Senior's College Choice

MalignantMike
Tue, 10 Apr 2012 20:02:54 +0000

Hi there, I am a male NMF, narrowing it down to the nitty-gritty right at the end. A few days ago, I thought I was done with the process- enrolled at Xavier University. However, by random chance something went wrong and I didn’t send it in. Since then, my parents and grandparents have freaked me out and made me doubt my decision. I’m definitely going into a PPP/PPEL program, yet now I’m conflicted between Xavier and Arizona.

I was hoping that, based on the statistics presented below, you all could give me an unbiased opinion (so many people are pulling me in different ways).

Xavier University
Tuition and Fees: $42,270/year
Scholarship Award: 18,000/year
NMF Award: $1000-$2000 once
Father’s Contribution: $12,000-$15,000/year (Including child support)
In the bank: $2,000 (with the addition of $1-2,000 more through working this summer)
Philosophy, Politics and the Public
Students in Program: 15-20 new a year
Class Size: 10-20 per class (I visited)
Many government internships available
Personalized attention
Amazing director who is also the Philosophy teacher (and your mentor)
Flown to Paris on University’s dime Junior year to talk with kids from European Union
Has my intangibles (small private school, bigger city, childhood best friend is going there)

Arizona University
Tuition and Fees: $35,000/year
Scholarship Award: $30,000/year
Father’s Contribution: $12,000-$15,000/year (Probably less because he wouldn’t need to send as much)
Bank: Same as before
Philosophy, Politics, Economics and Law
Larger program (Waiting on e-mail for class sizes)
Doesn’t feel as personalized, more rigid, less attention

Basically, I fell in with Xavier the three times I visited. The invigorating feeling I attained from attending a class was just superb. However, I understand that as a teenager I can’t comprehend debt all that well. My heart is with Xavier, yet my head is cloudy.
So, how long would that debt at Xavier take to pay off?
I understand that there is no wrong answer, but which school seems the better choice?

Thanks so much.