<p>as decision day approaches i am still undecided about what to do with my offers.</p>
<p>I want to major in Physics and become a researcher.</p>
<p>The offers I have are:</p>
<p>University of Rochester: $10500 loan yearly + $1900 EFC yearly
University of Southern California: $5500 loan yearly + $6100 EFC yearly
Jacobs University Bremen: $9750 loan yearly + $3250 EFC yearly</p>
<p>my family has severe financial constraint so i want to graduate by paying less but at the same time make sure that I go to good school with an affordable debt (some have told me that researchers don't make much these days and the market is shrinking). </p>
<p>You alone can only take out the federal direct loans or $5500 per year and only if you a US citizen or qualify with appropriate paperwork. You need to take the cost of attendance, subtract any grants or scholarships and subtract a full federal direct loan ($5500)…what is left is what will need to be paid for freshman year out of pocket or through your parent(s) taking out loans. Do you know an exact amount your parent(s) can contribute? If the answer is zero then you need to rethink your plans. Are you international? One of those college is on the east coast…one is on the west coast and one isn’t even in the US and you may not even qualify for federal direct loans or your parents for PLUS loans.</p>
<p>I am a permanent resident (from NY) and I am eligible for Perkins loan as well thats why for UR it is more than 5500$. and we recently moved to USA so the less we can pay now the better it is for us.</p>
<p>Jacobs University is in Germany, so it is likely more expensive than what you’re estimating–add the cost of travel to Europe, etc. Additionally, assuming you are a US citizen or resident, you can work here. Would you be able to work in Germany?</p>
<p>OP, did any of the schools gap you? None of them promises to meet need. Let’s start the other way:
Rochester Cost of Attendance is $60K
USC Cost of Attendance is $58K
Jacobs Cost of Attendance is $33k (after converting)</p>
<p>What Grants and Scholarships did you get from each?</p>
<p>I don’t believe the COA at Jacobs is $33K. Three years ago, my son seriously considered it. Even with a scholarship they offered (half tuition), our cost would have been quite high, on top of travel. I may be wrong, but I seem to remember the cost comparable to US private universities.</p>
<p>dodgermom, yes, I suppose I calculated the cost of travel more than once to and from the US and other items. In any event, it seems like the OP is getting pretty good deals everywhere if he/she can attend any of those schools for around $13K/year.</p>
<p>Go with the one that will leave you with the least debt. If you can swing your share with parent help and working, then go to Jacobs or USC. My .02</p>
<p>If I had no constraints, I would go to Jacobs. I simply fell in love with that place. But since money has been an issue, I am being forced to reconsider.</p>
The difference in cost is small enough that you should go with your heart. You can probably make most of your EFC by patching together some summer jobs. Now take a deep breath, say “I can make this work” and send in your deposit!</p>
i think im going to enroll at JUB after all hope it goes well :D</p>