Anyone else struggling to decide if the cost will be worth it? I’m very excited that I was accepted, but it’s hard to know whether or not paying $50k+ a year is ok. Granted, I should only have about two years left once I transfer.
I’ve also been accepted to a small LAC that gave me a good aid package and I wouldn’t have to worry about money there.
How are you guys going about trying to decide?
100k for 2 years. Worth it man 
Columbia is a very great school ! If the number of year is 4 , We should sit down and look at it more seriously. Plus, they will give you institutional aid (around 10k) so you will be fine.
@switcharooney Hi, if you aim for graduate or professional schools after college, I think a small LAC is better for your situation. Theoretically, it is easier to maintain a great GPA in a small LAC rather than in an Ivy League college. And good grades are critical if you wanna get into a high ranked graduate/professional school. Secondly, it would probably save you lots of money for graduate school. However, if you just want to get a good job after college, I think paying 50k a year to get a degree from Columbia is definitely a good choice.
No matter what you are going to do after finishing the bachelor, I think that very good GPA like in Columbia is far more impressive than that in LAC. If you can maintain those GPA in Columbia, you’re going to be a pretty strong candidate for any opportunity. Also, pro of going to Columbia is to be able to be sorrounded by very intelligent and motivated people, both students and instructors, who are very helpful in writing a letter of recommendation that is one of the most crucial factors for graduate school and Ph.D. Program application. Columbia definitely has high quality and renowned instructors in the world. You can make good relationship with them if you’re willing to and put effort to it. So to your question as to whether 50k is worth it, it depends on how you do in Columbia. If you can maintain good GPA and have a good relationship with renowned professors, it might be worth it.
If you only have 2 years then I would say yes. I was in the same situation but have recently received my aid package which almost cut the cost in half so you should wait to see what they offer. I know a lot of people are going to tell you “its not worth it” or “it doesn’t matter where you get your degree from” but it does when talking about a school like Columbia (or Harvard, Yale, Stanford etc). Of course you can get a good job and eventually go to grad school after graduating from a small school but what you won’t get are the additional opportunities that those graduating from an Ivy will receive. I would also say that it depends on what you are planning on doing after college, what your intended career is, and what you want to major in.
Keep in mind that at Columbia you aren’t paying $50k + just for the education. You’re paying to get the best internships, connections, and chance to meet with recruiters from some of the world’s top companies.
There is a reason the education at Ivy institutions are expensive and why the courses are rigorous. If it were cheap and easy everyone would be able to do it, but everyone can’t do it. Most people aren’t even given the opportunity.
Repost (I did not see this thread)
If you’re going to major in English, and your parents are willing to cover the extra costs of Columbia, I’d recommend you attend GS. Then again, I am basing this of the slightest amount of knowledge I have of your situation - there are always extenuating circumstances, variables, etc. to consider in these decisions, so only you will know what is ultimately best. Having said that, as a Columbia GS student, you will receive the exact same education and take the same courses as those in Columbia College. In a post on a different thread I mentioned that I have heard of some cases in which employers were aware of the differences between GS and the other schools, and slightly discriminated against GS for this reason (differing admissions standards). However, such incidents always occurred with the more prestigious industries and jobs, such as I-banking and finance. In your case, as an English major, I do not envision you encountering any obstacles down the line. In fact, I know of someone who attended Columbia GS and is now at a very prestigious school attaining a PhD in English. The poster above me makes a valid point, although. As an English major, regardless of which school you attend, your job prospects are limited across the board. Unless you plan on teaching English at a secondary school/college level, I’d advise evaluating your job prospects to begin with.
@AzamatMD He/she makes a good point - I don’t know a ton about admissions for English grad programs, but if GPA is more heavily weighted than the undergraduate school at which the GPA was attained, then you should strongly consider Mt. Holyoke, assuming you plan to attend grad school. @Mike2011 He makes a similar point, and I think it’s clear that this should be heavily weighted into your decision: what do you plan on doing after undergrad?
@Mike2011 Did you just fill out the new student scholarship application? What did you write about in the essay?
@nickdrake haha I’m a girl! (confusing sn I know) I did fill out the scholarship app… I just tried to hit on all the bullet points they mention in the personal info part. My essay was much like my personal statement except I talked more about my successes in school (gpa, honors, etc.), internships I’ve done, and how my income will be decreasing since I’m enrolling full time plus doing work study.