DILEMMA: Expensive Ivy vs. State Flagship-- I need your thoughts on student debt

<p>I'm an incoming sophomore. I don’t think I'd even consider transferring again. It's too much of a hassle plus the perceived indecisiveness that comes with a second transfer will certainly compromise my medical school applications. I would like the standard UG experience, so transferring twice isn’t viable. </p>

<p>It’s certainly not Cornell or bust. Unlike some on this forum, I possess enough ‘dignitas’ and ‘gravitas’ so as not to have to define my self-worth by the school I attend. I also have enough common sense to understand that Cornell too is a profit-driven bureaucracy–albeit a much more pleasant one than U of I. </p>

<p>Good luck Bourne, thanks for the support.</p>

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Caillebotte The way I survived at a large state university was to be both a psychology and philosophy major. Psych had hugh classes but the philosophy department was small - only 8 of us graduated and we had our ceremony off campus at a professor's house. I'm not saying that you should be a philosophy major but find your niche there and create your own "life of the mind". Also, as you progress through your undergraduate experience you'll expand beyond the campus and find other interests to nurture you - you may also find you'd like to transfer. Wait and see what happens. Good luck to you.

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Thanks for the suggestions, I'm actually planning on taking a political philosophy class at U of I this fall. It should be fun, I know a lot of philosophy majors.</p>

<p>Good luck man. You'll save tons of money that way. I was considering transferring to U of I, but they had a strict guidelines for transfer to the business school. I'll probably end up at DePaul or Loyola. You could always go to med school at some top med schools. Just do real good down there!</p>

<p>Just thought I'd post an update. My parents are giving me enough money to lower my debt to $5K per year. I will be attending Cornell. I can't really describe how good I feel. </p>

<p>Looking at this thread in retrospect, I was sort of a whiny dooche. It really doesn't matter where you go. Plautus is Plautus; if you have the ambition and curiosity, you can succeed anywhere.</p>

<p>Wow. That's the best news I've heard in quite a while. Happy Independence day. </p>

<p>I hope you enjoy Ithaca and all it has to offer.</p>

<p>Congratulations are most certainly in order. </p>

<p>Best of luck. Best of luck!</p>

<p>Edit: Maybe it doesn't matter where you go, but sometimes it certainly helps to be somewhere you want to be.</p>

<p>^ True that. Good luck to you too.</p>

<p>There was a recent article in US News about schools cutting medical school costs, such as harvard, because of the debt issue.
If you really like cornell, go for it. You only go to undergrad once. Apply for a bunch of outside scholarships. Look for local scholarships. See if your parents belong to a union, and whether the union offers some. There are un met need scholarships that offer non interest loans. Look into doing an americorps program in the summer, they offer about $2000 for college, a stipend and some schools will match the $2000.
A great under the table job is reffing spots games. I make a lot of money reffing soccer games and tournamets(at least $250 a weekend for tournaments, housing and meals provided). The money is tax free, and offers a flexible schedule.
Talk to the FA office about your situation, make sure the FAFSA and CSA were received. If you talk to them, they may give you grant money or gov loans.
If cornell is your dream school, go for it, because maybe you won't end up going to med school.</p>

<p>Amazing for you. There's nothing worse than having a dream so tantalizingly close to you yet unachievable due to personal circumstances. Keep on writing on these boards, and tell us how Cornell goes for you. Some of us (such as I) are looking to transfer there as well. :)</p>

<p>Caillebotte - that's great for you! If 5K per year will be your undergraduate debt, then Cornell is the right choice for you. As you progress through your education just keep an eye on costs - save where and when you can. Borrow as little as possible for med school and share housing, stay with relatives, anything that saves you money. Before completing your residency find an independent finacial advisor and have a plan for how to go into practice and manage debt. Good luck to you.</p>

<p>Congrats Caillebotte! :) Always great to know that more people on these boards have achieved the dream school status.</p>

<p>Heartwarming thread -- great advice from everyone, and a great outcome for the OP.</p>

<p>Congratulations. It's nice your parents are willing to make the sacrifices for you to go to Cornell. My daughter loves Cornell. She says "it's a little bit of heaven on earth." Hope you will get there early enough during the orientation week to enjoy some partying and gorge jumping, then be prepared for work.</p>