<p>I have a tough decision to make within a few days. I want to become an environmental engineer. I feel that I am a perfect fit for a Johns Hopkins, and the school is great for my major. However, it would cost my family 25-30k per year. I would have to take out mostly loans. Meanwhile, I can attend Temple U or UMBC for much much cheaper, maybe even debt free. However, I don't think that these schools are as academically good as Hopkins. I've worked super hard and have a great shot of getting in. Is the big name worth the debt in the long run?</p>
<p>You should apply and see 1. Whether you get in and 2. What financial aid actually looks like.</p>
<p>First off, it is best to just apply and see, who knows, maybe Hopkins will give you some aid money. Second key thing to consider is whether you plan on going to graduate school this is key, because that costs money too and it means that if you do plan to go to grad school it is much better to avoid debt in your undergrad.</p>
<p>I am considering applying to hopkins ED, and the deadline is nov 8. So I can’t really just apply and see what happens… I would to apply and go there. Also is it necessary to go to grad school as an envi engineer major? What are the benefits of grad school for engineers; do most go??</p>
<p>You should understand that you cannot possibly borrow anything close to 25-30k per year. Your parents would have to apply for and qualify for parent plus loans and even if they were able to borrow that much, it’s much too large a debt for any undergraduate degree.</p>
<p>If you are dead set on applying to Hopkins then do so and if you are admitted, find out if they offer you enough financial aid to make attending affordable for 4 years. You need to find out exactly how much your parents can contribute to you per year before making any decisions.</p>
<p>Both Temple U and UMBC are fine schools and if you can be admitted and attend either of them and graduate debt free, it would be foolish to borrow 100k+ just to go to Hopkins.</p>
<p>If you are admitted to Hopkins ED but can’t afford to attend, you will be released from your commitment. You do not have to go there if the finances don’t work out.</p>
<p>Are you saying your parents’ EFC is 25-30,000 as calculated by JHU’s net price calculator - and that your parents either can’t or won’t pay?
Or are you just “guesstimating”?
You’re only allowed to borrow $5,500 for your freshman year. You may have a work study award for $2,000 or so. The rest would be institutional grants. How much can your parents pay?
In any case, if you feel JHU is the best school for you, you apply ED, get in, and are offered an unaffordable financial aid package, you won’t have to attend.
Since that’s a real possibility, you should prepare your BMC and Temple applications very carefully and sen them (if you get into JHU and are given a proper financial aid package, you would have to withdraw).
If really you’d have to go into $100,000 debt for JHU, it’s not worth it. You would have to hold off on owning a house, perhaps even a car, for 15 -20 years…
Engineers don’t need to go to grad school. Most find a job right after college, then attend grad school part time on their employer’s dime.</p>
<p>Another way to think about it is say you get a job as an environmental engineer - will a JHU degree pay more than the other schools? As say it does, how much more would that be? Say it’s $5k a year - it would take you 20 years to pay off the $100k, without interest. Even at $10k/yr, that’s 10 years without interest, still not enough to make it worthwhile.</p>
<p>Now, it’s possible a JHU degree might open doors that the other schools won’t, but that type of non-monetary effect is difficult to monetize. It might be possible to justify the $100k extra for the JHU degree, but it won’t be easy, and putting the burden on your parents just because it’s something you feel you deserve is not exactly fair.</p>