<p>Hi Everyone,
Just give me your opinion on this...
I have been selected into:</p>
<p>1.Penn State University- main campus
2.University of Wisconsin-Madison
3. University of Cincinnati (With total scholarship $48,000)
4. Ohio State University ( With Scholar's Program)</p>
<p>Financing the education is a big challenge, yet i am more keen on taking the challenge than compromising on the quality. I would not like my CV to be kept in the last of the pile because i did not take a challenge that i could have... Certainly even if it's about taking a loan of $100,000... Till the time it's worth.. I am up for it. Just want to share that I am a sincere and a hardworking student, so i can take the responsibility. But, i also want to take an opinion, to prevent myself from taking a foolish decision out of zeal...</p>
<p>Return on Investment and reputation of the university is important. This is also important since I have big dreams and this would provide me a better path towards those dreams. Further, the quality of Teaching is very important - I don't mind if I don't have a noble prize winner as a prof. what I want is that I should cherish every moment of my class. (I say this because, it is not necessary that a highly qualified person will also be a great teacher...If you ask me to choose b/w a prof. who himself is a noble prize winner and a prof. whose student is a noble prize winner, I would choose the 2nd option) After this, a very crucial factor I find is "the quality of life" and "the opportunities to become a versatile and an empowered individual" (This is the basis behind me choosing US)...I would not like to spend my time in only books and library.. but also in gaining worldly wisdom.. and certainly "Having Fun too" . (That's why Penn State is top on list- it has tremendous opportunities to grow, great reputation and people have fun too..and then my aunt lives in Philadelphia...close to Penn State)</p>
<p>Certainly even if it’s about taking a loan of $100,000</p>
<p>That would be crazy, especially since attending any of those schools will not mean that your app goes to the bottom of the pile. Besides, your parents would be nuts to co-sign those loans (if they are willing and qualified).</p>
<p>How much will it cost you to go to each school? How much will your parents pay each year?</p>
<p>If you’re going to be an engineer, then you also need to be somewhat aware of costs.</p>
<p>University of Cincinnati is the cheapest but it doesn’t have the reputation you are looking for. University Park, Columbus, Madison are pretty similar for engineering. Which is the cheapest of the three ? If you want a college town, Penn State. If you want city, Ohio State and University of Wisconsin. Post the cost of attendance for all.</p>
<p>There is one important thing which i think, I missed to tell. “I am an international student from India”</p>
<p>Now, coming back to main part…</p>
<p>Cost of attendance for :
PSU = $45,000 to $47,000 p.a
OSU and Wisconsin = $40,000 to $43,000 p.a
U of Cincinnati = around $32,000 to $35,000. </p>
<p>Some amount will be paid to university through loan and some by my parents. My parents would pay approximately $18,000 p.a </p>
<p>Finally, after my graduation, I wont do post-graduation but would work till i don’t pay the loan… A PSU engineer’s salary is about $60,000 to $70,000 p.a so I guess, I would be able to repay the loan in 2-3 years, if i do not live too extravagantly !!</p>
<p>You will have to pay taxes and living expenses before being able to pay down the debt.</p>
<p>Realistically, all of those schools are too expensive; even Cincinnati would result in $52,000 to $68,000 in debt (which you might have a hard time being able to borrow anyway).</p>
<p>Within your parents’ budget is South Dakota State University, which costs $16,000 per year, has rolling admissions, and civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering.</p>
<p>Finally, after my graduation, I wont do post-graduation but would work till i don’t pay the loan… A PSU engineer’s salary is about $60,000 to $70,000 p.a so I guess, I would be able to repay the loan in 2-3 years, if i do not live too extravagantly !!</p>
<p>?? Are you planning on working in the US? </p>
<p>Those projected salaries are for DOMESTIC students. Int’ls cannot use those numbers. Many high-tech companies will not hire int’ls. Your job options in the US will be limited. Your salary prospects are lower. </p>
<p>Also, as a single person, your salary would be hit HARD with taxes and other deductions. Your take-home pay will be far less. Fed, state, FICA and other deductions will really cut into your salary.</p>
<p>Then, after you’ve paid taxes, you’ll have rent, food, utilities, cable, internet, cell phone, car, gas, insurance (health and car), clothing, etc. </p>
<p>Young people do not have a grasp on how much of their salary is never seen by them. Young people often do not have a grasp on how much regular living expenses will cost them.</p>
<p>You would not likely be able to pay off those debts in a few years.</p>
<p>I get that…!! And i absolutely agree and respect your concern for me…! And i am really thankful for that. But somehow, we are seeing the negative influence of money here… unfortunately, rather than discussing solutions, we are discussing problems. what i mean to say is… should I lose all the hopes? Should I believe that I am destined to go into a lower level college because I am taking a loan ? I think somewhere, the answer to all this is “NO”… The things are tough, I agree… but not impossible… Infact, It is both possible and probable if we work and study sincerely …! </p>
<p>A college will not be a deciding factor behind my success, but a good college would certainly become a catalyst to it… with every better college enhancing the chances…</p>
<p>I am not scared to come out of my comfort zone till i am moving towards excellence…And then I truly believe, If you want to shine like the sun, you need to burn like it… The finest steel has to pass through the hottest fire…</p>
<p>I would not like to say in the future… “I wish I would have…”</p>
<p>I think I have put up a wrong question here because it seems like a never ending debate… So maybe, I would conclude it here itself on a positive and a hopeful note…!!</p>
<p>In comparing the costs have you figured in the earnings that you would have during your co-op terms at Cincinnati? UC’s engineering program is five years and requires co-oping where you spend the term working to gain experience and earning money that can help finance your education.</p>
<p>In comparing the costs have you figured in the earnings that you would have during your co-op terms at Cincinnati? UC’s engineering program is five years and requires co-oping where you spend the term working to gain experience and earning money that can help finance your education.</p>
<p>Very good point. However, the student needs to find out if the co-op positions require a green-card or citizenship status. Many do. Companies dealing with “sensitive” info often only hire citizens to co-op. </p>
<p>If he can do the co-ops, then he should go to UCinn so that his debt is minimized. The other schools will require $40k-50k+ additional in debt. That may not seem like much, but it is. </p>
<p>The debt from UCinn will be like an additional large car payment. The debt from the other schools will be like 2-3 additional car payments…for 10+ years.</p>