<p>This is the situation I'm currently dealing with. I have a full ride to a small school that isn't per say bad, but is not well known nor has a reputation for a really excellent education (low retention rate) But I would be in a really amazing city and I've visited and I do like it</p>
<p>but..</p>
<p>I also applied to a handful of other schools that are very expensive and my scholarships don't add up to much (8K here, 10K there) But these schools are a lot stronger in academics. </p>
<p>What should i do? Take the full ride or pay for the more impressive degree? I also plan on going to graduate school so that should also play a part. My parents really aren't concerned as long as I'm happy but it's still something I am looking into. </p>
<p>Let me know if you have any opinions/advice for me! THANKS:]</p>
<p>I would go to the better school, if I could. The degree lasts a lifetime. There’s no better investment than an investment in you. Good luck.</p>
<p>You should run all of the numbers (and a few other things that might be important to you) through this calculator: [FinAid</a> | Calculators | Advanced Award Letter Comparison Tool](<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid)</p>
<p>Most of the parents here at CC would recommend that you keep your college debt within the maximum permitted by the Stafford Loans. If your parents can cover the difference between your cheap option and the more expensive ones without taking on much debt themselves, this difference might be workable. However, they are the only ones who can tell you whether it is or not. Encourage them to be straight with you about the money. $10,000 or a bit more each year for four years could buy you (and them) a lot of other stuff, including (but not limited to) a fifth year of college if you change majors, a year abroad, and/or a decent car when you graduate.</p>
<p>It may be worth investigating that low retention rate. For example, many public universities that are obliged to admit anyone with a certain GPA from the schools in their state lose lots of those same students before Thanksgiving of freshman year. Your cheap option may be giving chances to students who don’t get in many other places, and then losing the ones who can’t figure out how to handle the academic load. In other words, the upper-level students who survive their first year may well be fully as good as the students who enroll in the first place at a somewhat more selective institution.</p>