Picking a school

The first school I was accepted to is small, 2,000 students. It’s a short train ride into a city I enjoy. A great study abroad program. And I received an amazing scholarship along with financial aid that would leave me with very little student debt post graduation. However, I worry that because the school is not a top program for my major, not really known for my major at all, that I’ll be missing out on resources or opportunities that would have been available to me at another school.

I was accepted to another school. A medium sized school in a city I enjoy, a city known for opportunities in my intended field. The school is extremely well regarded for my major, a top program. And is an amazing research school. However, the price is much higher, and I will end up with significantly more student debt than I would at the first school.

I know there have been dozens of posts like this one from students in a similar position. I know that I should go to the school offering me more money. This isn’t the last time I’ll be applying to schools, I need to consider my future, especially because I hope to apply to PhD programs straight away from undergraduate. I think I just need someone to tell me I’m doing the right or the wrong thing. The decision feels so big right now. And I worry I’m missing out by not attending the second school, that I’ll regret it one day.