<p>I am a senior in high school and I am trying to figure out which college I want to go to. I have toured both Penn State and WVU and I thought that WVU was okay and I could go there but I fell in love with Penn State! It was so perfect and I could really picture myself there. But my mom wants me to go to WVU. I calculated that to go to WVU for me would be around 24K a year and Penn St. would be around 27K. Is Penn State worth the extra 3K a year? My mom wants me to go to the cheapest option but I want to go to where I love. (and I figure the education at PSU is worth it compared to WVU) What do you think?</p>
<p>Is she is spending at least 24K, I don’t see why she’s quibbling over 3K. I mean, if she really wanted to save money, you’d be going to CC or learning a trade. Depending on your major, PSU could definitely be worth it.</p>
<p>Visit some more colleges and see if you feel strongly about any of them. Two seems a rather limited college search.</p>
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<p>$3,000 over 4 years is $12,000, and that’s assuming that tuition doesn’t rise in the next 4 years and that you actually graduate in 4 years.</p>
<p>What I want to know, though, is how your mom calculated that WVU (which I am assuming is West Virginia University) was $24K/year but PSU was only $27K/year. If you are in-state for WVU, that means you are OOS for PSU. The estimated cost of attendance at PSU for an OOS student is around $40K including room and board - just the tuition alone is nearly $30K. Public universities don’t give much need-based aid to OOS students, either.</p>
<p>I’m in state for PSU. And my grades and ACT score got me a $13000 scholarship for WVU. But PSU offers no merit based aid at all.</p>
<p>Lucky you to be in state for PSU. It is an amazing school. My D just finished her Freshman year there and loved it. It has one of the most beautiful campuses and a great college town as you probably know. School spirit is through the roof. You will get a wonderful education and make alumni connections. If you can swing the tuition, then PSU is a no-brainer. Good Luck!</p>
<p>Try looking at U of Maryland - College Park. West Virginia is state associated with too many negatives. The fact that someone attended college in West Virginia is bound to carry a stigma later in life. For 3K per year, skip higher education in the coal mile, moonshine, hillbilly state if at all possible.</p>
<p>Try looking at U of Maryland - College Park. West Virginia is state associated with too many negatives. The fact that someone attended college in West Virginia is bound to carry a stigma later in life. For 3K per year, skip higher education in the coal mile, moonshine, hillbilly state if at all possible.</p>
<p>Um, what? Also, why would OP look at UMD? Given that s/he’s a PA resident, UMD would be far more expensive - WVU is only affordable because of the scholarship.</p>
<p>OP, is your mom planning on covering the entire rest of the cost? Could you bargain with her to cover that $3,000 a year out of your summer earnings, work-study, or a federal loan? I do think that PSU is a better overall choice than WVU.</p>
<p>My mom can only cover about $5000 a year so the rest of it… I don’t really know, I am assuming it will all be loans, unfortunately. 
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<p>@juillet:</p>
<p>Tuition can be expected to rise for both schools, so the difference can be expected to remain $3K per year. And yes, the total difference is $12K, which still isn’t a big difference in the grand scheme of things.</p>
<p>Neither school is affordable at 18k or 22k a year in loans.</p>
<p>I missed that part. Yeah, if you can only afford $5K a year, then the way to go is CC (or a PSU branch campus). Then maybe transfer to the main campus. Any ideas on major yet?</p>
<p>However, how do you know that you won’t get fin aid?</p>
<p>I want to major in biology (pre-med) and I don’t have any need. My family makes 250000/yr they just didn’t save any money for my college.</p>
<p>The only loans YOU can get in your name are the federal subsidized – unsubsidized loans of $5500 (freshman), $6500 (sophomore), and $7500 each year for junior and senior year, for a total of about $27k over four years. Undergrads shouldn’t generally take on more debt than that. On your own, you won’t be able to anyway.</p>
<p>Your parents make $250k/year and can only give you $5k/year for school? Unless they’re willing to take out parent PLUS loans (in their names, not yours), you only have about $10k/year. Is there a school nearby that you can commute to? What are your stats? If your ACT and grades are high enough, you may be able to get merit aid at a more affordable school. Do not fall into the trap of cosigning for huge loans to go to a “dream” school. PLUS loans can be taken by parents AND teens, but interest rates are high, interest starts accruing right away, and the debt can’t be discharged in bankruptcy. It never goes away. A loan of $15k/year over 4 years can quickly go from $60k to $90k when interest starts compounding; add the $27k federal loans and now you’re up to $117k for an undergrad degree. That’s way too expensive, especially if you’re considering med school. Find an affordable college that has some of the features you love about Penn State. </p>
<p>My mom can only cover about $5000 a year so the rest of it… I don’t really know, I am assuming it will all be loans, unfortunately. </p>
<p>…</p>
<p>Neither school is affordable or even reasonable in your situation. If you want to be a doctor, start practicing some logic skills.</p>
<p>If you are premed, then it is crazy to borrow much for undergrad. (actually crazy for any major).</p>
<p>the idea of borrowing the amounts that you are considering is crazy…I hope your mom wont/cant cosign.</p>
<p>what are your stats? Maybe we can find cheaper schools. </p>
<p>…
I am a senior in high school and I absolutely fell in love with the U Park campus when I toured last year. What are my chances of being accepted as a biology (pre-medical) major?</p>
<p>3.85 GPA
30 ACT
7 AP courses
10 honors courses
Top 25% of my class
In state</p>
<p>Extracurriculars:
Marching Band (4 years-- assistant section leader)
Quiz Team (2 years)
Volunteered at church nursery (3 years)
Paying job at red lobster for 10 months</p>
<p>I am so nervous I won’t get in! What do you all think?
…</p>
<p>there are schools that will give you a lot more merit…which is what you need.</p>
<p>retest…and take both the act and sat.</p>