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<p>and Villanova, and USC, and Santa Clara. The loans to attend any of those schools would have been equivalent to the first mortgage my parents ever had–I’d rather not take on that much debt on an entry-level salary…</p>
<p>Instead, I’m actually going to earn money going to school because on top of tuition, room and board, and a book stipend, my scholarship includes a check that covers “incidental/personal expenses,” which according to Maryland will be about $2600.</p>
<p>I’m in the University Honors Program, which if you look at the stats in the “freshman profile” thread over at the College Park forum…is pretty top-notch. </p>
<p>So I try not to think of what could have been, and am thinking about what is. As it is, I like the hand I’ve been dealt.</p>