In case you don't get the title, I'm between a rock and a hard place right now. Just thought I would get some opinions.

Here's the skinny: My mom just got a job at the University of Illinois. I live about 10 minutes from campus and am a big fan of the sports teams.
Being as my mother is now under the employ of the University, any children are spouse can attend the University for half the cost of tuition. That means that instead of paying 19.5k a year I would only have to pay $9750 for admission.

My predicament is this: I'm attending a school that is an hour and a half away from my home (and no complaints in that respect) on a beautiful campus with roughly 5000 students. It's a Christian University (Olivet Nazarene University) where I have great friends my girlfriend attends there, people that know my family are on the staff and the University President plays frisbee with us. However, being a private University, it's a 21k a year tuition fee. I'm footing good sized loans just to attend because my family makes just enough for me to get nothing from the United States Government in terms of aid.
After this fall and spring semester, I will most likely have the right grades to get me into the University of Illinois (if I don't have them already).

What do I do? I don't much like the enormous size of the U of I campus, but realize it would just be something to get used to and I've got more opportunities earlier on at my current school. But at the same time, I would be paying CONSIDERABLY less for school and attending a highly accredited institution.

My brain hurts from thinking on this. What do you guys think?

Well well well...you just gave your girl a promise ring. But i know this would help your parents out an awful lot to. You visit her up there every weekend anyway, so it's not like it would be any different, i would do what would make more sense down the road for you. Really your biggest choices are between money and your g/f. I can't help you with that, but i know what your dad would say.

Go to U of I!

Your crazy not to.

A large campus isn't that big a deal, At Auckland there were just over 26,000 students when I was there, but you never really ever see that many people.
At anyone time I suppose only a third of them were actualy on campus at once.


You will also learn more than just an acidemic education, you will be exposed to more differnt types of people than you though could exist, and will learn things about society and working with people that will prove invaluable in later life.

Its your future, dont limit your academic future because of financial interests.If you are happy where you are, stay there. If you only want to stay cuz of your girl, and U of I has what you want/need, then I'd say go there.

U OF I, U OF I, U OF I!!!!!!!!!!!!! "ILL" "INI" DUDE you must go to U OF I. Best school ever. Youll have the most freakin fun there. Ive been to a few classes, they are freakin cool as hell, as are the instructors. Plus you would be one more person to visit down there. I'd have you, Josh, Al, and Therese. DO IT!!!!!! You and Tania could make it work and you know it.

26000? Pssh...we're up 45000! Go to freakin' U of I. What a college! If I got that chance to go to Miami I would, but it's way too much. It also depends on your major, but I'm sure U of I has it and has a good dept.

But Kstm is right, if you like it where you are stay. Simple compare and contrast.

Go with what will benefit you most.

Or just go fuckit, deep end here I come, and dive into something new.

I left a Private high school to attend a public high school, mainly because the public one was closer. Plus we saved about $3000 a year on school fees (and the private school didn't even have girls, which was also a main reason I changed)


*Off topic* Just read your sig, and you aren't the only Jon on the forums, I have no 'H' in my name either.

Yeah i asked your dad where he would rather go at work this morning...

"gee that's a tough one"


:lol:

From experience, I'd say try not to borrow too much if not necessary because it really sucks having that bill to pay back each month after you do finish school. Also, like others said, go where you feel you'll benefit the most. Personally, when I attended smaller colleges I felt rather limited and when I went to a big university it seemed that there were more opportunities, including mulitple degrees, hot girls, big sports scene (if you're into that), SCCA competitions right on campus, etc. GL

U of I...you gotta do it!!!

It's easy to borrow, hard to pay back. When you graduate, you'll be looking at $10,000 for each semester you didn't go to UofI.

Get your girlfriend to transfer, or arrange your schedule so you have Wednesdays off.....

~$5k a year is a steal.....go for it!

Edit: Why would half of your UofI tuition be $9750? Average per semester tuition at UofI is about 5k

:1: For U of I.

And why not just marry the chick and get her half tuition too.

( That way when she gets half your stuff in the divorce it'll be like an even swap...J/K)

Well I know why you wouldn't want to leave the present post secondary institution, obviously because of the significant other. Now your thinking that if you got o U of I, then seeing eachother would now become a task wheras before, when attending the same school, it was a given. You get to attend a good college, pay considerably less for tution which is always a good thing and you can still keep the relationship with the current girlfriend.
Think of it liek this, say you two were to continue seeing eachother after graduation, and had your own seperate careers, then having alone time with eachother will be something you both might have to fit in your busy scheduals...you can get an early start on this type of life and see if it works for the both of you.

All in all, I say go to U of I.

~$5k a year is a steal.....go for it!

Edit: Why would half of your UofI tuition be $9750? Average per semester tuition at UofI is about 5k

5 grand a year average!?!?!?!?!?!!?! What are ya smokin man haha. U of I is expensive as hell for a public school. Its one of the best schools for education too, so Swigz you know youd be getting a better education whether you want to admit it or not.

Bigger schools just can be intimating to start i've never heard anyone who went in worried to one not leave happy as hell.

my current school has around 10K people I talk to 2 at the most U of I looks to be a good school and i can't comment on how your current one is so i dunno if its better or not but i'd say as long as your learning wouldn't suffer i'd transfer