotic school right now, that might not be true in 4 years. You’ll be surprised how often students at these universities transfer home because of costs. A layoff, business failure, etc. destroys EVERYTHING. If you go out of state, it’s best to do it on a scholarship. That’s guaranteed money, in writing, for 4 years. The most you can take out in student loans is $27k for a 4 year degree. Student loans are always higher than projected. Right now, Bingamton, and FSU are the only 2 places that are affordable.

Seriously, if you only have to take out 3k a year at FSU, that’s golden!

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Have you run the loan amount through a payment calculator? Are you working now? You’ve got several weeks to start putting extra money away and seeing how that actually feels. If you think it is no big deal, there’s your answer. You might learn you are glad you tried that before you signed yourself up for 6000 weeks of that.

Btw, it is easy to think that if only you weren’t in high school, made a little more per hour, etc. it would be easier. It won’t be. College is harder and your other bills will be bigger the further along in life you are.

Not in New Orleans!

*days

Also, my D was in that Scholars program at OSU and loved it. She landed a nice rotational co-op and it helped her have an instant community.