<p>College A - public instate, close to around $2,000 I'd pay (at least for freshman year), alright music program, teacher who really likes me (and has produced students who have gone on to pursue masters degrees in music perf at prestigious schools)</p>
<p>College B - private out of state, $35,000 after my financial aid/scholarships (for freshman year. But my grades weren't too good in high school, so I'm assuming I'll get more money off for my sophomore, junior, senior years there), GREAT music program, great teachers</p>
<p>If College B had offered me more money, that deposit would've already been sent. Is it na</p>
<p>If my state school was cheaper, I might have considered it. But I’m pretty sure my in state option’s package was mroe expensive than most any of the private colleges I applied to. Weird.</p>
<p>Faulty assumption…any merit aid is not likely to increase in subsequent years, especially in music programs where aid is based on auditions for incoming freshman. There are some schools with special scholarship programs that one can become eligible for in subsequent years (Hartt’s 20/20…is that the name? Is one). BUT it’s certainly not a sure thing that you would be receiving more aid regardless of how you do in college gradewise.</p>
<p>When choosing a school for music, a great teacher at an ok school, trumps an ok teacher at a great school. What that means is: It is mostly about the teacher.</p>
<p>I assume your amounts are annual amounts. If you were my child, there is no comparison. $35k in total loans after 4 years is hard enough. $35k for one year is virtually impossible unless you have high income potential (ivy league, investment banking, etc.). Admittedly, some of your loans may be forgivable if you end up teaching in poor areas. But at $35k/yr, most of that will be private loans that do not have forgiveness.</p>