Expensive private schools worth it?

Paying for College
1

<p>I have no financial need. I have to pay full price everywhere—my parents agreed to pay it all now (yes, they are capable of $50K per year) but they said that I’d have to pay them back the surplus over Cal’s in-state tuition eventually. I like Cornell more than UCB, but I know Cornell is probably not worth an extra $100K (or is it?), but is any private school worth it? (I’m saying this because I’ve been waitlisted at 4 schools–Harvard, Columbia, Duke, JHU—and I’m contemplating writing that I will be a full paying student.)</p>

2

<p>Go to UCB, you’ll get an education just as good if not better. Plus you can save that 100K and do something else with it. If you get off the waitlist for Harvard, that’s a different story, and seeing how you do have the financial capabilities, then pay the 100K.</p>

3

<p>The difference between Cal and Cornell is not worth $100,000. You are lucky that you have such generous parents.</p>

4

<p>Of the schools on your list, saying you’ll be full pay at this point would only matter (and maybe there) at JHU. But even JHU is certain to have a waitlist full of full pays already.</p>

5

<p>So saying that will be completely useless and sycophantic?</p>