I know someone already made a post similar to this, but I feel like my situation is a little different.
I'm from Maryland, and I got accepted into VT. It was my first choice and dream school, so I was really excited to go. Then the financial burden started to set in.
I couldn't get a dorm, so now I'd have to rent an apartment and find roommates my freshman year, which honestly sounds kind of crazy. On top of that, taking on around $50k in debt is also absurd, especially since I'm not really receiving financial help from my family. We're lower-middle class and are working to improve our situation as we speak.
I'm going to VT for Computer Engineering, but I know UMD also has an amazing CompE program. It would be a lot cheaper for me since I'd qualify for in-state tuition and I've also received scholarships here in Maryland.
I guess I'm just looking for honest opinions from people who've been in a similar situation. Is Virginia Tech actually worth the extra cost, or would you choose MC -> UMD if you were in my position? Do you think the experience, networking, and engineering program make up for the price difference?
I'm still going to talk everything over with my family before making any decisions, but I'd really appreciate hearing your experiences and opinions.
Thank you in advance, and God bless!