<p>if you had the option to go to North Carolina State University for free (books, fees, laptop, travel abroad) because of the prestigious Park Scholarship and go to Dartmouth with a 45k scholarship/work study (out of 56k for total cost). My parents can't really afford the remaining 11k, so I would attempt to negotiate, because it seemed like Dartmouth really wants me (I got a likely letter in March)</p>
<p>I'm facing some tough decision making, and I was supposed to tell NC State yesterday my decision (but I asked for an extension because I just heard from Dartmouth).</p>
<p>Any advice is appreciated.</p>
<p>Since Dartmouth meets full need…your family contribution must be that $11K. You can certainly call them and ask…nothing ventured…nothing gained. Maybe there is something they can do for you. BUT if they have calculated that your family can contribute towards your education, it is likely they will expect them to do so.</p>
<p>I think it depends on what your parents can afford. You can easily make 3K in summer earnings and work study. That would leave your parents with 8K. If they need more help from there, let’s say you take out $2K in loans (a very small amount), then they’re down to 6K. And so forth… what can they pay, what can you do to help get to that amount? Without knowing your financial situation, it’s hard to say anything concrete. People always say the “can’t afford” whatever amount it is. Sometimes it’s not that they can’t, but that they don’t want to. That’s fair, too, but it’s a different issue.</p>
<p>If you were my kid I’d find a way to make Dartmouth work (with you working to contribute too). Our family income is mid-60K, no assets. I could make that aid award work. In fact I am doing that very thing for my own son at a Dartmouth-peer school right now. He works summers and he has workstudy during the academic year.</p>
<p>If it’s really not possible, or if you’d like to be relieved of working to make a decent student contribution to the costs, then you’ve got another good option in NC State.</p>
<p>so if I’m understanding correctly, you both believe dartmouth to be the better choice?
I know that they determined my need on the forms as 11k and I completely understand that. I wasnt undermining the work they did, just trying to give more personal information so that CCers can give informed advice.</p>
<p>I was mainly just asking if yall believed that 44k towards the cost of Dartmouth is a good decision when I have a completely free and prestigious option. that’s all.</p>
<p>thanks for the words!</p>
<p>Dartmouth’s package didn’t include any loans – is that right? You would be eligible to take out $5500 in loans on your own, plus 2K for summer earnings, which leaves a gap of $3500 per year, if I’m calculating that correctly. Could they handle the $3500 per year?</p>
<p>I don’t think that graduating from Dartmouth with $25000 in student loans is a terrible problem.</p>
<p>Yes, I’d say with an aid award that good from Dartmouth, if you were my kid, I’d find a way to make that work. I’m not one that is sold on the brand-name school advantage, and if it was going to be a serious hardship to make Dartmouth work, I’d choose NC State. It just seems like a doable prospect, so in that case… yeah, I’d pick Dartmouth. But that’s me, and it’s not you. It’s you that counts.</p>
<p>I have a kid at Amherst and a kid in the honors college of the state u. I think they are both getting an excellent education. It just depends on what you, personally, want. I admire your approach to this and looking at it objectively. You must be a smart kid to have those options, and a smart kid to look at them in such a considered way.</p>
<p>Have you visited both schools? If they both have academic programs that appeal to you, maybe you should just go where you think you’d enjoy being the most. (The answer to that is definitely not going to be Dartmouth for everybody.) I’m sure in the long run you’re going to get an excellent education because you’ll get out what you put in, and I have a feeling you’ll put in a lot. Congratulations on your excellent options!</p>
<p>I would go to NC State and not owe a dime and have my summers free for research and travel. I would prefer the weather in NC to the weather up north. That’s just me.</p>
<p>The bottom line is that I would not want to scrimp for Darmouth.</p>
<p>My parents can’t really afford the remaining 11k, so I would attempt to negotiate, because it seemed like Dartmouth really wants me (I got a likely letter in March)</p>
<p>Because you got the likely letter, it does seem like Dartmouth wants you. Do you have a unique talent or are you a URM? If so, you should try to pursue a better package. Honestly explain that your family can’t pay their family contribution. If Dartmouth really wants you, they may not let a few thousand get in the way of you going. Explain that you want to go to Dartmouth, but you can’t afford it. </p>
<p>If your parents can afford - say $5k (error on the conservative side) - and if Dartmouth can kick in $4-5k more each year, you could make up the difference with a sub loan.</p>
<p>Your financial aid package from D’mouth is excellent. I agree…I would try to find a way to make it work. NC State is a fine school…but your option of attending Dartmouth is one that is hard to turn down if you can make the finances work.</p>
<p>thanks for all the advice, especially mom2collegekids and thumper. I really appreciate it, and after I visit Dartmouth, I’ll ask them about maybe adding 3-5k to my package.</p>
<p>hopefully it all works out!
thanks again!</p>