Cost Dilemma

freethinker127
Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:27:31 +0000

I have a dilemma. My top choice of college is Reed. I love it’s culture and rigor, and I think it would be the perfect place to start my higher education. I want to study mathematics, and go on to graduate school to attain a masters and a doctorate in mathematics. And I think Reed would be the best place for me to start on that path, in terms of the excellence of their academic programs (I want to start at a liberal arts school to get a broader education as a foundation.)

However, the one issue holding me back is cost. Reed is very expensive compared to other colleges. Taking into account that I want to extend my education to graduate school, racking up a great amount of debt for an undergraduate degree doesn’t seem smart. Economically, the better alternative seems to be going to a state college for undergraduate. It’s not that I am looking for the most optimal path according to economics; I would much rather have an amazing education than have no debt. But I also don’t want to end up in a nightmare of debt.

So the essential question is: will my experience at Reed justify the monetary cost of going there? Or will that only lead me to a unnecessary mountain of debt?