<p>I am having difficulty deciding between these two schools, and I have to make the decision by tomorrow (I got an extension until Friday for Vanderbilt, UMass is due tomorrow). I am majoring in Vocal Performance and a Biology/Ecology-type science. </p>
<p>Vanderbilt has always been my dream school, but I'm from MA so it is a hassle to get to, and I would be about $40,000 in debt at graduation. I love the campus, the size, the incredible academics, the facilities, the music, and pretty much everything else about it besides the cost and the traveling!</p>
<p>UMass is easy to get to, my two best friends go there, I think (?) the honors college has a good reputation, but I never really loved it when I went there. I don't like the campus, and although the marching band and instrumental music is amazing, I wasn't impressed by their choral music. Granted, I only heard one choral concert, so maybe it is much better than what I saw that one day.</p>
<p>I know some people have to go to college with a lot more debt than $40,000, but I just wanted to check to see if people had other thoughts regarding whether or not Vanderbilt is worth it. I love the school, I'm just a little torn about the money issue.</p>
<p>Thank you !</p>
<p>vanderbilt; it’s four years of your life, you want to enjoy that time. you don’t seem particularly interested in umass apart from your friends being there, so vanderbilt all the way. I’m from MA as well, and at this point I’ve already made a deposit to BC, but I was waitlisted at Vanderbilt among other schools, so i’m hopeful.</p>
<p>are your parents “sharing” the debt with you? are you assuming your max in Stafford loans is what I mean…and are your parents then shouldering about 20 grand of the debt? If so, then choose Vanderbilt. I think 20 grand in debt on your shoulders with your intended major is reasonable if it is shared with your parents in sort of a split. Then you are getting a world class education for a reasonable sacrifice financially. If you are serious about the hard sciences at Vanderbilt and you intend to double major and to do well in science at Vanderbilt, you may find your next step post grad is sensible re costs. Some science undergrad non premeds can find stipended next steps in grad school but only if they excel while at Vanderbilt. For a person who loves music, you really ought to consider Nashville and Blair and Vanderbilt’s incredible resources.</p>
<p>Thank you for the responses - </p>
<p>The only financial aid we got was $5500 in loans and a $2200 work study. My parents are paying for the rest of tuition, but I would be personally responsible for about $10,000 a year.</p>
<p>tough decision for full pay. We did full pay to Duke for eldest son and put “too much” on our home equity just as housing values fell drastically but the Duke decision was made in 2005…a very bloated and optimistic moment in the economy. </p>
<p>I wouldn’t factor in your two best friends (sorry!–I know they are great people but you will make new best friends from this coming chapter as well) nor would I give any merit at all to the “easy to get to” advantages at UMass. That is sort of irrelevant in my view. You can book ahead on flights to save money. Your parents can use flight credit cards and get airmiles for all but the heavily blacked out Winter break if that is a concern.<br>
I am a parent and my sons like me. But not enough to spend summers with us or to even spend spring breaks with us anymore. Neither son spends much time at all with high school friends anymore. Vandy son does Alternative Spring Break each year and winds up with ten new friends each time. Some kids are even doing service work over other things like Thanksgiving. Your mind will be focused on internships and jobs before too long for summers and access to home besides Winter break won’t signify much. Parents can come to you but few parents show up more than once a year on college campuses…even Parents weekend seems to be mostly about freshman parents.</p>
<p>If your parents are wanting you to put some “skin” into Vanderbilt because they are shouldering the very high costs of four years there, I understand. </p>
<p>I think Vanderbilt is worth the risk and the debt but only if you completely hunker down and come out with a science degree that will be attractive to underwritten grad schools and to the job market. Vanderbilt’s science reputation and incredible labs and faculty will take you far. Vanderbilt’s reputation is only improving on the national front. Can you go to UMass for a good price point for grad school? (this is not the case in our home state of VA if you want to do law, mba or even medicine…so it is actually smart to ask yourself…am I going to go to a music conservatory or a science grad school next?)</p>
<p>Congrats on your admission. It was a brutal year and even if you decide to go to UMass…the fact that you got into Vandy says to me that you will stand out greatly at UMass and you will make the most of your time in Amherst as well.</p>