Girlie AGDee's College Search Thread

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by gebbie

Hey AGDee!

I have only skimmed through this post, so if somebody has already suggested this, don't mind me! Has your she looked into Emory at all? I know it is in the south, but it is a spectacular place and boasts an incredible program for what she seems to be interested in. It might be worth a bit of research.
Honestly, my best advice to you and your daughter is to go with what feels right.

Good luck! Don't stress!

She did lots and lots of research, but at this point, it is too late to apply anywhere else. She has options. Personally, I wish she would see what a gem U of M really is, especially since it's so much cheaper than the others. I will be glad when the next week is over and we know who has accepted her for sure.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by AGDee

She did lots and lots of research, but at this point, it is too late to apply anywhere else. She has options. Personally, I wish she would see what a gem U of M really is, especially since it's so much cheaper than the others. I will be glad when the next week is over and we know who has accepted her for sure.

My husband loved his time at Michigan. He still talks about how smart, but well-rounded, the students were. Filled with intellectuals.

As someone who attended a very expensive private university, if your daughter was sitting in front of me I would tell her to seriously reconsider it unless the school gives her a very generous GRANT package. I got good financial aid from my university, but it was only half grants. The loan debt is stifling for the first 10 years after you graduate, which is the time in her career when she will be making the least amount of money. And that was for a loan debt significantly lower than it sounds like she would responsible for. When she's paying $500-$600/month for student loans, it's going to make it hard for her to even move out of your house! That's how a lot of young people get themselves into major credit card debt - it's the only way they can afford to live.

[LAblondeGPhi]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

As someone who attended a very expensive private university, if your daughter was sitting in front of me I would tell her to seriously reconsider it unless the school gives her a very generous GRANT package. I got good financial aid from my university, but it was only half grants. The loan debt is stifling for the first 10 years after you graduate, which is the time in her career when she will be making the least amount of money. And that was for a loan debt significantly lower than it sounds like she would responsible for. When she's paying $500-$600/month for student loans, it's going to make it hard for her to even move out of your house! That's how a lot of young people get themselves into major credit card debt - it's the only way they can afford to live.

YES. And also, just to throw a wrench into things. I think major universities do a terrible job of explaining to their students the financial ramifications of picking a major.

For example, at my school Economics majors usually went into accounting firms and started in the mid-$40K-$50K range. Engineering majors were going into positions in the $40K-$60K range. My brother is about to graduate with a Bachelor's in computer science, and has already accepted a position starting at $70K+.

If you're following a humanities track, expect to start in the low $30K's. All of my friends who graduated as English, History and Poli Sci majors were in that boat. I worked in politics for many years, and started at around $33K, and it would have been LESS had it been an entry-level job with a federal elected official rather than a city official (different pay scale that is somewhat averaged nationally, or something like that).

A family friend just graduated from an Ivy League school with honors with a somewhat obscure humanities major, and is making barely over $40K in a very expensive city.

I think this is a BIG something to keep in mind in terms of future finances.