<p>I have spent the past couple of weeks trying to decide between going to Loyola Marymount University and Reed College. I aways thought that no matter my financial circumstances I would got to Reed if accepted. Obviously it has a very different academic environment than LMU and many other universities that I have researched. I loved reading about a college where students hang out in the library and are very close to the professors. As someone from a small school, that is really important to me. However, LMU is offering me a full ride while Reed is offering me significantly less. I'm just wondering if it is worth giving up a full ride to LMU to go to Reed. I don't want to spend a lot of money on my undergrad education when I know I will be applying to grade school. Furthermore, I have gotten into the Honors Program at LMU and LMU is participating in a research project that I an interested in.</p>
<p>No, take the full ride. I love Reed, and my Reedie loves Reed, but one of the pillars of that love (aside from loving the school and Portland and stuff) is that they showed him the financial love. Reed’s great, but graduating without loans is <em>better</em>.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t be so shocked if you were comparing Reed to a full-ride at a college that is similar in feel and academic standards, and I’d veer towards not choosing Reed, in that case. Unless, the Financial Aid at Reed is really, really significantly less than at LMU, I would pick Reed. While a full ride is important, you’d err if you picked a college just because it gave you a full ride, if other colleges are giving you packages you can afford. This is ultimately a personal decision, and you really have to decide what you’re looking for from college, and whether that full ride be enough to sustain your happiness with LMU. It’s a different matter if you prefer LMU overall.</p>
<p>Take the full ride! Since you’re going to grad school, please please don’t saddle yourself with loans.</p>
<p>Seems like at fit at LMU, but when you say you plan to go on to graduate school the cost calculus differs depending on what type of graduate school you’re thinking of. In particular, if it’s a PhD program then if you’re really competitive and well qualified you will usually get a full-ride (fellowship or assistantship) at the better programs. If you don’t get a full ride, you would need to rethink your qualifications for a doctorate program. I have little doubt, however, that in most fields Reed would prepare you better for doctoral studies than LMU.</p>
<p>But if you’re thinking of a masters-level professional program of some kind, that might be a different matter. Some have financial aid and some don’t. Some expect a parental contribution and some don’t. In such a case, I agree with a previous poster that the size of the debt from undergraduate years can be important.</p>