<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 (~24k per year)
U-Virginia (out-of-state (OOS) tuition ~38k per year)
U-Michigan (OOS ~43k per year)
UC Berkeley (~24k per year)</p>
<p>**As far as tuition goes: My parents have agreed to cover about 30-35k per year. If I go out-of-state, I will help to pay the difference, but will not be getting anything but loans from public schools 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 (I've been a Cal fan my whole life, and I love the school, but I have a brother there now so I already know everything about it). But I would also definitely be happy going there, if that was the best decision. </p>
<p>I guess I really like UVA and Michigan, but many people are telling me to stay in-state to save money for grad school and such. I understand this argument, but I also think part of growing as an individual comes with stepping outside your comfort zone and taking risks with the understanding that sometimes you have to make sacrifices for the reward. IF I did go OOS, I would probably be an RA my So/JR year to save on room and board.</p>
<p>So I guess I'm coming to you bc I have only a few weeks to decide, and I need honest, unbiased opinions.</p>
<p>*If you've had experience with similar decisions/situations, please share!</p>
<p>If you can love Cal, I think that's a great choice! I sure wish my D could. I just cant see spending OOS money on publics when you have some good choices that you can love. D is not a CC person so you two may be very different, but I can't see her really grasping the enormity of that much money. I struggle with it myself. Finally, I am willing to support her choice to go south for diversity the UC's don't offer.</p>
<p>vc08, you got into some amazing schools. Think of all the people who were rejected from UCLA and Berkeley - and you're in at both, in-state. I'd suggest you choose between those two, maybe even based on which one is farthest from your house, that might help you feel like you are going "away." Bank the difference for grad school. JMO.</p>
<p>I think you need to clarify financial matters with your parents before making your decision.</p>
<p>If you go to one of the in-state schools, you are spending less than your parents budgeted for your college education. Would your parents be willing to put that money away and allow you to use it for graduate/professional school after your bachelor's degree or not?</p>
<p>By the way, you have four splendid choices. Everybody's talking about how impressive Berkeley is, but don't count out UCLA, either. My son, who is going to graduate school next year, recently visited UCLA and was really impressed, although in the end, he chose a different school (not one on your list).</p>
<p>Go visit the schools at the top of your list. Ask a lot of questions, check out the surrounding neighborhood, and pay attention to the attitude of the students on campus. Do they look happy to be there? Can you imagine yourself being there next year? Don't rush yourself, take your time deciding.</p>
<p>My older son is OOS at UM - chose it over OSU. He loves it. He decided the extra cost was worth it - he is doing the stafford loan to make up the difference. Not what I would have chosen but I am not him - and I fully supported his decision.</p>
<p>Just remember though - Michigan weather is.......NOT LIKE CALIFORNIA!</p>
<p>Everything's an individual choice but of your list I'd recommend UCLA or Cal because they're both top ranked schools and much less expensive than the OOS schools. If you lived in Virginia or Michigan I'd say the same about their schools. If you wanted a school in a different part of the country and you have the credentials to get accepted at the 4 you mention, did you apply to some of the privates and see what financial package they'd provide? It may come out to equal or even less than the UCs in-state cost. It sounds as if you might be past the timeline though unless you've already applied.</p>
<p>The cost saving is reason enough to stay in-state in my book. You say you're in SoCal so maybe go try the bay area for a while. It's not terribly different in weather or other areas than Southern California (I've lived in the bay area before) but it's a bit different nonetheless and is close to other things - San Francisco, redwoods, Tahoe, cold ocean water and empty but scenic beaches, etc. </p>
<p>I've also lived in cold country and believe me, you're not missing much (no offense intended to anyone here). With the money saved by going in-state you could possibly do a couple of summer internships in other parts of the country to get a feel for those areas, study abroad, travel further, and still have money in your (or your parents') pockets.</p>
<p>I think they are all great schools. I just wanted to mention that you should seriously consider UVA's location and whether it would work well for you. It is in a somewhat isolated area ( not near great public transportation or large airports). Ease of travel could be an issue you should consider.</p>
<p>You have the chance of a lifetime to experience a new geographical region, and its culture!! UVA is a beautiful school, encompassing the historical architecture and richness of Thomas Jefferson's times. If you have grown up in soCal, which is slim on colonial American history (great Spanish colonial though) the sense of the past might thrill you. The culture of Virginia is also rich: the struggles of North/South, the emphasis on government, the influence of the military, and the fast-fading Southern manners--men with habits of gentlemen, women not afraid to be ladies (as well as smart & successful). And of course the UVA party scene--quite enthusiastic, if a tad preppy. Much different from the Cal beach/dude mentality. You would be close to NYC, Philly, Boston, all accessible by Amtrak from D.C., and only a hop across the pond to Europe.</p>
<p>Michigan is a great school, but the grey months extend from November through April, and there isn't all that much in Ann Arbor besides bars, and jogging in the Arboretum. Berkeley has some similarities to Ann Arbor, but great weather and San Fran.</p>
<p>My older son is at UVA, in-state. He had an out-of-state choice that would have been a better social fit for him but he went with the lower cost. He finds the academic atmosphere at UVA to be outstanding and feels on balance that he made the right choice. </p>
<p>Socially, the Greek scene at UVA is significant. Do you like the idea of joining a fraternity or sorority in college? Another difference is size. UVA is a smaller school than UCLA or Berkeley and set in smaller city. Do you see that as a plus or a minus?</p>
<p>Another parent here who questions the wisdom of paying OOS at a public when you have UCLA and Cal as a "back up."</p>
<p>I totally understand -- and APPLAUD -- wanting to experience a world away from home. But not at the cost of over $40,000 in debt. </p>
<p>My thought: go to a UC, get a world-class education at a world-class school -- and instead of working part time/summers to pay off tuition debts, use the money to travel the world. Or take some summer classes at UVA (or Yale, or Harvard or NYU....) Your options are so much broader without debt!</p>
<p>Very difficult to argue against either UCLA or Berkeley at a discount that could be as much as $60-$80K vs. your other options.</p>
<p>As others have noted, perhaps if your family has the means to handle any one of the choices comfortably, you could request a portion of the savings to use for educational travel, etc.</p>
<p>Like suggested above, I'd go to Berkeley and take a year abroad. During your year abroad you'd still only be paying Berkeley tuition, but you'd get a TRULY different college experience.</p>
<p>Consider the implications of the loans you would need to take vs. graduating debt free. Being burdened by high loan payments and having your options restricted due to same is not fun.</p>
<p>Have a discussion with your parents and see if you can determine more precisely what they feel they can contribute. The $5000 difference between $30,000 and $35,000 over 4 years is significant. If the answer is $35,000, then you only have a shortfall of $3000 for the first year at UVA (remember, though, that costs will rise.)</p>
<p>I attended and love UMich, but cannot advise you to take on the kind of debt you would need in order to attend there when I look at the qualities of your other choices.
(I must disagree, of course, with fauve's assessment of Ann Arbor!)</p>
<p>(Our son did decide to take a more expensive option and make up the difference with loans. His indebtedness will be about $20,000 after 4 years and he is entering a field that has excellent job prospects and high starting salaries, so I was less concerned than I would have been otherwise.)</p>
<p>I am a big proponent of going away and experiencing another part of the country. There truly are cultural differences; it's not just about the weather, lol.</p>
<p>But that is pretty much when the costs will be very similar. </p>
<p>I agree with those who have said you need to get these $$ figures nailed down more closely. What will your parents pay exactly? Run the numbers, look at what your payments will be on student loans every month when you get out of school. Compare it to your likely monthly income and other fixed expenses. Then, if you are still undecided, come back and tell us why.</p>
<p>If you are planning graduate school, you can explore other areas then. Or for your first job. It's my understanding that the financial advantages of the UCs are not so great over other options at the graduate level.</p>
<p>If you have a chance to go to UVa GO!!! It is a great school, it was my daughters first choice, and her brother goes there, she was rejected, and has been crying for days!. It is a very different feeling going to school in Virginia, the people are friendly, fun, intelligent, and when you graduate from there, you can get a job ANYWHERE,I have a son who went to Pepperdine Law school too, but UVa is exceptional. Difficult to get to, (fly into), but there is absolutely nothing lacking. ALWAYS something great to do, close enough to D.C.,the arts, history, the beach 2 hours. My daughter got a VERY large vocal music performance scholarship to another school(GOOD music school) and we told her, if she gets into UVa , without scholarship(not a big music school) we would rather pay for her to go to UVa. Second to none.If you don't go, she'll gladly take the spot!</p>
<p>WOW, I must say I was extremely pleasantly surprised when I came home and found all these wonderful responses! </p>
<p>Thanks a million, you've all brought up some very valid arguments.</p>
<p>As for the cost issue, I'll be going over that with my parents in greater depth tonight, so I can get back to you on that.</p>
<p>Basically though, my parents said they are able to pay, as of right now, about 38,000 per year. BUT I think they really just want me to make my own decision, as they've always tried to get me to the point where I could go wherever I wanted, without finances playing a part. Because of this, they've saved and balanced their money really well. So I'm more shooting for around 33,000 or so per year. I think that's more than fair for them to put that much into my education, but I don't want to stretch them too much as I still have a brother in college, and a younger sister who will be attending about 6 years from now.</p>
<p>But I will get back to you on the "money rollover to grad school" thing later on tonight.</p>
<p>Also, one question: I heard that at some schools you can "bargain" with them, in that if you have a better financial package at one school, you can try to get another school to match it. Is this true? If so, how would one go about doing this?</p>
<p>Once again, much thanks and please continue to respond if you think of anything else!</p>
<p>When you mention "finacial packages," above, are you referring to merit aid? Do you have merit aid to offset some of the cost you listed? Or do those costs already reflect merit aid?</p>
<p>Or are you referring to need-based financial aid?</p>