<p>My son was accepted to Yale and is struggling with the decision of whether to accept a top 10 university scholarship which inludes full tuition, room and board, leadership and service trips as well as a host of other opportunities. So Yale with no financial aid but with enough saved to cover 3 years plus needing to work for spending and travel or top 10 University for free??</p>
<p>Tell him what you think.....</p>
<p>I’d pick the top 10 University for free myself. I’m probably biased, because I had a WONDERFUL education at the University of Texas, in civil engineering. I wouldn’t have traded it for an education anywhere else. It sounds as if your son would have an equally terrific education at the university you’re talking about.</p>
<p>If it were my son, I would encourage him to take the free undergrad education and save the money for a killer grad school program. I say this after talking to professors at both public and private universities, who told me that’s what they advised their own children to do.</p>
<p>Good luck! What a wonderful “problem” to have!</p>
<p>thanks MaineLonghorn- my husband and I agree with you and even at a Princeton reception the other night as soon as we mentioned the other scholarship - their faces all dropped in disappointment, since they knew what they would do as well. </p>
<p>Son needs the thoughts of those not related to him or the money though!! So thanks for your input!</p>
<p>Wow: what a wonderful “problem” to have. I was faced w/a similar issue as Yale, another Ivy and practically free U-Mich were my top options as a Senior. I got pretty good FA at Yale and the other Ivy. After talking w/my folks, they said it would be fine for me to attend Y and its costs even though UM was flinging $ at me.</p>
<p>Over on the Parents forum, similar threads on this abound w/many opinions. Maybe trawl through some of those? </p>
<p>BEst of luck to you and your family!</p>
<p>top 10 uni for free. This shouldnt be a difficult choice imo. Undergraduate degrees are meaningless, i dont care where you get it. So go with the least expensive, and in this case similar quality option.</p>
<p>I’m either going to Yale or Stanford only because of the great F.A im getting. i wouldnt even consider paying the hefty tuition to attend these schools even if i could afford it because its money NOT well spent in that case.</p>
<p>Definitely go for the Top 10 U. Which school is it, btw?</p>
<p>Duke is the school</p>
<p>Definitely go to Duke!! It is a fantastic school and you got in for free!! I’m so jealous.</p>
<p>Unless he absolutely hates Duke and would cry himself to sleep every night if he had to live there, DUKE.</p>
<p>Actually he said he could see himself there when after his weekend- I think it’s about re-adjusting the dream. He got in EA to Yale so Yale has had a few months to really sell him there- not that they need much selling. </p>
<p>Thanks everyone- I know he’ll appreciate your thoughts and reassurance.</p>
<p>I’d say just the opposite: never give up a dream for PURELY monetary reasons, especially if it is possible to afford Yale. If you think you should be getting money from Yale and you aren’t, then contact the Adm. Office to negotiate. If your son can see himself happiest and the most successful at Yale but not Duke, then paying the tuition is worthwhile.</p>
<p>I’m being a contrarian in this thread I guess, but I say this because I know someone who turned down Yale for a full ride at Vandy. They have never moved on, and still mention Yale frequently in their conversations.</p>
<p>However, if your son can “readjust[s] his dream” and fall in love w/ Duke, go to Duke…</p>
<p>^I have a similar story to booyaksha’s. A guy from my school about 10 years ago was accepted to Princeton and received about $20K in grants (so he had to pay $30K a year). He was also accepted to WashU, and was receiving about $37K for a scholarship (so he had to pay $13K a year). Both were feasible financially, although WashU was much more enticing in that respect. He chose WashU, and ever since then he has regretted not going to Princeton because that was his dream school.</p>
<p>If Yale is out of reach financially, then by all means Duke is the best choice. But if Yale is feasible financially or if aid can be negotiated with Yale’s financial aid department, then I wouldn’t turn down Yale for anything.</p>
<p>My two cents: Choose Yale. First, You can pay for the first year and then try to negotiate FA next year. Ivies are open to negotiation when it comes to students they want. Yale is the place to go if you want the perfect future. Education and connections. Choose Yale, by all means.</p>
<p>If there are three years of tuition saved up, need-based financial aid doesn’t seem likely at any point.</p>
<p>There will never be any chance of finanacial aid. </p>
<p>So Lobzz and Peytoncline- you think that Yale justifies giving up the $200,000 + free international travel and service summers that Duke offers ? </p>
<p>So even if you knew you were going to go to grad school law or med would that change your thinking? </p>
<p>Would it change your mind if said child had a twin who also rec’d a duke scholarship and has the same acceptances to Yale and Princeton? Because from my point of view it’s
$400,000++ vs. $0 and a chance for your collegefund to regroup and cover grad school costs. Plus overall incredible experiences that give you a chance to travel places you wouldn’t otherwise and I feel like you would make some pretty good connections at Duke. The northeast isn’t the only place that one can find connections.</p>
<p>I know I’m answering my own questions but I really want to understand how others would justify Yale. When I see you say choose Yale I’d really like to know why…beyond “it’s Yale”.</p>
<p>Do you really think the academic experience at Yale justifies giving up the Duke opportunities?</p>
<p>Well supereagle10, i hope you’re wrong because i am shellingout a decent amount for Cornell instead when i could do SUNY Buffalo honors for cheepish</p>
<p>hmm…</p>
<p>@2by2 - If there is no chance of receiving any aid from Yale, then I’d definitely go with Duke, hence my previous statement: “If Yale is out of reach financially, then by all means Duke is the best choice.” You are correct in saying that $200,000 for Yale and $0 for Duke is a win for Duke (especially since both are top 10 schools). I apologize if it came across that I was pushing Yale no matter what.</p>
<p>Go to Duke, save the money for grad school at Yale :)</p>
<p>Let me add another point: if it is about the summer opportunities guaranteed by the scholarship, I seriously doubt it makes much of a difference. The opportunities that you have in terms of specialized Yale programs and funding to study abroad all across the world, travel for fun, find internships from Wall Street to Bourbon Street, are INCREDIBLE at Yale. The networking is superior to Duke, but Duke (as you stated) is probably good.</p>
<p>So I think it really comes down to the cost of tuition vs. desire for Yale, and I think that’s a personal choice. Honestly, I’d pay at least a million dollars to come to Yale, and it’s that sense of attachment that motivates alumni to donate ridiculous sums of money after they graduate.</p>
<p>Assuming Duke has one, I feel very strongly that your son (or twins?!?!) should attend both admitted students weekends. The cost of plane tickets is nothing relative to tuition, and I think it would clear up uncertainties.</p>
<p>Plane tickets are in hand so I believe we will make the trip- and Peytoncline- I wasn’t offended by any means this is exactly the conversations we are having here- and I’m glad we are having them. </p>
<p>I think there will be some sacrafice on thier part no matter which they choose. </p>
<p>But I also think it interesting that most adults here and elsewhere are heavily leaning towards Duke and the younger folks toward Yale. </p>
<p>Thank you all for your thoughts.</p>