<p>With a S who is a senior in HS, I have had several conversations with people about the 1st choice school v. the very substantial scholarship school. </p>
<p>Without any exception, those who made the scholarship decision (all but 1 out of 7 people) told me that they felt a true sense of personal accomplishment and pride that they had been able to take care of the bulk of their education costs rather than continue to rely on the finances of their parents. That included 3 individuals whose parents had told them that they would make the money available for the 1st choice school. </p>
<p>FWI- those that used the scholarship route where the parents had offered to pay for the 1st choice all said that in the years after college their parents had mentioned to them how much the decision helped the parent see that their child was now grown and would be OK on their own.</p>