Hi, everyone! I would really appreciate any help or knowledge that could help me out of my predicament.
Notre Dame has been my number one school since sophomore year, and after putting so much time and effort into my application, I was wait-listed. While I was wait-listed, I picked Purdue as my choice school. I think I want to do aerospace engineering (I know I can get through the academic side), but I’m not sure if I want to make a career and life out of it. Purdue is affordable (I’m in state) and is ranked as a top 10 engineering school. However, when I’m there I don’t feel anything: I don’t really like the campus or vibe, the engineering is very competitive, apparently the professors don’t really care about undergraduates, and I wouldn’t be able to figure skate (something I’ve done all my life).
For good or for worse, I got off the wait list at Notre Dame! Whenever I’ve visited, I felt like I’m home: everyone is so friendly and supportive, I love the ND memes, and I can figure skate on ND team. However, I’ve researched a lot, and I’ve learned that the engineering is O.K., but every other major is highly ranked. They also have a great Alumni out-reach that supposedly opens many doors. However, the major con is the price. I didn’t apply for any financial aid, so the $65,000 would be coming out of my 529, which only covers three years of tuition.
Going to Purdue would mean plenty of leftover money for grad school or something else, but I would be sacrificing my dream of ND, the friends I would make there in the next four years, and opportunities. I want to take a more of logical approach to this decision instead of romanticizing ND, so that’s why I’m asking for any or all help. I have till May 15th to decide if I’ll take the opening. Thank You
Before you truly consider ND as an option that you should talk to your parents and see if you can get the financial part worked out – if you can’t do that then realistically there is no decision to be made.
Tuition, room and board at Purdue is $20k per year; ND is $66k per year.
Have your parents told you they are ok with paying an extra $190k for you to go to ND? Which would include them coming up with an incremental $70k beyond what’s in the bank?
You can’t beat saving all that money which you can then put towards grad school. Once on campus you will make friends and have a great time no matter where you are. Good luck!
@northwesty They are mostly fine with paying for all of it as long as I get good grades and put an effort into my education and future job searching, but their point is what @irishmother is saying: save the money and spend it on grad school. I think this is a very good objective point, but I’m scared that I will change majors. Notre Dame’s degrees are ranked higher than Purdue’s in all cases but engineering. The cost is important to me because I would have to pay for any higher education, so I still don’t know if using all of the 529 is worth it. I’m currently filling out the FAFSA and CSS right now, and I don’t believe I will get any aid. With this new information, @northwesty , can you give me your opinion?
@happy1 My parents said that they are willing to pay for all four year as long as I’m a good student, participate in my community, and don’t screw around, which are all givens, but I would have to pay for any further education (i.e grad school or med school). I’m not really sure of what I want for higher education as of right now, and I’m not 100% sure on what I want to major in. Do you have any more advice that could help me? I’d really appreciate it.
OK, you didn’t apply for financial aid this year, but would you qualify next year? Also, even though you didn’t apply, the dates are priority deadlines. Couldn’t you call the financial aid office and see if you could still apply, if you qualify for aid, that is?
Congratulations for having some nice choices!
@rowsandbows You are right to consider the overall rank/reputation of the school, especially if you think there is a chance that you would switch to a non engineering major. However, if you believe that you will be going to grad school, this consideration should not be a major factor in your decision.
Since it sounds like grad school is the plan, save your money and go to Purdue. Grad school is expensive and if you are expected to pay for that yourself, you could rack up a huge amount of debt.
Also, @Ruby789 has some good advice in the post above.
Most college choices get driven by price and reputation. Purdue for engineering in-state is a killer price/rep ratio. But if you are not certain to be an engineer, then a different ballgame. And the typical college kid changes majors 2-3 times, and plenty of aspiring engineers flame out. So you are smart to be thinking about things other than your major and what plan B might look like…
Grad school (like a masters engineering degree) usually doesn’t cost much money. Professional school (law, biz, med) is what costs a TON. Like most smart high school grads, you think you may go to law/biz/med school. But many many of those HS grads wind up not going to professional school.
My kid turned down ND for a less expensive option in part to conserve the 529 (and since professional school is pretty certain). But that was at another top 20 school, so there was basically no difference in rep. So paying an extra $200k just for the great ND student experience was hard to justify.
If your folks are really OK with spending the money for ND (are they really??), then it is your call. Spend the money on a great student experience and brand/rep at ND, enjoy it, and then deal with post-grad stuff when you get there. ND is really expensive, but you’ll be blowing that wad of cash to get a sure thing. To me, Purdue makes sense only (i) IF you really think you will stay an engineer and (ii) IF you really think you will follow up your undergrad engineer degree with law/biz/med school.
Sounds to me like you should pick ND. If you do, make sure to be extra thankful to your parents for being willing to finance that opportunity for you.
Good luck.
One more thing. If your parents have $190k stashed away in the 529, you’re never going to get fin aid at ND. But go ahead and ask to be sure.
I am a dad who faced similar choices with two kids, and here are my thoughts.
Apply for financial aid.
Work hard.
Develop your career plans as early as you can, and pursue them aggressively and professionally.
Keep the “waking up the echoes cheering her name” to a reasonable level. Enjoy it, but don’t lose all perspective.
Try to get good summer internships, in part by exploiting the alumni network.
Do all of the above at Notre Dame.
You only live once.
Best of luck to you.
Is this even a question? Parent of 4 here. LIVE. If you were saying you were picking between two options that were sort of even in your mind, I would say PURDUE but since ND is your DREAM then go for it. If you get great grades because you’re happier , then maybe youll get a scholarship to grad school! If you’re happier your grades will do better bottom line.
So, where did you go? If I had answered earlier, I would have said, “ND, no question”. It’s your dream and you have the financing. You will never regret it and it will be a lifelong membership. Hope you chose ND, or else that you are happy at Purdue!
@Irishcali The OP has not been on CC since May.