How Do I Choose The "Right" School?

[The Nerd]

Hello, I am looking for some advice about how to make a good decision! I've been lucky and accepted into some great schools, but now I am having a lot of trouble figuring out how to choose and it is STRESSING me out. I tried to break down my priorities but it is still really difficult.

Do I just choose the most inexpensive school post scholarship offers? The school with the best certificate/concentration program for my interests? Or the one that will open the most "doors" so I have flexibility in my future and career? How is everyone else prioritizing??? Also, any advice for how people finance their education?!?! 

And any insight/advice that people have in terms of these schools' Master of Social Work program would be very appreciated:

Columbia University

University of Chicago

Rutgers University

Case Western

 

Thanks!!!

Edited January 21, 2016 by The Nerd
Clarify for Masters Program only

[MarkMc]

You've listed the criteria that most people would consider when making a decision.  Let's take it step by step.

Cost - you don't want to buried under a mountain of debt.  Are you being covered anywhere?  Each of the Universities you list are expensive (With Rutgers possibly being the least expensive).  What's your end game with education?  Do you want to teach?  Work in administration?  Work in non-profit?  Work in public?  I see that you're looking at MSW so you  may be facing lower salaries.  Keep in mind that many positions related to this type of job will offer loan forgiveness.  Also, if you set your loans (Stafford) to income dependent they'll always be based on your income and they are forgiven once they pass the maximum amortization.  You don't want to go to the least expensive program and be miserable or go to the most expensive and be student loan poor.  Figure out what a realistic number is coming in and going out.  What can you afford?  What's your debt situation?  You may have to rule out some programs based on cost (or may be not). 

Doors - You want to have options.  You want to be able to find work that you find fulfilling and meaningful.  This may be a variety of types of positions.  You'll need to understand this.  What good is building a foundation to a house that can never be completed?  You'll feel enriched, but maybe slightly empty. 

Financing - I'm not sure what your debt situation is, but if you've been conservative until this point you should be able to get Stafford loans that will carry you.  They're subject to more requirements so it should help prevent breaking the bank (or bankrupting yourself).

My decision process - I only looked at programs that I could cover out of pocket.  I didn't want to assume anymore debt.  I applied to one highly ranked school (because they sent a free application).  I didn't even consider that type of program, so I did find another that was affordable and offered even more flexibility.  So I paired down based on cost.  With my plan, should I get in. I can afford to pay for my Doctorate and payoff all of my student loan debt before I graduate.  Then I started looking at programs that were a good fit and offered the type of enrichment that I found ideal.  Keep in mind I'm not considering and immediate move to academia (other than continuing to teach part time) so I wanted something that would broaden both my professional and academic horizons.

[sunnyskies13]

-Accredited program so you will qualify for getting your license

-Amount of debt you are willing to be in. Need to be realistic, MSW degrees can make good money, but usually it is average income

-Pay attention to programs offered and what type of work you want to do. You don't want to end up in a policy-focused program if you want to work with kids for example.

[sunnyskies13]

In regards to financing education, I took out loans for the first year. There are numerous grants you can apply for, I am applying for one that would cover my entire second year tuition. These grants include CPS or mental health work. Basically if you got the grant relating to CPS, you would study child welfare and promise to work a 1-2 years in a child welfare agency immediately after graduation. I'm sure there are others like this, research a little bit on Mental Health Initiative or CALSWEC and you'll get a better idea.

Also, there is a program that my past co-workers have done where if you work in the nonprofit sector for 10 years and make consistent loan payments during that time, the remainder of your federal loans will be forgiven after those 10 years. Research: Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

[The Nerd]

Thanks all! Very helpful advice, really. Now I just need to figure out the best way to be a full-time student while paying bills/other expenses. Blech 

[tudor3x8]

Any opinions on taking part-time classes while working full-time to pay off debt? I've applied for full-time, but have considered living with relatives/being in school part-time to pay off debt. I've heard from others that this isn't suggested because you won't be close to your cohort/same amount of debt in the end/get it over with. Any thoughts?

[sunnyskies13]

5 hours ago, tudor3x8 said:

Any opinions on taking part-time classes while working full-time to pay off debt? I've applied for full-time, but have considered living with relatives/being in school part-time to pay off debt. I've heard from others that this isn't suggested because you won't be close to your cohort/same amount of debt in the end/get it over with. Any thoughts?

This is just personal experience from people currently in my program...

A lot of classmates who were working full-time or even part-time are no longer working due to the academic and field placement commitment of grad school. I don't interact much with people in the part-time program, I talked to one woman who had to cut back her hours at work from full-time to part-time. 

[sunnyskies13]

17 hours ago, The Nerd said:

Thanks all! Very helpful advice, really. Now I just need to figure out the best way to be a full-time student while paying bills/other expenses. Blech 

I'm still figuring it out. Budgeting and cutting back on wants vs. needs. Just keep telling yourself it's just for a couple years. Good news is as a student you qualify for free to low-cost health insurance coverage under Affordable Care Act "Obamacare". 

[TherapistyChristy]

This was a hard decision for me as well... I got into Case Western, Simmons, Widener, and some other expensive programs. I also got into Western New Mexico and ASU, which are must less expensive programs. I ended up choosing Arizona State because it is full time, good price, good program, and allowed me to start in January, which will mean I graduate faster. I initially wanted a clinical program, but decided to go for generalist since my 1st masters is clinical.

Follow your heart... Weigh the pros and cons. When I did research on schools like Case Western, I learned that the programs are high ranking for reasons that do not concern quality of program or selectivity standards of the program.