<p>Our D has gotten into Tufts - with no merit aid and into Kenyon which is offering her over 70 grand (over 4 years) in merit aid. And she is not going to be a doctor or a lawyer - she is interested in journalism and government relations. She is a 4.0 GPA and a strong resume (she interned at the U.N. and also at Doctors Without Borders) and a real go-getter. Obviously I am proud of her but my wife and I are trying to figure out the best decision. Our D went and visited Kenyon and loves it! Loves it! My wife worries that she is saying she loves it because she knows how much money it will save us and yes, to pay the close to 60 grand/year for Tufts will be VERY hard. I work in TV where if you are working (which I am - at the MOMENT) you can make good money but there is NO GUARANTEE of continuation of steady money. So, at the money, yes I could pay for her to go to Tufts but Kenyon would almost be half of that with the merit aid. And yes Kenyon is out there, quite rural but the college campus itself is lively and has tons of social event s as opposed to Tufts which is right there whee Boston is. I also believe the "just because you can afford it doesnt mean you should" Any advice? Thoughts?</p>
<p>Kenyon is a fine school. Tufts definitely not worth $70k more. Plus your D loves Kenyon!</p>
<p>Seems like an easy decision.</p>
<p>And Kenyon is well established in the field of writing. <a href=“https://www.kenyonreview.org/[/url]”>https://www.kenyonreview.org/</a></p>
<p>Kenyon.</p>
<p>Kenyon has a great writing program.</p>
<p>Kenyon is #32 on the US News & World Report rankings for National Liberal Arts Colleges. Tufts is #28 on National Universities. Tufts is #52 in the major English. Kenyon is not ranked.</p>
<p>Kenyon is ranked #35 on High School Counselor Rankings. Tufts is #22.</p>
<p>Tufts is nationally ranked in many engineering disciplines and has graduate schools.</p>
<p>Kenyon enrollment is 1,657 students on 1200 acres. Tufts enrollment is 5,194 students on 150 acres.</p>
<p>If you really are flummoxed, buy a subscription to the USN&WR College compass, and read the details. As far as I would say, Tufts is a major university and Kenyon is a liberal arts college. Tufts is near a major metropolis and Kenyon is not.</p>
<p>Kenyon. No contest. Great college, where she could get a great education, at a great price, and apparently while having a great time.</p>
<p>Kenyon. Know a young man who transferred there for the writing program from another LAC. LOVES it.</p>
<p>Your D loves it, so why not?</p>
<p>So wait, she loves Kenyon, it costs less, and you’re not sure if you’ll be able to pay for Tufts for four years. What was the question again?</p>
<p>I really LOVE Tufts, but if she loves Kenyon then I think you should save the $$$ and send her there. She may develop an interest that will require graduate school.</p>
<p>I say Kenyon.</p>
<p>You are asking whether you should pay an extra $70,000 for a school that your daughter doesn’t like as much? Maybe I am missing something, but that seems like a pretty easy choice.</p>
<p>I’ll agree with the others that Kenyon appears to be the right choice, though you haven’t really explained your hesitation with Kenyon. We can guess at it, but it wouldn’t hurt to be clear about it.</p>
<p>Sorry if I wasn’t clear - the issue is my wife is thinking Tufts may be a better for her and that it’s in a city as opposed to Kenyon - which is quite rural. She also thinks (as I explained in the original post) that our daughter might be saying Kenyon because of the money difference (but secretly may want to go to Tufts). I also feel my wife is being emotional about the whole thing - like, she applied to Tufts, got into Tufts, we should move mountains so she can go to Tufts.</p>
<p>Got to.go with whatever your daughter wants- I she feels that the school is a fit, then there’s your answer.</p>
<p>I think Tufts is the better school, and if it was financially feasible (and your daughter chose it, of course), I’d recommend Tufts.</p>
<p>However, you have to go with the college that will keep you stable, financially. You can’t choose a college that you might not be able to pay for in four years; having financially solvent parents will be worth more for your daughter than having a Tufts degree.</p>
<p>Kenyon, without a doubt. It’s a win-win. She is a lucky girl. </p>
<p>rhandco, you do realize those rankings you cite are subjective, no? And that most of them (engineering??) have nothing to do with this student’s areas of interest?</p>
<p>Tufts, arguably, might be better for some kids. But Kenyon, arguably, also is better than Tufts for some kids. And LOVING Kenyon is a big sign. A kid could just say “really, really like” instead of love. I live 50 minutes from Tufts and my kid goes to Kenyon. And I am a closet, but devout elitist, and I am tickled to death that my kid is going to Kenyon instead of Tufts. Tufts did not interest us in the least, with either kid. And then…there’s the 70K, nice bonus even as an afterthought. And one other head’s up. Kenyon will be even tougher academically than you imagine. It’s no joke. And the campus has only been rated #1 in the country.</p>
<p>Kenyon. Schools not surrounded by large cities tend to have far more going on on campus. It sounds like Kenyon is the best bet. And so what if your daughter is choosing it because of money? This will just be the first of her many wise decisions in life where she weighs out the pros and cons, instead of just spending wildly. Both educations will be worth about the same. Kenyon seems to have some spirit to it, where as Tufts seems a little bit big school generic. Both have well known names (I know both names and I live several states away). </p>
<p>Look at this this way. If you were buying a house. And two houses were almost equal, but one has carpet you like the color of more. And the one with the prettier carpet costs twice as much. Will you just say “money is no object” and spend it? No, of course not. You will consider if that house with the prettier carpet is worth that much more money. And chances are, you will say no and go with the cheaper house. </p>
<p>I think Kenyon is the no brainer answer here.</p>
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<p>I nominate undecided2014 as the wisest student on CC.</p>