Which of my acceptances is the best?

MrEEB4 · 03-08-2010, 10:27 PM

I've applied to 12 schools in total and have been accepted to (so far):
- Brandeis
- Bryant
- UMass Amherst
- University of Vermont
- University of Hartford

I have received significant merit based-aid to: Bryant ($24,000/year) , UMass Amherst (Tuition Waiver), and University of Hartford ($26,000/year).

If, hypothetically, I was admitted to no other schools, which one of these would you advise me to attend? My parents say that cost is a factor and are pressuring me to consider schools that have given me the most aid (despite the fact that I highly favor Brandeis), so please keep this in mind. I want to major in Political Science and eventually pursue a graduate degree at Harvard or Yale Law. Are there any schools on this list that you would strongly disadvise me to attend?

Thanks for your help!

rainbowrose · 03-08-2010, 10:32 PM

Brandeis for academics probably but you have to decide if the price tag is worth it. I wouldn't strongly disadvise any of them. Sorry that wasn't really any help.

gadad · 03-08-2010, 10:40 PM

FWIW, you'd no doubt prefer to go to a college at which you found your fellow students challenging and inspirational. The schools at which you'll get good merit aid are the ones at which you're very atypical, and would therefore provide the challenge and inspiration for the benefit of the other students. Brandeis is in a different genre from the rest of the schools on your list, which means that if money was no issue whatsoever, it'd be an easy choice. Whether its superiority justifies additional cost has to be a function of your own particular circumstances.

MrEEB4 · 03-08-2010, 10:50 PM

Thanks. The problem is not so much that my parents can't afford it as it is that they want to save as much money as possible, and that they refuse to let me leave school with $200,000+ to pay back in student loans.

Greens · 03-09-2010, 12:01 AM

NO school for an undergrad degree is worth 200k in student loans.

Veracity · 03-09-2010, 12:04 AM

^ Agreed ^

It is my belief that your Law degree is mostly based off where you go to Law School, and less on your undergraduate degree. I think that you should consider going to one of your other schools where the undergraduate tuition is feasible. This is also augmented by the fact that Law School isn't exactly cheap either.

LasMa · 03-09-2010, 12:39 AM

Quote:

they refuse to let me leave school with $200,000+ to pay back in student loans.

They're right!

mom2collegekids · 03-09-2010, 01:30 AM

Can you list the schools in order of most expensive cost of attendance (tuition, room, board, etc) to least expensive - taking into account the merit scholarships? Simply telling us the merit amounts doesn't tell us which are cheaper.

Are you instate for any of the publics?

Is that tuition waiver a waiver for the OOS portion or for the entire tuition amount?

justrelax · 03-09-2010, 02:22 AM

I hear a lot of nice stuff about Vermont. A friend of mine just came back and says this is the place he wants to go. I've been to Burlington too. It's a very laid-back place, and I think the school is too. A friend also got into Brandeis EA and that's his number 1. I'd recommend either of these schools, although I don't know anything about the other 3...

erb0520 · 03-09-2010, 02:45 AM

vermont costs 40k a year if u don't receive a scholarship, it's really not worth the price. I'm suprised you havn't receieved merit based aid yet from them, considering the amount u you receieved have from other schools. To answer your question, I would definitley go with brandeis. It's a great school

skywriter · 03-09-2010, 08:19 AM

This is a situation in which you contact admissions at Brandeis (or whatever school is your first choice), and explain that you have FA offers from these other schools. Brandeis is your top choice, but you can't afford $200k. Can they help you?

They might be willing to give you something-whether it would be enough to make it worth attending is another question. If the answer is 'no' you haven't lost anything.

And no, it's not probably worth $200k of debt for Brandeis when you have such good offers elsewhere. Not if you are planning to incur debt to go to law school.

WUSTLFuture · 03-09-2010, 04:46 PM

Congrats on all your acceptances!
You should probably check which of these schools has the strongest political science department.
Make a chart? A chart with factors important in your choice of school (poli sci strength, cost of tuition, campus, etc). Then compare the schools side-by side.

MrEEB4 · 03-09-2010, 05:36 PM

Hi everyone, thanks for all the responses. Just a quick note: I am in-state for UMass, and got a tuition waiver based on my high MCAS (statewide standardized test) scores. Also, I never knew that I had to fill out a CSS profile, so Brandeis has yet to send me my Financial Aid package.

MrEEB4 · 03-09-2010, 05:46 PM

Lastly, tuition waiver is full tuition for four years.

kwu · 03-09-2010, 06:08 PM

What is "tuition waiver?" Full ride? If so, go to UMass.

Undergraduate institution is irrelevant when it comes to law school admission--only if the school is unheard of.