<p>Actually, I hadn't noticed that you received a full tuition scholarship to BU. That might really be the way to go.</p>
<p>Reminds me of the person who was choosing between Cornell and a 4th-tier state school that he didn't get a scholarship too....hmmm.</p>
<p>I know this may sound crazy, but perhaps going to Northeastern is a mistake I will have to make. It is the sensation that you know you are walking down a path opposite of your happiness, but something inside is telling you to do it. The opportunity may not be as glamorous, but it is comfortable.</p>
<p>I have visited NEU, and I do enjoy their facilities. I forwent attending the Princeton Preview because I thought I would never be able to go there. Yet, I submitted a heartfelt letter to the financial aid office the other day. I feel exhausted and am left with illogical motions.</p>
<p>I will wait for a response from the financial aid offer. If it does not change, I will most likely go to NEU. Hopefully, my heart will hold out. If things aren't meant to be this way, maybe summer will bring another opportunity. Waitlists are still in the back of my mind.</p>
<p>QTHoller, let me tell you a story. </p>
<p>I go to a good school (T-20) and I had the opportunity to visit Princeton on multiple occasions this past year. My visit to Princeton was a large reason why I am transferring out of my current school. Keep in mind that I am going to a very solid institution, but after being at Princeton, my perception of what I wanted out of life changed drastically. The student body at Princeton had an intellectual curiosity that is foreign to my current school. I too received a full scholarship, but the difference in the students at my school and a school like Princeton is palpable. No, actually it is MORE than palpable -- it is life-changing. I have heard people say that the differences in education and opportunities between a school like NEU and a school like Princeton are negligible. That could not be further from the truth. Northeastern, though a fine school, is no Princeton.</p>
<p>You have one life to live. Luckily, life has given you a tremendous choice. You can choose to play it safe and be the big fish in a little pond at Northeastern. I have no doubt that you will succeed there and go on to accomplish the many wonderful things you were destined to do. Or you can choose to follow your heart and do what is right for YOU despite the financial hardships. Princeton will afford you the opportunity to spend the next four years of your glorious life in a stimulating microcosm of intellect, passion, and joie de vivre. Granted, that is not to say that these things do not exist at NEU, but Princeton has an unparalleled air about it that seems to inspire growth even out of the most stubborn of seeds. Your life will be shaped at Princeton in ways you cannot even begin to fathom. You will be immersed by the beauty of youth, the intimacy of age, and the hopes and dreams of individuals who share your ambition. This, my friend, is something that you cannot put a price on.</p>
<p>Whatever you decide, I think you should remember:
-You will grow into your place wherever you decide to attend. You will find wonderful and bad about any college, be it Princeton or NEU or wherever you decide. I think you will grow to like your situation. Full tuition is VERY hard to pass up (for me it would be especially because the idea of debt terrifies me!), and...
-If you do hate where you choose to go and you do hate the field you chose, you don't have to stick with it! You can always transfer (if it's early enough) or simply change your major.</p>
<p>I know that these suggestions seem daunting right now because parent situations can be really tough to work through, but I would hate for you to miss out on enjoying your first year of whichever college you choose because you're worried about your future career. Keep considering it and keep trying to work through it with your parents, but also take time to step back, take a deep breath, and have a little fun with moving in and being a freshman. If things get difficult, just remember that you could always do what they want you to right now and come back to it later when they might have a fresher viewpoint after you've been gone for a year.</p>
<p>OP:</p>
<p>Best decisions are made with heart and mind. It sounds like you have the heart part...now for the mind.</p>
<p>It's easy to make decisions with someone else's money. Remember, you and your parents have already done many of the right things to get you to the point of being accepted to a number of top quality schools. It's now up to you to springboard off of that foundation and make a holistic choice. </p>
<p>If you want Princeton bad enough, think out-of-the-box and find a way to pay for it yourself...then it's value will be greater than the 120K loans you may ultimately end up with. You can say to yourself one day, "Not only did I go to my dream school, but I paid for it myself". That's something no one can take away from you. </p>
<p>So by all means dream, but also work towards self-sufficiency so you don't depend on someone else to fulfill your dreams.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I know this may sound crazy, but perhaps going to Northeastern is a mistake I will have to make. It is the sensation that you know you are walking down a path opposite of your happiness, but something inside is telling you to do it. The opportunity may not be as glamorous, but it is comfortable.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I would really not give in so easily to walking down a path opposite of your happiness. StitchinTime nailed it. Openingdoors was eloquent. There are very few universities that I would say would be worth taking 120K in loans for, but I think after having considered your situation, Princeton would be one. Don't back down until you positively absolutely have no other option. We most regret the things in life that we chickened out on; if you don't fight in every way possible to get to Princeton, you may regret that lack of effort for the rest of your life. Don't give yourself that regret. Fight on. When it seems futile, fight on. When you are straining your relationship with your parents, fight on (it's not like you're considering blowing off school altogether -- they'll come around.)</p>
<p>QTHoller: What have you decided?</p>
<p>I myself do not even know. I am seriously at the point where I am going to throw in the towel and go to Northeastern. If I do, I will attend graduate school afterwards to get an MBA.</p>
<p>However, I am still in the process of communication with Princeton. I really hope it works out. I guess all I have left is hope. ^^ Wish me luck!</p>
<p>referring to your financial situation regarding the stock assets, write a letter or call and ask princeton for more money...explain your financial situation</p>
<p>i did this and they upped my aid from 12K to 30K</p>
<p>seriously, you should do this cause you could easily get your aid doubled</p>
<p>YOU NEED TO CALL AND EXPLAIN YOUR FINANCIAL SITUATION AND ASK FOR MORE MONEY</p>
<p>QTHoller: Do NOT throw in the towel. Do everything possible to get what you want. And if at that point everything has failed and you've tried every possible avenue, only at that point say you did the best you could do and you left no stone unturned. Trust me: you this to yourself.</p>
<p>Hell, go the alum who interviewed you or whatever.... Well, don't do that until you've tried all other avenues like the one the poster above just put.</p>
<p>I really don't care if anybody disagrees with me, but I think you will be making possibly the biggest mistake by turning down Princeton. I made that same mistake of choosing a scholarship over my "dream" school and its haunts me to this day. </p>
<p>I'm also an avid believer in the idea of "if you want it badly enough, you can get it." Before you resign, make sure you've done everything possible to make Princeton work. Leave no stone unturned.</p>
<p>OP, firstly, let me congratulate you on having such excellent opportunities from which to choose!! That's fabulous, and you are fortunate indeed to have such a choice before you! </p>
<p>Secondly, I have to say I'm somewhat amused (and yet, appalled, too) at those who are saying "Princeton, and never mind the cost!" I would be surprised indeed if anyone saying that has any experience with significant debt, and $120K is indeed significant debt for a young adult to have.</p>
<p>If you go to grad school, where you took your undergraduate degree really doesn't matter all that much.</p>
<p>I think you should post over on the Parents forum and ask for opinions there. Parents have much more experience with debt and what it can do to and for you than students do. (Nothing against students, mind you! It's just that debt is something many parents have much more experience with.)</p>
<p>I hope Princeton comes through $$-wise for you, but if it doesn't, you have to go to a school you can afford, and if you plan to go to grad school, and even if you don't, I doubt very much that you can afford $120K in debt. That really is an insane amount of debt. Don't leave any stone unturned, indeed, but don't mortgage your first 20 (or more) years out of college, either.</p>
<p>Good luck to you!</p>
<p>Boston Univ is a good school. Don't count it out. Don't get yourself wrapped up in pharmacy if you don't think you will like it. However, if you think you will like the courses (mostly science, I imagine) then as another poster said, you can always go on to an MBA from there.</p>
<p>
[quote]
OP, firstly, let me congratulate you on having such excellent opportunities from which to choose!! That's fabulous, and you are fortunate indeed to have such a choice before you! </p>
<p>Secondly, I have to say I'm somewhat amused (and yet, appalled, too) at those who are saying "Princeton, and never mind the cost!" I would be surprised indeed if anyone saying that has any experience with significant debt, and $120K is indeed significant debt for a young adult to have.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>120K is a crushing amount of debt. On the other hand, a life spent fulfilling the expectations of one's parents and not living for one's own happiness (assuming that one can survive and thrive doing so) is a good way to crush one's spirit.</p>
<p>I have argued for fighting on and not giving up. And stand by that. The OP wants to go to Princeton. She should pull out all the stops. She should call the alumnus/a who interviewed her if she has to and recruit his/her help with financial aid. Whatever it takes. Remember, she's got two parents who mean well for her but who want her to pursue a profession she finds uninspiring. </p>
<p>Now having said that, don't make the best be the enemy of the good. She simply may, even after all this, not be able to afford to go to Princeton. She certainly shouldn't break her family's financial back to afford it, with this I agree. </p>
<p>However, in that case, BU would be the best option perhaps. The only thing is a general degree from BU might be less marketable than a general degree from Princeton or the specialized NE degree.</p>
<p>Posters on this thread who have never managed large debt (by large I mean more than 6 months salary) are not in a position to weight the cost/benefit of this decision.... only the benefit (and some rather childish, dreamlike notions at that... difference between infatuation and love).</p>
<p>$120,000 is a LOT of debt. It will take 20 years to pay that off if the OP makes $80,000 per year ($55,000 after taxes), and uses almost HALF her disposable income (money left after rent, car, food, clothes, insurances, etc.) to service that debt.</p>
<p>The dreamy eyed posters here have no idea how that sort of debt reduces their opportunities to socialize, take trips, etc.</p>
<p>i personally think you should try BU.
it's in Boston, so there will be plenty of business opportunities.
and w/ full tuition, you don't havta pay nearly as much.</p>
<p>thanks for the advice everyone, hopefully i will be finding out about princeton's decision with my financial aid within the next week</p>
<p>also, i am a guy :D</p>
<p>OMG! I received a revised financial aid letter from Princeton. My FC is only $12000 now! This changes EVERYTHING! I am soooo excited and overwhelmed right now!</p>
<p>Will this financial aid remain stable? So many questions are popping into my head!</p>
<p>Congratulations on your news. Ask the Princeton Financial Aid office what you can expect for the next years provided your family situation remains the same.</p>
<p>Good Luck!</p>