<p>Something to consider: if you go the PhD route in Physics, you probably won't have to pay for grad school. Most schools find a way to support their PhD candidates (not Masters) upon admission. </p>
<p>Rutgers has a strong reputation in the sciences, but it isn't going to give you that LAC-feel undergraduate education. You need to ask yourself if you will always regret that if you go to Rutgers. If you're looking solely for a quality education, then Rutgers without debt will be a solid choice.</p>
<p>Gettysburg seems like a good compromise. I'm not sure it's better than Rutgers in terms of actual education in physics (it beats Rutgers in other areas, however), but it does offer more of a traditional LAC experience. </p>
<p>Colgate would be the best (provided you like it) if debt were not a problem. Over $80,000 in loans might crush you as you start out in the workforce, especially since there's no guarantee of immediate and/or lucrative employment after you earn the degree. Do ask FA if they overlooked something in your financial aid application -- but don't count on them changing their minds.</p>
<p>Tough decision. We are similar, but very different. :D</p>
<p>Everyone has their own economic preference curve. To me, Colgate is MORE than $13k better than Gtsbg. But it is not worth $80k in loans. I don't think Gtsbg is worth $40k in loans either. S didn't apply to Colgate - he probably wouldn't have gotten in. </p>
<p>Gettysburg and Dickinson (somewhat similar schools) are now at the bottom of my son's list because he has other schools that he likes more and have offered some money as well. Fortunately we have enough saved so that loans will not be necessary, but I think substantial loans should be avoided.</p>
<p>Do you have a gut instinct about where you will be happiest these next four years? It seems like Gettysburg may be giving you a nice middle option. You indicate that the cost involved in going to Gettysburg is NOT weighing heavily on your families decision. So, how about this:
Consider the differences between G. and Rutgers. What are the advantages and disadvantages to attending a large state school? What wil lbe the DAILY impact on your EXPERIENCE? Will you enjoy taking a bus around and between the campuses of Rutgers? Will you like being amongst thousands of students? Would you prefer the smaller, more intimate community at Gettysburg? Does that smaller environment insure that you will get individual attention and the mentoring you will need to prepare for graduate school?</p>
<p>I am biased towards the smaller school, but you need to identify the place where you will flourish best and enjoy the most.</p>
<p>-Joe</p>
<p>full disclosure: I am an college admission professional, but I am not affiliated with any of the schools you are considering.</p>
<p>You are where you went to school for life. Go to Colgate. People who pass on better schools end up with chips on their shoulders. Put the extra 40k in debt in adult perspective. A starter home costs 250K these days. You will be taking on over 200k in debt in connection with that. Settling for a little less of a house or waiting a little longer to buy a house would make up the difference between Colgate and Gettysburg right there. If you wanted to take a step down from Colgate to get a merit scholarship, you could have applied to several such schools and gotten a bigger one than Gettysburg is offering. Trust me, when you meet your maker seventy years from now, you won't be saying "I wish I'd saved 40K and gone to the lesser school".</p>
<p>Be careful in making your decion! Debt can be a major nightmare for some people and others deal with the stress of it very well. Do not make you decision about which school until you have actually visited all of them. Colgate, Rutgers, and Gettysburg all have a good reputation. If you go to graduate school, more $$tuiton, but you may want to consider a big name for that rather than spend so much for undergrad.</p>
<p>In the end, choose where you think you will flourish!</p>
<p>Colgate is an amazing school, but it's definitely not worth that much more. Gettysburg doesn't have a good reputation. I don't think it's worth $32,500. While a lot of people in state look down on Rutgers, it's actually a very good school. The farther you get away from New Jersey, the better its reputation. Plus, you would save a ton of money so you could go to a top ranked grad school. Definitely go to Rutgers.</p>