<p>You may think that you’ll be miserable at Minn, but if you go in with an open mind you may find that you love it. When I was transferring in undergrad, I applied to 4 schools and was admitted to 2. I absolutely HATED the 2 I was admitted to (although the one I chose was still well respected), but they were both close to home and I was a commuter, which is why I applied. I chose the “better” one even though I didn’t care for it - and I LOVED it! The professors were great, the students were reasonably intelligent, the opportunities for research were abundant and encouraged, and…I just loved everything about the place. I sure didn’t expect to, but if you do choose Minn, at least try to give it a chance. You may meet some lifelong friends there, get an excellent education, and end up at a great grad school. Sometimes you don’t know what you want or need until you’ve got it (or lost it, depending on the situation). You could attend Berkeley and end up miserable, too, if it’s not what you dreamed it up to be.</p>
<p>Minnesota is a GREAT school with a top-ranked psychology department. It’s a totally great option, and makes so much more sense than spending $130K on Berkeley. I know right now it seems miserable because you had your heart set on Berkeley, but trust me - college is largely what you make it. You can have just as much fun at Minnesota, and when you graduate, you won’t be wondering how on earth you are going to repay those loans.</p>
<p>Another thing. I don’t know what you mean when you say “grad school.” Assuming that you are talking about a PhD program in psychology - very few of the kinds of jobs that degree leads to (professor positions and clinical/counseling/school psychologist jobs if you do that) earn an income high enough to repay that debt. If you are intending upon medical school, law school, or business school, you will easily have to borrow another $160K-$300K depending on the program. This is unsustainable!</p>
<p>Again - Minnesota is a GREAT school. Take it and run.</p>
<p>Anecdotal experience: I had a choice between Emory and a small, lesser-known LAC that gave me a full scholarship. I took the LAC. I graduated with very little debt, and now I am studying social psychology at a top 20 Ivy program in psych.</p>
<p>To answer the question that pumiliod asked, about when you look back on life, will you regret more having spent $130K or giving up Berkeley? IMO, you’ll regret FAR MORE borrowing $130K. I am 4 years post college and have lots of post-college friends in varying amounts of debt, from the low end like me to the very high, more-than-six figures end. I have heard many, many of the ones on the high end say they wish they had went to a lower-cost option for undergrad, and wish that they had not borrowed quite so much money. I have never heard a single one on the low end say “You know, I wish I had borrowed more money to go to a more prestigious school.”</p>
<p>haha please dont get too worked up. RacinReaver, i do appreciated you spending your time picking my words and doing all that math. sure my numbers maybe have been exaggerated at 200k, but it was to make a point and not to under-exaggerate the debt one can get into. I do know a couple people that have taken out loans for a 30-35k/year college for tuition alone. ok that would be more around 120-140k. they are working corporate jobs and they are not fifthly rich nor are they miserable. in terms of their college choice, i really don’t think they would have it any other way. at the same time, i am sure there are people who would also feel otherwise.</p>
<p>i think you guys are missing the point. the point i want to get across is that sometimes somethings to some people have different value, and that not everyone uses the same measuring stick to gauge their own happiness/fulfillment. </p>
<p>is money important? yes. has debt ever lowered one’s standard of life? absolutely. but debt itself has never killed anyone. In NYC, why do you think people burn savings and their precious youth time working many part-time jobs just to be robbed from their landlord for rent money? it’s to experience the ny life and have a chance at something they feel they will never have. this is how i see this situation. having a chance to do your undergrad in Berkeley is (more or less) a once in a life time opportunity. it is priceless and worth the consequences of debt.</p>
<p>if money is highly important to you and many times it very much is especially if you have legal/personal financial responsibilities to others, UMinn is probably the better choice. </p>
<p>for me personally, i would choose cal+debt over umin+more money. that is just me. to me (at a time of 18 years old with no debt or financial/personal obligations) the debt is justifiable. apparently to many of you, debt is absolutely blaspheme.</p>
<p>i was fortunate enough to go to the school i wanted to at no cost. But i did take out loans for my living expenses and for an extended study abroad experience, totalling 20k. i have been 2.5 years out of college now, independent since. if there is any regret for me when looking back on college, i would wish i had taken more risks.</p>