<p>I've been accepted to all of these schools and I am not sure what to pick! I am a CA resident, so I would get in-state tuition at UCLA, but I am not sure I want to attend a UC with the rising costs, the huge amounts of kids, and the declining education. I won't be receiving much financial aid because of my parent's careers, but the other two are very expensive. I have applied under biology at Penn, but I am really unsure, and all freshmen are undeclared at Notre Dame. I don't know if it is worth being $200 grand in debt before I go on to grad school. But I love both Penn and Notre Dame for different reasons, and I have a soft spot for Michigan, though it is huge. I need some guidance! Is it worth just going to UCLA to save money? And which school am I most likely to do best at? Please help:)</p>
<p>Gawd yes, go to UCLA and save money. $200k debt will be an millstone around your neck and really limit your future goals. The whole “declining education” thing is a scare tactic to boost support for UC.</p>
<p>$200k debt @ 6% interest over 10 year normal repayment term is $2,220/month…that is a mortgage payment. You’re mortgaging your future.</p>
<p>You can’t even end up with $200,000 in debt on your own. All you can borrow without a co-signer is the Stafford Loan maximum each year - $5,500 freshman, $6,600 sophomore, $7,500 junior, and $7,500 senior.</p>
<p>Sit down with your parents, and run any financial aid packages that you get through this handy calculator, and talk about where the money can come from to pay for your education: [FinAid</a> | Calculators | Award Letter Comparison Tool](<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Award Letter Requirements - Finaid)</p>