I am torn on these two and wondering if I could get some input.
There are pros and cons to both of these schools for me. I’ll give you some.
Notre Dame:
Pros: very prestigious, love the campus, the people, alumni network
Cons: Far from home, 25k ish per year, potential small fish in big pond
Creighton:
Pros: full ride, very close to home, have connections, maybe big fish in small pond
Cons: not as well known as Notre Dame, not as much competition
I could see myself going to both of these schools. My main concern is the tuition and prestige is also important. Just wanted another perspective.
I will probably be around 60k in debt after four years if I attended Notre Dame. I think staying closer to home is nice but trying something different is tempting.
I am considering grad school or something after college, just not sure what yet.
As long as I live comfortably, it does not matter to me where I end up after college.
About sports, I am a fan, but the quality of teams will not make me choose a different school.
About value or prestige, after getting more information, do you think the prestige is worth it? Or should I take the value?
Have you visited both campuses? That should really help you get a feel for the life you’d have at both schools. You’ll also have a sense of whether you want to deal with getting to South Bend all the time, which is a bit off the beaten path. Creighton is certainly well regarded in its own right, if less widely known outside the Plains states and Midwest, and has a good record of placing grads into jobs. Notre Dame is Notre Dame, internationally known, beloved by many loyal fans around the country. I’m a mom who graduated from two prestigious schools (Pomona College and Stanford) and have under-performed in my career due to my choices. Having said that, one thing you do tend to get from those upper-echelon schools is a lifetime ticket to valuable alumni connections, and Notre Dame has a particularly strong and enthusiastic alumni identity. But is that ticket worth $100,000? Also, I think the value of the “prestige” is important in very early career to get your foot in the door, and then it’s all about the resume you’re building and the experience you’re getting. A $60K debt burden will translate into $600-$700 monthly payments for several years. Since it’s between that and a full ride, I’d say take the free education. You could always consider getting a grad degree from a “prestige” school if you feel like you want that experience. I’d visit both schools, even if a second time if you’ve already been there, and then listen to your gut instinct. You probably already “know” what you truly want to do. Best of luck. And congrats!! You’re in an amazing position.
I am a CPA as is my S. And H went to Notre Dame undergrad and my S went for is Masters in Accounting so I’m a fan of ND and understand the appeal of the school. Here are some comments:
-$60,00 in undergraduate debt is a lot to take on. The need to repay hundreds of dollars of debt monthly would impact your life decisions as an adult for many many years.
– You would have to figure out how you could finance ND. Students are limited in what they can borrow. Will your parents take on that level of debt to finance your undergraduate education?
If you go the accounting route here are some additional considerations:
–The large accounting firms interview at many colleges. Most definitely they take a lot of kids from ND. However, it is very likely that they also hire from Creighton. Do some research – talk to people at career placement at Creighton to understand the extent that the Big 4 and other major accounting firms recruit there.
–Also keep in mind that CPAs now need 150 college credits. One can get these credits different ways (you need to check your state’s requirements) but many accounting majors go on for a one year Masters in Accounting. So that will be one additional year of schooling to pay for. Most colleges have some kind of auto-admit to a Masters in Accounting program for their own students who perform well as undergrads (check what is at ND and Creighton). However, you can do your fifth year at a different college. For example my S went to Fordham undergrad, did his Masters in Accounting at ND, and then interviewed for jobs out of ND’s placement office.
Depends upon your career goals. For accounting CPA route, Creighton is the right answer with a masters degree in accounting from Notre Dame or the University of Texas at Austin.
Finance & Wall Street is a different beast.
But, the good news is that the trend is away from general MBA degrees in favor of one year specialized masters degrees such as in finance. The University of Iowa is a great example. Shutting down their FULL TIME MBA program & introducing a one year masters in finance.
Even if you managed to get the $100k in loans to pay for Notre Dame, the debt would squash you. Keep in mind that this is only for a bachelors degree. The requirements for a CPA is 150 hours of credit, which usually means a masters degree. If you have the ability to graduate debt free, then that’s a good thing, especially if you’re studying ACCOUNTING! Employers want to see that you have a strong level head when it comes to advising people about their money. Your adult self will thank you later.
Employers want to see that you have a strong level head when it comes to advising people about their money. Your adult self will thank you later.