<p>Need some guidance. Our son received a Banneker Key Full Ride Scholarship from University of Maryland, full tuition from University of Miami and a good scholarship from Tulane. He received acceptance letters from WASH U, Rochester and USC. He is interested in engineering or medicine. We live in MD. Would appreciate any guidance. Thank you.</p>
<p>For medicine and engineering you don’t have to be overly concerned with bragging rights so you can make a sensible financial decision, unless you have the luxury to splurge for the best experience or fit. Clearly he must have the ability and work ethic to succeed anywhere.</p>
<p>What are the comparable pricetags? Is he admitted to engineering everywhere or is there a further admission process? </p>
<p>What does he have to say?</p>
<p>p.s. more specific titles get more replies</p>
<p>He wants to go outside MD. I have consulted with my friends and they are all suggesting UMD given he is getting full ride. We can use the college money for his master or medicine. </p>
<p>If he wants to go outside of MD and the difference in price is close to the $5,500 limit for freshmen direct student loans, then let him take the loans and go. That way you will still have money to keep aside for graduate programs.</p>
<p>He’ll do great at UMD and graduate with no debt. He’ll then have whatever help you have to give him to use for medical school (if he goes) or you will have it to use for retirement. It’s a great situation. it really doesn’t matter where he goes to school as far as employers or grad/prof schools are concerned. they’ll treasure him at UMD.</p>
<p>Disclosure: S goes there and D may be going there and I know the school and its academics pretty well. D has also applied to some of these schools and been admitted and given merit, so I know the best of them well, too.</p>
<p>If the difference is under $8,000, give him the choice: full ride, or he takes on his federal loans + earns the difference ( $2,5OO, between summer earnings and 6 hours of work during the semester, should be doable)</p>