<p>OK, I posted this on the Georgetown board, and I wanted to be fair and post it here, too, to get a full spectrum of opinions.</p>
<p>I've been really excited lately over getting into Georgetown. I thought I was set- it was my first choice, I've visited twice, and I generally was psyched about moving to D.C. Friday, however, I got a letter from Tulane, where I had also applied, offering me the DSA and admission to the honors program and their honors dorms. Georgetown isn't giving me anything, as I did not apply for financial aid and merit money hardly exists at Georgetown. My parents aren't super rich, and although they could definitely pay for Georgetown, I feel as though I'd feel guilty for being such a burden. Besides, if I went to Tulane, they said they will help out with my grad school costs because of the scholarship, and I could really reduce my law school debt. I'm completely torn over this- I opened the letter when I was wearing the Georgetown shirt I'm so proud of and actually started crying because I have been so looking forward to going up to D.C. Tulane is less prestigious and located in post-Katrina NOLA...but 88000 over 4 years plus nice dorms is hard to turn down. I'd really like some advice- I don't really have much perspective on this right now because I'm so surprised. I feel stupid for being sad about getting a scholarship but this is hard for me. Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>I can offer you only my honest, best personal experience. I once wept over a job offer when I was flat broke because I SO did NOT want the job. It involved teaching in a prison. I felt obligated to take it because of the money. I had to give myself permission to turn it down.</p>
<p>You have the opportunity to go to the place you love. If the only reason you would go to tulane is the money, and your parents will not suffer if you go to Georgetown, then you must not turn down the place you love for the money. As much as I love Tulane for what it has turned out to be for my son--and I really do--it sounds as if you would be making the wrong choice FOR YOU.</p>
<p>Of course, I don't really know you. Please talk to your parents. They will probably tell you to do what's best for you, and they'll know much better than anyone here can know. But you already know that better than we do, too.</p>
<p>By the way, congratulations! You've earned it in more ways than one.</p>
<p>I agree 100 percent with ctymom: If G'town is where you heart is, and the $$ is not a make it or break it, follow your heart. There will be fewer, if any, regrets!</p>
<p>Even though you are concerned about the money, I'm guessing your parents will do anything they can to make it work at Georgetown. As a parent, I know that's how we felt for both our kids. My son is at Tulane, and for him, it was the ONE. Costs us more than any of his other choices. We're struggling but wouldn't have it any other way.</p>
<p>Show them you will do what it takes to help out. I agree with ctymom and cdad above. If it's your dream, make it your reality. You won't be sorry.</p>
<p>Thank you so much for all the amazing advice. Right now I am doing everything I can to convince my parents that Georgetown is worth it and that I will work my a** off to get there, and they are starting to seem more receptive. I am thinking of working during every summer while taking classes at the local college here to get more credits above the ones I'll get from IB and AP. If I could get a year and a half or so under my belt then the cost of Georgetown wouldn't be all that much greater than the 50% of Tulane we would be paying for. Any other ideas for saving money?</p>
<p>I feel a lot better about my chances of convincing my parents, and I probably wouldn't have had the guts to go after what I wanted if it wasn't for some of the posts here. You guys have made me feel so much better.</p>
<p>I am happy we could help, just bear in mind that most schools have certain minimum credir requirements, and other rules about how IB/AP credits can apply to the overall distribution requirements. So, becfore you make any financial decision or arguments based upon that, make sure you have a very clear idea about just how much time you can 'cut off" the process.</p>
<p>And also, ask yourself, if G'town is IT for you, why cut your 4 years short -- enjoy your college experience, it might only happen once.</p>
<p>At the risk of dampening the conversation, let me just add: one of the realities of adult life is trade-offs. I have a son at Chicago who is in the situation you would probably be in at Georgetown, maybe a bit worse, as he has had to borrow $$. Now that he is in his third year, he has some regrets -- not about being at Chicago, but about the cost, and about the limitations it imposes on us in other areas and on him with respect to grad school. Yes, we talked about all of those things 3 years ago, but reality has a way of becoming increasingly concrete. He is working hard to graduate a quarter or two early and, while I hate to see him cut short his college experience, each quarter =$15,000, a not inconsiderable sum of money. (And as it turns out, his gf and most of his friends are graduating this year, so from a social standpoint, he doesn't feel a pressing need to stay all the way through his senior year.)</p>
<p>Had he gone to one of the schools that offered him $$$, he would no doubt have other regrets at this point in time. He would, for instance, be regretting not having taken advantage of the opportunity to go to one of his true dream schools. And he does truly appreciate what Chiacgo has to offer, so it's a good thing for him.</p>
<p>Our Tulane dd, OTH, narrowed her choices almost entirely on the basis of $$. She got into some great schools but had no trouble waving away those that had little to offer financially in favor of those that did. I think that she has absolutely no regrets in that regard -- but then she did not have a clear favorite or a passion for a particular kind of school or area of study. (Her passion was to go far from home and have a new and interestingly urban experience at an excellent school, which Tulane, NOLA, and Katrina have certainly offered all of us.) Had she demonstrated some kind of institutional preference we would, as other parents, have indicated, done everything we could to make it happen for her but she, too, would have been facing more limitations with respect to grad school and international experiences.</p>
<p>Only you can make a guess at where fewer of your regrets will lie. I can only say that, realistically speaking, you will have some either way.</p>
<p>It's hardly dampening the conversation, geena. You have the unusual perspective of seeing it from both sides. I'm sure the OP is grateful. I hope that, by the time we return from Puerto Rico, he has made a good decision. I also hope that, if he decides to go to Georgetown, his parents can still go to some place like Puerto Rico once in a while (my point in mentioning PR--thank you, Tulane).</p>
<p>I'm a girl, lol. But yes, I do appreciate that perspective. My parents are pretty wealthy and could definitely afford to send me to Georgetown even if I did not get any credits, but I expect from reading past G-town pamphlets that I would get at least a semester off. Really, me going to G-town over Tulane is to them the difference between buying a new or used yaught in a couple years...maybe not even that. It hurt my feelings when they told me that but I know it's a lot of money. I think they are excited about the scholarship now but that I may be able to talk to my dad about the importance of G-town to me (my mom is mostly convinced). We plan to visit at the end of March which might seal the deal. I'm glad to hear your daughter loves Tulane, that makes me feel better about my future there if that's where all this leads me. Even if I did go to G-town and hate it I still have 4 years to use my bright futures scholarship at UF should I need to transfer. Thanks again, guys.</p>
<p>Cochrynn - all of the above advice is excellent. Two more thoughts: search for EvilRobot's thread after he turned down Yale for $$ at Vanderbilt. It was a very difficult decision for him, but he was very happy. You might want to visit Tulane, if you have not; or visit again even if you have.</p>