<p>I have selected my top three choices for colleges I will be able to attend but I am in a predicament. I live in, the recently flooded, southeastern Connecticut and I plan to major in Biochemistry/Biological Sciences. Upon completion of undergrad, I will aim for dental school. Posted below is my financial aid for each school, and I would like you guys to consider the best option for me, so I can take your advice into consideration. Please compare the schools' prestige, education, my major, value, financial aid... everything overall. Also list any PROs and CONs you might want me to know. Here we go...</p>
<p>UConn-
$6,500 in grants for 2010-2011 which means...
I would have to borrow $18,604 in loans/year (~$74,416 in four years)</p>
<p>Providence College-
I received a scholarship for full-tuition four years of attendance.
I would have to borrow $12,620 in loans/year (~$50,480 in four years)</p>
<p>Northeastern University-
I got admitted into their Jan-Start program (I wanted to attend in the Fall) which is basically a spring admit.
$8,000 in grants only for the Spring semester.
I would have to borrow $36,644 in loans/year (~$146,576 in four years)</p>
<p>If money were not an issue, I’d rank:
Notheastern
UConn
Providence</p>
<p>But given your financial aid packages, it would be:
UConn
Providence
Northeastern</p>
<p>Northeastern costs about $200,000 for 8 semesters. If you got $8000/semester, that would leave you with $136,000 in loans or family contribution. I am an NU alum but that is way too much debt, especially if you plan on dental school. UConn is the best state school in New England and the only one with a dental school.</p>
<p>Thank you for your input TomSrOfBoston. And you are right, it would be a smart decision for me to attend UConn considering the financial aid packages. My parents and I are leaning towards it.</p>
<p>I attended UConn 1975-1979. Big classes, very impersonal professors. I do not recommend UConn. Providence is your best choice. Excellent academically, nice mid-sized school with small classes. With a full tuition scholarship at PC, this seems like a no-brainer.</p>
<p>We attended the NEU reception in Denver last night. It is a great school with an awesome co-op program. </p>
<p>But I agree with TomSr (as usual) and the others… $146K is waaaay to much debt. Even if you did not want to go to dental school, it would be to much debt.</p>