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<li><p>A cousin of mine is a successful lawyer who currently works for BAH - travels all over the world helping other nations develop law and he said, "I went to Emory thinking it would be this great education for my law degree and discovered that I could have gone to University of Georgia and come out with the same credentials & and same skills. It wasn’t worth the price tag. </p></li>
<li><p>It’s important to go to a school that is well regarded. That doesn’t have to be Ivy league - just a school with a good reputation. There are many, many schools on that list. </p></li>
<li><p>It’s harder to be involved and be given opportunities to lead at large schools. The competition is much greater. Also, large schools sometimes have graduate students teaching their undergraduate classes, where as small schools will often have PhDs teaching the undergrads…makes a difference. Class size makes a difference too. Just something to think about. </p></li>
<li><p>Your education is what you make it. Bottom line, it doesn’t matter where you go; it’s more important what you do when you get there. </p></li>
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<p>If you are female, Agnes Scott College in Decatur , GA. should be on your list.</p>
<p>Without wanting to discourage your dreams, I would ask you to consider the possibility that you might change your ultimate goal between now and the time you graduate from college. How many times do college students change majors? If you take (the possibility of) going to medical school out of the equation, are those expensive schools still worth it?</p>
<p>Having said that, as a parent my main concern is that my children find the right school for them. My son is going to attend a Cal State school, something that is looked down upon by many people in our area. My son would have likely gotten into a smaller private school but he ruled out applying b/c of cost. The school he chose is small in size, offers his major, is geographically desirable to him, has nice dorms and all you can eat food on the meal plans AND more females than males. In other words, it meets all <em>his</em> requirements. THAT is the school where he has the best chance to succeed b/c that’s where he wants to be. Thankfully, he chose a school that costs under $20k and we can make that happen.</p>
<p>Ultimately, you have to consider where you want to be for the reasons that are important to you. Take what’s affordable to you and your parents into consideration, though, b/c none of you should be saddled with debt for 15+ years.</p>
<p>My brother graduated from Harvard in 1989. He and my parents borrowed for that. He then went to veterinary school. More borrowing. He’s making a very good living now but only paid off his student loans in the last few years. My parents were still making payments (that I know of) as recently as three years ago and they’re about to turn 80. (My brother sends them money each month to offset this because he can afford to do so. He doesn’t have kids.) Do you really want your parents to be in debt for you into their old age?</p>
<p>College cost have gotten out of hand and they very well may not be worth it. there have been way to many people that left college in debt that they will never be able to pay back. And do any of you think that there is a college who cares, Absolutely not!
Don’t let them steal your money. Go cheap for undergrad first. As soon as we all stop paying the big tuitions, you will see them come tumbling down. Maybe some professors need to start losing their jobs for something to be done.</p>
<p>Sad commentary and state of the financial burden placed on families. In Canada everyone pays the same. I’m not advocating their system but it does bring in question the financing structure of US colleges and universities.</p>