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<p>Which ranking? I thought #2 was MIT followed by UC Berkeley (Hass).</p>
<p>Kat, to answer your questions:</p>
<p>Majoring in business or economics?
BUSINESS, possibly finance, but that could certainly change.</p>
<p>And what is your definition of sacrifice for your EFC? Is this a doable amount or would this choke your family’s budget and finances?
IT CHOKES THEM to a good degree for the next four years, IMO.</p>
<p>What does your daughter think of her decision financially? Does she have any skin in the game? What will her financial contribution be and/or debt amount?
SHE THINKS IT’S WORTH IT to go where she wants – particularly Georgetown, with it’s repuation, location and environment – and she’s willing to take on the bulk of the cost if she must. We’ll choose to share the cost. Our total EFC exceeds $20K so we’re probably looking at $90K for four years. She’ll take out her max federal loans ($5,500 per year) and kick in summer work; we’d cover the rest, or the bulk of it.</p>
<p>She has not wanted to attend school in state, and does not intend to seek work here afterwards. She also wants at least a somewhat smaller environment, and a geographic location that is different than what she is used to in MN. She’s obviously a great student – top in her class – and has found high school too easy and uninspiring, so she’s been intent on getting into the “best college she can” so she can “be with other top students and where she’ll be challenged and have opportunities.”</p>
<p>Has she been awarded any monies at your state option and if so how much?
SINCE MY INITIAL POST, we’ve been informed that the U of M has offered her a full academic ride. Amazing, and ironically disheartening, in a way.</p>
<p>My wife is committed to her going to GU, so that makes me the odd man out. I’m not risk averse, and think there can certainly be added value to GU. My question has been, how much added value and is that worth it for the cost? At this point, I simply need the affirmation of value, I suppose. :/</p>
<p>Believersmom:</p>
<p>Thanks for your input. Particularly among Minnesotans, I’ve heard a lot of similar perspectives. However, as you can see from my recent/previous post, I think my horse if out of the barn.</p>
<p>I’m the product of two Catholic universities, but I skated through pretty unscathed financially due to a combination of limited family resources and some academic award opportunities. There was unique value there, but it didn’t cost very much. :)</p>
<p>If your daughter likes looking at the numbers, run everything through this calculator: [FinAid</a> | Calculators | Award Letter Comparison Tool](<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Award Letter Requirements - Finaid) </p>
<p>Talk with her about what your family could do with the money saved if she goes to MN, and just exactly how much would be saved over the course of those four years.</p>
<p>sabunim:</p>
<p>Ouch! Full ride? Can I just say that I am completely jealous - what we would have done to have D even get a small grant in these economic times!!! :)</p>
<p>Anyway, couple more anecdotes come to mind given your recent posts, that you may or may not find helpful:</p>
<p>D had a smaller school (15k in size) she LOVED since she was in pre-school (long unimportant story), it would have cost about twice what UMN costs us.
D had very similar experiences/ feelings about HS/college that it sounds like your D does.
D was a good academic student, mostly As, but hugely successful in ECs both athletically and creativity-wise, wanted to be more challenged and “experience new people…learn about the world”
D did NOT want to apply to ANY Midwestern state schools, least of all UMN (“too big…too close to home…not prestigious enough” leading favorite trumped UMN in all of those)
Well, I made her apply to two Midwestern state schools anyway, U of Northern Michigan (it was a safety with some things that made it a good fit for her, AND a fantastic scholarship program), and UMN because they sent her a priority application.
D relented, applied to 9 schools total.
Got into all 9, and I thought “here we go, debtsville…” unfortunately I had encouraged the expensive dream school from her childhood (yes, it is my Alma mater - romantic silly notions) 
But a weird thing happened completely by accident, sr yr we planned one last campus visit to her Dream School as well as UMN, UNM, and one other school that really seemed perfect for her in every way.
Seeing them as an admitted student and watching how they acted towards her when they weren’t trying to get her to apply AND with students in session rather than summer visits, changed EVERYthing.
Dream School - not so dreamy in reality, somewhat arrogant attitude towards her, like she should be grateful she was admitted, we came home day early with her crying most of the way-yikes.
UNM- threw lots money at her and really got to know her and talked about her dreams and goals but in the end was just too small and remote.
Perfect Fit School-(we sent her on her own as she’s pretty independent and adventurous, plus she would be going there alone if she attended) she decided it was also too far away and somewhat expensive.
UMN-was last, it was 1st weekend in April(down to wire), neither H nor myself had high hopes for this visit as we’d informally visited campus numerous times. But they blew her away with how personalized the visit was, second in personal touch only to NMU. Her packets both for general campus tour and admitted students program had only info that related to info from her application, major choice(CLA), and ec interests; and I’ve heard that CSOM is even more impressive. She committed to the U the first day of two day visit. 3 yrs later she is Soooo sad to only have a year left. It is important to note that her life goals are leading her outside the Midwest and she already has numerous opportunities in various parts of the country, even the world, growing from her experiences/contacts made at the U and in the TCs. </p>
<p>In any event, maybe a formal campus tour to both schools now that D is admitted(and knows financial offers) might give your D a different perspective. Especially if she maybe feels very familiar with UMN from living nearby. From our experience it’s a different place as an admitted student. </p>
<p>One more thing-regarding DC vs TCs as location. I travel extensively for business, and am very familiar with both cities. Minneapolis is an amazingly vibrant, youthful, cultured city on par, and in many cases better IMNHO, due to cleaner, less traffic, better green space and lower cost of living, than most major US cities. The only area where DC has a decided edge is political activity. I really believe residents in TCs take it for granted. :)</p>
<p>Best wishes!!!</p>
<p>I have a daughter who was admitted to Georgetown (though it really was #2 after Chicago and she was interested in languages and physics–another story) two years ago. Like the OP, we could have made it happen for her, but we did want her to take out some loans and we would not qualify for the low-interest loans (I don’t think).</p>
<p>She was also offered full tuition at our in-state flagship and an OOS well-respected research university. She too wanted to get out of our home state. About this time two years ago, she decided that upon graduation from college, she did not want to owe anybody anything and took the OOS scholarship. Her father told her he would pay for Georgetown for grad school (can’t wait til that happens).</p>
<p>An option I would present to your daughter is to take the money in Minnesota for undergrad and shoot for an MBA at Georgetown. Good luck.</p>
<p>Oh, and I am originally from Iowa and I think the reputation thing is very regional.</p>
<p>Do the undergrad at Minnesota and go elsewhere for job hunt and MBA.</p>
<p>OP~Imho Gtown is an expensive school to attend all around.
I would suggest to your D to google undergrad business programs and see what is out there.
FYI #1 ND #2 UVA #3 MIT #4 Penn #5 Cornell
When it comes to money it is always very personal, Good Luck :)</p>
<p>I would do some research to try and determine ROI. Also important is whether each institution partners with various companies for interships. In general though, I would recommend the state school now and a top MBA program later. Save your money for the next degree. Seems in life that we are always judged on the last institution we attended.</p>
<p>Gtown business is not that well regarded outside the Northeast. It does place very well in NYC and the northeast so if you want to deal with working in NYC or the other major ciites it is fine and much better than Umn for that. If you want to work elsewhere it’s a wash and Uminn is much cheaper.</p>
<p>I would be willing to pay extra for a Georgetown degree. But, it’s up to each family how much extra your family is comfortable with.</p>