Columbia and NU are better names but they do sound like they would be a stretch for you. You need to consider the additional costs incurred in college-the dorm supplies, the outings with friends-the additional expenses can add up quickly. It may be hard when she has to pass on events her friends suggest, like going out to eat. I assume there would be much less financial stress with a full ride at SMU, but only your family can assess that trade-off.
I do suggest you both investigate career outcomes and salary ranges for different fields to avoid unwanted surprises. For example, Human rights issues are usually pursued by lawyers ( law school is another expense).
1 Like