<p>So my college choices have come down to Emory vs my state school. At the state school, everything would be covered for four years and I would actually be getting paid in effect because of outside scholarships. At Emory, I would have to go about 15k in debt. I want to go into finance after I graduate. My state school just doesn't have a great record of placement into good jobs in this area so I would rather not risk it. Is the prestige of Emory's b school worth the debt I would incur as opposed to going to my state school?</p>
<p>$15k in debt for four years at emory? What was the question???</p>
<p>It depends on your public institution. Are we talking UGa or GT? Those are pretty good schools. Instead of talking about debt, can you share with us the total cost of attendance over a four year period at both schools? I assume attending the public would mean getting paid rather than paying, but perhaps you can share how much you would be getting paid. As for Emory, what would be the total cost of attendance?</p>
<p>At another point you were pre-med. Is that no longer so?</p>
<p>State school is Alabama. I’m going to take te pre-med classes, yes but med school isn’t hat I really want to do after college at this point.</p>
<p>Cost of attendance at Emory comes out to about 15k in debt after 4 years for me. </p>
<p>At Bama I would be getting about 4500 a year. </p>
<p>Question is whether the prestige, placement opps, are worth going into debt?</p>
<p>M2CK’s kids are all Alabama graduates, who’ve all gone onto their desired grad school/job. </p>
<p>That being said, Emory’s b-school is one of its strongest departments, and the vast majority of Goizueta graduates come out with excellent, well paying jobs. There is a very well worn path from Goizueta to NY finance firms, and the b-school is extremely well connected with Atlanta area businesses (the fastest growing metropolitan area in the US).</p>
<p>I think 15k debt isn’t too bad for Emory, I’d go with Emory.</p>
<p>YourPlace, I did not ask about how much debt you would graduate with if you attended Emory, I asked how much will it cost you to attend Emory (4 years total cost). Alabama will PAY YOU $18k over 4 years.</p>
<p>It’s about 35k a year, most of which my parents are covering.</p>
<p>That’s what I thought YourPlace. Not only to you graduate with a small debt, but your parents will gave to pay $120k for your to attend Emory while attending Alabama would cost your parents nothing and would earn you $18k. Altogether, Alabama is $150k cheaper than Emory. The question you need to ask yourself; is Emory worth paying that much for? Only you can answer that.</p>
<p>What are your parents saying? Are they fine with paying most of the $35k per year that’s the “family contribution”? If so, then go where you want. </p>
<p>Really talk to your parents about this issue. If they have the money ready to go (or at least some/most of it in college savings), then attending Emory may be a great choice. However, if there’s a decent chance that after a year or two of paying for Emory that your parents find that they can’t keep paying, then really consider your options.</p>
<p>Why are you taking the premed prereqs if you don’t want to go to med school? What is your career goal?</p>
<p>You’re smart. Alabama isn’t going to hold you back.</p>
<p>I would tell your parents you’ll go to Alabama if they then use that money later on you for potential graduate education or a down payment on a first home.</p>
<p>But, it’s up to your parents if they’re willing to pay the extra for Emory.</p>
<p>@Yourplace
I agree with UCBChemEGrad. Rolling Tide and War Eagles are not only fun to watch but are also good schools. You get value for your money [? Scholarship].</p>
<p>Having said that I am preferential to big elephants than big cats… :)</p>
<p>Roll Tide.</p>
<p>What your parents would save if you choose Alabama would pay a significant portion of the possible med school tuition, and all the tuition at many good MBA or M Finance programs. Just something to think about.</p>
<p>You are soon to be an adult, if you are not already. Here’s an idea:</p>
<p>Your parents are willing to pay $120k, more or less, for you to attend Emory. Would they be willing to put that amount of money, over four years, into YOUR bank, awaiting your use after college? Or even half that amount, $60k?</p>
<p>Even if at $60k, plus the $18k you will earn at Alabama, you’d have $78,000 in the bank when you graduate… vs. 15k in debt at Emory, so the difference to you would be $93,000. You’re going to concentrate in business… so figure out how much more you’d need to earn out of Emory, vs. out of Bama, to bank $93,000 AFTER TAX. Then figure the odds you’d get a job out of Emory that covers that delta over a 5 year period. I say 5 year b/c after 5 years in a profession, it is your own ability and track record that matters in terms of lucrative job promotions, and nobody cares where you went to college. This reality is sometimes true for perhaps the top 10 schools in the country, but Emory is not among that group. In my view Emory and a Flagship State School Honors Program are not different in terms of prestige.</p>
<p>Doesn’t Alabama have an Honors track? If so, what is placement into finance firms look like out of the Honors program?</p>
<p>If your parents aren’t willing to put all or some of the money that would have gone to Emory in your bank account to start you off in life with a healthy cushion, then I’d pick Emory. $15k is nothing, but $93,000 is really something. If the $93,000 isn’t there, then Alabama doesn’t seem to have a lot to offer.</p>
<p>Lastly, the social aspect. Are you into big time SEC sports/football? You only do college once, and if that culture is attractive to you, Alabama makes more sense. If it doesn’t, then it doesn’t.</p>
<p>Hey guys, first off Roll Tide to all of y’all. Thanks for the help, I’ve been talking to my parents and we have a good general idea of where I’m going. Once agin thanks for all y’all’s help!</p>