I have been accepted into UT where I qualify for in-state tuition as a Texas resident and Ohio State where I was recently notified that I received the Morrill Distinction Scholarship which covers the full cost of attendance: tuition and fees; housing; meal plan; books; and miscellaneous expenses. UT is my dream school however I have not been notified if I will receive any scholarship money from Texas. Due to my family’s income I will not qualify for any need-based aid.
To help finance my education at UT, I would need to take out $19,500 of unsubsidized student loans and my parents will pay for the remainder of my educational costs. Obviously, I would graduate from Ohio State debt free. My plans are to major in history as an undergrad and attend law school thereafter. With respect to history, US News World Report ranks UT-Austin’s history program #17 and Ohio State at #24 (note this is for graduate level as US News does not rank undergrad history programs). Both UT and Ohio State are tied at #16 among public universities.
I have an emotional connection to UT as I would be the third-generation Longhorn in my family. I really like the city of Austin, the diversity of UT’s student body and the vibe of its campus. My father (a UT alum) wants me to seriously consider Ohio State because he thinks not having any student debt from undergrad would be best for entering law school.
Any comments are input would be very appreciated as I am really conflicted on what to do.
Debt free is HUGE. OH-IO!
I would definitely chose a full ride scholarship. OH is a great school, something to be proud of. If you really have reservations because of the emotional connection to UT, well, you could be the 1st to start a new tradition for future generations. Write your own path 
Take your Ohio State free ride and run to Ohio! Debt-free is everything, especially when you are talking about comparable public institutions. If it helps, UT and Ohio State are both ranked #52 in US News & World Report.
Thanks @rach98n, @britni12, @NotSoPatient and @collegefind I appreciate your comments and just to clarify because my post may be ambiguous, the total amount of debt for me to attend UT would be $19,500. My original post may have given the impression that that amount is what I would borrow on a yearly basis, which it is not. $19,500 is the total amount for my entire undergrad education if I went to UT whereas I would be entirely debt free at Ohio State.
As you think about declining an offer of admission, which school is harder to give up? Where does your heart want to be next year? If you accept the scholarship at Ohio State, you could attend law school at UT and still be a Longhorn.
That’s still 20 grand! That’s a lot! Especially if you are planning to have to pay for law school afterward. But, you might add up what it will cost you to go to OSU in travel expenses etc. Not sure how that would figure in. And I confess…I’m an original Buckeye turned Texan! Take the full ride to OSU and apply to UT for law school - best of both!
Not only does Ohio offer you a debt free education, but your parents don’t have to pay much of anything either. Have you asked whether the money you save them can be applied to law or graduate school? It is a fair question, even if they say no.
Does the scholarship require an exceptionally high GPA or anything that might make it difficult to keep? That would be my only concern. You don’t want to lose the scholarship and be stuck with OOS tuition.
Otherwise Ohio is the clear choice in my opinion.
@FloMoMom : definitely UT. I’m a native Texan, born in Austin, both parents are UT alumni and I love ATX.
@rach98n : I don’t know how much travel expenses will be. My parents would pay for that. I would return home at the beginning and end of each semester; Spring Break; and Winter Break. I can fly Southwest to Columbus, Ohio so maybe that makes it easier for my parents.
@gettingschooled: my father has saved about $30K in my college fund and he told me that I can have those funds for law school if I attend OSU. He would use the additional savings to shore up the college fund of a younger sibling.
Thanks all for your consideration of this issue, its just emotionally hard because I’ve been attached to UT for a very long time with no pre-existing connection to OSU. I will be traveling to both Austin and Columbus next month for admitted student programs and hope that helps making a final decision.
@BevoBuckeye - have you been able to visit OSU? That might make or break it for you. OSU students are as fiercely loyal to their school at Longhorns are. It’s a fun environment. Good luck in your decision! Let us know what you decide!
@rach98n, I’ll be visiting OSU for an admitted student program that includes a special Humanities Overview for my major near the end of next month. This will be my first visit to Columbus so it should definitely clarify things. UT sent me an invitation to attend their Best of Texas admitted student program on April 2 and I will be attending that as well.
I received my financial aid award letter from OSU today, (still waiting on UT), and the details of the Distinction Scholarship are even better than I originally thought. My letter states that my scholarship is $22,472 for the Autumn Semester, and $22,472 for the Spring Semester, for a total amount of $44,944 for the 2016-2017 academic year. I pulled up OSU’s estimated cost of attendance for 2016-2017 for non-residents and the breakdown is as follows:
Tuition and fees $28,204 (out of state rate)
Room and board $11,864
Books and supplies $1,234
Miscellaneous/personal $3,642
TOTAL COST OF ATTENDANCE: $44,944
It looks like even after all my direct educational costs are paid (tuition/fees & room and board) I’ll have a healthy amount of funds for books and even some spending money - just waiting to see if UT can go ahead and process my scholarship application as I already know based on the EFC I will not get any merit aid only the $5,500 of unsubsidized federal direct loans.
Something else to consider is the attention you’ll receive as a top scholarship recipient. There may be networking opportunities at OSU for those who’ve received your scholarship. You’ll also stand out to your professors. That’s huge when you’re applying to law school and are looking for recommendations–you’re more likely to find professors who’ll go to bat for you. Take the time to find out what non-monetary benefits the scholarship affords. Those could make a big difference. And as FloMoMom pointed out, there’s always UT for law school.
Definitely OSU, unless you have a bad experience on your visit there.
Does the OSU scholarship require you to maintain a certain GPA? Is it guaranteed all four years if you maintain that GPA? Also, does the amount of the scholarship increase to keep up with rises in tuition and room and board fees? Do you have to stay on campus all 4 years to get the room and board part?
Ohio State is an interesting place. I went to the UT game back in 2005. When the game ended the people sitting by us were nice enough to warn us about the fan behavior. Basically they hoped we would get back to our car in one piece. I got to experience couch and dumpster burning first hand. As we were crossing one of the main streets, a city bus stopped and several people got off and started throwing drinks at us and calling us every word in the book. I took off to get the car and that’s when one of them ran up to my ex and our 7 year old child. She gave him a nice right hook and laid him out in the middle of the street. While this was all happening, there were several security people and cops standing there doing nothing. So if you are a die hard UT person, it might not be the best place for you to go.
I think the full ride scholarship would be the best choice
Listen to your father. Ohio State is the better choice for you. As a recipient of a full ride scholarship, you will be treated like a star there and able to participate in research all four years or whatever else you seek to do. It will separate you and distinguish you from others on every application you submit later on – whether for a summer job, a study abroad scholarship, or law school admissions and scholarships. People who hand out opportunities and money like to give it to previously recognized students that someone else has already deemed worthy. That scholarship will open more doors for you than just being debt free.
I personally have known young lawyers with about $200,000 in law loans, and they couldn’t find a decent job in the legal industry so they were doing temp work. Don’t even think of adding undergraduate student loans to the picture if you don’t have to!
You can apply to the law school at UT-Austin later on, if you want to continue the family tradition and experience attending that university. You can also do summer internships in Austin whether you are attending school there or not. Congratulations on the scholarship from Ohio State – it’s a huge accomplishment!
I agree with @mommyrocks. My son is in the same position, only UT is where his scholarship is. He struggles with wanting to accept his Duke acceptance, but why on earth would anyone advise to pass up an irreplaceable scholarship? Btw, after this month, no one will care anymore about the decision process, and by August matriculation, all students will be excited to be exactly where they are. Enjoy the ride and don’t look back!
Not only will it save thousands of $$$, but I think Morrill Distinction Scholarship at OSU will boost your resume more than no scholarship at UT.
You may love Texas but looks like OSU is giving you all the love here, so love 'em right back and head to Columbus.