<p>If you and your parents can afford Yale, that is a great place to go, but, and it is a big BUT, it is not worth putting our famlly in a precarious situations. If they truly cannot afford to scrape up the money and the UD offer is a true gift to help them out some financial trouble, it is something I would consider, unless I could come up with a reasonable amount to bring the cost waaay down.</p>
<p>I don’t know what your family situation or yours is, which is why it’s difficult to say, oh, yes, go to Yale and you and your family take on an$80K+ debt by borrowing (which will be more than that with interest if the whole amount is borrowed). Also, bear in mind that the $20K is on paper only, and true costs can often exceed estimates. Again, how disciplined you and your family are and if they are in trouble, big trouble financially, is something to heavily consider. Are you working? Can you work and make money this summer? HOw intrepid are YOU in making money? If you haven’t earned a dime in your life, and it doesn’t look good, in terms of you making much more than a nominal amount, that comes into play too. It really comes down to how much of a problem getting this money will be, borrowing it, earning it, being disciplined enough to scrimp, all big issues. </p>
<p>My cousin has a DD at UD who is doing very well, and the family, though they live near by has spent a fortune on her there as they just are the type that like to live it big no matter what the finances are. They will pay a huge amount over the list price there, and a full ride there vs Yale, well it would make a big difference in their financial situation, and I don’t know how much a Yale degree could make up for that.</p>
<p>So, yes, I would say, go to Yale, but say so with caution, not knowing what the family situation and mechanics are. If doable, it’s worth the $100K that it will probably end up costing, but if a family truly cannot afford that nut, it’s a big one to take on and probably not worth doing.</p>