<p>I'm down to my top two school choices and I LOVE them both! One, Auburn University I'll probably pay around $30,000 a year. The other, Florida International University, I will get a full ride. I love them both, but I don't know if I should let the money be the tie breaker. At Auburn I would be able to get a double major, which would be so much better for my career. Academically, Auburn is actually much better. But at FIU I would get more in field experience. I will be able to afford to go to Auburn, but I'm not sure if I WANT to pay a crazy price when I could be paying nothing. Also, any more than a bachelor's degree wouldn't be beneficial, so I don't have to worry about grad school. So, is going into debt for college really worth it? </p>
<p>SN: Incase my future salary is a factor in you giving me advice...
I want to be an animal trainer, so I won't make much money initially. But I also know people at big places like SeaWorld and if you get a job like that, your salary is at least 6 digits.</p>
<p>Most animal trainers start at low level, low paying salaries just to get their foot in the door.
Taking out 120K in loans means you will not be able to pay off your loans and make a living wage out of school.
Realistically, the high paying Sea World jobs are far and few.
You will be best served going to the full ride college, do internships and field work to position you for jobs post college.</p>
<p>Are you saying that you’d need to take out 30K in loans to go to Auburn? If so, I think it’s not worth it. FIU is absolutely fine, and it’s hard to justify not taking up a full ride to a school you love.</p>
<p>Sorry I wrote FAU instead of FIU. You have your dreams right now. But as you mature and work your way through school, it is conceivable that you will modify your dreams. That modification may include graduate school, studying abroad, or even changing your major. These decisions may incur additional expenses. Just imagine starting your career, purchasing a vehicle, a home and starting a family with outstanding debt from college. All of a sudden, your choices are limited. The less debt you have, the more freedom you will have. Having that peace of mind is invaluable.</p>
<p>I doubt that a double-major will be so much better for your career, especially if you can take the same or very similar classes at the other university.</p>
<p>Debt is sometimes worth it, but only when it’s a reasonable level of debt. First of all, you probably cannot borrow $30,000 a year. Second of all, $120,000 is a completely untenable amount of debt to take out for a bachelor’s degree. I highly doubt animal trainers even at SeaWorld are making six figures. If you are equally in love with the two schools then yes, let the money be the tie breaker.</p>
<p>It’s not just the level of debt, but the return on investment. Medical students routinely borrow 6 figure amounts of loans. In the past, they were guaranteed a yearly return that sometimes were multiples of those loans. That doesn’t always happen for all majors or careers. You have to be realistic in your expectations when the advice you are receiving is urging caution.</p>
<p>If you want to go into animal training, go where you can get experience! </p>
<p>I have a friend who graduated a couple of years ago and is working in this field at her dream job. She attended the local state U. She volunteered at the zoo while in high school and college, worked with birds in a research lab on campus, worked with lions in Africa and training dolphins in the Bahamas or someplace like that, worked a summer job in an educational animal show at a zoo after graduation, and did many other awesome things in that field to gain experience. She made connections, volunteered, and interned at the place she now works long before she graduated. She does NOT make six figures or even close, but she loves what she does, and I’m certain she’s glad to not be in debt!</p>
<p>Robynbird: apparently, the average salary for an undergrad who finds work, these days, is about $35,000. The exceptions are people in CS, engineering, and other sought after but very difficult fields. Wisely, the federal limit for debts an undergrad can take is $27,500 for all four years of study. It’s because borrowing more than what you can reasonably expect to make your first year out of college is dangerous. Your first years you’re mostly going to have temporary gigs and you’ll probably be making around $20,000 a year at most. So, DO NOT go into massive debt. $5,000 a year should be the absolute maximum you allow yourself.
In addition, as has been explained yesterday, you will NOT be able to double major at Auburn since the two majors don’t fall under the umbrella of what you’re allowed to double major in.
Check out Florida schools near Seaworld or zoos and ask where their interns come from. Then, apply to these schools.</p>
<p>I believe that UCF is the closest option in the State system to Sea World. It is also likely the closest option to Disney, which also employs many animal trainers and entry level caretakers at Animal Kingdom. Both of those employers would be excellent experience for someone who wishes to work in a zoo like environment in the future.</p>
<p>I cannot think of any similar opportunities near Auburn.</p>