Need help making final decision: TCU vs. Notre Dame

Hi all!
At long last I have narrowed down my college decision to two schools: Notre Dame and TCU. This may seem like an obvious choice at first, but allow me to explain why I am so conflicted.

A little about me and what I’m looking for in college:
-I’m planning on majoring in business (not quite sure what aspect of business yet-leaning somewhat towards management) and will probably get an MBA. I’d eventually like to end up in either Texas, Colorado, or the West Coast, but I’m not 100% sure and feel like I would probably be happy anywhere
-I’m looking for a really strong sense of community and somewhere that would be a good fit for me socially
-I want to get involved in a lot no matter where I go, particularly in service and religious organizations
-I’m from Colorado and am used to spending hours on end outdoors, and while location isn’t necessarily a deciding factor, I’m definitely taking it into consideration especially since I tend to get depressed during the winter months

Notre Dame:
Notre Dame was the first college I knew I wanted to go to and I would have a super hard time turning down their admission offer. I know their business school is top-ranked and I have received pre-approval for entry after the first year of studies program, and doing well academically would definitely help me get admitted into a competitive MBA program. The academics are obviously top-notch and I know the alumni connections are very strong as well. I really really like the strong sense of community at ND and think I would do well socially and enjoy the “dorm life” that they have rather than Greek life. I also like the fact that ND is a religious school as well. All this being said, there are a few downsides. Notre Dame costs roughly $30k more a year for me to attend and I would be in debt after undergrad. I didn’t think South Bend was as bad as people say, but I don’t think I would thrive during the 6 months out of the year where it’s gray all the time, but would enjoy the more moderate summers/falls. I think Notre Dame would be more comfortable socially for me, but at the same time I think going outside of my comfort zone would help me grow a lot. Also, I didn’t get the same vibe at ND as I got at TCU. ND seemed more serious/intense and not as exciting. It felt older in a way and I also kind of feel like the college as a whole is resting on its laurels, so to speak. But, I do feel like I would fit in better here, though I also feel like I’d find my niche wherever I decide to go.

TCU:
TCU really exceeded my expectations. A rep came to my high school and spoke to us about it, and I remember being pretty excited to apply but not as excited as ND. About a week after being accepted to ND I was accepted to TCU and received some scholarship money but was invited to campus to interview and give a presentation in hopes of receiving a “more prestigious” scholarship. I figured why not, I’ll do it and see what happens and I was blown away by TCU. The campus and surrounding area are very beautiful and I definitely like the fact that it is sunny there almost all the time and is green for almost all of the year. However, I’m not sure how well I would do in the heat of the summer. The people there, including the students, are so friendly and welcoming and you can tell everyone genuinely cares about the school. I ended up falling in love with the school (but I also love Notre Dame) and did receive the full tuition scholarship that I interviewed for. This makes TCU a more affordable option for me and my family (we could potentially make ND work, but not without going into debt). Like I mentioned earlier the vibe at TCU was different-you can feel that the school is certainly up-and-coming and everything feels fresh and exciting. It also seemed more laid-back than ND, which I think I would like. I feel like TCU might be more fun than ND. Also, at TCU I know of quite a few things I’d like to get involved in on campus. Even though TCU might not be as good academically as ND, I am in the honors college at TCU as well as the chancellor’s scholars program and would likely join the business honors program. Whereas I’d be a middle of the road student at Notre Dame, I’d be at the top of the class at TCU. The main thing I’m worried about at TCU is fitting in socially. I know Greek life is a big deal there and I’m not entirely sure I want to go Greek. I like the friendship and philanthropy elements, but I don’t drink and I’ve never really been to a party so I feel like it would be awkward for me, and I’m worried I’ll have a hard time socially if I don’t go Greek. Also I’m worried that I’d be closing doors if I went to TCU, whereas I’d be opening them by attending ND.

I apologize for being really long-winded and rambling but I just want to make sure I make the right choice for me and would greatly appreciate any input. Thank you so much!!!

$120,000 of debt would/should tilt the scales to TCU. And if you’re going to stay in TX, then TCU makes sense there as well.

But as I mentioned on other threads, the ND alumni network is strong. I live close to Stanford and Cal, but I’d say ND has a very large network of alumni here in Silicon Valley. So, if CA is your destination, ND will have greater pull in terms of jobs here.

If money weren’t an issue, I’d pick ND, because of the academics, the locale, near but not in Chicago, over the DFW area, the strong alumni network and ND’s overall sports prowess. But that’s me.