<p>I am in a pickle with college choices, and I have NO IDEA what I should do. First of all, I am a good student (National Merit Scholar etc) and I have been accepted to Cornell, Wellesley, and Northeastern University. I guess I can make a case for each, but the reason I am struggling with this is all due to financial problems.
First, Cornell has been my dream school. I was accepted, plus I am a Presidential Research Scholar, which apparently is a big deal (I got $8,000 for research plus other perks.. but nothing with FA). This college would open so many doors for me for jobs and for grad school. For what I want to go into (Law, Economics, maybe be a professor) I need to have a strong graduate school degree (an Ivy league or equivalent). I know I could get that if I go to Cornell. Plus I would love the next four years. But the downside is that they gave me no financial aid at all. I appealed it, because there is no way I can go unless I get some aid. If I get the aid I received from Wellesley, then I might be able to go...
My next school is Wellesley. I love the school, but it is definitely not as strong or as competitive as Cornell. I would have a blast there, and I could get into a good grad school after, but I doubt I would have good job prospects if I took a few years in between undergrad and grad school. They gave me the best FA I received out of all colleges. I received 15,000 in grants. After what my parents can pay, there is a gap of $20,000 each year. My parents might be able to take out 5,000/ year in plus loans, but I would inevitably go into 60,000 in debt (after all four years) for Wellesley. Is it worth it? Maybe for Cornell (if the appeal works out), but for Wellesley?
My last option is Northeastern. I was offered a full tuition scholarship, so my parents love it. But I do NOT like the co-op program at all, and I have not been able to find any good matriculation stats for graduates going to strong grad schools. The student body would be way below what I want academically, and I would not have access to such amazing professors and research money that Cornell has. But I would graduate with pretty much no debt.
I have no idea what to do. Any advice? Sorry this is so long..</p>
<p>MODERATOR NOTE: Please post questions concerning choosing a college on the College Search & Selection forum.</p>
<p>In my opinion, even 60k a year is a lot of debt before entering grad school. You should also look and see how much your prospective career will earn you to pay off this debt. I’m sure there are some graduates of Northeastern that matriculate to elite graduate schools, even if some don’t. I would go to Northeastern for your undergraduate years, because chances are you will be happy, and then apply to a top-notch place for grad. You are clearly very intelligent, so you should fare well within four years again. </p>
<p>However, if you really don’t want to go there yet are willing to take on a large amount of debt (more than 100k after grad school)… Go to Wellesley. It’s wonderful and will leave you in less debt than Cornell, but still very prestigious.</p>
<p>Also, keep in mind that no school is bad. No one deserves to be admitted anywhere, so remember that prestige is very subjective and not the most important thing in the world.</p>
<p>And I recommend you don’t come across as snooty as you do here. Wont he,p for job prospects. Your boss may have graduated from a state school. Prestige isn’t everything.</p>