<p>My S got accepted to the U of Maryland Honors College with a President's Scholarship and also to Northwestern University. We do not expect much financial aid from Northwestern, so the financial issue is considerable here. At this point he is still undecided regarding his major. I am weighing the quality of the education vs the expense. Any advice is appreciated.</p>
<p>Not taking money into consideration, your son should make the choice. It’s his experience and it’s his future. Taking money into consideration, it depends on what your son wants to do with his future. If he has any intention on going to graduate school then he should go to the less expensive school (UMD) and do exceptionally well while not being in debt by the time of graduation. If he’s going to be in debt, he should be so due to graduate school, not undergrad. The Masters is the new Bachelors. Best of luck! In the end, I hope that your son is happy.</p>
<p>^completely agree. I would also like to add that wherever your son is happier, that is where he will thrive. Therefore, he will get more out of that school no matter its prestige. So try to have him look past labels to figure out where he will be the most successful in every way. As a student who is choosing UMD-college park scholars over UCSD, UMICH, and many other prestigious universities I had to think long and hard about what I really wanted to get out of a college and ignore the ranks/prestige. Good luck to your son and hopefully he is happy wherever he chooses.</p>
<p>I am a NU grad originally from MD – I would just like to add that NU is an amazing education. I look at this as apples and oranges. Did he visit Northwestern yet? If not, he certainly should. I say Northwestern – and whatever major he chooses, all of their colleges are excellent. However, if the cost is prohibitive, UMD is a good institution.</p>