<p>Accepted to both Cornell University (CAS) and Santa Clara University (Business). No aid at Cornell, full merit aid at Santa Clara. Thoughts?</p>
<p>I’m in a similar situation with USC (Marshall) and Santa Clara. No aid vs full merit aid, would love to hear some people’s opinions.</p>
<p>can you afford it? if so its worth it…</p>
<p>What do you mean by “full aid”?</p>
<p>Did Santa Clara cover meet your need based on the FAFSA EFC?</p>
<p>Or did Santa Clara throw a huge scholarship at you making your cost much less than your EFC?</p>
<p>Compare your real cost for these two places. Then think about what else you might prefer to spend that kind of money on.</p>
<p>Santa Clara gave me a 45k merit scholarship. We have an EFC greater than the cost of both schools. Technically, I can afford Cornell, but I’d have to supplement parent contributions with loans…lots of private loans…</p>
<p>If you have to take out “lots of private loans” then you can’t afford Cornell.</p>
<p>Most parents here would advise that you keep your total loans to no more than the maximum for the Stafford Loans. Anyone who is eligible to file the FAFSA qualifies for the Staffords. Private loans will require a co-signer. Are your parents up for that? Sit down with them and find out just exactly how much they are willing and able to pay. It may be worth it to you to take out the maximum Staffords, hold down a summer job and another one during the school year, and borrow a bit more to meet the COA at Cornell. Take a look at what Cornell includes in the COA, some figures you have more control over (housing, meals, books, travel) than others (tuition and fees).</p>
<p>If the truth is that your parents aren’t able and willing to pay anywhere near as much as Cornell thinks they can, you may be best off to take the offer from Santa Clara. It is a very fine institution, has a lovely campus, and the weather is waaaaaaaay better than in Ithaca.</p>
<p>Here is a calculator that might help you evaluate the financial (and some non-financial) criteria: [FinAid</a> | Calculators | Advanced Award Letter Comparison Tool](<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid) Try running all of your numbers, and see what you think.</p>
<p>Wishing you all the best!</p>
<p>Go to Santa Clara. If you can’t afford Cornell, trust me you can’t afford it. It’s not worth leaving school with a big debt or even any debt!</p>
<p>I have a similar problem. I have a full ride scholarship plus $3000 at University of Minn, Twin Cities and only a half tuition scholarship at Rice University. I am planning to major in philosophy and english. Then on to law school - maybe a phd in philosophy afther that. My parents can pay for Rice but don’t think it is worth it. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>math, UMinn is minus 12K for 4/yrs vs Rice at (1/2 Tuition + R&B)*4 = something like 120K at least. So is rice worth 132K more? You’re seriously questioning this?</p>
<p>132k would cover a lot of the costs of law school. Go to UMinn.</p>
<p>*Technically, I can afford Cornell, but I’d have to supplement parent contributions with loans…lots of private loans… *</p>
<p>Technically, you CAN’T afford Cornell.</p>