<p>Notre Dame would mean graduating with $70,000 debt. State school would mean no debt. Is Notre Dame worth it?</p>
<p>What do you want to study? Will you need to go to graduate school? </p>
<p>If you plan on going to grad school, you will probably accumulate debt there as well (unless your employer/the program pays for your education). $70,000 in undergrad debt + grad debt would be a lot to take on that early in life. If you’re planning on being a teacher or theologian, it would be tough to balance. If you’re going to be a doctor or lawyer, it might be doable. </p>
<p>ND is an amazing school with a family feeling and great traditions; if the state school is small, you’d find your niche and probably find lots of diverse opportunities and activities to take part in. You just have to balance the pros and cons of both. </p>
<p>If you have the opportunity to do an honors program, special research, etc. at the state school, it might be worth going there and getting out scot-free. I have a friend who turned down ND for a full-ride at OSU…it has been done. But if you truly love ND and want to go…you’ll find a way! Best of luck in making your decision.</p>
<p>Thanks, It is a hard decision. I was invited to Glynn Family honors at ND which seems amazing! My parents can pay, but not 100%. They can pay 100% of state school. I just wish ND could have given us just a little bit of financial aid; they gave nothing. </p>
<p>So, maybe ND for grad school…</p>
<p>Highly ranked small state school? Are we talking W&M here? As Rose39 suggested, there’s a lot of information about you, your hopes, desires, dreams, and aspirations, your likes and dislikes, hobbies and family situation that you take for granted. However, since we don’t know it, it’s hard to help you decide between the two. Maybe you value a degree that is recognized nationally- ND will probably give you that. Maybe you’re worried you won’t get a job out of school and want as little debt as possible- sounds like the state school’s better for that. Maybe you crave Catholic academic/social community- ND. Maybe you’re an outspoken atheist looking to get out of a stiflingly conservative hometown- not ND, but not nec. state school either depending on school. Again, these are all things you know about yourself that we don’t, so it’s near impossible for us to offer advice. Sorry! But it’s the truth.</p>
<p>How did you guess W & M?</p>
<p>Je suis le smart. W&M is a pretty solid public, and one of the very few with a smaller student body than ND. How’s your decision coming?</p>