<p>I’ve just recently added BC to my list of colleges, because I want to go to a well respected business, preferably Catholic college. BC has always been in the Business Week’s top 10, but I have overlooked it due to the cost. I want to do an Accounting/International Studies double major and then go to a great law school. I’ve really only looked closely at schools with merit aid (that I could get), but I think on some level an education, such as the caliber of BC, will subsidize my scholarships in the future. Do you guys think that BC is worth the extra $20 K or so a year in terms of experience, connections made, alumni, intern opportunities, and future opportunities coming out of BC? The other schools I’m looking at where I could get merit money are University of San Diego and University of Miami. </p>
<p>It all depends on how comfortable you are with $80,000 worth of debt upon graduation. There isn’t a hard and fast rule here; everyone’s answer will be different, but see:</p>
<p>BC is a wonderful school and does indeed offer strong alumni connections (although these tend to be most useful in the Northeast, less in other parts of the country) and many internship/networking opportunities, particularly in the Boston area.</p>
<p>But is BC actually worth an extra $80K? Only your family can answer that question. If your family can afford it – or if your financial circumstances are such that you would qualify for a significant amount of need-based aid from BC – then you may have a very different answer than if you will have to take on loans to pay those extra costs. Quite frankly, as much as I love BC, I would strongly caution you against taking on substantial debt for your undergraduate degree if you are looking on law school in the future. Choosing a less expensive alternative for your BA/BS will give you much more flexibility in your post-graduate plans. And certainly, USD and Miami are fine schools too and can prepare you well for law school.</p>
<p>I think you’re jumping the gun a bit. If I understand your situation, you’re only now starting the application process, right? You’re assuming that the net additional cost to you of BC will be $20K/year more than your other choices, until you have all your acceptances and all of your financial aid packages there’s no way to know if this will be true. </p>
<p>Assuming the worst, that BC would require $80K of additional debt, I’d say no, no school is worth that much of an increased burden, especially since your plans include the added expense of law school. The rules of accounting are the same at every business school, the laws of supply and demand are the same for Econ1 at BC as they are at Miami. </p>
<p>You may find some starting salary surveys that show differences between BC and USanDiego and Miami, but I doubt that the differences are dramatic enough to overcome the the interest payments and opportunity costs of the added debt. So you’re left with the concept of intangibles: Who has the best internships? Who has the best connections? Here your betting on the idea that one school is vastly superior than another and that you will figure out how to access and exploit those opportunities - at $80K of debt, that’s an awfully big bet.</p>
<p>Your final salary track will be affected by your law degree far more than your undergrad business degree. A question you should answer for yourself is, where do I want to work and live after graduation? As worried_mom pointed out, the biggest advantage of any of your schools will be their local connections when it comes to jobs. BC will be strongest in the northeast, Miami in the southeast and San Diego in California; BC is probably the biggest “brand name” of the three but I don’t know that it’s a significant advantage.</p>
<p>If you are full pay, then merit money at Miami and USD is a consideration. However, if you need aid, you should note that BC meets 100% of full need, whereas Miami does not. Thus, even after a merit scholarship at Miami (which is close to automatic with your ACT score), BC still might be less expensive.</p>
<p>Based on your other threads, BC seems to be the better fit, both socially and academically. But whether its worth $80k more than The U is really a decision for your family.</p>
<p>Final note: if you are serious about law school, the only thing that matters is gpa (+lsat). Law schools don’t care one iota about undergrad reputation (unless it’s HYPSM). Law schools do not care about connections or intern opportunities. Thus, your undergrad is nearly irrelevant for law school. But, $80k saved will pay for Year 1 in LS…(assumes inflation over next four years).</p>
<p>I don’t know your family’s financial situation, so it’s really impossible for me to say what is and is not worth it for you. I would definitely look at BC as a serious option and give it a fair shake. If you get in you can talk to Financial Aid before enrolling about the type of award you would need. They are very helpful when approached. </p>
<p>Also, I know lots of people who came to college with a clear plan for their post-college life which they drastically have gone away from. I came in with potential lawyer ambitions and don’t think I will ever go to law school. You might want to put some consideration into what school will give you the best overall foundation for after college plans. BC is good at helping people find what they really want to do, which is immaterially very valuable. </p>
<p>A third point, regardless of what schools look at, I imagine BC has a better record of law school acceptances than those schools. This is very important for graduate school and salary once you are a lawyer. </p>