<p>I have a choice.</p>
<p>I have committed to a college with high rates of grads going to prestigious schools for grad school. But, I have the option of going to a very prestigious school for my undergraduate education --where I'll be incurring some student loan debt.</p>
<p>I'm divided. And opinions other than my own would be appreciated.</p>
<p>So is it better to go to a prestigious school for undergrad or focus on the opportunities for grad schools?</p>
<p>Go to the cheap school. Get good grades. Enjoy your debt-free life. Save your debt for grad school.</p>
<p>I want to say: "go where you'll be happier, where you'll be more inclined to make good use of the academic and social opportunities that are available to you," but I don't think you want to hear that...</p>
<p>Are you deciding between SUNY and NYU?</p>
<p>kwu: I'll be happy at both places. So it's difficult. So happiness isn't the deciding factor anymore... </p>
<p>You're close, but you don't have it. But, realize, that it's not about what universities. It's about the overriding situation.</p>
<p>I second Happy Mom's position.</p>
<p>I agree, go to the cheap school. Debt can hobble you for DECADES.</p>
<p>Go to the cheaper one. You'll keep hearing the same thing over and over from people who went to private schools and had to take out a student loan - the debt is crippling.</p>
<p>Where will you get the best education for you? Not the most prestigious degree, but the one that will make you a more complete, thinking, capable individual. If the two schools are roughly equal in that, and you will be happy at either, then the less expensive school is probably the logical choice. </p>
<p>It is good that you have chosen not to reveal the schools involved as that tends to turn the discussion into a bickering match between partisans of the two schools. </p>
<p>Good luck - you are clearly a thoughtful individual who seems able to make a reasonable decision on the merits rather than on the glitz and glimmer of a prestigious name. And, if you do choose that more prestigious school, you will know it was for the right reason.</p>
<p>It'd be better if you could be more specific like what schools, how much debt, etc. </p>
<p>By the way, I think there's nothing wrong with graduating with some debt if it's a school you really like. You just want to be careful of a situation where the debt is so great that the interest alone is making it impossible to creep out of.</p>
<p>Remember not to assume that the prestigious grad school is an automatic guarantee.</p>
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Remember not to assume that the prestigious grad school is an automatic guarantee.
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<p>I agree. Additionally, it should be said that you may decide that you don't even want to go to grad school at all. I know plenty of people who started undergrad hell-bent upon grad school...and then never actually went. People's interests change.</p>
<p>I do agree with some of the posters about how it would be easier to reveal my options. But, I prefer this. I have the exact amount of debt I'd be in. But, I feel as if it's better to keep it anonymous.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your opinions. I still have some time before I actually decide. Yeah. =]</p>
<p>cheap!</p>
<p>plus I for one plan on being prestigious on my own merit after I graduate from all education...</p>