<p>I've been fretting over my college decision since April 1.</p>
<p>I was lucky and ecstatic to be admitted into some of the top NESCAC schools, such as Midd, but Fordham (Rose Hill) has provided me with a substantial scholarship, so I would be paying very little. In addition, Fin Aid at Midd and elsewhere didn't calculate my financial need as my family does, and I would be paying a hefty sum — one that my family can't really cover. I'd graduate with a good deal of debt; I probably couldn't study abroad; I'd pay my own way through graduate school. The non-Fordham schools are more tailored to my interests, but I do like Fordham quite a bit and, as I live in NJ, it'd obviously be a lot easier to get home.</p>
<p>Is a school such as Middlebury or Amherst or wherever really that much worth it over a non-premier school such as Fordham? Are there opportunities there (or in terms of job prospects) I just couldn't get at Fordham? Is the name or the experience worth all the financial stress?</p>
<p>It depends on your intended career. If you are thinking Art History, go to Fordham. You’ll need that money . If you are thinking of working on Wall Street, go to Midd.
Everything else is somewhere in between(I am over-simplifying, but)</p>
<p>30ish years ago, I chose Bates over a full ride at UMass. My parents were not happy, and I worked during the school year and summers, wasn’t able to travel, and incurred debt. Because I am a doctor, I could afford to pay it off. My Bates education helped me have my choice of medical schools- I was accepted at 5 out of 7 I applied to. I am a strong proponent of the value of a high quality liberal education…within reason…</p>
<p>Thank you for your informative and kind response. What you say makes a lot of sense, but I am still worrying that the quality of a Middlebury education won’t be worth all the extra money (and lost experiences of studying abroad at least once, but probably more than one time) over the quality of a Fordham liberal arts education, which is still respected, and from which kids come out doing well.</p>
<p>I’m pretty analytical and good at math, so pursuing Wall Street isn’t out of the question. To get a shot at that, I’m assuming I’d need to come out of their business school. I know Midd has fairly good placement, although it’s not a target school. I wouldn’t be surprised, though, if I ended up pursuing something like a philosophy degree (and perhaps going to law school).</p>
<p>I’m guessing I don’t have a question now, but I’m just looking for input on whether or not I would be crazy to turn down Midd, given that I’m not quite sure what I want to do.</p>
<p>I think Midd gives you more cachet, but of course Fordham won’t hurt a hard working person.
Things that are quantifiable that you can look up: class size; 100-level class size; faculty ratio; number of advisees per faculty; degrees of faculty in your departments of interest; are classes taught only by professors; retention rate, transfer rate, and drop out rate. You can also look up the age of facilities. internships etc.
I suggest you take few hours exploring the Midd and the Fordham web sites and see how you feel.
My oldest S spent a semester at a less selective school where he could attend for free, because his dad is a prof and he was accepted at Midd as a Feb. He thought about whether to stay there, or make the trip and spend the money. These were his reasons: “Everyone ambitious at (<em>) I have met had Midd as their dream school. I’d be crazy not to try it” Then after a semester he told us it was totally worth the money: better students, more engaged, he didn’t feel like the only one who had read(and digested) the material. The faculty was great at (</em>), but the student body was not comparable. He was more challenged-straight A’s w/o much effort at (*) and now has to crack the books.
So we’re sure it’s worth the $$. And it is costing him and us at least $50,000 more-but how much do people spend on SUVs? Which will get you further in life, a fancy car or a great education?</p>
<p>Peqils:there are many factors you must take into account, but one of them, your comment about study abroad, requires thought. Middlebury has 38 or so sites abroad, and financial aid goes with it (if you get fin aid). Even if you do not get financial aid, the cost of attending a Middlebury program abroad is less than going to Middlebury (in Vermont), and so if you attend Middlebury, you will be able to go abroad at equal or less than the cost of the semester or year in Vermont. That is just one issue among many, of course, but something to think about.</p>
<p>Choosing a college isn’t like buying a car or a house (where you can skimp now and get a nicer one later). In your lifetime, you’ll only have one undergrad alma mater. Schools like Amherst and Middlebury are in such high demand for a reason. They present unique opportunities that can only be found at a handful of premier institutions throughout the country. Don’t get me wrong–affordability should play a major role in your decision, but don’t let the prospect of graduating with some debt scare you off. Middlebury’s financial aid office looked at your FA application and made a determination about what you and your family can afford to pay based on your financial situation. It may be that your parents don’t want to contribute as much as they might be able to, or there may be other factors that we don’t know about. </p>
<p>Regardless, Fordham is offering you this merit money because they need to in order to secure a class with exceptional students. Midd does not. In my high school, the kids who had average grades and didn’t want to go far from home went to Fordham. The overachievers and students who were hungry for the chance to broaden their horizons went to NESCAC schools, Ivies, and other top-ranked schools. That being said, having a lot of debt early in life can certainly limit your opportunities later in life. I assumed debt to attend college and grad school because I worked hard in high school and didn’t want to let the opportunity to attend a school like Midd pass me by. I don’t regret that decision. If not assuming debt is really important to you, then go to Fordham and thrive. You’re obviously smart enough to do well wherever you go!</p>
<p>Congratulations Pequils. These are good problems to have. I had a similar issue when I was deciding which grad school to attend. I was accepted at all of the grad schools I applied to, except two (curiously, they were two that I wouldn’t have chosen over several of the others, but that’s the application process). It came down to two - one was an Ivy and considered one of the two best in the country in my program, the other was a highly regarded Southern State School known for its basketball (you figure it out). The Ivy gave me a half scholarship, the State School gave me a full ride (attending undergrad at a school like Midd will give you those options). I think both programs would have given me a similar educational experience, but I ended up attending the Ivy. I know for a fact that on several occasions when applying for jobs, I was given an interview (got my foot in the door) because of the Ivy name on my resume. While Middlebury is not as well known as the Ivies (even though it should be), it still carries a name that will open a lot of doors. It will certainly provide you with more opportunities when applying to grad school. The thing about college debt is that it just becomes a background expense. You pay it off over a long period of time at a decent rate. I’m not trying to diminish the assumption of debt, just pointing out that those payments will eventually feel like nothing to you. My monthly school loan debt today is as much as a moderate car payment. I don’t regret it at all. Just some things to consider.</p>