<p>I agree as well that there’s a point where the expenses become too much…but up until that point, I wholeheartedly believe that you should choose based on other criteria.</p>
<p>In my case, the school I passed up would have been approximately $16,000 less over the course of the 4 years. However, the campus is too urban, it’s primarily a commuter school, the program while strong didn’t match the strength of the school that I chose etc.</p>
<p>Now, I realize that my case is probably fairly uncommon as my family is taking out absolutely no loans or anything for me to go to school, and I don’t qualify for financial aid…so it’s my merit scholarship, the fact that I get 30% off the tuition wherever I go and out of pocket…but again, cost shouldn’t rule decision, just inform it. </p>
<p>When I got no merit money from Drexel, it was ruled out because of cost. Had I gotten much of anything, it would have stayed in the game. Had I not gotten merit money from the school I’m at, there’s no way I would’ve ended up here. It just wouldn’t be affordable (and it’s cheap as far as private schools go).</p>