Please....help me choose!

<p>I'm having lots of trouble deciding where to go next year, so anyone who has any thoughts or opinions, please share :)</p>

<p>CA Resident</p>

<p>I've narrowed my choices down to these schools (in random order):</p>

<p>UCLA-honors program (~24k per year)
U-Virginia (out-of-state (OOS) tuition ~38k per year)
U-Michigan (OOS ~43k per year)
UC Berkeley (~24k per year)
Notre Dame (~45k per year)</p>

<p>**As far as tuition goes: My parents have agreed to cover in-state UC costs. If I go out-of-state, I need to pay the difference, but will not be getting anything but loans from PUBLIC schools (private schools do their own thing) because I'm an OOS student.</p>

<p>I hope to major in something along the lines of English and International Relations/Public Policy.</p>

<p>Not too concerned about weather. Won't be a deciding factor.</p>

<p>First choice would be something outside of CA if realistic, just to try something new. </p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>VC: Congratulations! You may want to try something new, but those student loan repayments down the road will get old awfully darned quickly. Some people aren't paying them off until they're 40! If none of the out-of-state schools guarantees to meet any of the need above UC costs, is any of them THAT much better? Or does any offer a different, specialized major that you need (doesn't sound like it)? UCLA honors would seem nearly impossible to turn down. The fact that you got into all these places is a mighty feather in the old chapeau, but major debt down the road won't do quite as much good for the ego. Good luck!</p>

<p>I agree with Connman. As much as I would have loved to see you in Ann Arbor, paying $80k (over 4 years) more for Michigan or Notre Dame when you could attend Cal or UCLA makes not sense. Go to Cal or UCLA and avoid the huge debt.</p>

<p>Berkeley (10 chars)</p>

<p>hmm, not really the responses I wanted, but I suppose that was simply wishful thinking!</p>

<p>Thank you all for your honest, passionate resonses, they are truly appreciated!</p>

<p>If anyone else has anything to add, feel free!</p>

<p>If it were me, I'd go to Berkeley. $19,000 in loans per year will add up quickly.</p>

<p>Berkeley kids have no lives. id stay far away from that place. my sister goes to UVA- likes it alot. i personally like UM a little better though. i dont really know much about notre dame. UCLA honors sounds good....if you dont mind living in LA. if i were you id put it between UM, UCLA, and UVA....with the cost being a big factor...UCLA sounds the best to me...depending on your major</p>

<p>If money wasn't an issue, this would be a harder decision. But, since it is, Berkeley is the clear choice.</p>

<p>wtr: My brother goes to Cal. He has a life, and it's a d*** good one lol.</p>

<p>I kinda want something different. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Cal, been a fan my whole life. But it's just too comfortable for me. I don't know, I'm visiting in a few weeks and maybe that will sway me. I just know it too well, like I would know all the traditions and stuff already. I think college should be something where you experience something entirely new. </p>

<p>How much are lottery tickets?</p>

<p>Congrats on all the acceptances! To be honest, I'm going to have to agree with most of the people who posted above me and say that if I were in your shoes, I'd jump at UCLA and Berkeley (esp. at those prices!). I think it's just because I've always wanted to live in California. The MI weather gets to me sometimes. All of those schools are amazing though, and I'm sure that wherever you go, you'll experience something new.</p>

<p>UCLA-Honors or Berkley. Stash the money for grad school or a house later on. You'll be glad you don't have the debt.</p>

<p>Thanks for the advice guys, I really, truly appreciate your input.</p>

<p>I will be visiting UCLA and Cal again within the next two weeks, and will have a final decision made after that. We're also in the process of going over finances and things don't look as bad tuition-wise as they originally did for OOS schools. So, we'll see, I'm going to go into each visit with and open mind and see what I come away with!</p>

<p>Much thanks again!</p>