<p>Join the party!</p>
<p>This is a place to celebrate our good financial choices and convince each other (if necessary) that it was the right choice. </p>
<p>I can start with my story. </p>
<p>Dream school:
Cost? ~35K/yr.
My debt after four years (subtracting parent contributions)? $100K. </p>
<p>State school:
Cost? ~8K/yr.
My debt after four years (subtracting parent contributions)? $0.</p>
<p>Every day I am more sure that I made the right choice. Are you?</p>
<p>What was the state school? What was the dream school?</p>
<p>Congratulations!</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Exactly! My son will be graduating with no debt. I told him that he can have the money leftover from his college fund to do anything he wants, whether it be travel, down payment on real estate, or a new Ferrari. :)</p>
<p>collegehelp: My dream school was Rice, and my state school is GT. I know, not exactly Podunk U., but it’s not where I saw myself ending up (lots of big classes, emphasis on greek life, etc.).</p>
<p>UCLA Band Mom: My parents are doing the same! I should have about $8K to spend on whatever I want - I’m currently thinking a summer abroad in Korea :)</p>
<p>maea-
Great choice for a Georgia resident.</p>
<p>I’m in the same boat as you!</p>
<p>Here’s my situation.</p>
<p>Dream School: Reed College
Cost: 50k a year, no scholarships or financial aid (I missed a form by two weeks)
Debt by the end of four years: 200k or less. (if I fill out forms earlier)</p>
<p>Where I’m going next year: Truman State University
Cost: 3k a year at most (scholarships, etc)
Debt by the end of four years: 0 (since I’m thinking of doing research/internships/work study programs, etc)</p>
<p>I hope I made a good decision.</p>
<p>Assuming Truman State has the major you want, it looks like a great decision. Truman State is a very respectable school and $200K in debt is ridiculous.</p>
<p>I’m not worried about the academics at Truman. From the dozens of people that I’ve talked to, a lot have said some great things about it.</p>
<p>I’m more concerned with the social aspect at Truman. I know if I go to Reed I will fit in with the student body since I am quite eccentric and liberal, but from what I’ve heard Truman has a more mainstream, somewhat conservative campus and I might have a harder time fitting in.</p>
<p>I don’t know that much about Truman in particular, but I’m sure no matter where you go you can find at least some people who are like yourself / people you would enjoy spending time with.</p>