I’ve been feeling conflicted on where to go. I got into La Verne and they are offering me an $88,000 scholarship but it wasn’t really somewhere I wanted to go. I only applied because my mom went there and it was free. But that scholarship is pretty enticing. I recently got in BU’s CGS London program but they are offering hardly any financial aid. Merced is the only UC that has accepted me so far (waitlisted at UCSC) but people have said Merced isn’t that great. In a bit of a pickle.
Net price at each?
UC Merced is basically a brand new school and already nationally ranked (2018 US News Overall National Rank) #165 and #85 (2018 US News Public Colleges) which is very good. You can get the small college experience there now as part of a big UC System. Is rapidly growing so will increase in rank and greatly improve. The University of California System is one of the best in the world holding national and international recognition…I would definitely pick UC Merced if not for that scholarship!!
Don’t know much about La Verne (2018 US News Overall National Rank) #159 which is pretty good…looks like a private smaller (expensive) college. However, that $88,000 scholarship (and your mom attending there) really can skew things towards La Verne.
Great question! Tough decision you have…looks to be a toss up. I would compare majors, talk to your mom, see what makes better sense financially, and definitely take a tour of each campus to see the environment and vibe there which can help with your decision. Sounds like you can do well at either choice. Good luck!
Merced: $30,000
La Verne: $23,350 (with scholarship)
BU: $56,000
How do the schools compare for the majors you are interested in?
What can you and your parents afford before loans? Remember that you can only borrow $5,500 the first year without a cosigner.
@Guineabean3 :
Cross out BU.
What’s your budget?
What would you major in?
ULaverne for less than a UC would be very enticing. Basically you get private school amenities, public school price.
Are you expecting other decisions?
I plan on majoring in Anthropology. BU is ranked in the top 50 for anthropology that’s why I’m reluctant to throw it out. My parents really didn’t give me a budget they told me to go where ever I want but I don’t really want to burden them. I still have to hear back from Syracuse and USC.
If you parents can pay without a burden on them financially then BU is a great school.
If there is a financial decision as to whether it’s “worth it” I can’t see how studying your desired field at that
cost for undergrad make any sense at all. Are you considering graduate school, PhD in Anthro ?
If so consider two things, money to live on for grad school, better to spend less in undergrad.
Also BU is a tough school academically. Your grades there may make it tougher to get into grad school.
Pick a school where you are in the upper half of applicants to have a better chance at high grades.
Ask your parents whether they have a savings account for you to pay for college or whether they planned on taking a loan to pay for BU.
If they can pay from income and savings then no problems BU is a great school.
But if ‘affordability’ is on the table, hopefully USC or Syracuse will come through or you can make LaVerne work.