<p>I didn’t mean to give the impression that I don’t care about taking 80K in loans, its just that my parents will significantly help me out and a degree from a school like Cal could be a worthwhile investment in the long run. Although it would be relatively cheap to commute to CU I think it is important to have the dorm experience. My main concern is if the academic compromise between CU and Cal is justified by the superior athletics at CU and how important the reputation of the school is for undergrad. Both schools are D1 and have solid programs but CU is a top five cross country school in the nation.</p>