GW vs. IU-Bloomington vs. Boston U.

Colleges and Universities A-Z Indiana University - Bloomington
1

<p>I live in Indiana and I don't particularly want to go to IU but I'm open for convincing.
I don't know much about GW or Boston except that they're both good schools.
Using the collegeboard.com Compare My Aid Awards feature:</p>

<p>GW would cost 5,830 with 14% in loans.
IU would cost 7,307 with 45% in loans.
BU would cost 12,100 with 21% in loans.</p>

<p>My dad recently lost his job so we'll have even less money and I'm not looking to put a burden on my parents.</p>

<p>Any pros and cons to the three, or suggestions?</p>

2

<p>Here is a recent discussion of GW vs IU</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/indiana-university-bloomington/683548-indiana-vs-george-washington.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/indiana-university-bloomington/683548-indiana-vs-george-washington.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Just curious–does the collegeboard site include things like the cost of travel? 2 or 3 trips home a year (not including getting to/from the college) could add to the cost of GW and BU.</p>

3

<p>If you want to major in business or music, IU is the best school hands down.</p>

4

<p>I have no desire to major in music or business-or live in Bloomington really.</p>

<p>I used to the travel expenses that the college provided in the financial aid package which were around 1,200 each I think.</p>

5

<p>An additional thought here. The %age of loans is far less important than the total of the loans in my opinion, ie GW–4 year total=$40,000 (just making up numbers here), BU=$48,000, IU=$22,000.</p>

6

<p>I’m not sure I follow?
I was given 5,500 in loans from IU, 7300 from GW, and 8500 from Boston.
Which would end up with me in debt around 22,000 to IU and around 29,000 to GW for the four years, without interest.
However IU expects my family to pay around 8000 a year while GW expects only 5500, so wouldn’t this difference in loans really just even out?</p>

7

<p>Hahahaha, I definitely did not read that you were just making up numbers.</p>

8

<p>Well, you haven’t mentioned what you do plan to major in, and whether you are more interested in being in a large city (like Washington, D.C. or Boston) or whether you just want to get out of Indiana and see the world. Personally, I like to keep the loans down, so I’m thinking IU or GW, not BU–but it is your choice.</p>

<p>P.S. You can travel to/from Washington, D.C. from Bloomington, IN quite cheaply on Amtrak as well as by plane or car. There is a route that starts in Chicago, then goes to Indianapolis and then cuts through Cincinnati straight on to DC. It is handy if you need to take more luggage than they let you take on a plane, and don’t want to take a car.</p>

9

<p>I was going to major in Art History, but realistically I’ll probably end up going to law school or something of the sort.</p>

10

<p>Flatteredpeacock - it’s ok to major in Art History and still go to law school. You don’t have to major in Poli Sci!
IU has a lovely art museum although it probably can’t compare with what would be available to you throughout DC.</p>

11

<p>I have this idealistic idea of studying art history, working at a museum, opening a gallery, etc.
However I’m a perfectionist and always want to “be the best.”</p>

<p>And somewhere in my warped mind, going to law or medical school is considered the highest that you can go.</p>

<p>Which is totally ludicrous and doesn’t make much sense, but is probably what I’ll end up doing.</p>