<p>You might also remember that whatever the gap is your freshman year, it will be larger each of the subsequent years, as schools raise their rates. If you would need to borrow $9K this year, it is likely that you’d need to borrow at least $10.5K the next year, and $12 K the year after, and 13.5K your senior year. I have yet to see a college keep their tuition, fees, room & board, and books at a constant cost.</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>Very good point that the gaps will rise each year. I’m also concerned that the family won’t be able to come up with the $15k each year. It sounds like the family had 2 “good” incomes, but living where they do, they don’t have a lot of extra money … so how are they going to come up with $60k over 4 years? </p>
<p>I hope Lonesplendor posts where she got her free rides. She told me in PM, but I don’t feel free to reveal. The reason I wish she’d post her free rides, is because there are people here who could better advise her as to the quality of the “campus life” at each school…which is her main concern.</p>
<p>Okay, I’ll reveal them. The free schools that I’m considering are Stony Brook and Macaulay Honors College at Hunter.</p>
<p>That was a very good point about the rising cost of college.</p>
<p>The school that I like a lot (Wellesley) has been super generous and is asking for a parental contribution of $16,745. This was after I spoke to them, so it won’t go any lower. My parents say that they will be able to afford this…but again, it is a lot of money and I’m not sure if its worth it with the other options available.</p>
<p>lone: The problem is that after tuition, room, and board, there are other costs, such as books, travel home, clothes, a movie or an activity, toiletries, laundry, and so on. I would suggest you visit your free rides on a school day and check out the campus environment. Perhaps you can eat lunch on campus and walk through the student union to get a feel for the lifestyle.</p>
<p>I would be so happy for a free ride – I would never look back! </p>
<p>Good luck!!</p>
<p>If I were you, I’d totally take the full ride at Macaulay College at Hunter. What an awesome program!</p>
<p>Don’t worry, I mean I’m not in the same situation as you YET (I’m still a junior), but I’ll be in your shoes soon enough. My parents make $150k combined and money is so tight right now, and I’m expecting extraordinarily high EFCs at the schools I want to apply to. However, I have already learned to appreciate schools that I’ll most likely get more money at for all they have to offer, and from what I have heard, in today’s economy especially, it would be unwise to attend a school at which you would have to incur significant debt. It might seem hard now, but research more about the schools you got full rides at and learn to love them for all their pros. 
I’m sorry if this doesn’t really help, but I’m just letting you know how I would look at this.</p>
<p>I am basically in your situation and am also trying to decide right now. =
But I think Wellesley sounds pretty good; 2kish in loans isn’t too bad. It does depend on how hard it will be for your parents to get the $15k though.</p>
<p>My advice is to go for one of the free rides. You have good free choices, take advantage of them, you will not regret graduating in 4 years loan free. We all have dreams, dream cars, dream houses etc and have to face the reality of what we can afford, there is nothing wrong with wanting something that is beyond our financial reach. It would be foolish, IMO, to not seriously consider the financial impact of those those choices. Do you think you will be going to grad school? If so, then you must go with the free ride.</p>
<p>I will definitely go to grad school. Do you think Wellesley will help me get into better grad schools, though? Ithas more name recognition and the alumni network means lots of great internships.</p>
<p>lone…</p>
<p>Don’t you think that the one special full-ride will help with internships? Those kids are special. </p>
<p>I think you need to share where your free-rides are so that others can better advise you. You know that I know where they are, but that’s your info to share. :)</p>
<p>That’s a good point, mom2. I shared the schools on the previous page.</p>
<p>No, I don’t think that Wellesley is going to help you get into grad schools more than Stony Brook. Actually, in quite a few areas Stony Brook has a much, much stronger reputation because it is a research university. I’m not sure of your major, but I’d think about it this way: If your major is in one of the sciences, Stony Brook could easily be a much stronger school than Wellesley. If your major is in one of the humanities, then starting out grad school with a bunch of debt that is only likely to grow more in grad school (because humanities departments don’t generally have as much grant funding as science departments do for grad students) and then you face a job market for students with humanities doctorates that is beyond grim – I would not want that option.</p>
<p>I don’t know anything about Hunter.</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>Oh good! I missed that.</p>
<p>Ok…now that everyone knows that you’ve been selected as a Hunter Macaulay scholar, hopefully those who know some or a lot about that program can offer some insight as to…</p>
<p>campus experience</p>
<p>social life</p>
<p>internship/research possibilites</p>
<p>networking</p>
<p>etc…</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>Hey, maybe you need to start a thread only asking about the benefits of Macaulay and what people know about the school/program.</p>
<p>lonesplendor, i totally get what you are saying. 100,000 in NY is not a lot of money, I know because we are in the same boat. Most people who are nurses, policeman and firefighter are in that income range. Hardworking people, who are mandated overtime, etc. Not exactly the lap of luxury. People outside of this area really don’t get it. But I do. I think we get the bad end of the stick with Financial aid because of where we live. The cost of living in other areas are very different and anyone earning this income in middle America would be considered wealthy. With that said, you are extremely fortunate to have some options that would make college affordable. I would take that and maybe transfer to where you want to go after sophomore year. Good luck to you.</p>
<p>BTW, Wellsley is an excellent school, has a very good reputation and their Alumni network is very good, so as far as getting into grad school, it might help you.
All the schools mentioned have very different campus environments.
side note: Hiliary Clinton graduated from there.</p>