<p>I think it’s very dangerous to justify taking on very significant debt now on the basis that one MIGHT get a high paying job later. What if he changes majors like many people do? What if he gets the CS degree but wants to do something else after college? There are so many “what ifs” at the beginning of ones college career that it’s almost impossible to predict where one will actually end up 4-5 years from now.</p>
<p>Well, that’s what I think too. Oodles of debt is a burden. Anything can happen in 4 years. I’d be careful about debt for this incredible young man who will do well under many scenarios.</p>
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<p>Yes, he’ll probably do fine academically anywhere. And he will adjust socially and be fine (he was voted a prom king at his HS, so he is obviously well liked). But will he have a peer group he feels he belongs to at Truman or Wisconsin?</p>
<p>Truman State has about 5,600 undergrad students. U Wis.-Madison has about 26,000 undergrads. It is virtually impossible that he couldn’t find a peer group at either. At the very least, he should find some like minded peers in whatever major he chooses.</p>
<p>I am sure he can find some like-minded peers at any college, but it is different from being at a school were you feel that you belong to that whole community. He probably has some like-minded peers at his HS as well, yet his Carlton experience was completely different.</p>
<p>I don’t know if Brandeis is the right way to go - the financial concerns are very real, and will be difficult to deal with. Also, if expectations are sky high, people are more likely to end up disappointed… I just don’t think that “it does not matter where he goes because he’ll be successful anywhere”.</p>
<p>I mentioned the dot com bust to illustrate that you can’t predict the future or stability of any one field, so in making this decision it may be wise to be conservative about potential earning income after getting a CS degree.</p>
<p>Thank you all so much! </p>
<p>Son has read this thread, we will sit down this weekend and look at every possible angle to determine the cost of attending Brandeis. Unfortunately son does not find out about most local scholarships until after May 1 but on the plus side he was notified of a non renewing $500 local scholarship today!! I believe he is leaning towards going with Truman. </p>
<p>Son did receive an email back from Truman today indicating their graduation rate DOES NOT include 5 and 6 year programs. To me that would indicate a strong probability of at least an extra semester to graduate due to caps on class enrollments?? Truman’s honors classes are open to all students so I do not believe he would get any preferential class registration. </p>
<p>Any feedback on this would be appreciated as the cost of extra semester would need to be figured into the cost of Truman.</p>
<p>When I look at some other threads it does occur to me, why am I whining? My son has the good fortune to have brains and has received merit scholarships. </p>
<p>As I have told my children, I reserve the greatest respect for kids who do not have a natural ability to learn easily, but put in the time and effort to earn as high a grade as they are capable of . . . whether that’s a D or a C. I also have great respect for their parents who often spent endless hours when their children were young helping them to learn their spelling words, fractions, etc. I guess I forgot about that for a few days. Thanks for listening to me, I needed the venting to get to a more rational frame of mind. Yes it’s disappointing he won’t be going to Brandeis (most likely!) but in the scheme of life - he’s been blessed!</p>