<p>A wise man (or woman) once said: "College is what you make of it". If that is the case is it better to go to a cost effective state school (decent reputation, reasonable cost) and invest the big bucks in a pricey private graduate school, or go for the pricey private school as an undergraduate? Comments</p>
<p>I guess it depends on the "cost effective state school". Are you lucky enoug to consider an elite state school like Indiana University or Penn State or the University of Maryland or the University of Washington as your in-state institution? If that's the case, then yes, it is worth going for the cost effective public school, unless the "pricey private" is Harvard or Stanford, in which case, you decide what suits you better. But remember that there only are like 50 or so private universities worth their price in the first place, and the elite cost effective state schools I list above are as good as some of those pricey private schools.</p>
<p>Convince yourself seriously, it is your decision to make, not the decision of high school students, some college students and a few parents</p>
<p>Although "College is what you make of it," you should choose a place where you can be truly happy at.</p>
<p>Merit aid is also an option. What is your state of residence?</p>
<p>Remember, that you can't guarantee that you'll get into the grad school of your dreams. In many instances, it's harder to get into the grad schools of top universities than it is to get into the undergraduate programs (which themselves are very competitive).</p>
<p>I believe in "A bird in the hand...."</p>