<p>OK. After weeks of incredible stress, I’ve decided to go with my long time first choice Brown over another Top 20 University that has offerred me about $80,000 for four years (merit based). Since we’re pretty well off and don’t qualify for financial aid, my parents are going to give the scholarship money to me if I take it. I realize that kind of money means I could buy a house several years sooner than normal or other such conveniences. I like both schools a lot but I really love Brown (I applied early and was deferred). Reassure me that I’m making the right decision choosing my favorite school over the one I like less with a ton of money. I’m going with my gut here but I’m really scared I’m passing up an oppostunity that I should take. Am I making the right choice if it’s the school I want to go to more?</p>
<p>That's the choice I would make.</p>
<p>Depends what top 20 school...</p>
<p>Ceteris Parabis:</p>
<p>If you're planning on going to grad school, you're making the wrong choice imho.</p>
<p>80k is a LOT of money, and there's going to be no difference in education or placement between Brown and another top 20.</p>
<p>Don't make this decision on things like a few places of "rank". Brown's "rank" may drop next year anyway as USNWR gets rid of selectivity as a measurement.</p>
<p>If Brown is the right school for you, than of course go, but if they're equal in terms of you being happy there (make sure you visit them both) than you should think long and hard before passing up the $$$$.</p>
<p>(This is from someone who LOVES Brown.)</p>
<p>It's Johns Hopkins. I liked it quite a bit. It's emphasis on undergraduate education and almost completely open curriculum make it very similar to Brown in a few ways. It is more intense and preprofessional though which I'm not too big on. I liked the school quite a bit and could definitely see myself there. That said I think Brown is a better fit for me and I like it much more.</p>
<p>I just said "quite a bit" twice in two sentences. This decision is getting to me</p>
<p>go to JHU if they're giving you more money.</p>
<p>I'd still pick Brown, particularly if you like it that much more and feel it's a better fit, since money isn't a huge concern for your family.</p>
<p>it's a really tough decision, i'm sure. grad school placement, prestige, and a whole bunch of other things aside, i think there is a lot to be said for the place you think you will develope the most in as a person. college is an incredibly formative time--much moreso than you ever realize while you are there. </p>
<p>since there are a lot of unknowns either way, i say go with your gut.</p>
<p>Agreed.</p>
<p>Without the money I would be at Brown in a second, purely because I feel its a better place to be and a much more amazing college experience. BUT know that in the long run there will be little difference in terms of getting jobs, grad school placement, etc. </p>
<p>Tough decision.</p>
<p>Well. I've done an overnight at both places (ADOCH at Brown) and I'm pretty certain that the character and climate of Brown is much more suited to me than Hopkins'. I think I'm just gonna send in the card tomorrow and pretend for the rest of my life that I never received the money offer from Hopkins. It's really diminishing the enthusiasm of going to Brown because now there is a negative attached to it. Oh well. I guess I just has to think of it as a perk I'm not getting rather than something that I'm losing. After all, 99.99% of college students don't graduate with $86,000 and most end up just find. This is a kind of funny situation because, although I'm presented with two great options, each one feels less great because by taking either I'm passing up something else.</p>
<p>You sound sold on Brown over JHU. </p>
<p>"That said I think Brown is a better fit for me and I like it much more".</p>
<p>"Well. I've done an overnight at both places (ADOCH at Brown) and I'm pretty certain that the character and climate of Brown is much more suited to me than Hopkins"</p>
<p>Tommorow, If you were to wake up in a Brown dorm in Providence how would you feel? Happy? Sad? Relieved? </p>
<p>What if you were to wake in a Hopkins dorm in Baltimore? </p>
<p>That's the test.....If you feel sad or that you wasted an opportunity by enrolling, you probably shouldn't be at the school.</p>
<p>If I were you, since money isn't really a paramount issue, I would probably pick Brown. </p>
<p>If the issue were $86k loan debt v. debt-free then the question is very different. However, I get the sense that you will be okay financially though for going to Brown. However, when I think of JHU and Brown, I see them as opposites in terms of climate. </p>
<p>Brown was founded as a college. JHU was founded as a research institution and that is a meaningful and lasting distinction in terms of academic culture.</p>
<p>It isn't my decision though. It's yours. Where would you be happier living for four years? Who would you want to chill with or learn from more? What school offers you more to do? Which made you feel more at home? Did you dress more like the Hopkins or Brown kids? What do you want to do after college? </p>
<p>However, I would say you shouldn't pick 'Brown' merely because it is 'Brown'. Since you applied ED though, I get the sense that you want to go to Brown and feel bad about making the folks fork over the money. And the question is, which is more important to your priorities and future plans?</p>
<p>Best Wishes -- You have two great though very different choices.</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply. I like what you have to say. Yes, this is not a question of debt vs. no debt. It's leaving college with no money or leaving with a sizeable chunk of change in my pocket. So basically, if I don't take the offer, I'm not losing anything, just not gaining anything either. It just will feel like a loss because of the money I'll be passing up. (Kind of like if you were on a game show and won a million dollars, but then found out you almost won ten million. Somehow the one million seems kind of bittersweet) The reason I'm about ready to send in the Brown card is because, the only opportunity I feel like I'll be missing in the case that I go to Brown is the money, whereas if I went to Hopkins I'd feel like I missed out on a really great school that I loved. I think I'm doing the right thing by going with the school I like more, since the money a perk, although a rather big perk, and not a need.</p>
<p>oh man Brown and JHU couldn't be more different!! JHU is very, very intense and competitive while Brown is chill. </p>
<p>You only go to college once, and money is for spending.</p>
<p>I got a full scholarship to Carleton, but chose Brown instead. I think I could have been happy in Northfield, but I think it might have gotten too small too quick. </p>
<p>I have a terribly poor opinion of JHU mainly because I know so many negative people who either go there, or who have transferred out. I am not positive about this, but I believe JHU is one of those rare American universities that started out strictly as a graduate institution - and then added an undergrad school to generate income. Appropriately, the students I've talked to from JHU sometimes say that undergraduate education feels like it was an afterthought - and I believe it literally was!</p>
<p>Yes Argus, it was.</p>
<p>Check this out if you didn't already:</p>
<p>I've sent in the Brown reply card: I'm going
It's such a weight lifted off my shoulders not to have to think about this anymore. Thank you all for helping me make my decision and feel sure about it.</p>
<p>do you have any money at brown?</p>
<p>nope. I don't qualify for finaid</p>
<p>uh huh. I'm in a kind of simliar situation. I do qualify for financial aid (about 11-7 thousand worth in grant) but I'm applying as a transfer, and to incrase my chances of getting in (they are no longer need blind) I am considering withdrawing my application. Brown is my ABSOLUTE dream school. But going with no money, and actually needing the money, I'm not sure if its worth it.</p>