Hello! So, I am now halfway through my senior year of high school, and I can feel the time crunching down for me to decide to go out of state, or stay in state. I have applied to all of the Ivy League Universities, and my counselors tell me that I should get into at least one of them (even though it is possible that I will get denied at all of them). So, I have to choose between going to one of these universities, or staying in-state and going to the University of Kentucky. Financially, I have a full-ride scholarship to UK, and I will have additional funds to support myself financially. However, I feel that if I go out-of-state, my federal pell grant funds will be absorbed (if I get a full-ride), and I will be very poor in terms of supporting myself beyond my basic needs. This is a primary concern of mine, because I will have more financial stability at UK, but a far better education at an Ivy League institution (at least, that seems apparent, to me). After college, I will have significantly better worldly connections (most likely) by attending an out of state university, and a much better out of college salary. However, I will be leaving behind the life I have known for so long, and the friends I have made. This decision for me, obviously, has many factors that pull me in each direction. Judging by what I have said here, what advice can the community here offer me?
It is pointless to discuss a comparison until you know where you’re admitted. You may get into all of the Ivies or none of them.
Have you applied anywhere else? The Ivies are long odds even for the very best candidates. If you’re perfectly content to attend Kentucky, you may not need to apply anywhere else. If you’re unhappy with that as your only option if the Ivies don’t work out, you should look into applying to other colleges where you can get good financial and/or merit aid. In your home state, Centre offers some very nice full ride scholarships.