<p>I have been accepted to U of R, which has been my first choice throughout my whole college search. I love Rochester, and I know U of R would be the right fit for me. </p>
<pre><code> However, finances are getting in the way of me going to my dream school. I don't qualify for much financial aid, which is unfortunate for me because my parents are unable to support me much financially. The idea of me having over $100,000 in students loans when I graduate of course doesn't excite me. I haven't received notification of a scholarship from U of R, so I assume I will not be getting one. Other schools I have been accepted to (Nazareth, Union, Syracuse, Hobart and William Smith, RIT) have each offered me scholarships that would make the price of college less than half as it would cost if I were to go to U of R. I plan to study biology or something in the biological sciences. I will go to graduate school after U of R, possibly medical school if I decide that is definitely the path I want to take.
I guess what I am asking is if I am crazy to consider going to U of R when it would cost me twice as much as it would somewhere else. U of R has more reputable academics for the field I plan to study than any of the other colleges I was accepted to. I just feel like if I go somewhere else, I will be missing out on the amazing opportunity I had.
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<p>I can understand the appeal of UR. (I have a daughter going there!). But you shouldn’t mortgage your future to go any college. </p>
<p>This is especially true if you have plans for graduate or professional school. Remember it’s the name on your graduate degree that people care about, not your undergrad.</p>
<p>A $100,000 in loans will limit your future options for the next 20 years of your life. It could even prevent you from going to medical school. (If you have $100,000 in loans already, you may not be able to get more loans to pay for medical school even if you do get accepted.) </p>
<p>You can and will have amazing opportunities at schools other than UR. Not necessarily the identical opportunities you’ll have at UR, but wonderful opportunities nonetheless–if you just look for them.</p>
<p>College is largely what you make of it. Go to the best college you can afford and do the best you can there. Study hard, do well in your classes, establish good working relationships with your professors so they will be able to write enthusiastic letters of recommendation for you, seek out research lab positions (there are wonderful summer programs called REUs which pay students to work in research labs-esp students who are from schools without research programs), score strongly on your GRE or MCAT. Oh, and don’t forget to make new friends and have fun too–that’s part of college too. And part of life.</p>
<p>Both graduate and medical schools accept students from smaller, lesser known colleges every year.</p>
<p>How much does the COA at Roch go up every year? I heard somewhere it is 6%. Is that true? That a lot!</p>
<p>Tuition, fees and r&b has risen approx 5% each year for the past 3 years. </p>
<p>Other costs–like books, transportation and personal expenses have also risen, but I am not sure how much. (These expenses are somewhat under the control by the student and can be managed to more or less expensive depending upon the individual.)</p>
<p>And the 5% increase—that’s been approx the national average.</p>