<p>My D got into Princeton and Columbia with no financial aid at all. She is also admitted into USC with Mork scholarship (50K/yr). She is majoring in Biology, planning for medical school later on. She really like USC but also very excited at the possibility of getting top education at either P or C. The question is if top Ivy undergrad education is worth $200k more? Especially since she will go, hopefully, to medical school one day which make undergrad school become less significant in the over all picture. I will pretty much drain all of my saving to send her to either P or C. We also have a younger D that is planning to go to UOP next year which will cost a lot too. My plan is if she is going to USC, I will help paying for part of medical school cost too since I only have to pay $10K/yr for USC. Anyway, really appreciate your inputs and I will show D all of your comments to help her making final decision...</p>
<p>USC is the clear no brainer if medical school is in your daughter’s future. It is a highly regarded school located in a great city and it is free for your daughter to attend…think about it! Otherwise, you are looking at spending over $400 K on your daughter’s education in total.</p>
<p>USC is a great school, and if your daughter pretty much has a full ride there, then I would say go to USC.</p>
<p>If she has medical school in her sights, then I think it’s better to use your money for her to (hopefully) attend the med school of her dreams.</p>
<p>Columbia was my older brother’s dream school but he opted for UCB instead to take advantage of in-state fees. That meant the money my parents had put aside in his college fund, are being used solely to help fund his postgrad study; he’s at Columbia’s Law School. He saved his dream school for postgrad.</p>
<p>Go to USC for undergrad, and save the money for the future. The medical profession is less pedigree-dependent (than say law, finance, etc.).</p>
<p>Even without medical school, I would say it’s a no brainer unless you are very very wealthy.</p>
<p>Princeton. Eat mack 'n cheese.</p>
<p>Take the money.</p>