Is Cornell really worth it? (+150k loans as an international student)

Colleges & Universities Cornell University
1

I’ve been accepted to Cornell University’s college of engineering, but unfortunately have not received any financial aid as Cornell is extremely stingy with giving out international financial aid.(The website says they only give them to a limited number of international students). As my family’s income is slightly below 100k, affording the full sticker price is definitely going to be a huge concern as I have a younger sister and a younger brother who will enter college in 3 years and 6 years respectively.

My other option is to attend an engineering school in India(which has ultra prestige within the country) with a full ride. If I decide to go to Cornell, I will have to take out around 150k in loans as my parents said they can only fund me more 2 years.

So is attending Cornell really worth the 150k loans?

My concerns on attending Cornell are:
•Difficulty in getting a job after graduation in the US (since i’m an international student with no us citizenship) to pay off my debt.
•150k of debt seems like a lot.
•Crippling my family’s financial situation and perhaps even sabotaging my siblings’ higher education prospects.
•Guilty conscience for pretty much using up all my parents’ life savings.
•Can’t afford to fail(or graduate in 5 years not 4)

Why I want to attend Cornell:
•While studying engineering, I get to explore my other academic interests(economics, psychology etc) through the classes in other cornell colleges.
•Experience the larger world: A bigger environment with a much much more diverse group of people can really broaden my horizons.
•Ivy league prestige- lifelong alumni connections.
•Student organisations are awesome-something which my indian university doesn’t have. can pursue my extracurricular passions.
•Good graduate school prospects.(indian uni does have grad school prospects, but might be competitive.)
•I’m seeing it as pretty much my only chance to go to the US.
•Indian university’s engineering course will be heavily exam-oriented. I want to learn how to think critically and creatively, solve real problems.
•Overall, a much better college experience. I doubt I will be happy at the Indian university(homogenous student body)

Any input would be much appreciated.

2

No.
150K vs. 0 is pretty much a no brainer. This is not even addressing the question of how you would secure $150K in loans.

3

No, you can’t afford 150K student loans, especially if there is no guarantee of employment in the US. I am not even sure if your parents would be eligible for that much loan.