<p>I'm really sorry for the <em>loud</em> title, but I am really struggling with my college decision. I can't decide between going to Yale, my dream school or Wake Forest, a great school that I really like where I have a full scholarship waiting. I've listed some factors about each school, but I just don't know... Ahh, please help!</p>
<p>Yale:
-prestigious
-great political science program (my intended major)
-New England (I love the weather and the preppiness!)
-BUT no financial aid (My situation is pretty complex, because my father passed away, and there's his insurance policy...)</p>
<p>Wake Forest:
-full scholarship
-friendly, laid-back atmosphere (better social scene, from my experience)
-more focus on athletics
-guaranteed summer research grants</p>
<p>I'm interested in going to graduate school after college. Would it be easier or harder applying to grad school from Yale? Is the prestige of the school worth $200,000? </p>
<p>Wake Forest is about 10 times preppier than Yale, from what I know. Which is hearsay. Not all of New England is preppy. And some New Englanders don't think Connecticut is typical of New England!</p>
<p>I'd choose Wake Forest. Prestige isn't worth $200,000. After your first job, where you went to school will matter MUCH less than how well you did in your previous job. And since grad school is in your future, where you got your highest degree is what matter most. Wake Forest is recognized as a fine school by grad school admissions decision makers. Save the money for grad school (or your first home.)</p>
<p>try appealing to yale's fin aid officers 1st & trying for outside scholarships. you should never give up on something you want right from the start b/c you never know how things may turn out</p>
<p>Given the conditions(complex financial issues), you're better off going for a full ride at Wake, and saving your family 200k $ for undergrad, and then use that money for grad school. </p>
<p>No college is worth $200,000. NONE. Not harvard, MIT, Princeton, OR Yale. Its not like its between yale and community college. Its between yale and WAKE Forest. That is NOT a $200,000 difference.</p>
<p>get a 4.0 at Wake and save your $$ for grad school and an apartment, and convince pops to get you a new car</p>
<p>I'd just like to say I thought your thread was very respectfully worded thank you! It was interesting too. </p>
<p>At first I was like, for sure Yale, but now I'm thinking Wake Forest. I know this may be trivial but are you in to b-ball at all? The only reason I've ever heard of Wake Forest is b-ball, just thought I'd share because you might encounter that from lots of other people too (especially those on the West coast). Would that bug you?</p>
<p>if you're a bball fan, i say go to wake cuase wake bball will be very good next year and over the next 3 years or so at least. i think theyll give carolina a good run for the acc. i thnk they have a nat'l ranked mens soccer and field hockey team</p>
<p>I'd say to go to Wake. It's just not worth 200k. Graduating debt-free will open up opportunitys that aren't available to people with tons of debt. Or if it's a question of being broke or having 200k in the bank... I still say go to Wake.</p>
<p>Go to Wake and then apply to Yale for grad school. On your grad school application you can say your were accepted at Yale undergrad (save your admissions letter to copy in 2012) but couldn't afford it originally.</p>
<p>Wake. I transferred from Stanford to UCLA a long time ago, partly because I didn't agree with my parents willingness to lay out all that cash.</p>
<p>Success after college depends on your initiative, work ethic, creativity, and ability to work with others on projects. None of those is affected in any way by Yale or Wake, or any school.</p>
<p>Wake wants you. When you interview for internships, research opportunities, or jobs, you can always reference than you are on an academic scholarship. They will know what this means -- that you likely turned down top 10 or top 20 schools.</p>