<p>I am certainly going to call Yale tomorrow and raise the points that we discussed. Thanks!</p>
<p>I've decided that if Yale cannot match Stanford's aid, I will most likely be going to Stanford.</p>
<p>Alright, I just called the Yale financial aid office, and told them my situation. The guy said that Yale can't change the financial aid package, because the $4000 work study is the same across the board for everyone with a 0 EFC. I asked about why the estimated personal expenses is less at Yale but more at Stanford, even though it should be the opposite, and he said they use the same formula for all students. I e-mailed them with a more lengthy explanation just now, so I hope that will help. Any advice from here?</p>
<p>I'm thinking at this point that it is the best idea to just follow the money because its true that I really don't know where I'll have the better experience, and because I do plan to live in California after college. But I'd hate to pass up Yale. It's only $2750 more per year to attend Yale, which is $11,000 more four years. That may not sound like much to most of you guys, but $2750 a year is a fortune to my family. In my situation, do you think its worth giving up Yale for Stanford for that amount of money?</p>
<p>Did Yale Fin Aid say how easy it is to make that $4000 per year? Do they do the job placement for you?</p>
<p>They are both great schools, so you win whatever you choose.</p>
<p>We did some calculations on the previous page and I believe it is very difficult if not impossible to earn that much in a year.</p>
<p>No Pag, it is not that much money, whether it is worth it or not is only up to you, because both are wonderful schools.
The question for you is, how much in loans, if any is already rolled into the 2 packages, AND, what expenses for either school have been omitted or underestimated.</p>
<p>You need a realistic estimate of what YOUR personal expenses will actually be to attend each school. Particularly travel, entertainment, and clothing, because I think you can assume that books and supplies will be relatively similar.</p>
<p>It sounds as if your heart is at Yale, and I honestly don't think $11000 over 4 years should be a make or break, if that truly is the only financial difference. Are you needed at home? Can you earn money over the summer, or do you need to contribute to the family's livelihood? You might well be able to save up some of that $4000, plus a cushion for overage expenses. I know many people for whom coming up with $4000 for their entire community college tuition is a real struggle, so believe me, I understand what you are saying. There are ways to make it work - 2 jobs in the summer, lots of thrift store and yard sale shopping, squeezing every dollar out of your book budget, etc, but it won't be easy. Remember though, some of that sacrifice will take place at either school.
Good luck to you.</p>
<p>Does the $11k include transportation home a couple of times a year? Yale must have a great work study hourly wage to make $4k in 8 months. Every school our D looked at said 7-10 a week for a freshman work study job was the max they could work and said she would max out at $1700 for the school year.
If Yale is truly THE one, $11,000 is not that huge of a price to pay, in my opinion.</p>
<p>The problem is that I don't if Yale is the one school I have to be at. I like
Stanford too, but maybe not as much as Yale. That's why I'm following the money at this point. </p>
<p>Travel expenses are included in there, but I think they underestimated it also, so I would be even more in debt. </p>
<p>I was thinking it over, and I really believe that I want to stay in the Bay Area California after I graduate and live in CA. Perhaps that is reason enough to stay in CA? Right now, I can just fantasize about graduating from Stanford with a degree in the sciences or engineering and getting a cushy job at a company in Silicon Valley and living out my life that way. I know it probably won't be like that, but I can't imagine what my life would be like after Yale at all.</p>
<p>Sounds like you are sliding over to the Stanford side :)</p>
<p>Just another thought to throw into the mix: if you wake up in the next day or two feeling that Yale is The One, maybe try for a deferred admission, work your tail off for a year and save every penny, and go to Yale.</p>
<p>I'd definitely ask more about work-study jobs, what's available and what they pay. I got better grades as soon as I started working 10 hours a week. I think that amount of time is pretty doable on top of a normal academic schedule.</p>
<p>You can safely end up with a debt of $20K kiddo--with an English degree nevermind a science degree. If you're heading to Silicon Valley after graduation--you could probably take on more. My sister does the hiring for a couple of hot Silicon Valley start-ups and they are killing themselves trying to find talented kids. You've got a Stanford or Ivy League degree? Woo doggie. Their checkbooks are open.</p>
<p>I know a AI major who took a Sun Microsystems internship for a year--and he made $80K that year--the year before he graduated. He also had a great time.</p>
<p>Don't turn down Yale for $20k debt over 4 years. That's not smart. If you had a savvy business family, they would tell you that you CAN manage that financial risk. Both of these choices are great. Take tomorrow and imagine you are going to Stanford. Imagine all the feelings you will ahve with that decision.</p>
<p>Then take the next day and imagine you are going to Yale. Which day do you like better?</p>
<p>You can work your tail off during the summers--you can try to find high paying jobs in the summer. You can be an RA one year at Yale and earn $10K. There are heaps of little things you can do to whittle down that debt. You don't have to drown yourself with work-study. PM tlaktan for suggestions. </p>
<p>$20K and a Yale degree = a very very small amount of money--and you will NEVER think about that money when you are my age. NEVER. I promise. A nrighbor gave me that advice when I decided to accept a private university spot off the waitlist in August--and that advice changed my life.</p>
<p>Life in Silicon Valley is all about risk. Managing risk. For one thing, all the real estate costs $1M, LOL. You are worried about $20K when your first house is going to cost you $500K !!! Managin a $20K loan will be good practice for you.</p>
<p>Yale is a very manageable risk for you at the moment.</p>
<p>You do sound as if you are sliding to the Stanford side!
I don't think that it is entirely impossible to come up with the money, even if it is impossible to earn it all as work study. As a parent, I'd be concerned about working too much, particularly a first semester freshman. A lot depends on the nature of the work. My campus jobs were not demanding, although I was not able to do a lot of studying as you would in a library or manning some other info post. But, my campus jobs were not available to first years (I was a lab assistant and a test proctor/TA).</p>
<p>This may be a job for the infamous coin toss, with the addition of a little more info about the campus jobs.</p>
<p>Does yale have one of those ask a student lines, where you can get info from current students? You might even want to talk with the office that handles the hiring (it may be separate from or a division of FA), they might give you a realistic picture of what job you will get and how much you will make.</p>
<p>"I actually felt more at home with the people at Yale."</p>
<p>That stood out to me as a meaningful insight. My bias is for Yale since you're from California and I'm of the opinion (having stayed in state myself for college) that going (far) away to college is a big part of the college experience. But, of course, you won't regret your decision after you make it and will be happy at either place.</p>
<p>I think Stanford is your comfort zone. Do you know many people from HS attending there? You won't be able to go home as often if you go to Yale.</p>
<p>The money difference is minimal. My S made more than that over a summer. Cheers' suggestions are good; a friend worked as an RA or TA and that made that college affordable.</p>
<p>I think you need to sit quietly and think thru what feels right to you. Look at the departments, the course offerings.</p>
<p>Stanford may be a comfort zone - but I don't think it will be. You will be AWAY at college, even if you are only 45 minutes from home - and many of the students at Stanford will be from other states and countries. It will still be a stretch academically and socially. Back to the workstudy - $4000 is a LOT!!! My son has $1800 in work/study - that's a good amount. Even at $11.00 an hour, $4000 is not doable, IMHO!</p>
<p>I'm the first person to get into Stanford in the last 5 years or so at my high school, so it's not like alot of people there are from my HS or anything. Plus, I've only been to Stanford once in my life, for admit weekend, so it would be new to me. It just seems to me that since I'm totally torn between the schools, and like both almost equally, it seemed that the financial aid should determine the schools. Yale is just attractive to me because it's a place I never could have ever imagined myself going to (Stanford in a way too, but its close by so there was always a small possibility). </p>
<p>I'm looking for a summer job now, so do you guys have any tips on where and how to look for good paying jobs to start earning money for college?</p>
<p>BTW, cheers, was that comment in your first paragraph in post #31 supposed to be sarcastic?</p>
<p>Plus, since I'm still undecided on what I'm going to major in, what school would be better to explore my options? I know Stanford has top ranked programs and departments across the board, while Yale is lacking in some areas.</p>
<p>pagEL60 -- as far as being undecided and deciding options -- look at the basic core or distribution requirements for each school, to find out what courses all freshmen must take, and what range of courses they require of all students. Also, when does each expect you to declare a major. That may give you some insight as to which, if either, is better for an undecided student -- you should be aiming for a college that encourages all its undergrads to explore widely.</p>
<p>No--that was the straight up truth. A science degree will increase your salary prospects significantly but even with an English degree you can carry $20K of debt nevermind $11K</p>
<p>Look on craigslist for jobs. Type in $14 per hour in the search category and see what comes up. Here's one:</p>
<p>Here's another fullt ime position but you might be able to wrangle an ongoing summer job</p>
<p>Or type in summer job in the biomed section and get a few hits. Think outside of the box--you may be able to earn $14 per hour AND put a great experience on your CV. My son's first paying job was as a staffer on Capital Hill--as a sophomore.</p>
<p>Don't worry about being a rising freshman--they won't care--not with those two schools.</p>
<p>What are your talents? What is your passion? Type that in the search box on craigslist and see what hits. My sister uses craigslist for all their hiring. You are looking for a job in the right market and the right time.</p>
<p>Don't work for less than $12 per hour--promise me that. They can afford to pay you $14 so start out asking for $15 and let them work you backwards. Along with risk management--negotiating is a key skill for Silicon Valley residents.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Be sure to mention you are going to Stanford or Yale next year.</p>
<p>Once you get to where you're going -- whichever one you decide -- you will be struck by how perfect it is for you and you'll wonder how you ever could have wondered.</p>
<p>That's not to say that you should just toss a coin; only that there is no wrong decision.</p>
<p>Yale offered to reimburse me $800 for my start-up costs such as winter clothing and stuff for my room. Its better than nothing, but Stanford is still $2,000 cheaper the first year.</p>
<p>Also, I heard Yale's self-help and student contribution goes up 3-5% each year, while Stanford's student contribution and self-help stays the same all four years as long as your family's income stays the same. Is this true for each respective school? That would mean Stanford's cost would stay the same to me, while Yale would go up each year.</p>