Deciding Between Schools..another one of those threads

[ClemsonGrad]

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I've been reading threads on this forum for a few months now and would like to request some thoughts from the group since everyone has good thoughts! Sorry in advance that the thread is long.

I was accepted to an out of state school and deferred for a year so that I can move to that state and establish residency. It takes a year, but the difference in tuition was insane! So I will be a resident starting in May and matriculate next May.

After receiving that exciting news, I was notified that I was on a wait list (#12 🙁, but I heard they got to 12 last year) for my in state school. This cohort starts in August and the in state tuition would be less than the other school's in state tuition once I'm considered a resident. I checked and I would still be able to be in state even if I move to the other for a couple months. (I could be accepted off the wait list up until classes start in August.)

Then, yesterday I received an acceptance off a wait list spot to a highly respected private school in the same state as school #1. Since it's private, the tuition doesn't change whether I'm currently a resident or not. That cohort matriculates May 18th of this year.

The difference in tuition and relative living expenses etc between the private school and school 1 is approximately $46,500 and probably about $63,000 from my in state school(if I were accepted) for the three years. I would be able to save money during my year deferment because I will be living with family when I move and won't have to pay rent (of course I'll have to find a new job!).

I've got to make the decision fast because I have to notify the private school by next Thursday. Thoughts?

Thank you!!

 

[track11]

If I were in you shoes, I would scratch the private school.

I would probably go for the cheaper in-state program. However, I myself ended up making a decision that was counter to this. I was accepted to a dirt cheap in-state program, but when I visited the campus I automatically knew I could not live in that rural area in the middle of nowhere for three years. I chose the out-of-state option that was a little more (but not too much more), and luckily for that school they waive out-of-state tuition for the second and third year. Typically, I would have picked the in-state school if it were not for the EXTREME rural location. So unless you're in a similar predicament, I would go for the cheaper in-state school.

Of course, it's ultimately up to you, but that's what I have to offer!

Good luck!

 

[WahooDPT]

I'm in a similar situation. Which option did you end up choosing?

 

[ClemsonGrad]

Thanks Track11... I will definitely go to my instate school if I'm accepted off the waitlist.. I never thought I would have so many decisions to make and was totally floored by the acceptance to the private school. I can totally understand your decision and hope you enjoy school 🙂

Wahoo...I ended up evaluating both the private and public out of state school more objectively...writing out cost of attendance and cost of living etc and then looking at how I felt at each school during my visit. Both have the same passage rating the board so that was not really a factor. I decided to turn the private school down. I won't lie it was hard to send the e-mail declining, but I really could not justify an additional $50,000 just for a few minor details like a name and cool location (even though the other school has a nice location too). Really crossing my fingers that I'll be accepted off my waitlist for the instate school but I'm not assuming anything!

Best of Luck to both of you guys! It's a crazy ride and I just am soooo ready to start!