Especially if you are contemplating pre-med, take the money and go to OSU. Of your private options, if you end up thinking that the upcharge is worth it, I think that Case would be your best option (assuming USC package comes in at same level).
Seriously, med school is expensive and OSU is a great school. Follow the cash.
You need to keep,your debt to a bare minimum…to NONE for undergrad if you intend to go,to medical,school.
Ohio State is a fabulous research university. You have a full ride there. I can’t think of any reason WH the other schools would be more favorable.
If you are serious about Med school take the free ride. Although you will be considered an independent student for federal aid, most med schools will still ask for your parents income and assets before rewarding you aid. If your parents have 35k and they can add a little more each year for the next 4 years you could have close yo a year of med school tuition in the bank
The decision would be easy if I were sure about med school, but on a purely visceral level I care way more about studying English than I do about any STEM subject. If I’m being honest I have 0 passion for or interest in research beyond doing it extensively to get into med school. Not that any of that has any bearing on the fact that OSU, financially, is the best choice.
I know USC has a rep for being a sports-focused party school, but it’s so much more selective than OSU that there’s no way there isn’t a more vibrant intellectual community there, which is one of my main concerns (maybe I’m being too idealistic). Am I wrong? How is it possible that going to a prestigious, selective school doesn’t open up considerably more doors - or at least provide a generally more talented student body to be around - than going somewhere more average?
You will find very smart kids at OSU as well. Very smart.
The smartest kids don’t all go to the top 20 colleges.
Did you get accepted into the OSU honors program?
@thumper1 I didn’t apply for honors this year, applied and got into scholars because you can only apply for it as a freshmen.
I don’t know. It seems like every other kid from my high school ends up at OSU, and they’re all pretty bright but I get the impression from them, and from when I’ve visited, that it’s not a school where students really care all that much about learning or about what they’re studying. Which is fine, but not necessarily the kind of college environment I would want.
Plenty of people care about their academics at OSU. Since OSU is such a large school, it’s easy to avoid the reckless and carefree environment that you think is prevalent at OSU.
Are you people really telling OP to not listen to his/her parents, because you all know better? That’s called chutzpah, assumes that they are incompetent and is extremely patronizing.
I would be appalled if someone said that to my kid. If I wanted to borrow money to send my kid to her dream school without her feeling any guilt whatsoever, that’s my prerogative.
The OP needs to talk to the parents to get their feelings about paying the $35K. They need to be honest if they are squeamish about it. Some parents would be HAPPY to borrow money to pay for the dream school. I certainly would if I thought I could swing it.
I don’t need or want my money to be “managed” by my kid. What’s the point of making it if you can’t enjoy it. I enjoy seeing my kids happy with their education.
@ClassicRockerDad - Keep in mind, it isn’t borrowing $35K, it is borrowing $140K - assuming kid graduates in 4 years.
It’s not about the amount of money, it’s the assumption that the parents are incompetent and people here know better.
I wouldn’t want someone telling my kid that I’m too dumb to be able to handle my own finances. The parents make $130K. They are not likely dumb. Give them a little credit. If that’s too much for them to borrow, they will certainly weigh in.
They may WANT to borrow it. Not everybody has the same values. It’s only $100K to them. Some of it can be taken out of current income, so the loan is probably less.
It is feasible if the parents say it’s feasible.
If this is true, then it’s only because the kids you are talking to aren’t aligning themselves with the right group of fellow students. OSU is a HUGE school, and of course its going to have its share of un-serious students. But if you think there isn’t a academically-motivated core of kids there, you’re fooling yourself. Besides, USC is going to have plenty of party-all-the-time types, as well; it’s not Caltech, after all.
It doesn’t sound like the parents want to pay it.
OP, why don’t you ask them directly if they’d prefer it if you accepted the less expensive school? They aren’t doing you any favors by not telling you a specific dollar amount they’re willing to pay each year. You need to find that out – not how much they’re willing to pay for brand x over brand y, but a number that they’re comfortable with – then make your choice based on that.
^^ I agree, but trust them, they are your parents and understand the complexities of their finances. Also spend the time doing due diligence visits WITH THEM to schools that you have been accepted to in order to have full information. FWIW I have one data point of a good student going to Ohio State and it ended badly after a freshman roommate from hell, zero guidance, unable to register for required freshman classes in major until winter quarter, and too much fraternity partying. That HS graduate of 2010 is still doing his undergraduate degree albeit somewhere else. He had to work for a few years to make a dent in his loans and now goes to a local commuter college.
Boston is a great college town.