<p>One school I was accepted to is perfect for my major, getting into desired grad school on first try, and loads of research opportunities, but I may have to take out huge (it's a private school) student loans. The other school is good but it doesn't even have my major but it's most of the expenses will be covered. Do I take the risk on the student loans?</p>
<p>P.S. If it helps, my ultimate goal is grad school</p>
<p>You cannot even take out “huge” student loans. The most you can borrow without a parent signing for the loan is $5,500 your freshman year.</p>
<p>Taking out “huge” student loans is never a good idea, particularly if you want to attend graduate school. You generally don’t have to major directly in something to attend graduate school in that field, as long as your undergraduate studies are considered adequate preparation.</p>
<p>Your family must have good income if they can’t afford Amherst or Emory which both meet need. If your parents cannot afford either one then you shouldn’t go there.</p>
<p>Don’t you think it’s presumptuous to say that you can get to your desired grad school on first try? Or is it a way to justify debt?</p>
<p>getting into desired grad school on first try</p>
<p>No school promises that. It’s ridiculous to think that School A will get you into grad school while School B or C won’t. </p>
<p>How much will your parents contribute each year?</p>
<p>And…what are the schools that will give you lots of merit? </p>
<p>What is your major?</p>
<p>Wow, all these responses . . . and not one person thought to ask the OP’s definition of “huge”!</p>
<p>How much are the loans? And what is the major?</p>
<p>P.S. Okay, asked and answered in your earlier posts: neuroscience.</p>
<p>But wouldn’t any pre-med program be sufficient? And have you contacted the grad schools you’re interested in and asked? They’re the ones that are going to make the determination four years down the road, after all.</p>
<p>If your ultimate goal is grad school then you just need to do well at whatever undergrad you are at. As someone said, YOU cannot take out loans in excess of the available federal student loans so ultimately the decision will be based on what you and your family are comfortable paying. Graduate degrees don’t need to be matchy-matchy with undergraduate degrees in most cases. ie., philosophy students can go to medical school, French majors can go on to receive an MBA and so on…my friend has an undergrad in math and is currently a PhD professor in computer science…</p>
<p>^^ mom3 is right. I know one woman (D of an acquaintance) who has a BS in physics and a PhD in English Lit (really!!) and is now a English prof at a midwest LAC.</p>
<p>You can switch fields between undergrad and grad school provided you have the foundational coursework in place and the strong endorsement of a prof or three in the potential graduate field.</p>