So here is my situation. I visited Iowa and I realy liked it. The campus was nice, academics are good, the people seemed nice, the city was cool and everything just seemed “right” in a sense. I was even offered a good financial aid package from them where I would only have about 21k in loan debt after graduation.
Now, I really liked Iowa, but I also got into UIUC, a place I did not expect to get into. I got an even better aid deal from UIUC where I would have to take out about 13k or less over 4 years there. The problem I have though is UIUC was just kind of odd to me. I really had no feelings for or against the school on my visit to the school. I did not like it, but did not hate it either. On top of this, I was rejected for Biology, but admitted to as an undeclared student who can transfer after sophmore year, which could possibly make me have to spend even longer at this school to get a dgree I could have gotten in 4 years at Iowa (and some of the aid programs end after 4 years…which means in the long run I might end up taking out a lot of loans anyways).
I really want to go to Iowa for that is the place I really liked the most, but there is a nagging part of me that says it is foolish to turn down UIUC just because I always hear about how great it is academically and due to the fact that I was offered so much money from a school that people take out huge debts just to go to.
Forogt to mention I am instate for Illinois.
And to sum up my question: would it be a bad idea to go with the place I enjoyed more but was pricier (although manageable), or take the steal deal with UIUC?
If you can afford it (and it looks like it works well since the debt is < the Stafford limit) then pick the one you like. A $2K difference per year is not worth quibbling over.
I think your concern about a 5th year at UIUC is very valid, especially since you were not admitted to the major. 21k in debt after 4 years is not overly burdensome. I think in this case, you can pick the school you like.
Go to UIUC…less travel costs as well.
@mom2collegekids I actually live much closer to Uiowa than UIUC as I live on the border of Iowa and Illinois on the Illinois side. Its like 50 minutes from me. What is your opinion on the 5th or 6th year factor? I’ve heard from students admitted under my circumstances often do take 5 to 6 years to complete the major they decide they want to transfer to, Especially since the Bio major at UIUC often takes 5 years to finish anyways.
Did you receive good aid from other in-state IL programs? Maybe you can take coursework summers near home to keep your degree to four calendar years.
@IIEarthII - please keep in mind that if your UIUC aid package contained a MAP Grant, that there is a possibility it might not be funded due to the budget mess in Springfield. I do not know how UIUC is handling those but I know many of the other 2nd tier IL schools can no longer afford to pay that for the student and hope IL comes through with the cash to reimburse. I would remove that from the equation and see where that puts you.
@ILMom13579 yeah that is honestly my biggest problem with going to an illinois school. I am counting that in my aid, but I talked to a financial aid officer, and received an email from the chancellor and they said that the school will cover the MAP grants if the Springfield crisis isn’t resolved. They also said though that after graduation if the MAP grant is discontinued they MAY have to convert all the aid I received from MAP grants to loans, so that could potentally make me even more in debt going here than Iowa.
I applied to Illinois State as well but they don’t release aid until April so I won’t know about them, but I can imagine that I might get decent aid from them. I still have time to apply to the Southern Illinois system but I do not know how they are handling our financial crisis.
For the small difference per year, and since you would have a reasonable amount of debt at the end of 4 years in either case, I would go with the school you like. Frankly, I think UIUC is somewhat riding on reputation at this point, and the state is a hot mess.
Note that UIUC fixed the tuition rate for the first 4 years. If you do need a fifth year, the cost will jump up. With just a $2k difference per year, I think you should pick the school you like more.
Run the numbers again carefully. Are there any costs (other than travel) that will work out more favorably in Iowa City than in Urbana-Champaign? Are there any cuts you are willing to make in your lifestyle in order to attend U of IA?
$2,000 year more to be able to start out with the major you want, and to be more likely to finish on time may be worth the investment.