<p>We absolutely LOVE Dartmouth, but given that it isn’t one of the so-called top Ivies (HPY), will it really pay off to go into a lot of debt to attend if the student plans a social sciences major? S has a much more affordable option at a very good LAC…</p>
<p>Opinions?</p>
<p>You’ve never visited and attended any classes at dartmouth or hyp have you…</p>
<p>that is an interesting question but you really need to explalin what you mean by pay off. if you mean pay off in terms of future earnings then the answer is probably yes. if you mean it in terms of having a once in a life time experience then the answer if almost certainly yes. also HYP are only slightly more prestigious than dartmouth and the other ivies. i guess you also have to ask yourselves how much are you able to and willing to sacrifice to make this happen for your child?</p>
<p>While HYP has more “name value” of the 3 schools Princeton is the only one that is focused on undergrad education as HY are taught by TA’s or teaching fellows. </p>
<p>In addition, the culture is different at each school. Yes, it is true that Harvard has a wow factor but it is also true that Harvard undergraduates are more likely than students at other elite private institutions to be unhappy with their life on campus, according to an analysis of a recent survey of student satisfaction. On a five-point scale, Harvard students’ overall satisfaction is 3.95, compared to an average of 4.16 from the 30 other schools surveyed by the Consortium on Financing Higher Education, which includes all eight Ivies, along with top research institutions and small liberal arts schools. </p>
<p>So is it “worth” it to attend Harvard for 4 years and not have a totally fulfilling experience? For some, yes, because it is Harvard, for others it is not worth it. </p>
<p>As a parent, I think you should choose education over a “name”. You will have to sit down with your son and talk about what he wants/needs in an education and how Dartmouth (or even if Dartmouth) meets those needs.</p>
<p>The whole concept of worth means different things to different people. Id we are talking turning down an education that is close to free to go into debt to the tune of $43k per year for the next 4 years, then you will have to decide if there is truly an appreciable difference. </p>
<p>Will sending your son to Dartmouth mean that you will be paying for it using your retirement funds?</p>
<p>Will you be taking on massive debt to achieve this?</p>
<p>Do you already have the $$ and don’t beleive that the “product” is worth what Dartmouth is charging for it.</p>
<p>For our family, 4 years is a short amount time in my D’s lifespan. As she is wrapping up her second year, she has never looked back, never had a moment’s regret and so far has had a great experience both in and outside of the classroom. I have seen how much she has grown since she started college, but most important I like the person that she is becoming as she grows into her womanhood. </p>
<p>While she may not be at HYP (Dartmouth is no consolation prize to her because it was her first choice) and even though when people ask her where she goes to school and she responds Dartmouth, and she is given the where is that look, she could not see herself being anywhere else but Dartmouth.</p>
<p>When it comes to money, we have all spent more on things that have been “worth” less. If you have it and can afford it, what else are you going to spend it on? When it is all said and done, your kid is not going to want your money when you are dead and you’re never going to see a Brinks truck following a hearse.</p>
<p>I am fully prepared to assume a fair deal of debt for Dartmouth. Insofar, the Financial Aid Office has been very helpful and cooperative, and offer many options for financing my education. Also, from what I have heard from others, the amount of work-study aid that you get can be very flexible, just by going to the office and persisting in looking for different available jobs. That said, even with all of this, while Darmouth may not be revered as “the best” it is certainly a big enough name to secure a financially sound future, and open just as many doors as HYP would. One final thing to consider: do you believe that the difference in the cost to attend Dartmouth versus whichever LAC will be able to made up for by having a Dartmouth degree? Most likely yes, but that is really something you need to answer for yourself. The most important factor though should really be where your S would feel most comfortable for the next 4 years. If he would be happier at the LAC, then, well, case closed. If he would be happier at Dartmouth, then it just may be worth assuming some debt to avoid 4 unpleasant years.</p>
<p>S wiil be going to Dartmouth Dimensions next week, so I think he will have the chance to sit in on some classes then. </p>
<p>Since he plans to go on to law school afterward, we worry about too much undergraduate debt. At Dartmouth he would accumulate per year what the average student indebtedness is at most schools for all four years. I know this is a common question on CC, but is this too much? In terms of risk management, would the answer be different if he were to major in chemistry or another science field instead of political science (just in case he changes his mind about law school and would need a job immediately after graduation)?</p>
<p>It’s funny you mention that…I plan on majoring in chemistry and after graduating, going on to law school as well…It is certainly not going to be the easiest financial situation, but with careful consideration of all available options, it can be managed.</p>
<p>As you already know there are different routes to law and medical school. It is not unusual for students to work before attending law school. My D who is also looking to go the law school route will do her LSATs next year and apply senior year, but she has also said that if she can, she wants to defer a year, just to take a break from school having gone non-stop preschool through college.</p>
<p>She has a lot of friends who are graduating this spring many already have great jobs lined up (I think slipper can give more insight to this area). and most of her friends have also been accepted into their first choice med/law school. </p>
<p>She has friends who are on leave term now working, one is at a law firm now and will be at an investment bank in the summer. She has even joked about when she went to career services looking for her own prospective internship, she said there is not a loss of banking/ managment counsulting internships. She has also said that there is the “big book” located at career services so no matter what you are interested in doing as far as work/internship, you can find an alum to will give you some insight and help.</p>
<p>as for the law school thing, I’ve talked to some attorneys who have strongly suggested taking time off between college and law school. All of them said that the people who did best in their classes were always those who were just a little bit older and had experienced the outside world.
When it comes to going into debt, a recent study found that while there is a difference in pay between ivy league students and other students, if you only focus on ivy students vs. students who turned down ivies to go somewhere else, there is virtually no difference in average salary. So although Dartmouth and any of the other high prestige, high price schools in the country offer one of a kind experiences, the argument that increased salary will pay back the difference in tuition doesn’t quite hold up.</p>
<p>yeah, save your money for graduate school. That tends to matter more than college.</p>
<p>law school admissions are very formulaic. if the better financial offer is from a respected/“top tier” LAC, definitely go there if it is a good personality fit</p>