I’m really torn between GWU and Middlebury. GWU would cost me about $8k/year, while Middlebury would be around $23–24k/year. I strongly prefer Middlebury academically and feel it aligns better with my long-term goals, but my parents are hesitant because they’re already paying for multiple siblings’ grad/med school expenses. I understand the financial strain is different now, but it still feels unfair. Which college would you guys recommend?
I have no opinion except that my brother went to GW, LOVED IT, was super successfully - went to law school and is a partner at a prestigious big city firm and hasn’t even turned 40 yet. So if you are worried about being successfully starting at GW please don’t let that discourage you.
Also if YOU have grad school Plans, you’ll appreciate when your parents still have funds to help you.
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What are your long term goals?
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I would want to attend a top law school and maybe do civil rights law.
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When multiple siblings have realistic plans that involve graduate school, the total cost of university can add up rather quickly.
Also, George Washington University can prepare you very well for law school.
I know quite a few people who attended some form of graduate school. This includes all four of us in my family (three of us have graduate degrees, one daughter is currently studying for a PhD), and also includes a few lawyers I know and have worked with. Generally we have all noticed that graduate students in highly ranked programs will typically come from a huge range of undergraduate colleges and universities. If you end up in a highly ranked law school, it would not surprise me at all if you end up with fellow students who are from a very wide range of undergraduate universities where many (if not most) of them come from schools that are ranked lower than either Middlebury or GWU. What they will have in common is that they did very well as an undergraduate student (wherever they were) and also did very well on the LSAT.
I think that you have two very good acceptances to two very good schools. I can see the point in saving money for undergrad, and saving as much as possible to help you with the cost of law school. 7 years of university can be very expensive, and the fact that you have been accepted to a school as excellent as GWU with a cost as low as 8k per year is actually quite amazing.
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You can certainly get to an outstanding law school from either college. Your post-graduation opportunities will be determined by what you accomplish during college rather than which one of these fine schools you choose to attend.
That said, I can understand if you prefer Middlebury. The finances are something you and your parents need to discuss and sort out together.
While I understand your desires to attend Midd, money does matter. Law school will be another $300K.
If your parents are steering you one way, given they are paying and seem to have concerns, sometimes they do have to win out. After all, they are paying.
You may get to law school and not be able to afford that. I know a grad who got into Vandy but went tuition free to Miami…so law school is a great goal….it doesn’t necessarily need to be T14.
As an aside, you can go to a top law school from any college - Harvard’s 1L class of less than 600 has 163 schools - schools like Christopher Newport, FIU, Marquette, Towson and U of everything. UVA has over 130 schools. Penn - 200+ in their law school - many names not competitive.
So - your decision should be based on what you prefer, not law school because it can happen from anywhere - and GW can provide a similar liberal arts education to Midd. Don’t forget, most colleges have a college of arts and science - not just LACs. They just have more beyond the liberal arts - business, engineering, etc.
Your parents raised you, got you to the place you are, which is an opportunity to attend two fantastic schools.
They are telling you - they really cannot afford one.
I find it unfair that you think it’s unfair.
Go to GW, get great grades, get a great LSAT, and things will likely end up fine.
And give mom and dad a hug. They are doing their part to balance all the kid’s needs - likely including helping you with law school tuition.
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It may only be unfair if your parents funded your siblings’ undergraduate costs with a significantly higher amount than they are willing to fund yours. (Sometimes, this occurs because of bad financial luck, like parental job loss or investment losses between the first kid going to college and a later kid going to college.)
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Both are excellent schools, so this really is only a conversation you and your parents can really have.
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Both are strong schools but very different in terms of location. $25k is a reasonable amount for Middlebury and $8k for GW is an incredible bargain so congratulations on two great choices. I understand your frustration if your parents were more generous with your siblings’ undergraduate education (meaning they had more flexibility about where to attend) - discuss this with them and see if there is any wiggle room. Alternatively, you can get a job and work this summer plus take the student loan and that would give you another $10-12k which would bring you closer to the cost of Middlebury. You might also reach out to Middlebury FA and see if there is any possibility of a little more money since it is your first choice (they very well may say “no” but it wouldn’t hurt to ask).
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Would your parents pay for your own law school if you attend GW?
(Is it 8k as a full resident student or are costs low because you’d be commuting?)
I second having your parents call FA/Admissions at Middlebury ASAP if they’re okay with your attending “as long as it’s less than 25k” (Midd is unlikely to be 8k but would, say, Midd for 15k be ok for them? 18?). It does mean that if Midd becomes affordable within their parameters, you will need to commit.
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Are you willing to share more specific information regarding the academics that you prefer and with respect to your long-term goals ?
The setting / location of the two schools are quite different. What caused you to apply to these two schools ? What do they have in common that attracted you to both schools ?
Is GWU local suggesting that you will be a commuter ?
I ask these questions in an effort to know you better & to help guide you if there are significant reasons beyond COA which indicate that you should fight for the more costly option.
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There’s a lot less to spend money on in Middlebury, VT, than there is in Washington, DC. You likely won’t be eating out as much, taking Ubers, etc.
I’ll echo that they’re very different college experiences. Midd has a bucolic campus set among fields and mountains in a small town. GW’s campus is less defined—more a collection of buildings in a dense, urban neighborhood.
Given that both these schools have a sticker price of nearly $100K, you’re getting an incredibly good deal on both. Congrats!
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Thank you so much for your insight. This genuinely makes me feel much better.
Thank you so much for this. This is very comforting to hear!
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Yea they would have invested way more in my siblings undergraduate costs.
Thank you for the advice! The reason I said it seemed unfair is because my parents have invested way more into my siblings undergraduate education than they are willing to invest into mine.
I already appealed my financial aid package twice at Middlebury, they denied my request both times. Thank you for the kind words though!
As a parent, life isn’t fair that way.
I spent more on one kid - and would have spent even more had she not won some endowed scholarships after she enrolled.
When the family goes out to dinner, I assume not everyone orders a meal with the same price.
You love your kids - and you do the best you can for them.
They might not have budgeted / realized up front that they would have grad or med school expenses for the others - and they may be taking the approach of - one at a time - i.e. let me get through each one and then i’ll tackle the next.
I wouldn’t look at it as - unfair.
I would look at it as - your parents got you to a great place and are doing the best they can for all the kids, etc.
PS - I do hope the GW includes living on campus. Living home is not a good thing but if that’s all they can do, it makes sense too.
Sound to me like you have wonderful parents who have raised wonderful kids - but some things (grad/med school) happen unplanned and they are likely trying to do their best for all.
And it seems to me - going to GW is a home run that most the world would love to have - especially at such a huge discount.
It’s all perspective - that they’re helping all their kids, even if not exactly equal, seems very fair to me.
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Given that - I’d say go GW. 
Advice I have taken to heart as a parent is that being fair does not mean giving each child the exact same thing – it means, to the best of your ability, giving each child what they need.
Have a talk with your parents, but I would not use the term “fair.” Instead, discuss what they can reasonably do for you
Also take a moment to appreciate that you will be attending an excellent four year college regardless of which school you attend, that finances are part of the equation in most college decisions, and that you have the love and support of your family.
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