<p>I know this will come as an absolute shock to most of you--but I'm having second thoughts about Princeton. The school is just too expensive, even after my fin. aid offer. A nearby decent public university is drawing up a stellar package. My difficult choice is then: 1) spend thousands of dollar on a reputed ivy league education or 2) go to a decent school and graduate without owing a single cent.</p>
<p>So waddaya think? Is Princeton an inversion...or will the talent (aka other brilliant students) drown you out into oblivion and, potentially, make your attendance to a prestigious university a complete and disasterous waste of money?</p>
<p>Please share your opinion...even if it's just "you dumb"</p>
<p>Are you thinking of backing out of an ED acceptance? How could you? lol but I would recommend that before you give up Princeton yet (which I think is worth the money anyway) you talk to them and tell them that it's too expensive or whatever. They want to make it work for you so there's room for negotiation.</p>
<p>Yeah, seriously...backing out is a very difficult thing to do. I wouldn't advise it. Don't forget why you applied to Princeton in the first place (I hope you remember, or else you shouldn't have applied ED in the first place). If you had thought you'd be happier at the other school, you wouldn't have applied to Princeton. I agree with zante: see what you can negotiate and see what scholarships you can come by. But don't start thinking of backing out yet. It hasn't even been a month since we've been accepted, man ;)</p>
<p>oh, i havent forgot why i want to go to princeton--it still is my first choice by far. its just that wasting (ok, ok, or "investing") my parent's money doesnt seem as a happy prospect for me
~sigh :(</p>
<p>That's a horrible attitude and totally unfair for people who want to go! Would you have said this a month ago or are you just being coy now because the power is in your hands?</p>
<p>Valdez-
I'm going to attend to best school I get into, unless the fin. aid is completely abysmal (which is unlikely). You may think, "Well, it's only 4 years....what difference does it really make?" But these may be the 4 most formative years of your life. I think I can say with some certainty that you'll leave Princeton a changed person after studying under some of the world's best professors and with some of the world's best students. The pool of talent won't "drown you into oblivion"---it should do the opposite and build you up.</p>
<p>I spent last semester at a "decent" public university and there is no comparison. It's possible to find good classes, but they're often rare. The money spent on Princeton IS an "investment," and it's one that will pay off if you take advantage of all of the opportunities Princeton has to offer.</p>
<p>ok, valdez has a really good point. if it's going to be painful to afford princeton, then it might not really be worth it. ok, the 4 years are extremely important, and at princeton, too. but thinking about why he wants to go there isn't as important as being in crazy debt or similar later. but i agree that backing out of ED is really really hard. although now im thinking that the princeton degree will probably bring well paying jobs to pay off any debt or whatever.</p>
<p>Princeton is known for its great financial aid---it shouldn't be painful. If it is, then there's something wrong the the aid package and he should call them about it.</p>
<p>Valdez: Was your aid package close to the one you got on the "early estimator" form?</p>
<p>zante--hehe, i can tell i really made you mad when you used "coy." i realize my perception of my own situation may be insulting to those who want to attend...but hey, it IS my situation.</p>
<p>i want to restate that princeton is still my first choice and where my passion lies. were all colleges free, i would pack my bags and book a flight to NJ before you could say "orange and black." but unfortunately, education isnt free and and i will have to pay $19K at princeton whereas i can stay at home and receive $24000 in scholarships to attend a public school (which is an excess of $8000 of the cost of attendance--meaning that i will essentially get paid to attend this university)</p>
<p>its a tough decision (well, for me--an overzealous bastard) to make. pay or get paid? the best or good? do i leave my family, my dog, my girlfriend to go 1000 miles away??? not easy questions.</p>
<p>I don't know if you can back out of it if the estimator gave you a close estimate and you/your parents could feasibly pay for it....ED is a binding contract.</p>
<p>the difference was roughly $4000. again, i will consider myself bound under that contract if they make the school affordable to me.</p>
<p>the triteness is making me sound irritated...but dont worry cause im not and i appreciate y'all's comments :) (lol, two apostrophes in one word!)</p>
<p>I can understand the dilemma regarding money but don't throw your dog, family and girlfriend into it because you knew about those circumstances before you applied. I still think that princeton will work out for you. I'm sure u'd be just as happy at the other school, but you've worked this hard for Princeton and it's an investment that pays off for life. </p>
<p>btw, I know it is YOUR dilemma, but hey, you wanted opinions, even if I only said "you dumb" right? :D</p>
<p>Estimators are bad. . . . they don't work right. They get a lot of people feeling comfortable about applying and getting aid, and then the results don't come.</p>
<p>I dunno...they seem to have worked fairly well for many. It was quite close on the estimate it gave me.</p>
<p>Anyways, Valdez, I'm confident I'll be seeing you come September. I'll keep hoping everything works out and with a little time to ruminate and plan things out (and some major Pton lovin'), you'll be back to ain't-nowhere-but-P-town-for-me in no time :D</p>
<p>I'm taking out 15k a year and I don't see it as a big deal. Loans are loans, and they're a fact of college life, and lots of people have them and most people can deal with them. You're bound by the financial aid contract, and it's just bad form to back out of it now, especially since theoretically you would have taken away the spot of someone who actually wants to go.</p>