<p>I have around 250k in savings.
Ok, early November i got into the Tulane honors program with $25,000 in merit aid. Later, I got into Tufts ED2 with a $9,000 grant award, which was appealed and i was given around $5,000 more in loans. A few weeks after paying my deposit, withdrawing my applications, and saying no to Tulane (even though they say i can change my mind til may 1st), i received an email from Tulane saying my financial aid review was in
rewarding me a whopping total of $41,000/y. Which is great but Tufts prestige is much higher that i sort of disregarded it. Today i received another email, this time from NYU (EVEN THOUGH I WITHDREW, I assume they didnt receive it or it got lost in a sea of emails), informing me that i was selected as an MLK Scholar with a $25,000 scholarship. This time its not that easy to choose (even though i know ED is binding its not legal). NYU has similar prestige, i think, or even more since it has a larger student population, regardless of its lower rank. Although NYU was not one of my top choices, the money offered makes it one. My dream school is still Tufts. </p>
<p>But i guess my real question is:
what will be better for grad school? An honors degree from a less prestigious university, or a regular degree from Tufts? They all share a vast variety of majors and interchangeability between the different colleges within, but which will get me closer to a good grad degree? Perhaps even grants? Spending all my money in undergrad and hoping for the best after? Saving now and spending later? Taking loans in the future?</p>
<p>This is taking a toll on my mental stability, people!</p>