How much is a business degree worth? Do I go to my dream school for an extra $100k?

[Knowsstuff]

@saltypretzel

UPDATE!!! I committed to Carnegie Mellon University at the Tepper School of Business!!! I want to address my reasoning for others to read and for myself!

• My DREAM was always Michigan or Texas. I was so excited to be lucky enough to get into both of them and their business schools! I always wanted that big school with lots of spirit and a high ranked business program.
• Unfortunately, neither school gave me any aid or merit money, despite lots of calls and emails. I also applied to scholarships from both and didn't get them, as well as outside scholarships that haven't been released yet.
• I didn't look at cost while applying bc I've heard such great stories of people being surprised that a super selective school gave them a huge scholarship! Well, since the majority of schools I applied to were state schools, this isn't really the case. After my sixth email to Michigan, to the third department I had been referred to, they told me "We are not obligated to meet the need of non-residents" among other things--they also said if I submitted a Finacial Aid Appeal it wouldn't be looked at until July...well that kind of defeats the purpose bc I'd need to know by May 1! That email (which was also worded negatively and kind of shocking) put everything into perspective. This may sound dumb, but it made me realize how all of these state schools' #1 priority is their own state students. I'm sure lots of people know this, but when I was applying I wanted the Big 10 spirit, while failing to notice the implications of a state school.
• So basically, Michigan and Texas told me (on multiple occasions) sorry, we have no money for you.
• Then, in late March, I got into Carnegie Mellon. At first they didn’t give me any aid but then I appealed and showed them a competitive scholarship from another school and they matched it!!!. This big scholarship made CMU very appealing.
• At that moment, I looked at my options. The expensive dream schools that told me I need to pay full price vs. the small, completely non-athletic private school that instantly met my needs. I also was really considering Minnesota at this point because they gave me a big scholarship as well, but I don't think their program was right for me.
• Then I needed to delve into CMU. I'm going to business school for entrepreneurship! A big thing I'm looking for is that business technology merge. That was my major at UT (Science Technology Management) and there's a program you can apply to at UIUC (Hoeft Tech & Management), but at CMU, the entire curriculum is based off of science, technology, math, and quantitative thinking in business. It was literally exactly what I was looking for.
• Tepper has 140 students per class. Texas McCombs has 960 per class with the Business Honors (which I was rejected from) that has 120 students. At CMU, there's no segregation/prioritization with honors because everyone is practically in honors.
• Also 12:1 ratio at Tepper!
• Basically, I saw a great size, perfect curriculum, and affordable price (I'll graduate with ~$17K debt. Under the federally mandated amount just like you guys told me to!)
• So yeah! I'm a Tartan. It's nuts. I didn't think I'd get in, then I got in and it was so expensive. Then they gave me $$$ and I did research. And now I'm going. I would NEVER have guessed this is where I'd end up. Literally 2 weeks ago everything was different bc I didn't have the scholarship. Crazy how them granting my request has changed everything.
• I don't even know how many HOURS I've spent on UT, UIUC, ivy, AND ESPECIALLY THE FREAKING MICHIGAN THREADS. I SPENT SO MUCH TIME WITH THOSE MICHIGAN ENROLLMENT CONNECT PORTAL CONSPIRACIES! College confidential has been an awesome support system. @sushiritto @Knowsstuff @Publisher I have seen you guys in 500 different threads and you've all been instrumental parts in answering my questions and helping me through this process. Even though I am nowhere where I thought I'd be, you definitely eased the stress among this process. Thank you all and to everyone else that has answered on my several frantic threads.
• And this isn't supposed to be a negative thing towards Carnegie. UT McCombs and CMU Tepper are literally tied for #5 in the country. I just wanted to point out the flexibility a private school may offer and the unprecedented obstacles I experienced with big state schools. But it totally ended up working out in a way that I didn't expect. Like I reallyyy thought I was heading to the midwest, but getting that big scholarship and exploring a new option changed EVERYTHING.
• Oh and I have a friend at Penn State 2 hours away from Pittsburgh so you bet I WILL be getting my Big 10 football fix!
• Thank you, everyone. Xoxo, I love you collegeconfidential. #saltypretzelout

Congratulations! They say where you land is where your supposed to be. Make the most of your opportunities at CMU. Good luck.

[AlwaysMoving]

Congratulations!

[Publisher]

Great choice ! You were rewarded for your efforts.

Many MBA programs are revamping their curriculums to incorporate more technology. CMU has always done so.

[sushiritto]

I told you CMU was the best choice. Kidding! ?

I didn’t even know (or forgotten) you were considering CMU. Fantastic school, fantastic city. Congrats! And good luck.

[Lindagaf]

Excellent post @saltypretzel ! Congratulations!

[saltypretzel]

@sushiritto

I told you CMU was the best choice. Kidding! ?

I didn’t even know (or forgotten) you were considering CMU. Fantastic school, fantastic city. Congrats! And good luck.

I really wasn’t considering them because they were so expensive–more money than Michigan and others–they only came into the equation when they gave me the recent scholarship!! I didn’t expect it either hahaha

[Mwfan1921]

CMU must really want you to attend @saltypretzel!

Congratulations, and good luck!