<p>Something to consider is that if a suitable school happens to produce a net price that is sufficiently below budget to make a ninth semester affordable*, it may be worth strong consideration, to reduce the pressure to decide a major quickly and reduce the risk of running out of money due to changing to a major that will require an extra semester due to long prerequisite sequences.</p>
<p>*Be careful with assessing the affordability of a ninth (or further) semester. Merit scholarships are likely to end after eight semesters, and need-based financial aid policies for semesters after eight need to be checked at each school.</p>