<p>So I was accepted to Georgetown, Notre Dame, BC, Tufts, and Vanderbilt (all top choices)</p>
<p>Then I got my financial aid info. :-. </p>
<p>Basically, Gtown and ND gave the best packages, but it would still put a HUGE strain on my family to go to either. They would have to take from their retirement funds and all. Basically, we can barely do it.</p>
<p>Should I just take my full ride to Loyola College in Maryland or my rull ride to Rutgers? Save my parents some financial strain?</p>
<p>Or is Gtown or ND revered enough in the post-college world that I would be able to compensate for my debt? If so, which should I go to? Gtown or ND?</p>
<p>Have you visited Loyola and Rutgers? Can you see yourself at either place?</p>
<p>If the strain on your family will be that bad, you won't enjoy your time at G'town or ND and you'll be stressed.</p>
<p>Perhaps the full ride would give you the opportunity to afford grad school. If you do really well at either of those schools and graduate at the top of your class you should have job opportunities.</p>
<p>Could you work and take out some (reasonable) loans to help relieve the strain, or are you counting that as part of the just-barely-able-to-make-it-work? An excellent/dream type school is worth some (again, reasonable) sacrifice--with a job and a pretty reasonable loan, you personally could contribute $10,000/yr to your college education ($3-$4k work + $6-$7k loan). Scholarships and a little bit bigger loan could get you even closer. </p>
<p>If you feel that your finaid packages are unfair, consider sending in an appeal. </p>
<p>To actually answer your question, though, if going to a Georgetown or ND will really put an extreme financial strain on your family, I think that there is nothing wrong with attending a solid, well-reputed school like Rutgers (assuming you would be reasonably happy there) for free, saving everyone a headache, and having more money for little extras/to start your life with. However, I am a strong believer that if you can reasonably swing that dream school education, you should go for it. But that's just me and my family--that is most certainly not a rule or a judgement on those who disagree.</p>
<p>No matter where you go to college, If you have the ability to succeed, you will. People on this board make too big of a deal out of where you go. They act as If you don't get into a top tier school, you are destined to living under a bridge your whole life.</p>
<p>If you got into those schools, you are just as capable as any of the students that will attend those schools. If you have the potential, you will succeed so long as you work hard. I always like to use the example of how more CEO's have come from the University of Wisconsin than ANY of the Ivy League Schools. </p>
<p>Having a huge financial strain on you will ruin your college experience, even if its at your top choice school. Being thousands upon thousands of dollars in debt is not a good thing. Take the full ride, and enjoy life without having to pay a couple of hundred dollars a month on student loans.</p>
<p>i would personally take out the loans for georgetown. imo the burden can be worth it in the long run b/c of alumni networks and universal respect of a degree from those schools.</p>
<p>That's what I was thinking. I mean, we wouldn't lose our house. Our savings would just be diminished a bit, and I'm thinking I can help reimburse them later in life. According to my mom, she "thinks we can do it." So, to me, it sounds like it's possible, but with a struggle. Is it worth it?</p>
<p>"gton and nd are not Harvard/Stanford/Duke so I'd say take the money"</p>
<p>What is this supposed to mean?</p>
<p>Anyway, I'm making the same sort of decision. My parents are also quite supportive. I'd go through with it. We only live once so what the heck...</p>
<p>
[quote]
i would personally take out the loans for georgetown. imo the burden can be worth it in the long run b/c of alumni networks and universal respect of a degree from those schools.
[/quote]
Character and personal qualities are more important than where you went to college in the long run... To OP: if you should go to GT or ND, get a summer job to ease the burden on your family</p>
<p>"gton and nd are not Harvard/Stanford/Duke so I'd say take the money"</p>
<p>I love how you throw Duke in there. No Gtown and ND aren't Harvard or Standford but its just a slight tier below. Big deal, people get great jobs from both schools and the alumni network for those schools is massive anyway.</p>
<p>I'd say take the loans unless you feel that it would be a HUGE financial burden. Are you an only child?</p>
<p>If your parents are not close to retirement age, then go for one of your top choices (personally, I'd go for Notre Dame) only if you are prepared to repay your parents to restore their retirement savings. As an only child, the burden of supporting them should their retirement savings be insufficient will fall on you in any event, so it's in your best interest to get them back on track financially. If that will be too much financial burden on you, then take the free ride at Loyola or Rutgers.</p>
<p>rutgers may not be so bad. the full ride makes it look pretty darn good. besides, i'd say that even though it's not really that prestigious, it's a big state school, so your alumni network would be pretty strong just based on numbers. that could help you get a job after graduation.</p>
<p>There has been discussion of similar situations over on the Parents board, where several people have pointed out that it may make sense to take your career plans into account when making decisions like this.</p>
<p>If you aspire to a relatively low-paying career, like teaching or some sort of public service or something in the fine arts, it might be very difficult to pay off loans or reimburse your parents. On the other hand, if you are likely to end up in a high-paying career, loans and obligations are less of a burden. It's worth thinking about.</p>
<p>Due partly to its proximity to NYC, Rutgers places well on Wall Street, etc. Do well at RU and you will have a respected degree. Out west many think RU is some exclusive private school--or they did until the football team got good.</p>