<p>Congratulations!</p>
<p>No matter what college you are considering, please be careful in comparing financial aid packages, it can cause hard feelings because even if your EFC might be the same, financial aid packages can differ based on family circumstances and financial situations. Know that the student loans that you are offered should increase each year, though the cost of attendance will likely increase, though colleges are trying very hard to keep the costs down. Finances should be a major consideration in making your college choice. </p>
<p>My son is a freshman at Whittier,who also received a scholarship, but it was the overall package of the school that helped him choose Whittier over UCLA, Occidental, USF and others. Academically, the small discussion based classes appealed to him. He knows hes going on to graduate school where teacher recommendations are very important: and what better recommendation could anyone get than that from a professor, who is his advisor, who he will have worked with for 4 years, who also happens to be the department head? The ability to play collegiate sports with welcoming coaches and the many student organizations for his diverse interests were also a big factor. </p>
<p>So, wherever you go dont just consider the finances, but whether you can see yourself enjoying yourself during those downtimes when you arent studying.</p>