<p>I have been offered the Wells Scholarship at Indiana University (full scholarship, all four years, plus living stipend and study abroad) and I am also directly admitted to the Kelley School of Business and the Hutton Honors College at IU. However, I have also been admitted to the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. I am hoping to major in International Business and Entrepreneurship. I am conflicted between other people's expectations of me, money, geographical location, prestige, and a lot of other factors. </p>
<p>Which option would give me the most opportunity and open the most doors for me in the future? I know that Wharton would provide me with a great network, but it would also be expensive for my family.</p>
<p>Please give me some advice!</p>
<p>How much debt will you and your parents have when you graduate from Wharton??</p>
<p>We’ve gotten some generous financial aid and my parents want to pay for all of it. If we need loans, they want it to be in their name. This is another reason why the Wells seems so attractive because it wouldn’t put a financial burden on my parents.</p>
<p>Wharton will open <em>every</em> door.
If you got a generous financial aid package, really, you should go. People would kill (well, not literally) to be in your place. Getting into Wharton is <em>that</em> big.
However you should take on $5,500 allowed freshman year as your responsibility. With a Wharton degree, you’ll be able to pay back loans much more easily than most college graduates. In fact, you could get paid internships that will seriously help down the line.</p>
<p>I’ll present the counter argument.</p>
<p>Look closely at where IU graduates end up. Go to the career placement office and find out what companies recruit there. If you find major corporations in your field, then I would opt for the full ride at IU.</p>
<p>Penn has a strong preprofessional environment which is highly competitive. Nothing wrong with that if you’re of the same ilk. But you will have to fight for every opportunity. IU, on the other hand, sounds like you will have more support via the honors college and other opportunities (funded study abroad). </p>
<p>Visit both schools and decide on vibe in addition to cost. </p>
<p>That said, this is a good problem to have. congrats!</p>