<p>^ Yes, but at what cost…$116,000?!</p>
<p>I cannot express this strongly enough. At $29,000 more per year, it is crazy to go to Northwestern, unless your parents are wealthy. It’s that plain and simple. UCSD is an excellent university which is getting better every year. It has excellent professors. You can go on from there to do and accomplish anything you want in life.</p>
<p>Rabid NU ■■■■■ as others will attest I am, they’re right. If money is an issue (which it is), at $29,000/year, go to UCSD.</p>
<p>Post #15 is wrong to dismiss all other considerations except for cost. All are valid concerns, including cost. If cost were the only consideration, then a local community college, or junior college, is the answer. In the OP’s case, maybe the family can afford the extra cost. Regardless, if one intends to major in economics & history, UCSD is not one of the top 60 or so schools that comes to mind. Approximately 60% of the students at Northwestern University are paying 100% of all costs. Northwestern University ranks at position 14 of the “priciest private schools” according to USNews. The top 13 are: GWU, Georgetown, NYU, BC, Columbia, Chicago, WashUStL, JHU, Tufts, Vanderbilt, BU, USC & Penn. Northwestern is next at number 14, followed by: Brown, Cornell, Harvard, Univ. of Rochester, MIT, Brandeis, RPI, Tulane, Stanford, Dartmouth, WPI, Duke, Yale, Stevens Institute of Tech., Lehigh, Emory, CMU, Pepperdine, Princeton, Notre Dame, Fordham, Univ. of San Diego… After the average financial aid package is factored in, Northwestern University moves up to the ninth priciest private school. UCs are among the nation’s cheapest public schools. Any California resident applying to the UCs and to Northwestern or any of the top 30 or so priciest private schools should not expect the out of pocket dollar cost to be the same. Nor should a Lexus cost the same as a Ford. The freedom to chose is what is great about the American educational system.</p>
<p>^ Sure, I’m not dismissing those other factors. </p>
<p>But, I think they are irrelevant and not worth paying a huge $115k premium. You’ll get just as fantastic of an education at UCSD as you would at NU. </p>
<p>You’re in dreamland if you think a Northwestern degree will give you significantly more future earnings than a UCSD degree to comfortably finance $115k. </p>
<p>
While they don’t normally rate undergrad social science departments, UCSD is much better than you think. Look at the latest grad rankings for economics by USNWR. UCSD is #10, Northwestern is #8. </p>
<ol>
<li>MIT/Chicago</li>
<li>Harvard/Princeton/Stanford/Berkeley </li>
<li>Yale </li>
<li>Northwestern </li>
<li>U Penn</li>
<li>UCSD</li>
</ol>
<p>Bottom line: UCSD is a much better value for the OP.</p>
<p>That “Ford” is creeping up into “Lexus” territory.</p>
<p>Ok guys, some updates.</p>
<p>I got into MMSS, and that is making me consider Northwestern much more strongly than ever before. For those of you familiar with the program, exactly how prestegious is MMSS at Northwestern/in the job market?</p>
<p>Of course this should be decided in context of what I plan to do after college. At this point, I feel that I might end up studying History in Grad school or work for a couple years and then get an MBA. Thus, getting a good GPA is going to be critical.</p>
<p>How do NU and UCSD compare in terms of difficulty? While NU may be ranked above UCSD, UCSD definately has a reputation as a study school while NU seems to be more laid-back.</p>
<p>My parents are willing to pay for NU, but if I do decide to go, I will burn up all the money they have availible for my education and I will have to support myself in grad school (grading papers, teaching classes, etc.)</p>
<p>And lastly, can I appeal my financial aid? What would be the best strategy for doing that?</p>
<p>Before MMSS, I’d say that UCSD was a no-brainer.</p>
<p>Now, it’s a significantly tougher choice.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.mmss.northwestern.edu/students/Internship_Directory.pdf[/url]”>http://www.mmss.northwestern.edu/students/Internship_Directory.pdf</a> shows you the internships MMSS student had in the last few years. Considering the small size of the program, I think it’s safe to say many employers think highly of MMSS students. </p>
<p>Since you asked about difficulty, MMSS is supposed to be pretty rigorous; the good news is it seems to have a high retention rate.</p>
<p>If all the finances are equal I say Northwestern. It is nationally and internationally recognized in ways that UCSD is not.</p>
<p>OK 29K? UCSD it is.</p>
<p>I don’t think this choice is that hard. Go to UCSD. Going to NU over UCSD for over 100k in 4 yrs isn’t worth it, at all. Only go to NU if you truly love NU and hate UCSD. Personally, only schools that I would attend for extra 100k over a school like UCSD would be HYP.</p>