<p>Northwestern is my first choice but after getting admitted, I'm starting to question whether or not it is worth the 50 k per year I'll have to ship out to pay for it. Like many people I know, I don't qualify for need based fin aid so even though my parents are supportive and willing to pay, I'm sure they would rather not. </p>
<p>So, now I'm having trouble deciding whether I should attend NU or my state school, UT Austin's Eng Honors with a 8k/year scholarship. Or maybe even WashU or USC? </p>
<p>Btw, I'm hoping to major in biomedical engineering with a minor in business so if anyone could give me some advice as to what to do now, it would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>Well first off, WashU isn't exactly cheaper than Northwestern unless you managed to snag one of their merit based scholarships.</p>
<p>Back to your issue...</p>
<p>One of my friends who graduated 2 years ago was in a similar situation as you. Cornell was his top choice, but after getting in, he ultimately decided to go to UT's Plan II honors program because he figured he'd rather spend the extra money on graduate school.</p>
<p>Right now, he no complaints, will have no debt, and actually has come to enjoy his time at UT.</p>
<p>In the end, I suppose it matters on where you plan to go from here. Considering that I really don't know you (and that I have about as much experience as you do), I can't say which decision would be best for you. I do realize, however, that while giving up your dream school might be a difficult task, it may be a better decision in the long run.</p>
<p>I'm with BhavaniG. UT-Austin would be a great place to go to school. What a fun city!</p>
<p>There are several posts throughout the NU CC site about this very issue and, in most cases, people suggest going for the more affordable school if it's a good one (and UT-Austin IS a good school) and saving the money for grad school. </p>
<p>I suspect WashU is on par with NU and I would choose UT over USC unless you are looking for a change in scenery/state, which may have some appeal. If you go to USC, you will have travel expenses to consider in addition to your out of state tuition which is ??? I have no idea.</p>
<p>If you are looking for the best school of your lot, I'd say it's NU. If you are looking for a great school for lots less money and coming out debt free, I'd choose UT. Consider your bigger picture and then decide where you'd rather be.</p>
<p>it was pretty much UT or NU for me as well, but i chose NU because it's a higher ranked college, plus the name sounds better than UT when it comes to applying for grad school. it's really all i can see that is better, and to me that is worth the price (my EFC is 99%, so unfortunately i'm paying the whole thing). and of course being in TX, the "change of scenery" that wintersilk mentioned.</p>
<p>if it means anything, NU's bme program is really well established, one of the earliest. However, i dont know if they have a business minor. There's a certificate, and theres an econ minor. Just a couple things you may want to keep in mind.</p>
<p>Hey. I faced/am facing a similiar decision. Scholarship to 'SC, ok state school debt free, NU at a whopping 50K a year. USC was looking like a pretty good option until I realized I could get interships in LA or San Fran over the summer to satisfy my California craving. NU always looked good as the Medill School of Journalism has been my dream...</p>
<p>But I'm ready to be independent and don't want to rely on my parents to help me pay off the debt I'll incur at Medill. Especially as a journalist, there is no way I could pay the cost of that education without their help. I figured it was time to start making decisions like an adult and stop leeching off of them, so I chose to be realistic about my finances and choose my state uni. And heaven forbid I don't want to become a journalist, I will have many more doors open to me as far as what I can afford if I choose to go to grad school.</p>
<p>If you have the money to go to NU, by all means, go. But for awhile I was a bit blinded by the prestige.</p>
<p>As every other blinded person who is taught that prestige is paramount to success, I chose the path of attending NU this fall over my state university.</p>
<p>However, I am worried by some of your responses as far as financial issues and other matters are concerned, especially considering that this is a thread for NU students. </p>
<p>So is it being bullheaded to just absently take the higher path to NU or are there any general benefits for attending NU that may make the higher expense worth it?</p>
<p>well, i feel that college is alot more than simply a place where you get an education, a degree, and an opportunity to get a job. Not to sound cheesy or anything, but it is definitely a place/time where you mature, become inspired, and where your dreams are developed. Where you go to college/the environment you are in/the people you are around are crucial in this maturation period. </p>
<p>While prestige/ranking of a school may not directly influence how successful a person is, the environment and connections offered by the better school could indirectly shape a person into someone who could become more successful. So I guess it realy depends on how big the difference is b/t the two schools. If the difference is not that much, then I would go with the scholarship. But if you are comparing an OK state school with a school like NU, I would say NU is worth it if you are able to pay. It is a lifetime investment.</p>
<p>To build off of what jcr said: Education doesn't end in the classroom, and within the classroom, it is not isolated to the faculty. More prestigious schools attract better qualified applicants. The overall quality fo the student body at Northwestern will be phenomenally better than that at a state school (barring honors programs at such schools as the UC's, UMich, etc.). Education is not only not limited to the classroom, your peers inform your experience nearly as much as your teachers.</p>
<p>I'm choosing between UCSD and NU Medill. Obviously I would rather go to NU, but I have two younger brothers that are waiting to go to college and the $50 K per year is a pretty big blow. (I didn't qualify for any financial aid)</p>
<p>It's also difficult because unfortunately, I don't know much about either school. I was so set on going to Wellesley (waitlisted) that NU was a surprise to me. But the more I research and get second opinions, the more NU appeals to me especially since I want to write.</p>
<p>Plus, UCSD is still about $30 K with the expenses. Is that getting my money's worth?</p>
<p>if a university makes you much happier over four years and the rest of your life saying "i went there" then i would say it is worth it up to the point that the happiness from attending the university is outweighed by the unhappiness incurred from paying off loans, financial burdens on your family, etc.</p>
<p>measuring those two levels of happiness is really something only you and your family can do</p>