<p>I have recently been accepted to my dream school, Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. Although pretty unknown, it is the third best research university in New England next to Harvard and Yale and is a prominent psychology school. I want to study psychology and counseling, so Clark is a very good fit for me plus it has a 5 year program in which I will have my bachelors as well as masters degree after five years AND the fifth year is FREE. I felt very at home after visiting Clark and only have to pay about $14,000 to attend. Without loans, the amount I would have to pay is like $8000. </p>
<p>Then there's Fairfield. It's a mediocre school compared to Clark and as much as I hear the negative aspects of Clark - it's in the "hood" and there are cliques and lots of potheads - I've heard A LOT of negativity about Fairfield. I read from a lot of people that majority of students who attend are "rich snobs" who's primary concern is designer clothing and drinking on weekends. I would not fit in here. In addition, it's a school who's religious affiliation is Catholic/Jesuit. I'm Jewish and this bothers me. I liked the campus when I visited, but these are a lot of cons. However, they offered me a full ride. </p>
<p>So right now, it's full ride/living with no financial burden and potentially being unhappy or paying a decent amount and going to school that would better fit me academic/social wise. Then again, who knows? I might be unhappy at Clark. I don't know what to do. </p>
<p>I can use as much advice/opinions as possible. Thanks.</p>
<p>The academic quality between Clark and Fairfield are negligible. Take the full ride and don’t make up your mind about a place based on hearsay and rumors. I can’t GUARANTEE you there are pothead on EVERY campus.</p>
<p>statistically, they’re about equal (69% vs. 68%) acceptance rates. If you can afford Clark, you need to decide if the difference of COA is worth having a Clark education over a Fairfield one. If you’ll go into debt above 10,000 (total) I’d say go with Fairfield.</p>
<p>Why did you even apply to Fairfield in the first place if the religious aspect was not your cup of tea?</p>
<p>I don’t agree with the above posters…I don’t care if they are paying you to go there; I would never have my kid attend a school they were that uncomfortable with…</p>
<p>It doesn’t sound like Clark would be a financial hardship for you; if I was your parent, I would encourage you to go there…</p>
<p>It’s a no-brainer. Go to Fairfield. Give it your best shot. If that doesn’t work, you can always apply to transfer to Clark, which would not have given you any $$ anyway & you will have completed at least 2 years of your education at no cost to you.</p>
<p>Rodney, the OP says s/he is responsible for ALL college costs with no help from parents. Such a student CANNOT afford to pay full-freight when a full-ride is available.</p>
<p>I received over 30k from Clark so I would only pay 14k a year. And I applied to Fairfield because it has a not great but good academic rep and in visiting, I loved the campus and location and could see myself there. I knew I would get money and I did. Aside from the rumors I’ve heard about Fairfield students being rich snobs, I just don’t feel comfortable with the religious aspect and the little diversity there. </p>
<p>So I’m in a rut.</p>
<p>I got accepted to like 10 schools but in the end it was between Goucher, Fairfield, and Clark. Goucher didn’t give enough money and I was disinterested because of its location and some of its requirements.</p>
<p>Here’s the thing – pretend it’s 20 years from now.</p>
<p>You go to Clark – either you loved it and think it’s the best decision you ever made, or you kick yourself every time you make a loan payment.</p>
<p>On the other hand, let’s say you go to Fairfield – either you loved it and it’s the best decision you ever made (and you’re debt free) or you constantly wonder what might have been had you gone to Clark.</p>
<p>Now, the real problem is that you can only choose one or the other and you don’t know how the other decision would have worked out. </p>
<p>I can tell you what I would do, but what difference does that make. It’s your choice, and there really isn’t one right or wrong answer here.</p>
<p>And I have to apply for financial aid after each year in college. Just because I have a full ride for Fairfield doesn’t mean that applies for the other 3 years. The same goes for the aid given by Clark.</p>
<p>I’m hoping you can make it work at Clark if that is your preference but you understand that you can’t borrow the additional $8000/year yourself if your parents won’t sign personally for the loan?</p>
<p>$14K/year x 4 = $56K, which is a pretty big amount, even assuming NO increases in tuition and you graduate in 4 years, plus interest that will grow & grow, unless the loans are subsidized (which you didn’t mention). What is your major? What is the average starting salary in your area of the country for graduates in that field? I know when our kiddo graduated from college in 2010 in engineering, there were a lot of unemployed engineers with significant debt.</p>
<p>Who will co-sign your loans? What will they do if you have no job & can’t afford to may payments?</p>
<p>OP, from your clarification, you do NOT have a full-ride anywhere. You have full cost of attendance for year one at one U and a $30K discount off the $44K cost of attendance at the other U. Full-rides that I’m familiar with generally are renewable absent not meeting GPA requirements and not making satisfactory progress toward your degree. </p>
<p>I’d check more closely with the FAid offices at both schools to figure out how likely that your aid package will be renewed each year and figure out what would you’d do if they don’t get renewed or become all (or mostly) loans and no (or reduced) grants after year 1. The financial situation is sounding more and more dicey.</p>
<p>Very hard for me to say. We are paying our daughter’s tuition (no scholarship) at her first choice school after turning down several scholarships (and not applying to several others where she likely would have gotten a full ride).</p>
<p>However, if the schools were basically equal educationally, I think Ipersonally wouldn’t incur the debt.</p>
<p>I’m majoring in psychology and counseling and I think I read that the average starting salary for that area is about 50k if I went to clark and 67k if I went to fairfield.</p>
<p>Interesting zephry. Your daughter is lucky to have you guys as parents! They are close academically but the psych program is very strong in clark and most are psych majors there</p>
<p>HIm -
I will definitely call the offices and ask how likely it is that the packages will be renewed. That’s important. Full rides are usually renewable though?</p>
<p>Birdybrains – YES SHE IS!!! And we tell her so at every opportunity. (smile)</p>
<p>but to be serious … it was a somewhat easier choice for us, since her first choice school was a much better school than the ones offering her scholarships and we are fortunate enough to be able to do this for her.</p>
<p>I agree that Clark is known for Psychology – ever since the Freud lectures (perhaps earlier). I don’t envy your decision. But I expect at the end of the day, you’ll be fine wherever you go.</p>