<p>I am an Arizona resident and I am really worried about college! I initially thought that I was destined for the Lower-Ivys and Top Schools, but seeing that I do not qualify for any Fin-aid, the 220K tuition for those schools sound pretty intimidating. </p>
<p>I live 30 minutes away from ASU, and I am pretty sure I can get into Barrett Honors College (BHC), (3.9uw/2200/Decent stats). I have the money for the top schools, but it is my choice on how I want to spend it.</p>
<p>Should I spend all of my college fund money and go to a school like UChicago or Cornell.... OR bank that money for myself, buy an apartment, a decent car, and go to BHC w/ barely any tuition and fees graduating with a 200k start.</p>
<p>(P.S I want to go to top notch schools like Harvard and Yale and PhD in Economics.)</p>
<p>Apply widely and weigh the choices in April. There is a reason many line up at top schools happy to pay. Yet, your state school might do just fine. I’m a parent who chose to save and wants my kids to attend great schools with great peer groups. I think the $200k plus is a good investment but YMMV.</p>
<p>If I were you, I would choose a great state school for a great undergrad education and then to to Harvard for Ph.D. The last degree counts more when start looking for a job.</p>
<p>I don’t see these as your only two alternatives. If you have good stats, you can be competitive for merit scholarships at some other public and/or private schools. You have time to look around and see what suits you, then maybe you will only spend part of the fund for undergrad.</p>