Sounds like Hopkins is really out of the picture.
So between Maryland and Harvard, it’s a no brainer. Look, Maryland might be a good school and all, but it’s not Harvard. At Harvard, his classmates will be future Senators, CEOs, and Supreme Court Justices. At Maryland, his classmates will be future middle managers.
It’s an absolute no brainer. Harvard. Yes, it costs some money, but this is why you saved.
“Sounds like Hopkins is really out of the picture.”
Probably. Disappointing. It's the best combination of engineering and classics, and he really loves the campus, the vibe, etc. But nearly a hundred grand is out of the question when free is available, and he can do Harvard for 2/3 the price.
“So between Maryland and Harvard, it’s a no brainer. Look, Maryland might be a good school and all, but it’s not Harvard. At Harvard, his classmates will be future Senators, CEOs, and Supreme Court Justices. At Maryland, his classmates will be future middle managers.”
That's one side, and it carries a lot of water. Swimming pools-full.
“It’s an absolute no brainer. Harvard. Yes, it costs some money, but this is why you saved.”
To maximize financial aid packages, I intentionally put all my savings over the years into retirement accounts, which are not counted when looking at college financed. Which has had the desired effect of maximizing financial aid.
But which means that I have to fund this all from current income, loans, or dipping into retirement accounts.
However, if I gotta borrow a chunk of $65K for my kid to graduate from Harvard - if that's what he wants - then that's what I'll do.
There are some nice advantages popping up at Maryland though. He's been offered a scholarship that is offered at about two dozen leading schools - including Harvard - and the goal of the scholarship's sponsor is to encourage networking between these “best and brightest of the best and brightest” around the country. He'd be introduced and given opportunities to network with the very most top students from places like CalTech, Georgia Tech, Penn... and... HARVARD.
So, at least for us, it's not quite a no-brainer.
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