Does Financial Aid Impact Your Experience?

Paying for College
1

<p>Hi! So I’ve got a little dilemma. I’ve been accepted to two colleges, one of which I’m a little more keen on than the other. The only thing is, this college calculated that I have no financial need (when my family actually qualifies for a fair amount at all of my safeties and some at the higher ups). The second college, which I still like (just slightly less), is offering a not-bad-at-all one-year award.</p>

<p>My family and I have looked it over, and I have enough scholarships + potential money from working over the summer to get through at least two years of any of my colleges.</p>

<p>Will me going to a school that offers no aid eventually make me feel like I’m just there to pay them, or does financial aid not play a large role in the experience?</p>

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<p>It all depends on your attitude. If you regret paying all the $$$'s, then you will think about it constantly. For some people, being at their dream school is all they care about.</p>

<p>There is a tread, and I can’t find it, where someone talks about the benefits of picking their lower choice school because it was free (or close to it). It gave him (her?) the opportunity to go to foreign countries on study trips. Not having work impact their studies. Basically, a lot of freedom. Plus, not coming out with a huge amount of debt.</p>

<p>Generally, if you can only afford 2 years at your top school, it is better to make them your last 2 years, not your first 2.</p>