<p>So I'm having an incredible struggle (like many of my peers) in making a choice between two LACs, Willamette University (Salem, OR) and Knox College (Galesburg, IL). I'm truly unsure as to what I want to study, but my current desire is Int'l Relations/Studies with becoming fluent in a language (either Japanese, French, or Spanish). I know I have the ability to be bilingual, as I used to be fluent in Spanish as well but would like to try a different language.</p>
<p>I don't care about rankings in this case. Both are well regarded in their regions and on other lists, though Knox moreso it seems.</p>
<p>Willamette pros: I know the town and the campus, as my brother is an alumni. Oregon is my favorite state in the union, and I miss it horribly. Very well respected school in the region, especially as I want to stay in the Pacific Northwest for Grad school and beyond if I can. Right across from the capitol. Offered a spot on the Div. III crew team. Salem is only 2 hours from the coast and 45 minutes from Portland. Good opportunities if I go into some form of Asian studies as well, as their sister institution is Tokyo Int'l University.</p>
<p>Cons: It will cost me about 10-12K a year more than Knox would (about 20K a year). That's really the absolute biggest problem.</p>
<p>Knox pros: 83% of the total cost is a gift, leaving me in the pit for only 7-9K a year in loans. They run on a trimester system, with only 3 classes per 10 week session. Offered a spot on the Div. III golf team.</p>
<p>Cons: Horrible location for me, at least compared to Willamette. Not fond of living in the midwest any longer. I can deal with it just fine if that is my choice, but I love the Pac NW climate. Not even a bookstore in town. At least 3 hours away from any really notable city (Chicago/St. Louis).</p>
<p>I come from a pretty poor and old family. I'm 20 entering in as a freshman due to many life circumstances, and my parents are about 20 years older than most other students, so this money issue is big. I do prefer Knox's trimester system over Willamette's traditional semesters. But...how much does location/alumni network really matter for undergrad or for what I want to study? Would it be worth the extra debt to be somewhere that I -know- I love? Thank you in advance.</p>
<p>That is a really, truly, huge difference in cost. Have you run the loan repayment calculators at [FinAid</a>! Financial Aid, College Scholarships and Student Loans](<a href=“http://www.finaid.org%5DFinAid”>http://www.finaid.org) to see how long it will take you to pay that off?</p>
<p>Both of these places are well respected, and either one would give you a good start in life. The weather in Galesburg is hideous (I grew up not far from there in Iowa), and you are correct that there isn’t as much to do there as in a bigger city. However, it is on the Amtrak line, so you can be in downtown Chicago without a car in about 3 hours. If your pals have a car, you can be in the Quad Cities in about 40 minutes. Not as exciting as Chicago, but probably has better shopping than Galesburg.</p>
<p>I hate to see you sentenced to four more mid-western winters, but the money thing would be truly worrying to me if I were your mom. Maybe you can do a year abroad and work on your languages with what you’d save by choosing Knox? Just about anywhere you went to work on Spanish, Japanese, or French would have to be warmer in the winter than Galesburg!</p>
<p>I’ve spent about 7 years in Minnesota and 2 to 3 in Wisconsin, so I’m really used to the midwestern weather and winters, but living in Oregon for a few years has made me really loathe it.</p>
<p>The funny thing is that my mother is pushing for Willamette, saying that I have a lifetime to pay off the debt. I’m not so sure with her attitude on this.</p>
<p>Let me get this straight - Knox will be $28k-$36k in loans to you over four years (did you factor 5% increases each year?) and Williamette will be $68k - $84k over four years. Well, use the calculator above, plug in an 8.2%-11% interest rate, a 1% origination fee, and see what your life will be like 10 years following graduation.</p>
<p>Yeah, I factored in the 3-4% increase for Knox, but they boost their merit scholarship that I receive a bit each year to compensate.</p>
<p>I know, the choice seems so obvious, doesn’t it? I’m going to attend Knox, I know it. It has a lot going for it. I just wanted to make absolute certain that it won’t hold me back from going anywhere in the country or world, but I guess that seems to be an issue of grad school.</p>
<p>Thank you, the deposit is in for Knox. Here’s to 4 more years (or 3 when I go abroad) of Midwest weather! At least during fall/spring I’ll have tons of access to the local country club 5 minutes from campus.</p>
<p>Good news! There are actually three bookstores in Galesburg, not including the college bookstore. However, one is Christian and another doubles as a yoga meditation center and massage parlor. Don’t know about the third one but it does start with a “B” and isn’t a Borders or Barnes and Noble. What the heck, there’s always Amazon.</p>
<p>Also true on the bookstores, though I feel I added the point just for emphasis of Galesburg being relatively rural. I honestly don’t mind that, plus I love taking Amtrak and Chicago’s museums. Just if I get the bite to want to go, it’ll take a bit more effort than I’d like to while I’m focusing on academics, work-study, and golf practice every day. I’ll be busy enough as it is, I suppose.</p>
<p>Knox is an amazing school, it is academically stronger then Williamette and is a very strong choice for college. I don’t see what the problem is…</p>
<p>SC, the main problem is (well, was…deposit is sent into Knox) location. My life has mostly been a wreck since my family left Oregon. I had more success there than I have ever had, and was by far the happiest time I can remember. The Midwest region has mostly been just plain bad news.</p>
<p>Don’t get me wrong. I’m wildly excited to be attending Knox on such a great aid package, to compete for them in Div. III sports even. It’s just from the onset of my college application process, I was trying to make my way back to Oregon or even the East coast, and had no inkling that I’d end up 3 1/2 hours from home in Madison, WI.</p>
<p>Find a school in Oregon that will let you do an exchange year or go out there and get a summer job next year. That might make your additional years of exile more tolerable You’ll be glad to have less debt, and Oregon will be waiting for you, so don’t beat yourself up.</p>
You’ll be glad to have less debt, and Oregon will be waiting for you, so don’t beat yourself up.</p>