<p>I come from a middle class family with an average income but high assets due to the fact that my parents own their home. As a result, we received very subpar financial aid packages from Cornell and Dartmouth. Unable to even acquire adequate loans to send me to the ivys, I enrolled in Fordham University for the Fall 2013. I am not positive on what I am studying, but graduate school is likely in my future. </p>
<p>Now that it is two months until I attend college I cant help but wonder how much turning down these ivy league schools will hurt me in the long run. I trust the CC community to respond considerately to my situation. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>Fordham is not an Ivy school so the “prestige” factor isn’t there to the same extent as it would be for Cornell or Dartmouth. BUT my S graduated from Fordham in 2012. He got a great education, met amazing people, and had an overall wonderful experience there. One of his closest friends turned down an offer from an Ivy equivalent school because he was offered a full ride at Fordham so it is likely that you won’t be the only one in that boat (particularly if you are in Fordham’s honors program). After Fordham, my S went to Notre Dame for grad school and a number of his friends also ended up at top grad programs (ex. Harvard, med schools) so if you do well there you will be fine. </p>
<p>I know that it is disappointing to not have the chance to attend the top school you got into (I was in a similar situation many years ago), but try to focus on having a wonderful and successful college experience. Take advantage of all that Fordham and NYC will offer you.</p>
<p>You must have gotten a lot of merit aid at Fordham to make it affordable, because its list price is every bit as expensive as Dartmouth’s and Cornell’s. Congratulations. Many students would like to be in your shoes.</p>
<p>There is a lot of opportunity for a good and ambitious student at Fordham and in NYC in general. If you were smart enough to get into the other two places, you are smart enough to do very well at Fordham and to take advantage of every opportunity available to you. Throw yourself into life at Fordham and you will have no time or reason for regrets.</p>
<p>There was a study by a princeton professor that showed what colleges someone was accepted to was a much better way to predict future jobs and earnings than the college that person attends. If you are motivated and work hard you can get just as far as someone with an ivy education</p>
<p>It partially depends on your future plans. Do you want to continue on to grad school? If so, you could have the chance to work while going to grad school, and two years vs four at a prestigious university is half the expense. CC tends to be prestige obsessed, but truthfully you can receive a great education if you’re dedicated and willing to learn. I agree with happy1, make the best of your experience and you’ll have the time of your life</p>
<p>neuromajor hit the nail on the head! “CC tends to be prestige obsessed…” Be forewarned. ;-)</p>
<p>You’ll do fine. Fordham is a well respected school. The person matters more than the diploma. You are clearly an achiever. Do you really think that will change, just because you didn’t go to Cornell. Of course it won’t!</p>
<p>You made the right decision. Fordham is a great school, and your saving a lot of $$$ by going there, which can be used for other purposes. Congrats!</p>