<p>Where you go to college doesn't have that much effect on your life. I understand how people in high school become focused on where they are going to college, but you don't pass the goal line at 18 years old and are set for life. Believe it or not, when you are 30 years old, you are measured on what you have done recently and not where you went to college. The old boy network and all the connections that will make you a "made man" for the rest of your life provided you got into the door at 18 are a myth. People do get a bump for their first job since the top companies recruit at the top colleges. However, grad schools would look favorably on TT. It does bother me when someone says "Since you know you are headed for a not particularly high paying career and one in which undergrad institution won't much matter, limiting debt would be smart.". First, you plan on getting a doctorate. Second, the statement is elitist and has an incorrect premise. You dont have to have a most prestigious degree to be in the club of people running the world. The whole idea sounds like a conspiracy theory. The adcoms are selecting the future leaders of the world and if you arent selected you are doomed to a low paying job with no authority. You should look at the first chapter of Harvard Schmarvard by Jay Mathews where he presents statistical evidence on lifetime income and anecdotal evidence concerning what people are running the companies and newspapers.</p>
<p>From what you have said, you would prefer to go to Oberlin. Oberlin and Texas Tech are pretty much totally different environments, and so I suspect you would be happier at Oberlin except for the debt hanging over you. Spending money on college is the same as spending money on anything. You cant buy anything without giving up something else. The question is just whether Oberlin is worth the extra money to you in terms of greater enjoyment for the next four years.</p>
<p>Any slight bump you would get applying to Stanford from Oberlin instead of TT is offset by the greater debt you would have when it was time to go to grad school.</p>