<p>This past week, I received a full scholarship to a patriot league school. Also recently, I have been picking up tons of interest from Ivy league schools, who have told me that they are "sold on me" and will probably offer once they can. While my primary goal in college is to get a top level education, I'm not quite sure if I would enjoy myself at an ivy. I have, however, visited the school which offered me and can say with certainty that I would fit in there. In addition to this, Ivies can't give full scholarships, and given my parents financial situation, its unlikely that I will be receiving much aid. Granted, the schools I am being looked at by are all top ten schools and might be worth paying for. So, my question is should I go for a full scholarship and a little less of a top academic experience (the school I was offered by is top 50), or have to pay and attend an ivy? My family is well off financially (upper middle class), but not as well off to the point where paying 60k a year to attend school in addition to paying for my brother at the same time would not take a large toll. I am aware I have a lot of time to make a decision, however I simply wanted to hear what others had to say. </p>
<p>What is your sport?</p>
<p>Football, sorry for not mentioning that </p>
<p>If you are happy with the offer, the school, the opportunity, TAKE IT. Why go to another school you don’t think you’ll be as happy with just because some one else ranks it higher on an imaginary scale? The Ivies are wonderful educational opportunities for students who like them and want that experience, but don’t do it just because you think it will look good in the future. Go for the actual experience that is good for you.</p>
<p>Haven’t visited any ivies yet so I’m not quite sure. Based off of what I’ve heard however, I feel that I might not fit in. Anyway I guess I’ll find out this summer. </p>
<p>I’m not sure how much your parents make, but with a sibling in school that will affect their EFC.</p>
<p>For $150,000 per year in combined salaries, the EFC is $30,000 per year. If your parents are making a lot and have 401Ks, they can take out 401K loans for you to go to college.</p>
<p>And it’s not that Ivies don’t give full scholarships, they don’t give ANY scholarships for sports.</p>
<p>If you are a 2015, you have some time unless the Patriot League school is getting antsy and threatens to pull the scholarship offer. But if you aren’t that interested in any one Ivy, not sure why you would bother to pursue them. </p>
<p>Ask yourself if it is your responsibility to make sure your parents are financially comfortable or not. It sounds like you would not break them, just make things annoying. And it sounds like you are worried about money, maybe more than they are? Or if you won’t bother to visit, why would you consider them?</p>
<p>Truly I don’t think you can go wrong either way (possible Ivy or Patriot). You’ll get a great education with whatever you choose… However, with the possibility of graduating with no loans or debt is a tremendous thing in this day and age. That is a fantastic opportunity with the right situation. You are a mature young man to be thinking this through. </p>
<p>My son is a senior Ivy athlete. At the end of the day, it has been his education that has stood out in his college experience. Good luck. </p>
<p>My parents make a combined income of about $500,000/yr. While they do have money saved for college, paying almost all of a 60k/yr education plus the tuition of wherever my brother goes might come as harmful towards them. Still they seem to want me to play at an ivy since no one in my family aside from my aunt has attended one. I like this patriot school I have mention much better than the ivies I have seen so far and would probably enjoy my experience better. I guess my question is really this- how much more would going to a school such as cornell or brown (ivies which have shown the most interest and claim to be sold) benefit me than going to Holy Cross (the patriot school)? </p>
<p>As a parent, I hope this is where my kid says – “mom, I love you, but this is a school I am really happy with, and I can see myself there. I am done.” Its kind of like marriage (forgive me) – I am the kind of person who thinks there is not one soul mate out there waiting for you but rather a number of people whom you can build a wonderful life with. If you sit around waiting for the perfect one (the Ivy), you miss a lot of wonderful possibles. Time to pick and move on. Sounds like you have found your “match” and familial pressure about prestige should not be part of the decision. Of course, I understand that, for you, as a young person, that is not easy to communicate to your parents. Be honest about what you like about your school and why you feel it is the right choice for you. It is not, at the end of the day, about the sticker on the back of your parents’ car. And, HC is a very strong option, we know very successful, accomplished graduates. Good luck, and congratulations!</p>
<p>Gonna be honest. IMO, a resume and the life long networking from Cornell or Brown will get you further than Holy Cross. I won’t judge on your parents’ salary, but they are definitely in a high bracket. I’d recommend you take out the FAFSA loans which will ease your parents cost a bit and show that you have some skin in the game. That’s just my two cents - but good luck with your decision. Midwestmom is right. You need to go where you will never look back and say “what if”.</p>
<p>What are your parents saying? Don’t try to estimate the financial part from your end. What are they saying to you?</p>
<p>If you have a full boat scholarship at a college like Holy Cross that is ranked top 25 on the US News & World Reports LAC national rankings, I would take it without a second thought. Hard to do much better than that. <a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/college-of-the-holy-cross-2141/rankings”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/college-of-the-holy-cross-2141/rankings</a></p>
<p>My parents are saying that it would take it’s toll but they would be willing to pay for an ivy. </p>
<p>Another consideration is the ole “bird in the hand” thing. If I understand your situation correctly, you are a junior with a full athletic scholarship at a D1 school that you really like. And a couple of Ivy league schools have said they are very interested in you. So much can change between this spring and when those other programs are able to make an offer next year. Why trade a school and program you are happy with, for the mere prospect, not guarantee, of something else? </p>
<p>Are there other adults, say your coach, who might be able to talk with your parents, so that it does not get caught up in emotion and parent-child dynamics? </p>
<p>Yeah I believe I could have a coach talk to my parents. I know what I’m leaning to now but I don’t want to rush my decision. I’m going to wait until I see the ivies this summer so I can form a concrete opinion on them. </p>
<p>I think you would be well advised to keep your HC commitment and just not advertise it. NLI signing is not until next February. It will not be a thrilling experience to de-commit before NLI if you decide you need to and have an Ivy acceptance - but until you have a Likely after Oct. 1st I would keep HC as your school. Commit to HC verbally but don’t go putting it in your local paper that you are a commit just yet. You only have to make a real choice when you have the likely letter from the Ivy. Colleges understand this.</p>
<p>I haven’t committed yet, sorry I gave you that impression </p>
<p>As I stated earlier, I don’t think you can go terribly wrong with either Patriot or Ivy football & education. The question in my mind would be :</p>
<p>1) What do the depth charts look like at your position (how much playing time would you expect) with each respective school ?<br>
2) What would be your area of academic study? Is it offered at each school recruiting you? Who has the better program?</p>
<p>IMHO these are two HUGE questions that will affect your life & happiness during those 4 years and beyond. </p>
<p>As far as the financial implications that is certainly up to you and your parents. If you want to be genuinely happy during those 4 years I would seek to get answers to the above questions, and I would start visiting these targeted schools NOW whether it is an OV or un-OV. Waiting until Fall of senior HS year is going to be too busy if you are considering D1 schools JMO. Good luck!.</p>
<p>If you are looking to stay in New England, especially the Boston area, or coach football at a HS some day, Holy Cross will get you as far as Brown or Cornell. It’s very highly thought of locally. </p>
<p>The most important question should always be that if you were injured day 1 and couldn’t play, or if the coach left, would you still be happy with your choice? If no, it’s not the right school for you.</p>
<p>Cornell is a big school and the classes are huge. IMHO it’s a much better choice for grad school than undergrad. It can be hard to get the classes you want, and you won’t get the individual mentoring you can easily attract at a small personal school like Holy Cross.
Also consider playing time and time spent practicing. In the Patriot League, you might be a star. Season is shorter and there may be less time spent at practice, leaving you more free to pursue other activities or (gasp) study.</p>
<p>You don’t have the LL til November and by then, the other support could be gone. If you feel you will be happy at HC, I say go for it.</p>