<p>Answer me this: Would you rather go to the college of your dreams and pinch pennies, or go to a school you really don’t like and live lavishly?</p>
<p>I got accepted to my dream school, and it’s probably unhealthy how much I love this school. Unfortunately, it comes with a really hefty price tag. I also applied to a safety school which is very cheap, but I really really REALLY don’t like it. </p>
<p>If I go to my dream school, I will be the epitome of a poor college student. If I go to my safety,I will be able to live pretty luxuriously (for a college student).</p>
<p>Which do I choose? Happy but poor at my top school, or miserable but “rich” at my safety?</p>
<p>First off, college students rarely live “lavishly”. The only ones who do are people with last names like Gates, Hilton, etc…</p>
<p>Furthermore, when you say “pinch pennies,” how do you mean? If the school you love is going to put you in debt, but your safety won’t, then I would pick the safety hands down. Also, would it be an option to spend two years at the cheaper school, then transfer to the school you love for the name on your diploma?</p>
<p>Mainly though, this is your college education, and only you know what’s best for you:)</p>
<p>You don’t know that you’re going to be miserable at the safety and happy at the “dream”. </p>
<p>Go to the one where you can save money. Don’t live “lavishly”. Live frugally and save that money. Generally, students are happy wherever they go as long as they go in with an open mind.</p>
<p>Most college students “pinch pennies,” and are utimately left with some debt. So, if you get into the college that you’ve worked so hard for and you believe is the best college for you, then by all means you should go to that school. And like Bioboy said: “At the end of your life, you don’t want to look back and say “What if…””</p>
<p>Even if a safety is a safety, it should be a place you wouldn’t mind attending. Not necessarily a college that you love, but that you could live with. Assuming the safety isn’t just plain wrong in terms of fit, being among the stronger students there nets you advantages like more job opps, research opps, higher chance of notice from professors and so on. I’d say “luxury” at the moment counts as the occasionally movie, meal out or local attraction, which I can do very comfortably having decided to take a full ride at my safety. And overall I think it suits me better than my original “dream” school might have.
Like romanigypsyeyes said, just be open to possibilities and be open minded.</p>
<p>It’s unfortunate you didn’t find a financial safety you also like since I think if you think you really won’t like a school… and have visited and have reasons for thinking this… then you shouldn’t go there. Tough choice… you’ll have to trust your gut. Whatever you choose, try to go into it with a good attitude.</p>
<p>Depending on how far the dream school would put you into debt, I’d go where you want to go if possible, because college is not something you want to settle for and regret the decision later (but at the same time, don’t take out something like $20k in loans per year or something a lot of $ like that either!).</p>
<p>I’m in a similar situation. I got into a great school that will cost around 65K a year and a school that will cost about 25K. The 25K school is not my safety though, just a highly ranked public school. My parents are offering me a car and a hefty expense account to go to the state school. If i go to the more expensive college, no spring break, no extra luxury stuff. It’s an easy decision for me. The 65K may be my “dream school”, but i still really like the cheaper school and the lifestyle makes up for everything else. I think you should do the same</p>
<p>I don’t understand why people pay international tuition to go to Michigan and then claim they don’t have $10 to eat a good meal out but they do… Some people are just senseless I guess.</p>
<p>I have two friends who pay roughly $30-40k a year to go to their dream school (no financial aid basically). They are happy and LOVE where they are at, and even though they had doubts because of financial reasons before attending, I can tell you now that they do not regret it.</p>
<p>Basically, what’s helping them live happily is their positivity. They are going to these schools to pursue their career and they are passionate and sure about their career. So in hindsight, I’m sure they’ll probably make tons of money to pay off their debts.</p>
<p>In contrast, I have several friends who turned down expensive schools because they don’t think their major/career choice is “stable enough.” </p>
<p>You have to think about that. Are you willing to risk going into debt for your future?</p>
<p>It’s your call. Personally, being accepted into my dream school would already have been living the good life! But that’s just me – after the whole “dream school” thing, I’d look at which school would help prepare me for my career.</p>
<p>Also:
I’m pretty sure it’s not that they don’t have the money… Personally, if I was dishing out a boatload of money on a school, I’d do myself the favor of spending less money on everything else that I don’t see as a necessity. IMO, a good meal is good but any meal would do and you could certainly find one for a cheaper price.</p>
<p>All in all, the savings add up! That’s my way of thinking, at least.</p>
<p>I know it’s not that they can’t afford it. I still think it’s silly to pay 210K to go to a US college over going to a school that costs 10% that (or less) and not pay $10 for a good meal a few times a week.</p>
<p>Some people have different priorities. I never go shopping or anything like people would normally do if they have extra money. I save up all my money and splurge on a little vacation every once in a while. $10 a few times a week adds up. You don’t know why they don’t want to spend that $10.</p>
<p>Also think about other things you could do with the extra $$ if you attend your safety. You could definitely afford to study abroad. You could afford to get a non-paid internship. You could save for grad school, if applicable. You could take summer courses at your dream school (if allowed). </p>
<p>In your situation though, are those the only two schools in the picture? You should not attend a school that you hate, but you seem to like the idea of not worrying too much about finances as you would have to if you attended your dream school.</p>
<p>I’d take the dream school in a heartbeat. I’m currently at a school I hate (applying for transfers) and I don’t really have to worry about money. It’s not worth it at all. It’s still terrible.</p>