I know this is going to sound like "oh, poor, me" and I don't want it to. I am not asking for sympathy. But the situation is that I "made" my son apply to Columbia because of the Columbia /Juilliard program (he is a very good jazzer). He thought his chances were zip. Well, he got accepted and there are no merit awards and apparently, we make just enough money so that we are not eligible for financial need-based aid. In the meantime, he's also gotten into other good schools with music dual degree programs (Oberlin, U Mich, Tufts/New England Conservatory), some with merit awards. But I think he is so surprised that he got into Columbia that he now really wants to go there. He feels like Columbia is the kind of college where if you get in, you go. He wants to take out as much in student loans as it will take rather than going to a less expensive school. I am feeling extremely stressed by the whole thing. Sure - I would love for him to go to Columbia. It's in NYC where anyone who wants to play jazz eventually needs to go (or so they say) and he is extremely smart and wants to study other things besides just music. But is it really worth it?!? Even going to a 5 year dual degree program elsewhere would be far less than 4 years at Columbia. Would love to hear input. And, again - I know this is a good situation to be in and I'm not asking for any sympathy, but it is causing me a lot of stress and sleeplessness. I just want some perspective.
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