<p>About $160,000 for an undergrad school? Ever wonder if it’s really worth it? Especially if you decide to go to grad school? $1/4 million debt isn’t something I’d look foward to. How do you guys plan on handling the money issue? When it comes down to it, I think if you have grad school aspirations, an expensive undergrad school just isn’t worth it. I actually talked to one of my teachers about this but he didn’t help me the least bit.</p>
<p>I agree with you. I think when you are done with UG, you will look back and see that the debt wouldn't have been worth it (or wasn't). Sometimes you have a goal or standard, and working towards that is killing you, but then you realize it is not worth it, you let it go, and your life is all that much better. This is how I feel at least. If you can manage going to an expensive school, and/or it is worth it for YOU, then all the more power to ya.</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply.</p>
<p>So have you applied to Brown and already made the decision to pass it up even upon acceptance? I think that's the biggest problem for me. You only go to college once (if you're smart) and grad school is a blank and a half. I guess if you pass it up you could always keep the acceptance letter and have it to your credit.</p>
<p>I haven't applied to Brown, but a few LACs in CA that are really expensive. I'm actually hoping on good finaid because I have an extremeley low EFC. The aid is going to determine where I go more than a lot of other things. I'm not in a situation to choose a more expensive route without HUGE debt, and I have seen people around me sinking in debt. This is why I don't think it's worth it, four years at one college instead of another can keep you in debt much longer than the time you spend in college in the first place. ->my take on things :)</p>
<p>Wasn't it in Good WillHunting that he said something the lines of, "One day you will realize that you paid 160K for an education that you could have received at the local library for $1.50 in late fees" .... Although my late fees might just be close to 160k...... haha</p>
<p>You are raising the perrenial question of public vs private university education. It is, indeed, questionable whether having a large debt is worth it, especially in light of some recent statistics and articles that indicate that those getting a public eduation do as well economically as those who went to a top private school. However, I will give you my take for whatever it's worth.</p>
<p>To me our most important asset is our mind. We waste all sorts of money on frivialities but forget about our top asset. Anything that gives us the best education, and that includes mental activities, is worth it-period!</p>
<p>Moreover, I feel that Brown is a better value than that of most other private universities. Why? The reason is that Brown,unlike most of their counterparts, has no core classes. You get to structure your own education. Thus,if you want to double or even triple major, you can. Other schools make you pay for courses that many kids arguably don't want and, in some cases, don't need. Thus, with Brown, you are maximizing your education for your needs.</p>
<p>Check average salaries after graduation for Ivy-legue schools, and Ivy+.
You will have many to pay back the loans. Yet, there is a need-based financial aid, which makes the loan smaller.</p>
<p>But folks, there is also another perspective to look at. Sometimes you have to treat your education like it is the last one you may ever recieve. What I'm saying is, what happens if after you finish your undegraduate degree and you end up "unexpectingly" having children or you are just not able to go to graduate school due to personal obligations, etc.. Then, you would have wished that you received an IVY/top-tiered undergrad degree.
I am just speaking from my opinion, but sometimes you have to treat it like a "worst-case scenario". If you are unable to go to graduate school later on, attending a better institution as an undergrad would go a lot further...
I don't know. All I know from being in my 30's is that sometimes life doesn't pan out the way you want it. I would advise you to get the BEST, when you can and while you can, that's all...</p>
<p>Some people spend money on trips to Vegas, or new BMWs, or swimming pools. I choose to spend it on education. I realize my education will cost more than any of the aforementioned things, but honestly, I think it will be worth it. The experience will be worth it. You can get a good education anywhere, state schools, privates, even CCs, but you go to expensive schools for the the people, the offerings, the attitudes, that you wouldn't get anywhere else.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Some people spend money on trips to Vegas, or new BMWs, or swimming pools. I choose to spend it on education.
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My wife and I agree with this ... fortunately we should be able to figure out a way to swing $170k for school without totally blowing up our family finances so for us yes "Brown is worth it". That said, every family situation is different and trying to find $170k can become too much of a burden for some families and less expensive options are advisable ... and for a student, if they will not get enough aid, I would never recommend going into heavy debt for school (there are other excellent schools that will probably provide merit aid)</p>
<p>I am going back to complete the last two years of my undergad degree in Economics. I was offered a free ride from Tulane, but I am willing to go into debt $60,000+ to complete my degree from an Ivy. After being on this earth for 32 years, my education is the most important thing to me now and where I go is just as important (not for snobbism, but for my own self-gratification).</p>
<p>This is kind of irrelevant. Schools like this have such amazing need-based aid that almost no one is forced to pay that 160K for an education, and those who can afford it (ie no financial aid) obviously wouldn't care because, well, they can afford it. Many times, financial aid makes the pricetag on an Ivy roughly equal to what you would pay to go to State U.</p>
<p>Tigerman, financial aid really doesn't make the prices similar at all, trust me (unless I've been left out of the party)</p>
<p>I'll give you an example. Macalester College (not Ivy but similar in price) gave me need-based aid such that it would cost about 9K/yr to attend. My brother is currently an in-state student at CU-Boulder and it's costing my family about 12K/yr for his education. I'm not saying my statement is true in all cases, but in many cases, it holds water.</p>
<p>It definetley can make a significant difference, but in many cases state universities can be practically free if you are given a scholarship</p>
<p>There's always the shady middle ground where you're wealthy enough to pay for all or nearly all, on paper, but in reality, that price tag kind of cramps your lifestyle.</p>
<p>I hope it is. I could save $160,000 if I go to MIT (if I were to get in anyway), and everyday I wonder if I made a stupid decision ...</p>
<p>Look at it like this...When an emplyer looks at your resume, before they even meet you, if you went to a State U, the employer has no clue as to what type of intelligent level you possess. If you have a degree from an Ivy/Top-tier school, by default, they will automatically associate you with having a very high intellect/IQ. Believe me, I have known a lot of people in the Human Resources departments of big and small companies, and a degree from a top school is impressive to them. I'm not saying it would automatically get you the job...what I'm saying is the world is hard enough without factoring in the college degrees. We need all the competitive edge we can get :)</p>
<p>the reason it's worth it to pay for a private school education is so that your kids can get into the same elite institution without really deserving it!</p>
<p>Hey now, legacies are people too.</p>