<p>I was reading Avalon's thread about Rice and Stanford and saw such great input there that I was hoping you might have a moment to help me with my college choices. I'm in-state CA and I have the wonderful opportunity to go to UCLA Regents and walk out with 100k in my pocket, or to attend what has been my dream school for a decade. I'm considering pursuing econ--> law or mba, so there will definitely be professional school in my future. Also, as I understand it the graduate school from which you graduate is also very important, which is a little bit different from what I hear about medical school (any of 10-15 top med schools will get you anywhere vs. the trinity for law school). If I were your child, where would you send me? Thanks to everyone in advance for any input!</p>
<p>How would you pay for Harvard undergrad? Would your parents have to take out massive loans? That would be an important fact to know. Harvard is $46K for next year, with costs to raise at least 5% per year, every year thereafter.</p>
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If I were your child, where would you send me?
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If you were my child, I'd sent you to UCLA with a big smile on my face because I'd know you'd already have most of law school paid for with that spare 100K! If you chose Harvard, I'd send you off with a somewhat smaller smile, because I'd be thrilled for you being at your dream school, but also worried about how you'd pay for law school. How will you?</p>
<p>I agree with jlauer95...if you can go to UCLA and graduate with $100K in your pocket for grad school, take the money and run. UCLA is a great school!</p>
<p>College debt is a huge, huge problem for graduates. Avoiding it is going to affect your standard of living in important ways for at least a decade after you finish grad school.</p>
<p>UCLA, hands down. $100K is a lot of money. </p>
<p>(By the way, it's not just the trinity for law schools, either. There are many excellent law schools out there, and I know several partners at major firms who graduated from no-name schools, some even part-timers. I also know Harvard Law grads who are working in lower end jobs because they like them, or because they had the attitude that everyone should just bow down to them because they went to Harvard Law and they didn't need to prove themselves. Wrong! So broaden your horizons.)</p>
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Would you choose UCLA Regents + 100k over Harvard?
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<p>What? Are you out of your mind? Is there even a question here? The difference between UCLA and Harvard, given the $100,000, is on its face so negligible as to make the question almost ridiculous. Go to UCLA. Enjoy a great undergrad experience, and have enough money to begin your adult life with a huge step up on almost all your contemporaries.</p>
<p>Congratulations on such great choices. Parent of Harvard student here; I encourage you to go to UCLA. It has a great reputation, and some of its programs are stronger than Harvard's. I don't know specifically about econ, but I'm sure that it's a good department. With law school or MBA in your future, the $100k is very important. It also makes life much easier knowing you don''t have to worry over finances, have to work several jobs to pay off loans, and so forth. If Harvard remains your dream school, you can find out if you could spend a year there as a visiting student (similar to going abroad). Or consider Harvard for Law School or B school.</p>
<p>Visit! Some kids want Harvard, some kids don't. Then think, how much money does my family have? How much freedom from debt do I want? There is no one answer here. It's a personal investment decision. And the calculus of the decision is different for each person.</p>
<p>Here's another vote for UCLA, and I've never even been there. The opportunity to complete undergrad debt free is too good to pass up, and you don't have to go to a 2d or 3d tier school to do it. I second (and third) the 'rents who suggest you to to Harvard for grad school, which receives most of the attention anyway. The reviews on the Harvard undergrad experience are mixed. You can achieve everything you want to at UCLA. Have fun.</p>
<p>Duh. This is ridiculous. Harvard is the one school in the country, maybe world, that stands out from the rest. It doesn't even compare to the other Ivies. Think about the salary that one could get coming out of Harvard as opposed to UCLA. Cost is of such little importance when you think about the grand scheme of things. Most people would die for the chance to go to Harvard: if you know someone who has that opportunity, they MUST take it. My gosh, choose Harvard.</p>
<p>Definitely UCLA! You can get all of the Harvard name prestige by doing your graduate work there and save a bundle. I think that you would also get a more wide-ranging experience at UCLA. The weather and closeness to family would also be a plus.</p>
<p>As a UCLA grad, and an attorney, I'd send you to Harvard in a heartbeat. Unless you want to be a public interest lawyer, work for the DA's office, that sort of thing, where you go to school is crucial and will follow you throughout your legal career. If you watched the machinations during the Supreme Court nominations process you'll see how the Ivy grads fared over the public school (or wherever the heck Harriet went) grad. Ivy league on your resume will always give you an edge in the recruitment process that will more than pay for itself in the long run. Do not think that all that matters is how good you are -- people (including those making hiring decisions) are only human and they assume that Harvard = greatness and will court you and put you at the top of their list.</p>
<p>He is asking about UNDERGRAD. Harriet's problem was that she didn't go to H or Y LAW SCHOOL. A person who goes to UCLA for UNDERGRAD can go to H or Y Law School and still become a Supreme court justice!!!!</p>
<p>You don't say why H has been your dream school. As marite notes, each place has plusses and minuses. Getting out of the Calif bubble has growth and development advantages that go far beyond classroom education. </p>
<p>If I had the money (a top 5%'er), I send you to H.</p>
<p>If my DD had that opportunity I would thump her on the head if she didn't choose UCLA. DD plans to attend law school after her undergraduate work, and although she has been offered sizable scholarships, she will certainly not leave with $100k in her pocket. Paying for law school will take lots of money and $100k is an excellent start! Congratulations to your for the wonderful opportunity that has been extended to you! Please let us know what you decide. Good luck!</p>