<p>just one more note re importance of visiting -- the cost difference is $100,000. how can that not be worth the cost of a visit (both in terms of money and the couple of days it would involve)?</p>
<p>just a note to taxguy, you are assuming that i will have that money available if I do not go to brandeis. I would have to take a loan on that extra 25 grand each year if I go to NU, but if I went to brandeis, I'm "saving money" but that doesn't exactly mean I have the liquid assets to invest in your idealistic mutual fund to be a millionaire when i retire. Just saying, but then I'm just insane too :D</p>
<p>I'm going to visit brandeis and then make my decision. Might update again later.</p>
<p>What's this about you taking a loan? What happened to your parents being willing to pay? That's a whole different shebang.</p>
<p>Don't borrow $100k to go to Northwestern.</p>
<p>JYU31, If your parents are allowing you to decide and choose one over the other, this implies that they are footing the bill? If this is the case, you might want to ask them whether the 100k that they would be saving were you to attend Brandeis would somehow be allocated to you in the future--MBA program, trips to Europe, anything sane.
For what it's worth, my older D1 graduated from Northwestern, so I know a bit about the school, and my opinion is that unless you would be pursuing a specialized program there, such as journalism or music, you would not be getting appropriate value for the differential in money. D2 also has a merit scholarship (full tuition in her case) to Brandeis now, and has also been accepted to Northwestern, as well as a few other "more prestigious" universities. There is no way we would consider Northwestern more worthwhile than Brandeis, given the price differential. I would have a different opinion if the scholarship was from Hick College. (hope there is nothing by that name).</p>
<p>Just wanted to add to the above the recognition that most kids want to attend, and end up going to, the most "prestigious" ranked school to which they are accepted. Unfortunately, you have had the "bad luck" of being offered a very generous award from a very fine institution.</p>
<p>In terms of what you want to study, econ is one of the more popular majors at Brandeis and we have a very strong econ department. Economics</a> | Brandeis University You can also received a Masters in finance by staying at the International Business School for one more year. I would get in touch with the econ department and talk with some professors to get a feel for the program. Also, I would contact the student reps from the econ department to get more first-hand info about what it's like to study in the econ deparment. Brandeis</a> University Office of the Dean of Arts and Sciences</p>
<p>In terms of campus life, I have been very happy here at Brandeis. There are always a wide variety of things to do and Boston is very accessible when you want to experience urban life.</p>
<p>Hope this post helps.</p>
<p>JYU31, if you had to take out a loan for the extra $28,000 per year and NOT have your parents pay the difference then I what I said was wrong. You are either insane or have zero financial sense. Do NOT go to Northwestern and incur this increased debt....PLEASE. Everyone on these board, even Hanna, is in agreement with me.</p>
<p>I'd say Brandeis. Chicago I hear is pretty hectic and no flies on Boston. Even though NW is ranked higher, they are very close academically, in my opinion.</p>