<p>Im having a difficult time deciding where to matriculate. I know, I'm going right down to the wire. I was accepted to Brown, Emory, and UF (Honors). UF is basically free for me to attend, yet it's a big public school. Emory didn't offer much financial aid, but I received some merit aid. It seems like a pretty good school. Brown offered me basically nothing, it is very expensive to attend...but it's an ivy league, which is hard to resist. Any suggestions? I am very undecided as to my major; I will probably pursue something in the sciences?</p>
<p>Can your family pay for Brown without anyone having to take on any debt? Some families do have big college funds available for their children, and are happy to be able to pay for it all. If that is your case, it is OK to attend Brown. </p>
<p>If Brown would leave you with more than the equivalent of the Stafford Loans in debt for each year, then what about Emory’s aid package? Does that get you down to a loan-free range that your family can cover without too much pain? Then it would be OK to attend Emory.</p>
<p>If the truth is that you and your family would be struggling to pay for either of those, and that you’d graduate with more than the Stafford loans waiting to be paid back. then the honors program at UF is your best bet. In the end, it really does come down to the money for most families. Run your numbers through this handy tool, and see what you and your parents think: [FinAid</a> | Calculators | Award Letter Comparison Tool](<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Award Letter Requirements - Finaid)</p>
<p>Over the years many students have faced this type of decision. curmudgeon’s daughter turned down Yale for a full-ride, end ended up at Yale for med school later on. You can run a search for curmudgeon’s posts, and read all about it. You also can read through this thread and PM the original author who is still active here at CC to learn more about that person’s decision-making process: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/905843-top-student-3rd-tier-school-four-years-later.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/905843-top-student-3rd-tier-school-four-years-later.html</a></p>
<p>Wishing you all the best, wherever you end up!</p>
<p>Your parents clearly have ubstantial income/assets if Brown gave you no aid. Will they pay or are you talking loans?</p>
<p>My kids faced I liar choices. E could afford o send them with just a bit of discomfort, do they went to the top school.</p>
<p>Happymom, I’m not sure why you would think an anecdote helps. Most students, no matter where they went, don’t end up at Yale med school.</p>
<p>When people reference curmudgeon’s daughter’s choice here, they almost always include the information about where she ended up for med school. I expect it is because a big part of the whole prestige vs. affordability discussion does have to do with whether opting for affordability will mean that X is impossible to achieve. Not everyone can get do X - that is true. However it is encouraging to know that choosing a more affordable college or university does not automatically make X unattainable.</p>
<p>This is really a discussion about what your family can afford and what they value, per the other posters. No one here can answer that for you. If your question is whether going deeply into debt for Emory or Brown is a good idea, the quick answer is ‘no.’</p>