I loved Michigan from the moment I stepped on campus. I want to do engineering and their program is perhaps one of the best in the country. And even better, they aren’t a nerdy, weird school like something like CMU or Berkeley.
What makes this decision so hard is that UNC is offering a full ride and Duke is offering 58k. Michigan would cost 10k but can someone please try to change my mind here? I visited UNC and didn’t really feel happy. Duke was snobby as hell and seems like one of those douchey prep schools like Harvard or another ivy. But I feel like even though I loved mich, it isn’t the right financial decision.
Btw, money is important for my family. My parents act like they want me to go for my favorite school, but I don’t think they can foot the bill.
No you are not crazy. However if money is important you have two incredible offers on the table. Offers many others would envy to be honest. But it’s your life and your experience.
My only comment are that I visited both Duke and UNC recently (accepted at to UNC but not attending tbh) and we both thought it was an awesome experience. Seemed very relaxed and quite a nice diverse cross section of kids. And it’s beautiful weather compared to UM. But you are not going to school for that I realize.
Duke was really nice too and we went to a basketball game. It was great fun and the kids were really having a good time.
I wouldn’t use the description you did for them or H for that matter. Sporty and preppy perhaps. H the even less so.
Good luck. Three great choices and once you go to any you’ll never look back, is my guess
This would seem to mean that UMich shouldn’t even be on the table any longer. You have two other fantastic options. Visit again. Look at the forums for each of those schools here on CC. Ask questions there.
Using terms like “douchey” to describe not just an entire school like Duke, or group of schools like the Ivy League or class of people like prep schoolers suggests a world view that may prove limiting for you as you mature. Throughout your life you will meet people of different socioeconomic circumstances , racial and ethnic backgrounds, and people who have faced diverse challenges. I would strongly suggest not limiting yourself by defining groups of people if you want to get the most out of both your college experience and life. Revers elitism is elitism.
If money is an issues for your family then UM is not a wise choice given your other options. I would revisit UNC and Duke and choose from one of those two schools – I know people who have had wonderful experiences at both colleges.
Looking at this from a financial point of view, I think you know what the answer is…UNC. If you gather enough money through scholarships, work, etc. to scrape by, then maybe you can go to UMich. If not, I’d think of the $40,000 in financial burden you put upon your family.
You’re parents want to see you happy b/c they care for you, if you care for your parents you’ll return the favor and keep them happy.
Let me be clear: sorry if anyone was offended by my duke comment. Since this is an anonymous site, I wanted to give you my genuine impressions of the school. Maybe I am immature, but I think everyone who read my comment understands that Duke and Michigan have a wildly different atmosphere.
Also, and I probably should have said this earlier, but Mich is offering 53k in aid which is only 5k less than Duke’s. They are both need based and I would have to pay about 10k for both. With that said, I want to know if foregoing the prestige at Duke is worth Michigans outstanding engineering OR if foregoing UNCs full ride is worth Michigan.
UNC is a great school but not known for their engineering department. In fact, engineering at UNC is not even ranked. Michigan has one of the best engineering schools in the country. Even with a free ride, it makes no sense to me to go to UNC for engineering.
Just read your most recent comment. You are not the first person to say that about Duke not the first to have that impression. It definitely has a different culture than UNC or Michigan. It doesn’t sound like Duke is a good fit for you socially and that is very important! I would cross Duke off the list if I were you. As far as prestige goes, Michigan is more prestigious than Duke in your field of study.
If you dislike Duke so much, then take it off the table. What’s left is UMich and UNC (10k and 0), you’ve expressed that money is a concern so keep that in mind. Forgoing the prestige of Duke for UMich is not that big of a problem, both are excellent schools.
UMich is the epitome for college engineering. There’s no doubt that their program is well regarded and one of the best. If engineering is truly your passion, then this would be the best school, costs aside. Also keep in mind should you change your major or go a different route, will paying $10k vs. $0 still be worth it?! UNC offers you a cushion if this should happen. Although their program isn’t as good as UMich, it still does the job and gets you a good education. A degree from a well respected college that, employers know to be a good school.
Whatever you choose, I’d consult your parents further on the fixed amount they are able to pay, come up with a plan if footing the bill is possible. Best of luck!
Let’s consider your numbers. Do any of your aid amounts include work-study or any loans? If so, you shouldn’t include that as actual aid, because you have to earn that work-study amount, or pay back the loans. I’ll assume they don’t, and also that you can earn enough in summer and during the school year (at a work-study job or otherwise) to pay all your $3000-4000 in expenses. It looks like:
UNC: no cost for tuition, fees, room and board (TFRB) = you just have to pay expenses.
Michigan: $59K for TFRB in 2018-19 minus $53K aid = pay $6K to Michigan plus earn enough for expenses
Duke: $68K for TFRB at 2017-18 rates (will probably go up a little) minus $58K in aid = pay $10K to Duke plus earn expenses
If these figures are more or less right, and you would just have to pay $25K over 4 years for Michigan (which you can borrow if necessary), then I’d say: You definitely should choose Michigan over Duke (the prestige difference is not really relevant, and the Michigan cost is the same or better). And it would be fine to decide it’s worth borrowing $25K total to go to a school you really like better and that is great in your field.
On the other hand, if the figures aren’t right and you ALREADY are borrowing $25K total at Michigan or Duke in your aid package, and might have to come up with an additional $40K that you and your family don’t really have, I’d say you should consider why you’re not happy about UNC. It could be you just didn’t find it as thrilling as Michigan, but you could be happy there.
Your actual cost at UMich is likely less than $10k per year. My D never use the full amount as in the book and supplies in the CoA. You are looking at around $8k per year at UMich. Once you declared major, you may apply for departmental scholarships which may give you another $2k-3k per year.
@caramelmac Go with Michigan. You will perform better academically at the place where you feel the best fit and are happy. The $8K to $10K extra per year can be easily paid back when you obtain a high paying job after graduating from one of the premier engineering programs on the country. You can borrow up to $27,000 in your own name (that will cover almost 3 years) and your parents can take out a parent plus loan to bridge the difference. Years from now you will look back and wonder why this was even a difficult decision! Go Blue!
@caramelmac Being happy and comfortable with where you are living and studying is priceless. It is so much harder to succeed and achieve your goals if you aren’t comfortable and don’t feel at home. I think enjoying your college years and being happy is worth thousands of dollars.
You are extremely lucky to have these options on the board. Going to UNC for almost nothing would be an amazing investment. I believe you would end up being happy there, and over time be happy with your decision. But at the end of the day only you can say if you are happy. What may not be a smart extra cost for someone else may be exactly what is needed for you to be happy and succeed. If you truly love Michigan that much more then Duke and UNC, it’s a no brainer. Go where you are happy and can live to your maximum, and don’t let the extra cost hold you back.
If your family literally cannot afford it, then thats another story and you would be better off at the other schools that won’t sink your family. But if your parents are willing to pay for it, go where you feel at home.
Let me get this straight. It will cost you $10k to go to Michigan? Do you have to take out any loans to cover the rest or is it mostly grants and work study?
Also, if Duke is covering $58k, that means Duke will also cost roughly $15k right?
If the difference in FA between Duke and Michigan is just $5k, it will probably cost you about $5k/year less to attend Michigan since Duke is $10k more expensive than Michigan when you factor in room and board.
By the way, Duke is not more “prestigious” than Michigan. They are equally prestigious. In Engineering, Michigan has the decided edge…and it is not even close.
Personally, I would go for Michigan. UNC makes no sense in your case, since you are intending on majoring in Engineering/CS. I also agree with trackmbe3 and quintessence21. You perform best if you are happy. If Michigan makes you happy, go there.
$10K per year is very inexpensive. Make your parents happy. Go to Michigan. They want you to be happy. This school seems to make you happy. They will be happy that you didn’t pick Duke at $58K. Don’t deprive your parents of the joy of sending you to your top choice!
If you can afford it go to Michigan. Keep in mind that you can get summer internships but most likely not your freshman summer. You can make from $0.00 - $20,000. Few report getting more. This is no way guaranteed but would be helpful to pay for college. Getting used books, etc all helps too. Maybe you get get a job this summer to help pay them back or for funds during the school year. As someone pointed out if you get work study, this can be helpful paying back the small loans or at least a start. Something tells me you can make Michigan happen but have a sit down with your parents and have a serious talk if they can afford it. If not you have great choices.
Another alternative but it would be pushing it… Go to UNC for a year or two and then do a transfer to Michigan. Problem is your not guaranteed acceptance.
Did you go to see UMich Financial Aid office and see if they would match your other offers?? IF you didn’t go, the worst they could do is say no, the best is they could match!! I would go for it and if not find a way to help your parents out through work, if possible, or pay them back later.
Let me re-word your post a little See if this helps you to see it a little different.
“What makes this decision so hard is that I’m getting a brand new free Lexus and someone else is selling me a BMW at half price. I found another BMW that costs $40k plus interest but can someone please try to change my mind here? I test drove my brand new free Lexus, and I didn’t feel happy, even though it’s free. The half-price BMW felt snobby as hell and seems like one of those stuffy cars like Mercedes Benz. But I feel like even though I love paying $40k plus interest, it isn’t the right financial decision.”
