<p>I had narrowed down my choices to Duke and Columbia, but now I am reconsidering Dartmouth for FA aid reasons. Columbia and Duke each will have my family's contribution at about 11,000-13,000 which will require us to take out some loans. Dartmouth on the other hand only has us paying about 8000 which means no loans for us. My AGI for this year parental was about 87000 which put our efc at 7900 on the FAFSA but my parents will only make 65000 next year due to my dad not working anymore and only receiving his retirement pension. I am unsure of whether the burden of going to Columbia or Duke would be worth it against Dartmouth. What to do?</p>
<p>No way. Dartmouth is a GREAT school. I would opt for Dartmouth especially given your parents situation.</p>
<p>This is a no brainier, Dartmouth is an amazing school, better than Columbia and Duke IMO</p>
<p>I don’t really understand why you wouldn’t be paying anything for Dartmouth when they see your efc at 8K, while your efc at the other schools is like 11-13K, yet you have to pay?
if the significant gap is 3-5 which is the difference from 8K-11/13K, then honestly 3 or 5K per year just to attend your first choice is not that bad(even in loans).</p>
<p>What you need to do, and I’m not sure if you have already, is have your parents contact the financial aid department of columbia and or duke, explain the situation of your father’s income, and they are bound to add more financial aid to your package. They might ask for you guys to submit paperwork, like recent pay check stubs compared to that of last years. If they see a significant difference they’re going to work with you. That is why they have financial aid counselors/employees. Their job is to workout and help YOU out. I’ve done this before at my former institution, and all though I only got 1k extra per year, that’s 1k that I didn’t have before, and which at the most took 1 hour to gather papers and what not.</p>
<p>You’re not talking about THAT much money. If you have a strong reason for preferring Columbia or Duke, then I would contact your first choice (or both of them) and explain your situation. They might be willing to meet you part or all of the way. </p>
<p>That said, taking on $20K in debt over four years, if really that’s all you’re talking about, is not unreasonable.</p>
<p>But, as a general rule, follow the money.</p>
<p>It surprised me as well but the thing with Duke is that they offer the same financial aid, but their package includes loans whereas Dartmouth’s does not. My dad and mom combined make 65000 from his pension and her job but this year (he is retired) he took a couple of part time jobs that he left due to his age which raised our income to 87000 which we definitely won’t have next year. Columbia’s FA is the one that seemed more out there with our EFC at 13000 (with no loans-- I don’t know how they got that because our FAFSA EFC was about half that amount). I’ll call the offices at the schools like you suggested, but the extra money per year, plus cost of incidental expenses in an expensive city like NY make Columbia seem like more of a financial impossibility though it is probably my top choice.</p>
<p>Just know that a Dartmouth degree can take you as far as any of the other schools. All three are excellent schools, the difference in price is only significant in how much you value each school. If Columbia wasn’t in NYC would you even be considering it? I’m just saying because if location is a huge reason for your reason, that extra money you would be “technically saving” could easily cover “paid vacations” in NYC(or any other city in the world) every summer while you’re in school</p>
<p>I want to go into law and am under the impression that Columbia and Duke can help me get into law schools moreso than Dartmouth could. Am I mistaken in this regard? The climate is one of the things that worries me as I am from Alabama and NH is apparently really cold. I am not attracted to Columbia only for its location in NY, but more for the internship opportunities during the school year in NY locations. Duke offers the southern atmosphere I’ve grown accustomed to, but NH would be a completely new thing which could be good I suppose.</p>
<p>[Law</a> School Information](<a href=“http://www.dartmouth.edu/~csrc/students/gradschool/law/index.html#VIII]Law”>http://www.dartmouth.edu/~csrc/students/gradschool/law/index.html#VIII)</p>
<p>Check out Dartmouth’s pre-law page.</p>
<p>NH isn’t that bad in the winter. I would pick Dartmouth over Columbia and Duke anyday, and the financial aid package for you just makes it all the more appealing. Best of luck wherever you end up!</p>
<p>ah, well does anybody have any insight as far as difference in community and environment?</p>
<p>“he took a couple of part time jobs that he left due to his age which raised our income to 87000 which we definitely won’t have next year.”</p>
<p>Don’t worry too much about the future. Duke modifies your financial aid based on changes like these. For instance, I went from receiving no aid to receiving $30000 in grants due to a similar reason. Believe me, they’ll make sure you graduate even if it’s for a selfish reason like making sure we stay ranked high on the US News list. I’m sure Dartmouth and Columbia would do the same as well.</p>
<p>Anyway you’re talking about differences of a few thousand dollars, which seems like a lot now but means very little in the long run. You only get to be an undergraduate once.</p>
<p>Those schools are all good and high prestige schools, I don’t think of one more highly than another, and you can get anywhere from any of them. Between those, there won’t be differentiation in the rigour of your undergrad school as a factor in grad admissions anywhere. It is a huge gift to be able to graduate without loans, so I would be thanking the schools that offered it. </p>
<p>I do think that the difference in the EFC is significant and you should think about it. And on top of that difference in EFC, a no loan package is really special.</p>
<p>I think Dartmouth is a great school. There are many leaders of industry who came out of there. And the location makes for a tight knit community, which will make your college years special. Everyone I know who went there loved it. I think college is a great way to get out of your own community/region and have a protected way to experience another area. Then you are comfortable going back or going on. My daughter went from Calif to Providence and hasn’t once mentioned the cold winters.</p>
<p>Also, the D plan is especially designed for internships that are not in the summer and almost everyone does it, from my understanding. I think you need to read up more.</p>
<p>Yes, you are incorrect that Duke or Columbia would be of more help for law school.</p>
<p>I would choose Dartmouth hands down over Duke. It has a stronger student body and is more undergrad focused. Socially, I think they are similar. Duke’s location is a big turn off for me.</p>
<p>Between Dartmouth and Columbia I think it’s about personal preferences, they are very different schools. Do you want to be in a huge city and study classics or a rural, quaint college town and get essentially a liberal arts education? I can’t see the same kid loving both schools!</p>
<p>Don’t underestimate the beauty of graduating from college debt free. With law school to follow and the legal industry lowering salaries, you want to minimize debt.</p>
<p>I agree with hmom on this one. I would order them Columbia then Dartmouth I wouldn’t even consider Duke with those two options. Its about small town or NYC.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice. I seriously think I could enjoy either school as far as Dartmouth or Columbia, really. I adapt pretty easily and always enjoy the city but also see the appeal of the outdoor activities. As far as Location, Duke is the closest at 9 hours compared to 16 for Columbia and Dartmouth at 20 hours. I am going to try to visit, but as the May 1st deadline approaches, it seems like more and more of an impossibility.</p>