<p>So I forwent my 1st choice school to attend my state U. The cost was the key factor. Total tuition cost at my state school is $6,000. vs. $30,000. My parents are helping me pay for my university edu. I pay half and they pay half. It was, and is, the right financial choice. Yet, I am mad at myself for not going to the other school (which would mean getting a large amount of loans) "What if" questions plague me. </p>
<p>I want to attend grad school, so going to the state school makes more sense because I would be in a better position, I think, after going to a better well known state school. Does that make sense? </p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry about it. I think you are being sensible.</p>
<p>And you taught me a new word. Forwent. I think I have a reasonable vocabulary and I never heard that word before. Past tense of “forgo”, I just never thought about it. Doh! Thanks!</p>
<p>Don’t undervalue your sensible choice; grad schools are much more interested in your individual achievement than anything related to the “status” of your school. In fact, coming from a “lesser known” school is sometimes an advantage. It is a much more complicated algorithm than you think. Do well in your subject and get to know your professors. That is the springboard to success. Lots of people go to “status” schools and don’t get into grad schools they desire because status is never sufficient. AND you will be debt free versus debt laden and that will give you much broader choice. Way too many students are finding that they cannot get launched well after grad school because they are burdened by undergrad debt as well as grad debt.</p>
<p>I believe that it is more to individual, than instution. Your UG GPA will influence your future much more than the name of UG school. My D. has made similar desicion, which was not based on financial side, though, since she got Merit scholarships at all places. She did not go to #1, and instead is very happy at her #2 (junior in senior standing) because she was not accepted to selective program at her #1, both schools gave her awesome Merit scholarships. She found herself at the perfect place. She has been offerred tremendous opportunities as a star student that she probably would not have found at other place. Depending on her situation, she might apply to highly ranked Grad. Schools or she might stay in her program to continue at Graduate level. At least she has a choice, which others with similar plans do not.</p>
<p>My parents are helping me pay for my university edu. I pay half and they pay half. It was, and is, the right financial choice. Yet, I am mad at myself for not going to the other school (which would mean getting a large amount of loans)</p>
<p>I think you aren’t considering how hard it would be to pay back large loans. You say that your parents are currently paying half and you’re paying half. Maybe I’m wrong, but I guessing that your parents would not be increasing “their share” if you went to the more expensive school. Right? Are you currently commuting? You only seem to be looking at tuition costs. Why aren’t you looking at total cost (tuition, room, board, etc)???</p>
<p>Even if your parents agreed to pay half of your expensive school (which would be weird!!), you would have ridiculous loans (which would require co-signers). Would your parents co-sign? If not, then what is your question?</p>
<p>BTW…for every $50k that you borrow, your monthly payment would be about $600 a month for 10 LONG years!!! </p>
<p>What is your likely career choice? How much do you expect to be earning your first few years?</p>
<p>Your college professors got their grad degrees and chose to work at your public U. They know the same grad school people the profs at your other choice do, if only by meetings/reputations for both. Excel at your state school and the world will still be open to you. I’m sure the grad school admissions committees see many stellar students who came through their public flagship- private U’s are not the only ticket to success. No matter where you are max out on the learning, find the research opportunities and get to know some professors in your major. PS- I’ll bet you will find many students who made the same financial choice you did and will be as smart/smarter than you at your state U.</p>
<p>I’m just dissatisfied, and unhappy with my choice, at the moment, and my life in general. I don’t enjoy working retail (which will pass) I DO enjoy have a college to go to and no matter where I went/would have gone/am attending I would still be learning, which is important. </p>
<p>At the moment, I’m living at home, mostly rent free
I have my own room no fighting for the shower with the hall/roommate
meals for free
I do commute </p>
<p>So what is my question? How to be happy with the choice I made. I’m sure tons of kids would be quite happy going to my state school. So I should be too. I will be in a better financial situation after I graduate from college to be able to pay for grad. school. I just didn’t want to have this conversation with my parents again. </p>
<p>It is good not to worry have to about UG debt. I have friends who are taking out a ton of loans to finance their UG edu. </p>
<p>Especially, if I decide to go to the American School in Athens.</p>
<p>The real question is: can I get where I want to go with my state uni?</p>
<p>OK…you live at home, so your costs are very minimum…just state tuition and books (which your parents pay half).</p>
<p>My question was…if you were to go to another school, would your parents co-sign for your loans? Students cannot take out big loans. The most you could borrow is $6500 for soph year and $7500 for jr and sr year. That isn’t enough to pay for another school if the tuition is higher and you’ll have room and board to cover.</p>
<p>If your parents would not co-sign for any loans, then your situation is pretty much set until you go to grad school. Right?</p>
<p>*I have friends who are taking out a ton of loans to finance their UG edu. *</p>
<p>If that’s true, then their parents are co-signing those loans. Banks don’t give big loans to young students.</p>
<p>*
The real question is: can I get where I want to go with my state uni? *</p>
<p>What is your major? What is your career goal? ( I may have missed that above…sorry)</p>
<p>I’m just dissatisfied, and unhappy with my choice, at the moment, and my life in general. I don’t enjoy working retail (which will pass) I DO enjoy have a college to go to and no matter where I went/would have gone/am attending I would still be learning, which is important.</p>
<p>Was Wabash your intended school? What school are you going to now? Can you get more involved with your school to boost your morale? Also, can you change part-time jobs? Did you only apply to your top pick and your local state school? It would seem like with your stats you could have gotten some good merit from some other schools.</p>
<p>Just think how happy you’ll be in a few years when you have no student loan payments and your peers are complaining about theirs. Believe me, if you can avoid loans, you will be congratulating yourself for your smart choice for years to come. You can see all the advantages of your situation. Don’t look back.</p>
<p>*If my parents were to take out a loan with me, I pay the loan off, right? *</p>
<p>Yes, but they’d have to co-sign for 3 separate loans - one for soph, jr, and senior years. That would be for a lot of money (how much would you need to borrow each year? $40k???)</p>
<p>Your parents may not be willing and they may not qualify. Co-signing loans hurts their credit rating.</p>
<p>How much do you expect to be earning when you’re out of school?</p>
<p>Hey…does anyone know this…if parents co-sign for big loans…won’t those payments begin immediately? They wouldn’t be deferred loans would they???</p>
<p>What you need to remember is that there will always be “the road not travelled.” You are idealizing the 1st choice because you’re not there. Read these boards for the many stories of kids who are going to their 1st choice and hate it. If you had gone there, you wouldn’t necessarily be any happier.</p>
<p>Suppose you had gone to your 1st choice, taking out large loans. Now suppose you want to go to grad school (as you say you do). You get in. But you don’t get a full tuition stipend. And you can’t go because you can’t afford it. By going to State U, it doesn’t matter. If you have to take out loans then, you can because you don’t have undergraduate debt.</p>
<p>Or you’re offered a fabulous but unpaid internship. You can’t take it at 1st choice because you need a paying job. But at State U, sure you can. And that internship could launch you into the career you want.</p>
<p>Or you’re offered a 2 jobs - one you prefer but pays less than the second, which you really don’t like a lot. From 1st choice, you may have limited yourself to taking the 2nd job so that you can pay off your loans. From State U, you just have to decide if the pay is enough to live on, without adding in the cost of the loans.</p>
<p>There are a lot of scenarios in which State U comes out on top. But first you have to stop idealizing 1st choice and realize that there are good & bad things about every school, even aside from the financial aspect. Choose one of the above scenarios, or one you create yourself, and focus on that, and live the life you have.</p>
<p>Where do graduates from your college get into grad school? Can you do research there? Can you get internships in the area.</p>
<p>Grad schools look at your grades and GRE scores and then they look at the passion you have for following a course of study.This is how you become great in your field and tops in your class. This is the bigger picture you need to look at.</p>
<p>Find time to do these extras. You will meet people and make friendships that will benefit you much greater than a better known school. It’s about what you do with where you go to school.</p>