Another College Decision Thread

If you have already decided to go with a smaller private school than it sounds like you have decided that. That is a totally individual decision I think only the people that know you well could help you with.

Personally, as far as job prospects and the "weight" of the degree, unless you are going to an Ivy or Rice or Stanford or Cal Tech or MIT there won't be much of a difference in terms of immediate job prospects or getting into grad/med/law school relative to a good state institution. (Long term it matters even less where and what kind of degree(s) you have including Ivys and such.) However other smaller schools can offer quality educations, tighter student communities and professor interaction that can contribute to personal growth in many ways hard to duplicate in a state school--especially for the less outgoing type and those who don't care as much about pursuing more unusual groups/interests more common on a big campus.

As a rule of thumb, I would encourage people to pursue honors programs in state schools as a blend of both aspects for a lower price (e.g., if you were studying Economics in Texas trying to get into the Plan 2 honors program at UT would be an almost no brainer). Again though, there is no one-size fits all solution for a decision like this.

 

Nomar, economics sounds fun. I forgot about that. A little more practical than history, but still social sciency. That is one of the many fields that I wanted to major in, but never did.

Don't forget that at least at the graduate level, it is math heavy. This brings up a point regarding the other thread. Keep up your math skills, especially if you're not sure what you want to do.

From my perspective if you take at least some calculus and some statistics courses before you forget math, you will always be able to handle business or even pre-med or science stuff if you ever change your mind. It is much easier to keep plugging away at math early on than it is to get back into it late after you've lost it..

BTW, I sat down and thought of over 30 people I knew well enough to know what they do now as a 40+ person, as opposed to what they planned to do out of high school. Only three of them, a doctor and a two nurses, are actually doing what they planned to do. Of the four doctors I have as personal friends, three of the four did not go to college planning on being doctors. One was an engineering major and the other two were liberal arts majors who had to take post bachalaureate courses in order to apply to med school. Many liberal arts, journalism and other majors wound up going to law school on the spur of the moment. A large number are doing something in the computer field, which hardly existed when they started college.

If you grow up intellectually and emotionally, most importantly, it will all work out. However, if your interest wanes, you're definitely better dropping out than making several semesters of bad grades.

 

My older sister went to Emory and loved it.

It's a big party school, so get ready to be plastered.

 

It all depends on what type of job in which you hope to begin your working career. If you figure you'll start at a big company (and with big pay), then go ahead and incur the debt. Your first few years out of college will be a little lean, but you will be able to pay the loans with no problem.

However, if you're thinking about starting your own business or taking a job in the public sector, I would be hesitant to run up debt. There are plenty of good public schools where the tuition is cheap but the education is substantial.

Obviously, you're a high school senior and I'm guessing there are still quite a few question marks in your future (there was for me when I was a senior). But do think about what kind of careers appeal to you so that you can figure out the best path.

 

I recommend the School of Hard Knocks. It will beat the crap out of you but you won't go broke on student loans. You'll just go broke on lack of an education.

 

Yes.

I wouldn't even think twice about it. I didn't when I incurred $20,000 in student debt. Yes, you will be paying it for the 10 years following your graduation, but the burden isn't too bad. In fact, I'm paying off my own $20,000 and my wife's $30,000 on the income of one job. It ain't easy to take a double-whammy, but it is hardly crippling.

Of course, if you go to Emory and drink all the time and flunk out, that debt won't be worth it. If you are going to college to drink, go to a state school. They are as good if not better at getting wasted and for less money.