Dream school or in-state tuition?

[jane814]

I am trying to decide between my dream school, which is out-of-state, and an in-state school! I want to go to my dream school so badly, but the in-state school would be so much cheaper. Any input on what I should do? Can I justify going to my top school when it would cost so much more? 

[Hannah7]

1 hour ago, jane814 said:

I am trying to decide between my dream school, which is out-of-state, and an in-state school! I want to go to my dream school so badly, but the in-state school would be so much cheaper. Any input on what I should do? Can I justify going to my top school when it would cost so much more? 

I think it all depends on your financial situation. I would give anything to go to my dream school (if I got in) and am willing to take out loans in order to pay. I'm in a decent financial situation (don't have any loans from undergraduate, parents are willing to contribute to a portion of my living expenses), but if I was already drowning in debt and had no help from my parents I don't think I would be so eager to pay for my dream school. There is also a chance that you will get money through FAFSA, the school, etc. so hopefully all that is sorted out before you have to make a decision. My dream school has a lot more to offer me than my state schools do, so that plays a big role in my decision as well. It's all relative, but I would take a close look at your finances and also weigh the positives and negatives of each school (curriculum, externships, location, etc.)

[jpiccolo]

Will your job prospects be better with the dream school? Better externship opportunities? Research? If not, it's hard to justify. I had schools I wanted to go to more but the school I picked was just as good and my debt is way less. Most jobs probably won't care where you went to school. 

[jane814]

Thankfully I do not have any debt right now! My dream school has slightly better opportunities, and it is in the area of US that I want to live long-term. I could specialize in my area of interest at my dream school, which is a huge plus. And I’ve wanted to go there for so long! But the in-state school is not ranked too much lower and would also offer me a lot of great opportunities... I’m just so torn! 

 

I’m not sure if my job prospects would be better with one... I think my dream school is more respected in its area (which I want to live at some point in my life anyway), and it might be easier to do a CFY or job around there if I went to my dream school. But I don’t really know for sure.

[MarSLP2019]

3 hours ago, jane814 said:

Thankfully I do not have any debt right now! My dream school has slightly better opportunities, and it is in the area of US that I want to live long-term. I could specialize in my area of interest at my dream school, which is a huge plus. And I’ve wanted to go there for so long! But the in-state school is not ranked too much lower and would also offer me a lot of great opportunities... I’m just so torn! 

 

I’m not sure if my job prospects would be better with one... I think my dream school is more respected in its area (which I want to live at some point in my life anyway), and it might be easier to do a CFY or job around there if I went to my dream school. But I don’t really know for sure.

Contact your dream school and find out what their internship process is like. If a lot of their students return home for their internship, it wouldn't be difficult to find an internship there if you still stayed at your in-state school. Can you do an internship in that city if you stay at your in-state school? My school actually prefers we return home for our internship or look elsewhere than where we go to school because our city can't take all of our grad students.

Job sites honestly won't care as long as you went to an accredited program. Your program will be what you make of it, advocate for yourself no matter where you go!

What is your area of interest?

[CBG321]

How much is your dream school?  If it's 70K that seems too much even for good opportunities.  If it's say 30k instead of 20k and you're comfortable with that amount of debt plus living expenses it really depends where you feel will better prepare you for a job!