Is It Worth It?

College Search & Selection
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<p>I have authored several threads recently in this forum, so thank you to everyone who has helped me along the way so far. Hopefully this will be my last petition for advice for a while, seeing as I have until Friday to make a final decision...</p>

<p>I am torn between three schools: Millsaps College, Baylor University, and Washington University in St. Louis. At Millsaps and at Baylor, I have merit scholarships that would keep my out-of-pocket expenses for 2010-2011 at less than $2000 for either school, and in years following it wouldn't ever go above $4500 or so. At Washington University, I was lucky to get the federal student loans, so my family will definitely be paying for everything. My mom recently found another part-time job that will, in theory, cover the gap for attending Washington University (she's a doctor, so we're talking about a good-paying part-time job), but I'm still really torn. So, I can afford to go to Washington University, but I'm still not sure that's the best choice...</p>

<p>All things considered, I think I would have the best college experience at Washington University, but my main concern is that I'm not sure whether that experience would be $50,000/year better than my experiences at either Baylor or at Millsaps. I'm the kind of person who will more or less make the best of my situation, and I know that I'll be happy at any of those schools, even if perhaps marginally happier at WashU. Is that happiness worth $50,000? I don't know. Also, I'm 90+% sure that I want to pursue some sort of graduate school (medicine, biology, who knows), and it would certainly be nice to have a reserve of money built up to help pay for that rather than to have to pay for it as I go (or for my parents to pay for it as I go)...</p>

<p>At Saint Louis, I know I'd be surrounded by motivated peers and outstanding professors, and I feel like opportunities would be greater there, as a result of the medical school resources and of being in St. Louis. At the same time, at Baylor, I'd be in the Honors College, and I'd have access to the best resources they could offer as a result of being a big fish in a relatively small pond. At Millsaps, the community is intimate, and the professors would be very accessible and open, and I also know that I would be towards the top of the class there, too.</p>

<p>Could anyone offer any advice?</p>

<p>Forgive me if I have rambled, and thank you in advance if you feel motivated enough to offer any constructive advice.</p>

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<p>Bump please…</p>

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<p>Bump 2…</p>

<p>I’m going to be flat-out shameless, since I need to make a decision so soon. Plus, in theory, I might potentially possibly have to notify a certain scholarship agency about a the school I might attend to receive a possible scholarship from that certain scholarship agency.</p>

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<p>Will that $50,000 keep you from having the “marginally better” experience at WUSTL? I have only a little experience with two of these schools, but one thing I want to let you know.
I know someone who had a rough time choosing between Columbia and Millsaps. She chose Millsaps and is graduating this year, headed to med school. You say you will do fine at any of the places. It might be easier on the mind if money doesn’t have to be there.</p>

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<p>I know - that’s what I keep telling myself. I just don’t know what to do - in a lot of ways I see this as a question of instant gratification vs. delayed gratification, in terms of happiness, prestige, and even social and intellectual benefit.</p>

<p>I honestly am completely clueless at this point - I just got off the phone with a top member of the Millsaps administration who had called personally to encourage me to consider Millsaps further. While this is impressive in its own right, seeing as I had never even introduced myself to this administrator - talk about faculty/student interaction. If he’ll give me ten minutes of his time, I doubt anyone on campus wouldn’t…</p>

<p>I’m so completely clueless.</p>

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<p>Lol. Clearly I should have picked a better title for this thread… bump.</p>

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<p>only you can decide HOW MUCH debt you’ll be in, and how much of a burden it’ll be on your family.
you seem to be clear that WUStL is a better school academically, and you like the experience there better. The other two schools are good too, but not at that level.</p>

<p>time to run though some numbers with your family, and figure it out. Otherwise, start calling current students at the schools, and look at what kind if internship/grad school prospects each school can provide.</p>

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<p>That’s the thing - I have reason to believe I wouldn’t graduate with debt (although I certainly wouldn’t graduate in the black) if I went to WUSTL, but the question of burden is still appropriate and worrying.</p>

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<p>I don’t know much about WUSTL, and nothing about the other two. However, I feel I need to add my anonymous vote. Normally I wouldn’t recommend spending that much money for one school over another, but your mom doesn’t seem too bothered by it and the class of students attending WUSTL (as shown by mid-50 SAT scores) isn’t even close. There’s not even any overlap in the mid-50 math OR reading of either of the other two schools with WUSTL.</p>

<p>Now I know SAT scores aren’t everything, but they are something. OTOH, going to a school where they care to call you is something too… If I were in your apparent financial situation, I’d probably choose WUSTL. I agree with 000ace000 - talk to your family about the numbers and try to figure out what grad schools students at Millsaps and Baylor ACTUALLY go to.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

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<p>^Thanks for the suggestions. It’s true - I would be among more academically prepared/motivated peers at WUSTL, but like you said, I would have a good shot at Phi Beta Kappa, or something similar, at Millsaps or at Baylor, which would give me good chances at graduate school / postgraduate fellowships and scholarships, while at WUSTL I don’t know how I’d compare academically.</p>

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<p>Did you say $50K per YEAR? That’s a colossal swing.</p>

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<p>^ Yes. ~$50,000/year for WUSTL, ~$2000/year for Baylor or for Millsaps.</p>

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<p>You can buy a *house *for $200K! Especially now ;)</p>

<p>I’m all about attending the best college you can get into, but in this case,* since you’re so undecided*, I’d actually ask my parents what they would do. It’s largely their money we’re talking about, right?</p>

<p>Sure, it’s your life, but it’s not like life ends at any of these three choices.</p>

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<p>I think they would say WashU, because they want me to have the best education and experience possible, but I don’t think they would factor their own needs into the decision, which is why I’m so torn in the first place.</p>

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<p>Phi Beta Kappa doesn’t really affect your admission to graduate school that much (most grad school attendees aren’t in it) and being near the top of your college class doesn’t, either. Most postgraduate fellowships are nationally competitive, and they depend far more on your own performance than your undergraduate school (although your <em>graduate</em> school can be a huge factor). Honestly, you can do just as well in admissions coming from Millsaps or WUSTL.</p>

<p>$200K is a lot of money. A lot. How will you not be in debt? Will your mom’s part time job really cover $50K per year? And how much will she have to work this second job? What will your parents have to give up for you to go there?</p>

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<p>FWIW, I have trouble with these generalizations. The graduate adcom I was on paid too much attention to grades and not enough to what school these grades were earned at; PBK would have counted for a lot. But this (as much else) varies with the school in question, the department in question, the individuals on the committee, the prevailing winds, whatever.</p>

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<p>$200/hr for 10 hours every Saturday. Such are the benefits of being a physician in a rural community medical center with sufficient funding. The downside? Working on Saturdays, and commuting ~3 hours each way…</p>

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<p>Tough call. What you’re really implying is that you want to protect your parents from their decision to sacrifice on your behalf.</p>

<p>I made a similar decision 35 years ago (not allowing my parents to sacrifice), and now I’m glad I did, as my Dad’s retirement would not be nearly as secure had he forked out full boat at Stanford vs. next to nothing at UCLA.</p>

<p>The counterargument, of course, is to ask who YOU are to parent your parents… funny world. Considering that your mother’s sacrifice amounts to 12 hours per week for four years… that almost seems reasonable.</p>

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<p>With the being near the top of your class, I meant that for postgraduate fellowships, not admissions. Postgraduate fellowships you compete for nationally, not internally within your school, unless your school has a special one.</p>

<p>But generally speaking, there’s no ranking system at most colleges so being near the top of your college class wouldn’t matter anyway. The rank is not printed on the transcript at any college I know of, and most college graduates don’t know your rank. PBK, maybe more mattering, but if you’re applying straight out of undergrad you may not even be in PBK yet. I just don’t think it matters enough to mean the difference between $200K.</p>

<p>I don’t know, it’s rough. If you’re going to be expected to pay it back, I’d choose Millsaps or Baylor. But if your parents could afford it, WUSTL sounds like a great opportunity. But 10 hours on Saturday with a 3 hour commute both ways…that’s a 16 hour day. Jesus.</p>

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<p>Baylor Baylor Baylor Baylor</p>