<p>So, I got accepted to the University of Richmond, which I would say is a pretty great accomplishment...however, they offered me barely ANY financial aid...I have to pay approx $40,000 for every year there. </p>
<p>vs. VCU where I got a great scholarship...1/2 in-state tuition/fees. </p>
<p>WHAT DO I DO?</p>
<p>I love U of R ... it's everything that I ever wanted. I want to go into the medical field and I am pretty set on that decision. I need your advice...anything will help!<br>
Should I go to VCU just because it's less expensive? Or should I follow my dreams and go to U of R?</p>
<p>Sit down with your parents and run the numbers through this calculator: [FinAid</a> | Calculators | Advanced Award Letter Comparison Tool](<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid) Then talk about how you could come up with the money for Richmond. If you are certain that your goal is med school, you would almost certainly be wiser to take the offer from VCU. Med school is ridiculously expensive, and the only aid normally available is loans.</p>
<p>I was in this diemma a few years ago and decided to go to my dream school, Drexel vs. an in state school, total costs of tuition, fees, room and board averaging to be just under $50,000/year. 2 years later and $65,000 in debt, I am out of money and transferring in-state to VCU.</p>
<p>Really consider if you and your family can handle it financially. I’m not even halfway done through school and I already have $65,000 of loans to pay back. If I stayed at Drexel, I would have easily been in around $120,000+ of student loan debt. VCU is a great school, its reputation is getting significantly better, and you’ll still be in the city of Richmond. Plus, also consider your med school bills in the future…</p>
<p>Jetage is showing you the reality check that often comes in the not too distant future. The real crash comes when you have to repay all of those loans. Right now every college bound high school senior is focusing on where s/he ideally wants to go to college. In a year’s time, this seem like a trivial thing as the every day realities like financial stress are there.</p>
<p>This is really not a decision any of us can directly say one choice is so much better other than in a cost basis since we don’t know your family financial situation. In some cases, going to Richmond might be just fine. In our family dynamics, it would be, though it would mean my son would have to take out loans whereas a school and scenario like VCU would mean no loans and some financial breathing room for the family . My son has similar choices and is picking a school that is not his least expensive option eschewing some nice scholarships and good in state prices, and with blessing from his dad and me. So in his case, UR would be just affordable, but if he wanted to take on the loans and pressure, we would support him. </p>
<p>But if your parents are struggling financially or are not happy about paying the cost difference, that should figure heavily in your decision and you are being selfish if you are not doing so.</p>