<p>Basically, my problem is as stated above^</p>
<p>My family unfortunately did not receive a lot of aid from Duke. My parents have enough saved up for my first 2 years, but I’d be taking $5000 loans each of those years. The final 2 years depends on how well my dad’s company does in the next couple of years. So minimum, I’ll have $20k in debt, but I could potentially have about $75k (worst case situation).</p>
<p>Or I could go to Ohio State and have no loans…</p>
<p>help please. What should I do?
(btw, if it makes a difference, I’m planning on majoring in Economics and want to go into a high level consulting firm)</p>
<p>When someone comes on CC asking if they should go to an elite school with $200k in loans or a state school with zero debt, it’s obvious that they should choose the state school. No school is worth that insane amount of debt.
However, if I had to take out $20k-$75k in loans, I would choose Duke over OSU. Yes, it is still a lot of money, but I wouldn’t consider it unmanageable, especially if you take into account the benefits and opportunities afforded by a Duke education and degree.
Just my two cents.</p>
<p>If you were premed or prelaw, then I would support your decision to go to OSU as long as you could see yourself being happy there since you can save $75k and apply it to law/business school. If you want to do management consulting though, you absolutely do not want to turn down Duke for OSU. Most of the top consulting firms don’t even recruit at Ohio State, whether you are in the undergraduate business school or not.</p>
<p>[BCG</a> - BCG at Duke University](<a href=“http://www.bcg.com/join_bcg/oncampus/duke.aspx#applicationDetails]BCG”>http://www.bcg.com/join_bcg/oncampus/duke.aspx#applicationDetails)</p>
<p>BCG recruits heavily at Duke but Ohio State is nowhere to be found.</p>
<p>[Join</a> Bain & Company: School welcome > Bain on your campus > Apply to Bain](<a href=“http://www.joinbain.com/apply-to-bain/bain-on-your-campus/school_welcome.asp?school_id=5]Join”>http://www.joinbain.com/apply-to-bain/bain-on-your-campus/school_welcome.asp?school_id=5)</p>
<p>Bain recruits strongly at Duke but they don’t even go to OSU.</p>
<p>[Duke</a> University | US Schools Recruitment](<a href=“http://www.mckinsey.com/careers/us_schools/campus_calendar/duke_university.aspx]Duke”>http://www.mckinsey.com/careers/us_schools/campus_calendar/duke_university.aspx)</p>
<p>McKinsey recruits actively at Duke but OSU is again missing.</p>
<p>I think you get the point. Normally I would recommend that you be debt averse but when your financial safety doesn’t even offer the career opportunities you are seeking, then you need to reconsider.</p>
<p>I agree with the two above posters. To me, 20-40k (unless you get really unlucky and it becomes 75) is worth Duke over OSU. You’ll find so many more interesting people because of the smaller, more close knit environment. It’s Liberal Arts Focus and overall academic strength and prestige, coupled with some of the most amazing programs/opportunities in the country (DukeEngage, CommonGround, free trips abroad like London for Thanksgiving, Japan in August, etc.), make it so superior to OSU that for a relatively light debt burden it’s totally worth it.</p>
<p>The only caveat for my advice is if you want to go into an industry where you will not make much money for almost all of your career (activism, teaching, social services, etc.) then 40k could be quite a bit.</p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>
<p>If your parents have only enough saved for two years at Duke and their salaries aren’t >$150,000 or so, you can simply apply for financial aid your final two years. Simply because you didn’t apply or didn’t qualify for financial aid your first year, doesn’t mean you can’t get money later on. As financial situations change, the financial aid package changes. Duke is aware of changes in circumstances and the fin aid office attempts to accommodate students. You won’t necessarily have to take out loans to cover the costs. Now can you depend on getting a full ride to Duke? Probably not, so it’s obviously a calculated risk that you need to discuss with your family. And you can reach out to the financial aid office right now to ask any questions.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the help! You guys helped me to think more clearly about it.</p>
<p>I’ve decided to go to DUKE!</p>