Tough choices! Suggestions?

<p>I've gotten into some amazing schools- no complaints whatsoever. Claremont Mckenna, USCalifornia(half-tuition), BC(honors college, no scholarship), William and Mary(Monroe scholar, no money), UVA. I love all of these schools for different reasons. </p>

<p>However, I got a FULL ride to UMD as a Banneker/ Key scholar. I would even be making money throughout college due to my NMF status. In your opinion, will any of the earlier schools create enough of an advantage for me to make the extra 30,000 a year worth it?</p>

<p>(at least 30,000)</p>

<p>What are you planning on studying? The program or type of program makes a difference in the return on investment.</p>

<p>Also, would you be happy at UMD? How much happier would you be at the other schools you mentioned? These are questions you need to answer for yourself.</p>

<p>I’m looking at studying foreign affairs. </p>

<p>I am the kind of person who would honestly be happy anywhere. Maryland is by no means my ideal school: I didn’t want such a big school, or one focused so much on science. However, the money thing IS an issue in my family. I’m asking from the viewpoint of getting into grad school/ getting jobs.</p>

<p>Do you plan to go to grad school? If so, my personal belief is that where the undergrad is from is not critical. That statement in no way reflects on my opinion of UMD. I think $30K/year is a lot of money. You will be graduating debt free. Will your family consider saving part of what they would have given you for undergrad so that you can use it at the graduate level? If so, I would strongly consider UMD.</p>

<p>Since finances are an issue and you’re looking at attending grad school, I’d take the full ride.</p>

<p>Foreign affairs is not one of the fields where the name of your undergrad school is going to make a huge difference and - as mentioned above - once you go to grad school, the name of the undergrad doesn’t matter much anymore. Doing well at UMD will enable you to get into grad school just fine.</p>

<p>In some fields (especially business-related fields), your salary is greatly affected by your undergrad. In others - such as foreign affairs - it won’t be hugely affected, and thus the $30k per year is the better financial option.</p>

<p>Where is the $30K/year coming from? Please tell me you aren’t thinking about borrowing $120,000.</p>

<p>My assumption for the $30K is the difference between the full ride at UMD and what the student/parents contribution would be on an annual basis at one of the other universities that he has been accepted at.</p>

<p>my parents are willing to put money that would be spent on undergrad towards grad/ law school. I’m saying that out of the schools I ACTUALLY want to go to, 30K per year would be the cheapest(with room and board),as oppose to md’s full ride. My parents can afford to spend that much, and they would be willing to. I’m just not sure that I can justify spending that much just for the college “experience”, living far from home, that I always wanted. In your opinion, can I get into TOP law/ grad schools by doing well at md? would it be a long shot?</p>

<p>People get into top law schools every single year from UMD. What makes law school admission a “long shot” is you personal performance in college, and on the LSATs, not the name on your undergraduate diploma.</p>

<p>30 x 4 = 120</p>

<p>If you go to UMD, you basically will have saved enough money to go to law school. Given the number of struggling young lawyers out there who are having trouble paying their law school loans, the honors program at UMD looks really good to me!</p>

<p>Generally I am concerned by recommendations based on cost only. Despite what people say, there is a big difference between sharing a classroom with highly motivated, gifted students and top professors and settings where that may not be uniformly the case. It does matter where you go undergrad because you want an excellent education, not just a credential.</p>

<p>However UMD is good school, increasingly regarded, and in this case, in addition to the cost, you should consider that its proximity to Washington, DC, offers excellent opportunities for those interested in foreign affairs. This is a serious consideration for internships, lectures, etc.</p>

<p>I would spend some solid time at UMD, sitting in on classes and talking with professors and students, to get a better sense of the choice you are making.</p>