6 comments

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  Jon

  1 year ago

  Another thing to consider is undergraduate vs. graduate school. The reason MIT and Harvard are so famous isn't because of their undergraduate programs (though they're good), it's because of the grad schools. If she's going to do grad school, it would be a good idea to save money on the undergrad education since nobody's going to really care about the undergrad degree anyway.
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  plonkee

  1 year ago

  Note that you don't have to pay for grad school in the hard sciences - they'll pay you (not a lot, but enough).
  I believe that some private colleges can work out to be cheaper than public universities, if you get scholarships and so on. I know in particular that Ivy League institutions meet total assessed (by them) need which could conceivably work out a better deal than a state school which can't afford to offer the same package.
  She should apply to colleges that fit, including one she can be certain to both get into and then afford. Once all the acceptances and financial aid packages are in it will be easier to make a good decision.
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  paidtwice

  1 year ago

  I went to a expensive liberal arts college, not quite an ivy but highly ranked. My spouse went to a public university. I left with less student loan debt than he did. lol
  
  Every situation is different, but sometimes the private liberal arts colleges are the ones with money to give as grants. Alumnae tend to be quite devoted followers and contributors. I paid less than I would have to go to my state university.
  
  But, that being said, I truly believe in following your heart in what school to attend. Visit, learn, understand *why* you want to pick what you do.
  
  (and don't know what you want to do before you get there or you cut out so many life experience choices in weird but cool classes)
  
  my 5.5 cents :)
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  SavingDiva

  1 year ago

  I know this sounds horrible, but I think Lora should let her sister make her own choices. Her parents should clearly lay out how much, if any, of the tuition they will help with, and her sister should decide if she wants to take out loans to cover the rest.
  
  I know plenty of people that took out a lot of loans...and are still paying them off...and would not take back their undergraduate experience for any amount of money. I think college is a time for personal growth and development, and I think some people require an Ivy league atmosphere....My four years of undergrad were difficult, challenging, and fantastic...and none of that has anything to do with my classes...
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  bripblap

  1 year ago

  @SD: I don't think that sounds horrible at all - it's similar to what I said. If she really has a good reason to go to school X, by all means go there! Same goes for everyone else's comments - every situation is different. Happiness should be the goal.
  
  I think everyone's more or less in agreement that as long as she understands her own situation and has a good solid motivation for doing what she's doing, she'll be fine. Too often we get caught up in analysis and cost-benefit and whatnot, when sometimes life just has to be lived. Whew, that's my brief moment of philosophizing for the night!
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  bubelah

  1 year ago

  Hello. Thank you BB and all the commenters for your input.
  Jon: that is exactly what I told my sister - don't spend too much money on undegrad. but go to a good school for grad. work.
  BB: my sister wants to do something in Finance (not Art), so nothing special.
  SD: I agree with you that she should make her own decisions (and mistakes). She is only 17 and doesn't clearly know WHAT she wants to do and what she wants to accomplish. And my parents would not help her with tuition, especially if she chooses Harvard.
  
  I think all my lecturing is really irritating her by now, so I am going to stop. I am running out of steam.
  
  Thanks again.
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