<p>I am a senior in high school from Florida and have been contacted by swimming recruiters from several colleges but at this point I am down to picking between two schools. I am a first generation american so my parents aren't much help at this point and we do not qualify for need based aid. Northwestern University has contacted me and has offered me a spot on their division 1 team with full tuition scholarship. Stanford guarantees me admission and a spot on their division 1 team but no scholarship. I have visited both and have loved them but I am a little worried about the harsh winters in Chicago. Is the name Stanford worth loosing a free 4 year tuition to Northwestern for connections to silicon valley, a better name, and gorgeous weather?</p>
<p>I think this decision needs to revolve around several very personal things. </p>
<p>First, family finances. A full tuition scholarship at Northwestern is worth ~$200k, which is a significant amount of money to most families. </p>
<p>Second, your planned area of academic study. Northwestern is a top ranked university in many fields, and depending on your area of study could be an even better choice than Stanford. NU was our D’s top choice university (she applied and was admitted ED) while for S Stanford is his top choice (but NU is right up toward the top of his list as well).</p>
<p>Chicago weather isn’t always perfect, but IMHO it is certainly NOT worth $200k to avoid it. I personally enjoy snow in the winter and think Lake Michigan is absolutely stunning in other seasons. Both Stanford and NU have beautiful campuses, often ranked top 10, so both are fantastic places to live and study.</p>
<p>Congratulations on having such a choice.</p>
<p>I think Momcares nailed it. Family finances and area of study have to be primary concerns when considering whether to decline a full ride scholarship. I would look at Stanford’s financial aid package before I made my final decision though. My wife and I are educators in Texas and both of our sons attend Stanford. They each declined a few full ride offers but it was only after considering Stanford’s offer that we made the decision. Although not a full ride we decided that their grants were very generous and ultimately worth the expense. Older S is majoring in CS where Stanford ranks #1 and younger S went the MS&E route which also has a great reputation. </p>
<p>Talk to your parents and look at the numbers before you make a decision. Good luck. You’re in a great position.</p>
<p>Is prestige important to you? If so, go to Stanford. I would recommend visiting both schools because I thought that Palo Alto was an excellent area during my visit and really liked Stanford. I was a fan of Northwestern, but never got around to visiting.</p>