<p>Hi. Well, I'm new to this board. I currently attend a local jr. college and am a sophomore there. I will be turning 20 this summer. I have one more semester (Fall 2006) left and will be getting my AA degree. Right now I have a 3.8 gpa. I plan to transfer for the Spring 2007, but am torn on where to go.</p>
<p>I am pursuing a BS in Marketing when I transfer, and I live in Illinois and do not want to attend school out of state. I also don't want to get very much, if any, debt. Most everyone is pushing me to go to Northern Illinois University. I've also been thinking about University of Illinois at Chicago, however that would cost a little more money and it is not in a good area. I cannot attend U of I at Urbana-Champaign because they don't accept business transfers for a Spring semester, and I want to start right away. </p>
<p>However, I have thinking a lot more lately about Loyola at Chicago. It is a private school, and costs much, much, much more money. I have inherited $46,000 from my Grandmother, however, and can put that against my tuition but would most likey need to borrow money if I do not get any scholarships. </p>
<p>I've read many discussions on this site, and many of them scare me beyond belief. Many talk about going to big, Ivy league Universitys. But do any of you have any concern about the large amount of debt to pay for your educations? Are all of you very fortunate kids from wealthy families? I am very curious if any of you think a state school is a good option for me, or if i should choose Loyola. Sometimes I think state schools, especially NIU, is mediocre. And I have worked very hard to be in the top ten percent of my highschool class, and the grades I've earned in jr. college to go to such a school. But then I think that is just the snob in me which I try to supress. The fact is if I go to NIU, I will have no debt and about 20 grand left to start out my life with . But at Loyola, I doubt I will have that amount--but is it an even trade if I can aquire far more job opportunities by attending Loyola??</p>
<p>Does the cost outweigh the benefits??</p>
<p>Thank you for any opinions that can shed some light on my issue.</p>
<p>I understand your fear. There are people on this board who think that if you can't go to a top 10 school, then you are going to fail at life and die poor and alone. Obviously this is not true.</p>
<p>However, such thinking can be detrimental to someone like yourself. Your situation dictates different expectations as to what you want college to be, and where you want to place yourself. The economics of attending college are an important part of deciding where to go to school, and in a case like yours, the overwhelming consideration.</p>
<p>It doesn't appear to me that you are looking to really leave Illinois (or the Great Lakes region) upon graduation. I tend to feel that the only real tangible benefit of going to a more recognized school is if you are planning a national job search at graduation and need people to have an idea of your background. I think Loyola may attract a couple of more job offers. However I don't think that those job offers are worth starting from scratch. Having a $20k cushion is huge.</p>
<p>In the end, I think you should go to a state school, considering the money issue. It will make things less stressful for you because you'll know that the money isn't an issue. You won't have to work as much through the school year, allowing you to get better grades, which can attract better job opportunities.</p>
<p>If you are concerned about prestige, it seems to me that there is a much cheaper way for you to up the prestige of your future degree--let yourself take spring off, and try for U of Illinois-UC. I don't know what your reasons are for not wanting to wait, but it might be worth re-examining them. A few months may not be such a bad tradeoff if it means you can get a better education without debt.</p>
<p>I think Bigredmed's advice is largely sound. Don't get me wrong--I think there can be no better investment than a good education. But I think given your goals and your options, it may not be worth spending all of your inheritance and going into debt as well.</p>
<p>I agree, because Loyola is similar in prestige and reputation to the other schools. It is not THAT much better to warrant taking out more money. I'd reconsider UI-UC because that is an amazing school. However, you have not mentioned your personal feelings towards each school/campus. Where would you feel most at home/happiest? This you cannot put a price on. If you absolutely love Loyola go for it. Then the money shouldn't matter. I am taking some loans to go to my dream school, even though I could have gone to places where I would have gotten money. Consider that too! GL!</p>
<p>Apply to both. Most really good private schools will give you money if you need it, so the actual cost can be much much lower than the total listed price.</p>
<p>If you don't get the aid you want, then you can go to a private school. I'm at the private part of Cornell, and with scholarships, I pay just a little bit more than my friends at state schools.</p>
<p>I like Hoedown's advice. Taking a semester off is not a bad thing, if it allows you to graduate from UIUC. Since he has an inheritance, he will not have much chance of financial aid from Loyola. UI Chicago- it has a good rank and all, but if he's really not comfortable with it, he shouldn't go.</p>
<p>Well, my reasons for wanting to start right away next Spring are because my parents are moving and are literally waiting for me to transfer and go away to school so they can move. :/</p>
<p>Here's how I feel about each school:
I wasn't entirely wowed by thier campus, but it was kind of pretty. I don't have any friends there and the people I know who do go there I don't particularily like. </p>
<p>I basically did not see very much at all of UIC because my Dad didn't want to step outside the car so we drove past stuff as he pointed out the window! However we did meet with a counselor to discuss stuff and he wasn't very good. And people I talked with over the phone sound have made me come to the conclusion they have very sucky administration there.</p>
<p>Loyola is the one campus I have not visited, but my good friend goes there and says it is beautiful. It is also on the best side of Chicago. But cost major bucks.</p>
<p>I am very torn on this though. I am not a typical college person because I don't drink. When I think about going to NIU I get a feeling like I'm trapped or something. It sounds weird, but I thier campus is basically surrounded by cornfields and there really is nothing else to do there but party.<br>
But then I also think it will only be two years of my life, and having that extra money afterwards will be soo much sweeter that I put my time in there.
However, then I think to myself "Well, I have put my time in at a jr. college to save money. Now that I have a huge amount of it, why can't I go to a dream college?"</p>
<p>This is the type of **** I am debating myself to death over!</p>
<p>I know you said that you don't want to go out of state but you should think about UW Madison. They have a really first rate Marketing program and the costs are only about $32,000 for out of state. It is one of the higher ranked programs (I don't remember what the number is) and Madison is a really nice school. It is a big University, but the Business school operates almost like it's own seperate little school down at Grainger Hall.<br>
I personally would pick it over NIU or Loyola, but I'm not you.</p>