<p>Cost of going to Swarthmore=$50,000
TCNJ=$16,000</p>
<p>Obviously Swarthmore is more famous. Is it worth the extra $34,000 a year? Money is tight but it wouldn't actually be impossible. Difficult, though.</p>
<p>My DS got into both, so I’m wondering what he should do (hope I was clear). He would have to take out at least $20,000 in loans, and spend some money his grandparents gave him, in addition to what we, his parents can give him. He really loves Swarthmore, but he also wants to go to graduate school. Would it be better for him to keep his little nest egg and not have debt, or have the prestige of Swarthmore? Are there reasons why that would be beneficial?</p>
<p>What is he career goal at this point?</p>
<p>In this case I can’t recommend going with the money. This is truly apples and oranges. TCNJ is a fine school and my nephew attends, but Swat is a whole different level. If you can swing it at all, go with Swat and worry about grad school later. My recommendation only changes if the student is definitely pre-med and not likely to change his/her mind. In that case, save the money.</p>
<p>Agreed with MomofWildChild–if it’s financially possible, I think the tightness is worth it for Swat. Exception if you are set on pre-med or pre-law.</p>
<p>I agree with the above posters.</p>
<p>Kind of interesting people are so willing to spend 130k+ of your money without even knowing the intended area of study.</p>
<p>He wants to major in history and be a museum curator–he’s not one who’s very interested in money. So that, as you point out rogracer, is an important part of the equation.</p>
<p>In my opinion, the difference is so great here that it wouldn’t be up for debate.</p>
<p>Especially going into an area like history and curating where there is a very limited number of jobs directly relating to the subject area (so I would think the edge from the name in addition to the likely far better education), I think the choice becomes more obvious.</p>
<p>Why are we willing to recommend Swarthmore so quickly? Because if it is at all feasible, the stronger education and prestige is “worth” the cost. I except pre-med and pre-law because you generally cannot get financial aid for professional school, whereas even in the humanities, some grad school stipends are available (sciences, even more).</p>
<p>That’s a good point, Keilexandra.</p>
<p>Did he also apply to Williams? I would pay up for their contacts in the museum world. Don’t know if Swat has lots of grads in that area but I wouldn’t be surprised given it would be in keeping with interests typical of their student body.</p>
<p>What was TCNJ even doing on his list?</p>
<p>
Gah, the arrogance! Perhaps the OP needed/wanted a financial safety.</p>
<p>^Yeah… Really, it is the terminal degree that matters. So if he can go to TCNJ, graduate top of class, and then get into grad school (a good one) with a fellowship, you should do that. If undergrad WILL be his terminal, and you can tighten financially, go with Swarthmore.</p>
<p>Everyone talks about going to state schools and graduating top of the class–how easy is that, really? I’m just curious. Every top HS student can’t be top of the class. And being in the middle is much worse with a state-school degree than a “prestigious” one.</p>
<p>If he can’t be at the top in a place like TCNJ, then he will be far lower than where he would be at TCNJ in a place like Swarthmore. Seeing he got into Swarthmore, I am sure he can be one of the top few at TCNJ.</p>
<p>I think that depends on the person. If someone is not strongly self-motivated, the peer group could make a difference. Then there’s the GPA pressure–coming from a state school, grades are extremely important. Many Swat applicants value the school’s deemphasis on grades.</p>
<p>That said, I stand by my original assessment of this particular situation.</p>
<p>Well if you need extrinsic motivation in every step you take, you will likely not get too far. If you have the intrinsic motivation, you do not need a group of many intellectuals to carry you.</p>
<p>Arrogant to ask why a technical college is on the list of a kid who wants to be a curator? If he got into Swat there were many financial safeties that would have fit his needs better.</p>
<p>^ How many kids have dreams of being a museum curator and see it through? Not everyone has their career path laid out for them in a straight, brick-lined road. TCNJ is a public university in NJ…if the OP is from that state, why wouldn’t it be on the list?</p>