<p>I'd like to hear some opinions. Child accepted at great schools. G-town, GW, Cornell, BU, BC, Suny Bing, Bentley, UVA & NYU. Cost to all except one is about the same (excluding Suny Bing as he doesn't like it) for us even though he got 1/2 tuition (merit) at GW and BU. We still have to pay the same due to our EFC and they just replaced the merit $$ that would have been grant $$. </p>
<p>He's narrowed it down to BC, Cornell & Bentley.</p>
<p>He got a full tuition (merit) at Bentley which means he would have no loans, no w-study and we would pay R & B. This is not his 1st choice school and is concerned (visited a few times) about the school not being as well known as the others and staying intellectually challenged and getting into graduate school from here etc...
He likes the facilites, location, campus etc.. </p>
<p>The no-debt route is the only responsible course, in my opinion. The economy will most likely remain depressed for a number of years. Wages will stagnate further. It would be a blessing to graduate into a crummy economy with no loans/debt. In a year or two, I predict this choice will look like a brilliant decision. And the plus is that Bentley is a fine institution.</p>
<p>Assuming the above, the flip side is that in the next several years college will matter more than ever. In business the school has always mattered so now it might matter even more. The schools with the powerful business networks may well be worth investing in. So NYU if it’s Stern would be a good choice, Cornell next and then UVA.</p>
<p>I would take into consideration son’s plans regarding getting a graduate/professional degree. If he does plan to continue his education beyond the undergraduate degree, I would take the ‘no debt’ route.</p>
<p>hmom5’s comments are correct as regards four areas of business:</p>
<p>1) Wall St.
2) elite consulting firms
3) highly competitive “fast track” entry level management slots at F500 firms
4) the FIRST sales rep job (pharmaceuticals, technology services, advertising, etc.)</p>
<p>95% of business is not in the first three slots. As for the fourth, the most highly paid people in business outside the C-Suite are sales reps. Getting the first sales rep job in a major company is a little tricky, but does not usually require a Top 50 university. In sales, after the first job, nobody cares IF you went to college, let alone where or whether they even know the name.</p>
<p>Then there is the entrepreneurial route. The Big4 accounting route. The “regular” entry level slot at F500 or other regional businesses in marketing, finance, accounting, etc. routes. Lots of routes into and within “business”.</p>
<p>All that to say – Cornell would possibly be worth the debt if one of the first three positions is what your son is likely to pursue. for just about any other area of business, probably not.</p>
<p>Congrats to him for the full tuition scholarship at Bentley!
Although many of Bentley’s students do come from the Northeast and mid-Atlantic, it is definitely becoming more nationally recognized as a result of the amazing technology and hands-on, real-world experience. Last year, 94% of students either had a job or were attending grad school and had made those plans within six months of graduation, which speaks to the commitment of the career services helping students with future plans. They have a lot of connections/partnerships with great companies that specifically seek out Bentley grads due to their work ethic.
I know that $$ is a big factor, but a full-tuition scholarship is a big deal!
Good luck with everything!</p>