<p>If I were you, I would go to Colorado College for two years and then aim to transfer if you are going into an area where formal credentials matter. If you pull down a 3.7+ on a full scholarship, you will get into plenty of elites to start as a junior. Consequently, even if your parents could only say cover your living expenses, you would not be out of line by picking up two year’s worth of tuition as debt. 50-60K from a school like Chicago is serviceable so long as you are willing to work for a year or two before going to graduate school, or go straight to a high yield graduate program (JD, MD). </p>
<p>Incidentally, there was someone at Chicago while I was there who transferred in as a 3rd year from UC-Boulder on a full ride (plus 5K or something salary – they were paying her to attend college!). This person was tremendously successful at UChicago, and went on to a stellar doctoral program at a super elite institution.</p>
<p>The transferring idea wouldn’t be bad if I decided Colorado College wasn’t for me. In two years, my whole outlook could be different, though. Which is perfectly fine. </p>
<p>However, If I do want to transfer, it seems… awkward and lonely? The college experience would be very different, and maybe different in a bad way.</p>
<p>My own D passed up something similar from a big ten university. It has been painful (no, make that very painful…) for my pocketbook, lifestyle (yea, what lifestyle?), savings, assets and such paying for U. Chi.</p>
<p>But, she had excelled at U. Chi in ways I never would have imagined, and graduates this June with a well known scholarship. So for us, it was a great decision.</p>
<p>blindkite, I’m worried about what quality of life is like when you’re already sacrificing a lot to go here. A lot of students hold down work/study jobs quite successfully here, but that 10 hours a week or so that they put in is 10 hours they can’t spend doing something else. Of course, if this is THE place for you, that sacrifice is minimal.</p>
<p>Another example: I went downtown today, and just in my ambling about spent over 50 bucks. I’m not a big spender at all, but I definitely tallied how many hours a week of work went into my day of fun. Thankfully my parents are covering some of my other costs (some allowance, textbooks, etc.) because these incidental costs really do rack up… and then say you want to buy a pair of shoes, and you realize how hopelessly little money you have.</p>
<p>At CC, I think you wouldn’t feel burdened by debt, and you would have the chance to explore new things: new classes, new clubs, new volunteer opportunities, etc. Probably what I treasure most about college is that I have time and opportunity to flit about aimlessly if I want to, trying new things left and right. That’s an opportunity that is NOT exclusive to the U of C.</p>
<p>Also, you have the freedom of choosing what you want to do after college. I’m aware that I might end up in a job field that doesn’t pay well. I might not. If you’re in a lot of debt, it’s going to steer you away from the jobs that you may love, because you’re thinking about financial solvency.</p>
<p>If these risks are worth it to you, then do it. Many do, and while I think it can be stressful for them, I think they’re happy having done it. At the same time, though, know that you have an opportunity to try out a year or two of college for free… you might just love it there!</p>
<p>The Chicago merit awards are announced in April, there is a chance you may receive one. I would wait and see what they say. I would also let your admissions counselor at Chicago know you received the award, but really want to go to Chicago. while one should not "directly’ lobby for merit aid, admissions has a say in those awards unlike financial aid. If it between the scholarship and nothing, then CC sounds right.</p>
<p>Unalove, you have an excellent point. I’d love to have the money to go to concerts or go on a road trip and things like that. </p>
<p>And idad, I know those merit awards are few and far between, but I will wait until April to make any decisions, just in case. It’s definitely not something I can hope for, though. How do I tell my admissions counselor about this without sounding pushy or something? It seems strange to even bring it up.</p>
<p>Colorado College is an excellent school. I’d be very tempted to take the free ride there and maybe look into Chicago for grad school.</p>
<p>Someone I know is facing a similar dilemma but the free ride is from Arizona State’s Barrett Honors college. To me, that’s not as clear cut. What do the rest of you think? Free at ASU or $$$ at the U of C?</p>
<p>though it is indeed an honor to be in your position, accepted by an excellent school w/ no money and offered a free ride at a perhaps “less excellent” school, i really don’t know what i would do in your position… i mean, it seems logical to take the colorado scholarship. but at the same time, getting accepted to chicago is a huge accomplishment.</p>
<p>I would choose a free ride from Arizona State’s Barrett Honors college over paying $$$ at the U of C. If an undergraduate degree is the new high school diploma, then a graduate degree is the new undergraduate degree. And while many PhDs are funded, few master’s programs are funded. I’d save the $$$ to cover the extra year or two required for a master’s degree.</p>
<p>Well put dntw8up. To put themselves or their parents into debt when they’ve been offered the opportunity for a low cost and rather fine undergraduate education is absolutely ridiculous. To all the parents out there–do not let your kids guilt you into getting yourselves into debt for an undergraduate degree. It’s not so much about where they get their Bachelor’s degree. It’s more about how well they’ve done at the school and where they go on to get their master’s degree.</p>
<p>See, I would actually feel guilty taking so much money from my parents. This is my life, not theirs. They don’t have to pay for it. At the same time, my dad is being incredibly understanding about this situation. He and I share the same educational values (he went to a top Veternarian school and earned a DVM just because he wanted to continue his education, he loved learning. He practiced for one year, and has been very happy has a farmer for years now). Anyway, he realizes I would be in a pretty different/more intense environment at the University of Chicago and is willing to help me go after that. I think he’s very proud of me and just wants to see me in the best possible place to grow as a person and intellectually. </p>
<p>That doesn’t mean he’s going to pay $200,000, and I wouldn’t let him. </p>
<p>I just wanted to make it clear that I’m not trying to force my parents into debt. I really am evaluating this situation from many different perspectives.</p>
<p>Do yourself one favor: don’t decide for your parents how they will spend their money. They’re over 21. They’re adults. If they want to fund a U. Chicago education, give them the chance to do so. It is their money to spend as they want.</p>
<p>blindkite: You’ve never mentioned what subjects(s) you are interested in studying. Speaking as a parent, I think that might be a deciding factor. If you want to go into economics or math or ancient Near East studies (or any other field in which Chicago can claim particular pre-eminence), then paying the extra money to go to Chicago might be worth it (it is to me, at any rate). Otherwise I would agree with other posters: make the most of an education at CC and either transfer later to the U of C (if CC proves unsatisfactory), or set your sights on Chicago for graduate school.</p>
<p>I’m really not sure what I’m interested in studying. Maybe English? I like almost every subject, so I’m open to anything. But I’ll probably go into college undecided.</p>
<p>nysmile,
“To put themselves or their parents into debt when they’ve been offered the opportunity for a low cost and rather fine undergraduate education is absolutely ridiculous.”</p>
<p>My son is passing attending Chicago instead of taking the full tuition waiver at his dad’s (top 50) university. My son is taking on a manageable amount of debt, we are certainly taking on more debt than we had hoped to. It is, collectively, worth it to us as a family. The way that my husband puts it when people try to figure why we have seemingly lost our senses is that Chicago is the place <em>his</em> university would like to be. If we are ridiculous - so be it - but it is, I hope, a glorious madness.</p>
<p>OM, well said. Could spouse and I have used the 150+ we spent the past four years for something else? Of course. Then I look at what my D got out of Uof C and know it has been worth it. </p>
<p>We, as parents, learned years ago that more money and nicer toys does not lead to greater happiness. Yes, we don’t eat out much these days, but make much better things at home and have fun doing it. For instance, we just finished, tonight, a homemade pizza that was far better than anything we can find at local restaurants. (homemade crust, lots of italian sausage, carmelized onions and red peppers…plus cheese and sauce of course). For years, our “wide screen” TV was an old 20" set. Wide screen? yes, if you sit 3 feet away!</p>
<p>Blindkite, just be honest with yourself regarding what you expect to get out of college, especially UofC. Remember you can’t take gargoyles with you when you graduate. But you can take the knowledge you get from a great faculty, IF you pursue it.</p>
But you can take the knowledge you get from a great faculty, IF you pursue it.</p>