<p>I have been accepted to multiple schools but I unfortunately do not qualify for any financial aid anywhere. My dream school is Colgate University where I was recently accepted, however in order to go there I would have to go into over 100k of debt. McGill, on the other hand, a school I dread going to for many reasons (it is simply not where I want to go at all) would leave me debt free.
Any opinions?
It sucks.</p>
<p>If you didn’t want to go to McGill, WHY did you bother applying there? I know that sounds rough but really why? McGill is a terrific school that many would LOVE to attend with absolutely NO debt. </p>
<p>If you really hate this school and can’t attend the others…take a gap year and craft a better application list a year from now.</p>
<p>I shouldnt have said hate. I know how amazing McGill is and I love certain aspects of it there are just other aspects that I’ve learned of (after applying) that would be deal breakers for me in any other situation.
I’m calling Colgate tomorrow to find out if they can give me any financial aid at all. A gap year is not an option for me 
My application list was very strong I simply don’t qualify for any money.
Thank you for your kind advice though :)</p>
<p>No matter what…no school is worth $100k in debt…no school is worth half of that in debt.</p>
<p>Besides, who would co-sign all that debt???</p>
<p>Why is a gap year not an option for you?</p>
<p>What else is on the list? Are these the only 2 options now?</p>
<p>Doesn’t Colgate only have need based aid? They can’t give you more if you don’t qualify.</p>
<p>Colgate only gives need based financial aid. If you received no money from them, than the school determined that based on your family’s income and assets, you do not have a financial need. Even if they should toss you a token amount of $$ (which I doubt), is is not coming close to debt free at Mcgill.</p>
<p>You will not be taking on 100K of debt, it will be your parents because no one is going to loan you 100K (you can borrow ~28k in stafford loans, but the rest will be on your parents).</p>
<p>How do your parents feel about the prospect of paying ~55+/year for you to attend Colgate?</p>
<p>Sybbie has honed right into what the issue is. YOU are not going to be able to take on that debt. Your parents will have to cosign if you go the route of private loans, and frankly that they are in your name is a facade. It’s the parents they will pursue if you don’t make the payments on schedule, and they are not as flexible as PLUS.</p>
<p>I have been accepted to Colby, Bucknell, Colgate, Trinity, Tulane and McGill.
Unfortunately, I received no money from any school aside from my safety (Tulane) and Bucknell (5k for a 55k tuition)
McGill is approximately 10-5k for me because I am a french citezen.
:(</p>
<p>Chloe, this is a family decision. Your parents need to sit down and discuss with you what they can pay, how it impacts them to pay more and whether it is a foolish thing or not to take out a loan to pay the differentials in cost. </p>
<p>My kids just pitched the offers that were over what we said we could pay. We let them pick themselves from what was under that threshold even if the choice was up to the limit of cost when other college were offering full ride, and no cost. How a family handles these things is up to them.</p>
<p>You should revisit exactly what constitutes a “deal breaker”. Selecting between several well respected schools the top “deal breaker” - and perhaps the only one, is cost, particularly as it relates to debt.</p>
<p>It seems to me that in terms of college selection your case is a bit of an “arranged marriage” due to citizenship. Unlike an actual marriage, this is not a lifelong commitment beyond the quality of education (which I’m presuming is not your concern). Given your financial options it’s time to fall back in love with McGill!</p>
<p>Why not go to Tulane? How much did you get there? If it was considered your safety then you must have been willing to attend.</p>
<p>I would hold judgement on Mcgill because you haven’t actually enrolled there yet. Meaning you may end up loving the school.</p>
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<p>French citizens get a price break on McGill? Why is that?</p>
<p>McGill has a separate tuition rates according to residency status:</p>
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<p>**Qu</p>