<p>Hi all (please don't judge my username, it was made a while ago)</p>
<p>I'm currently a freshman at a selective small liberal arts college. I'm virtually going for free (with generous aid)- and I'm studying what I think I want to. Freshman year has been very fun - but the isolation of the campus, and the smallness of the social scene is getting on my nerves already.</p>
<p>I was accepted to Northwestern last spring (in high school) and I had a tough time not choosing it - primarily because I didn't get enough financial aid. I really would want to go to northwestern if I didn't have to worry about the money. THey gave me great aid, but it just wasn't up to par with Vassar's - I would be in about $80,000 in debt after graduating because my parents couldn't contribute anything to my education.</p>
<p>I want Northwestern to happen - for I think it's an ideal place to start anew - a new city - a bigger environment - and more rigorous academics.</p>
<p>Am I just being insane for wanting to leave this elite small college that I once loved dearly? Can someone talk sense into me? Should I go for the plunge and incur this debt?</p>
<p>Weigh the pros and cons. When it comes to debt, really only you can determine whats best for you.</p>
<p>I would suggest think over your reasons for 1-2 days and make a list. That way you can organize your reasons and find out if you are actually insane or not ;)</p>
<p>80k in debt is huge, go to the FA & Scholarship forum to see some discussions of how long it will take you to repay that level of debt. Are you still interested in premed/business/law? If so, you should know that extremely few people get either need based FA or merit aid for professional school. </p>
<p>Have you considered doing a year abroad, that often helps relieve the problems of a small, isolated campus? Can you get into NYC more often during the school year?</p>
<p>What Ace said. It’s all a matter of the pro’s and con’s, what you want and whether you think shouldering debt for awhile is a big deal or not. It isn’t a question anyone on this board can give a good answer to.</p>
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<p>Are your parents willing to co-sign for your loans?</p>
<p>This site has helpful calculators for figuring out repayment costs/times for various types of loans:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.finaid.org/calculators/[/url]”>http://www.finaid.org/calculators/</a></p>
<p>Hey everyone, thanks for the help.</p>
<p>I think I was just being a little stir crazy with the relative isolation/smallness of my campus - I think I’m just putting too much hope in being more happy at Northwestern - I think I’m just being irrational.</p>
<p>It’s much better to be going to a selective LAC virtually for free and have no debt then attend a huge research university for undergrad — am I right?</p>
<p>I agree, and I think Vassar is a great college.</p>
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<p>IMO, I agree with you, particularly when the option is to be 80k in debt. Best of luck, I’m sure you’ll do well whatever your situation!</p>
<p>I would say definitely stay and save the 80k. It’s not that you’re going to a state school, it’s Vassar! Best of luck =)</p>
<p>Stay! Transfers can be bumpy.</p>