Help me choose

<p>Ok, I know I'm not as amazing as some of you CC-goers, but I need advice anyway so I am hoping some of you can help me out.</p>

<p>I already know what my first choice university is. It's in Scotland, it's 37k a year (4 yrs), and it's good. However, the offer is conditional and there is a good chance I won't get the scores I need on some upcoming tests to meet the conditions of the offer.</p>

<p>So now, I am seriously considering what to do if that fails.</p>

<p>My choices are:
a) University of East Anglia (UEA) in England for a degree in International Development. It's a 3-year course, and I think I would really enjoy it. It would cost about 30k a year for me to attend, which means, disregarded outside influence for a minute, I could graduate with 90k in debt, and the type of career that would come from this degree is not likely to pay well. I foresee myself living in poverty until I'm 40. Possibly even in poverty in a third world country, trying to save lives. Fulfilling work, but is it worth the cost?</p>

<p>b) University of Maryland at College Park - 35k a year for 4 years because I'm out-of-state. I could potentially graduate with 140k in debt, but the upside is that it's a liberal-arts education, UMD is good for a state school, and I can choose my major in 2-3 years. Gives me time to reconsider the degrees I've tied myself into for UEA and the Scottish university.</p>

<p>c) SUNY Albany - Yeah, it's crap. Everyone I know who goes there hates it. I know I would hate it. But hell, it's about 10-15k a year for me and if it's really that bad, I could transfer. Perhaps even to a better school than those on my list right now.</p>

<p>d) SUNY New Paltz - also crap, not even as good as Albany. But it's also cheap, I could transfer, and I think the location is better than Albany's.</p>

<p>e) Sign up to stay on Binghamton's waitlist and go there if I end up getting a spot.</p>

<p>So, what say you lot?</p>

<p>What about another SUNY like Geneseo or Stony Brook?</p>

<p>Get on Binghamton's waitlist. If that doesn't work out, go to New Paltz or Albany. I happen to be from Schenectady, and don't like that part of the country, so no one could pay me to go to Albany, but that's just me.</p>

<p>Another option would be to take a year off, do something productive, and reapply in a way that gives you more options that you'd love and could afford.</p>

<p>I think it would be a mistake to go to go $90 k in debto for UEA, which most people in the US have never heard of. I also think it would be a mistake to go to $140k in debt for U Maryland.</p>