<p>My dilemma: I have received the Alumni Distinguished Scholarship from Michigan State University, entitling me to free college basically, with paid research and a stipend. However, I've been accepted at numerous other places, not to mention that I am anticipating acceptance at Dartmouth and possibly Cornell. Thing is, paying for college is going to be difficult because my parents refuse to pay a substantial amount of my college tuition. They have also refused to file the FAFSA (not that I would get any money anyway, my parent's income is waaay above the top bracket). My question is, do I go to MSU, or try and figure out something with my parents so I can attend some of the other colleges I've been accepted at?</p>
<p>Intended Major: James Madison College at MSU, or PolSci anywhere else.</p>
<p>Where I've been accepted:</p>
<p>UChicago
Notre Dame
Case Western RU
University of Michigan
MSU
Ohio State
University of Toledo</p>
<p>I reside in Ohio.</p>
<p>If your parents are refusing to pay for your tuition and you do not qualify for aid, it sounds like MSU for free is a good choice. I’ve heard good things about James Madison. You will need their help when it comes time to pay for law school.</p>
<p>Since you won’t be getting much help from your parents or the other schools, MSU with a full ride is an excellent choice.</p>
<p>MSU is a great school, especially with the Honors College, and you can definitely do well there if you take advantage of their resources.</p>
<p>I don’t see any reason to pay large amounts of money or take on large amounts of debt to go to any of the other schools you’ve been accepted to over MSU.</p>
<p>I am in MSU James Madison and also am in the honors college - feel free to PM me or ask here if you have any questions at all.</p>
<p>As a 3rd year college student, I’d absolutely say go with the one that gives you the least amount of debt…choose MSU (I might be a tad biased :P). I’d argue that being in James Madison can and will challenge you academically at least equally to any other school you could possibly attend. And going to a large school such as MSU, there is no shortage of opportunity as to the things you can get involved in, especially as an honors college student. ie amazing study abroad opportunities (my friend who is an ADS winner/JMC student as well has studied abroad over winter break in the Virgin Islands, Nicaragua and Mexico for Spring breaks, and UK over the summer) just because he can afford it. Debt sucks…and being indebted to your parents is no better. I’d definitely wait it out from your other schools and see what merit aid you get from them, but definitely make money one of your determining factors in choosing a college. You won’t regret it a few years down the road.</p>
<p>I was in a similar situation last year - Chicago or Pomona vs. MSU. I chose MSU because I know I want to go to grad school, so my undergrad school doesn’t matter much for my career, and also, grad student stipends are rather…small, so not being in debt would definitely be helpful! MSU has fantastic research opportunities, so it ended up being a good choice for me.</p>
<p>Hey, LulzMaster, I’m also an ADS Scholar.</p>
<p>I was accepted to:
Brown University
University of Chicago
Northwestern University
Duke University
Carleton College
Case Western Reserve University
Boston University
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Purdue University
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
(and wait-listed at Harvard)</p>
<p>But, unfortunately, most of those schools are ridiculously expensive! My parents are willing to pay up to $100,000 total, which won’t cut it. So I guess we’re in the same boat haha</p>
<p>MSU is a good school, and people have actually heard of its Honors College. I’m going to be a fourth-generation Spartan and a second-generation ADS Scholar. Hopefully it will all turn out for the best :)</p>
<p>Cool. Yeah I got into many of those places as well, but ultimately decided on MSU. It just makes good financial sense. When’s your orientation?</p>
<p>Ah, you’re both coming here? Well, see you next year!</p>