<p>OK, so here’s my dilema. As of this morning, I was dead set on going to Brown. The only other college to give me better financial aid was Washington and Lee and I was willing to end up with 40k+ in debt at graduation if the alternative was a small, southern liberal arts school in the mountains of virginia. But today I got my financial aid package from emory and it would cost me 5K a year to go to emory. I realize Brown is a better, more reputable school but Brown would cost me 18K a year and money is definately a concern (my mom’s disabled and my dad’s a teacher!). Is Brown worth it or should I go with the money?</p>
<p>Talk to the financial aid office! From what I've heard, they're pretty flexible. Explain the situation, show them other FA offers, and they might revise your offer.</p>
<p>Definitely call FinAid before you make any decisions.</p>
<p>I admire that you are thinking of the financial pressure on your parents.</p>
<p>How much weight do you think Brown will give to Emory's FA package. I'll definately try it. Do you think it'll be ok to just bring the information up with me when I go to ADOCH/TWW? Also, I got the heinz scholarhip thing at W&L (which is a full scholarship along with paid internships during summers and a job after graduation with the Heinz corp.) so should I show the finaid office that information as well? I'm SO CONFUSED!</p>
<p>Normally Brown would not consider Emory's FA package. I.e., they only match Ivies, MS (maybe C and HM??) I think that you need to emphasize your family situation. Quantify the extra expenses caused by your mom's handicap if you can or some such.</p>
<p>Yes, they won't match merit aid, but sometimes the calculation of need has overlooked things and can be tweaked.</p>
<p>They may not mathc it, but they might modify it to make it better.</p>
<p>if 40k is your total debt from college, it is significant and worth thinking about but definitely not that bad...</p>