<p>Basically, I am stuck between a rock and a hard place. Right now my school preferences for the ones I have been admitted are (money is in brackets):
1 Northwestern ($25000 grant, $3000 loan)
2 WashU (20,500 grant, 7500 loan)
3 Michigan (don't know yet)
4 Vanderbilt (27000 grant, 5000 loan)
5 Notre Dame (25000 grant, 9000 loan)
6 Michigan State (full ride, ADS scholarship)
7 Emory (don't know yet)
8 Case Western (19000 grant, 8000 loan)
9 Pittsburgh (18000 grant, 2000 loan)
10 IU (8000 grant, 1000 loan)</p>
<p>Michigan State is really tempting. Also, just because it is 6th does not mean that I hate the place. If you were in my place what would you suggest, advice, etc? I plan to study engineering as of today. Thanks for the help.</p>
<p>Take the full-ride. That is one GREAT school you are looking at. I'm sure you will be very happy there!</p>
<p>And, if you need further justification for your decision to dump the other places, don't just look at the grant money and loans they have offered. You have to look at the total cost of attendance (COA). Did they figure in absolutely everything that you would figure into the COA? Often travel and books are underestimated. With the grants and loans did they meet your full need beyond the estimated family contribution (EFC)? And, just how big an EFC did each of those places use for you anyway? Where would you and your family find the money to meet that EFC?</p>
<p>For example:
Cost of Attendance 50000
Grant Money 25000
Loan Money 3000
EFC 22000</p>
<p>YIKES! 22000! That's like the price of a small car!</p>
<p>What do your parents say? They are the ones who will tell you how much the money is a factor. If it isn't a real concern to them, go to Northwestern. Great for engineering, You will be spending 4 years of your life and be identified with the school for the rest of the life. Michigan and Michigan State are very good, but huge schools. Does that size work for you? I'd rather pay more to have my oldest son in a smaller school like Northwestern that would work for his personality and work habits; my middle son would thrive in a huge university setting and we'd encourage the full ride to Michigan State. Good luck!</p>
<p>How much can your parents afford?</p>
<p>
[quote]
Michigan State is really tempting.
[/quote]
you have your answer - you could do a lot worse than Michigan State.</p>
<p>take happymomof1's suggestion - build a spreadsheet with the tuition, room & board of every school as COA, compare the net cost - backing out the grants/scholarships and then look at the cost with the loans backed out. You will have a clear picture of what you will have to pay now and in the future.
Don't forget to multiply those loans by 4!</p>