<p>I live in Michigan, where there's a great college, a couple of colleges that are pretty decent, and the rest are for most people who didn't give a crap. The problem is that I fit between decent and exceptional, but there's no college that is at that level. I was thinking about applying to Penn State for Finance or Economics (I want to end up in the northeast after school anyway), but I'm just thinking it wouldn't be worth the price premium. Thoughts? If I stayed in Michigan, I'd most likely get into Michigan State and then the Broad College for Finance. </p>
<p>By the way, the thing that really freaks me out about my stats is my ACT score. I don't think I'm going to do well on it (24-25). That's why I'm not anticipating getting into U of M</p>
<p>I just answered a post like yours on the board, so read up. Talk to your parents and find out what they are willing to pay, and make sure you have some schools that you know will take you and are affordable. Then you can apply to other schools understanding that unless some money materializes from them, it’s not going to happen. </p>
<p>That conversation with your parents is all fired important. FInd out what they are willing to pay, and also run some EFC estimates and NPC of the colleges to get some idea what your family and you are expected to pay. Penn State is not likely to come up with financal or merit aid==a nd for OOSers, it’s a $40k+ tab per year. If that is affordable for your family and they are willing to pay, it could be well worth it. But to put them into financial difficulty, no it is not.</p>
<p>Penn State is very expensive for OOS students. Also, an ACT score of 24-25 would not necessarily guarantee acceptance to the PSU main campus. We know PA residents with higher scores who did not get accepted to the main campus.</p>
Colleges as large as UMich, Michigan State, even Wayne State have something for everyone. It’s exceedingly simplistic, and wrong, to say that the ENTIRE college is “great”, or “pretty decent” or “for people who didn’t give a crap”.</p>