<p>SoundOfSilence- I have two boys that took two different direction when it came to their undergrad education.
Older son went to top 15 school and graduated with honors and had a hard time getting into med school. We paid for his undergrad but not med school. He is taking out loans.</p>
<p>Younger son is attending Rutgers Business. He refused to go to a private top tier school because he wants to go to a good top tier Grad school and he wants us to pay for it which we will. </p>
<p>They both are very happy with their choices, as my older son has a wide range of friends from all over US. My younger son will be limited to mostly NJ friends. </p>
<p>I would say if your plan is to go to Med/Law school then go to Rutgers and save your money for grad school. It really does not matter where you go for undergrad as long as you do well. </p>
<p>Vanderbilt is a great school and you should be very proud of yourself for getting accepted there. If money is not an issue for you I would say go there. You will have wider range of connections and better resources. But if money is an issue, then go to Rutgers, do well and you will be fine.</p>