- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Winter Olympics
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
re: College Choices: LSU vs Student Debt
Posted on 4/12/18 at 9:53 am to Majestikhobo
Posted on 4/12/18 at 9:53 am to Majestikhobo
Don't most architects typically have to go to grad school?
I would probably go to LSU knowing that I am staring at another $150k in grad school.
Now if you were going to major in an engineering discipline I would tell you to go to GT and suck up the debt.
I would probably go to LSU knowing that I am staring at another $150k in grad school.
Now if you were going to major in an engineering discipline I would tell you to go to GT and suck up the debt.
1
Posted on 4/12/18 at 9:56 am to ColdDuck
quote:
ColdDuck
That's just what you can borrow through the government now correct? There are still other institutions that you can obtain student loan money should you need more is my understanding.
There's no way that $9500 is the total amount you can borrow. That would eliminate many peoples opportunity to attend college. That's not even going to pay tuition at most schools anymore.
Posted on 4/12/18 at 9:59 am to Mingo Was His NameO
That is all the STUDENT can borrow from the government. The parents would have to cosign and take out a Plus Loan.
LINK
If you are a parent of a dependent undergraduate student:
The remainder of your child’s college costs that are not covered by other financial aid. Note: A credit check is required for a parent loan (called a PLUS loan).
LINK
If you are a parent of a dependent undergraduate student:
The remainder of your child’s college costs that are not covered by other financial aid. Note: A credit check is required for a parent loan (called a PLUS loan).
Posted on 4/12/18 at 10:05 am to Mingo Was His NameO
And it is $5500 not $9500. That was for independent students (over 24, veteran, etc).
So for 35K per year tuition, ole boy is going to have to get private loans or plus loan for 29,500 for his freshman year. Unless his family is poor, then he gets some extra aid.
So just because little Johnny's Dad is doing pretty well, he sends his kid off to school on his own. Little Johnny ends up with 100K in debt but little Jimmy whose dad is a crack head gets go to school for free with no debt.
So for 35K per year tuition, ole boy is going to have to get private loans or plus loan for 29,500 for his freshman year. Unless his family is poor, then he gets some extra aid.
So just because little Johnny's Dad is doing pretty well, he sends his kid off to school on his own. Little Johnny ends up with 100K in debt but little Jimmy whose dad is a crack head gets go to school for free with no debt.
This post was edited on 4/12/18 at 10:10 am
Posted on 4/12/18 at 10:16 am to hiltacular
quote:
Don't most architects typically have to go to grad school?
No actually it's the opposite. However, it is a 5 year program.
Posted on 4/12/18 at 10:18 am to ColdDuck
quote:
take out a Plus Loan.
would advise against this.
if you're going to need to take out more, i would use a lender like sallie mae. the plus loan is a fixed 7% interest rate plus a ~4% loan fee.
with sallie mae, you can refinance one graduated at a much better rate.
Posted on 4/12/18 at 10:19 am to Majestikhobo
I would assume you would have to go to graduate school to advance in your field, I would save debt for a top tier grad program.
Also where do you want to live? You will need to do internships and make contacts I imagine. If you take on debt at other schools just to come back south to LA or Texas then it would be better to go to LSU and make contacts down here
Also where do you want to live? You will need to do internships and make contacts I imagine. If you take on debt at other schools just to come back south to LA or Texas then it would be better to go to LSU and make contacts down here
Posted on 4/12/18 at 10:25 am to Cdawg
quote:
No actually it's the opposite. However, it is a 5 year program.
I know 3 people who were architecture majors at GT and all 3 went to grad school
no idea if that is normal or not but that is my sample size
Posted on 4/12/18 at 10:40 am to Majestikhobo
Don’t take on student debt if you don’t have to. The return is not worth it for undergrad.
These best way to get ROI on a degree (if degree is worth a shite, seems by your choices you are considering engineering, good choice) is to go to school near where you want to work. UNO is actually well respected in Nola because a ton of people went there too.
I once listened to a coworker babble on about how much superior Tulane was to LSU for several minutes until I pointed out to her we were in the same room, and held the exact same position.
These best way to get ROI on a degree (if degree is worth a shite, seems by your choices you are considering engineering, good choice) is to go to school near where you want to work. UNO is actually well respected in Nola because a ton of people went there too.
I once listened to a coworker babble on about how much superior Tulane was to LSU for several minutes until I pointed out to her we were in the same room, and held the exact same position.
Posted on 4/12/18 at 10:49 am to Majestikhobo
quote:
Virginia Tech would leave me with approximately 30k of loans per year and Georgia Tech would leave me with almost 35k of loans per year. I
Get a job waiting tables or bartending, cash tips and can make more money than any other job a college kid can get.
You can EASILY make 12-15k a year. Also you can secure much cheaper housing than what the university advertises.
Whats the actual tuition difference?
What are you post-graduate plans?
Posted on 4/12/18 at 11:19 am to Majestikhobo
Definitely go to LSU (I did not Bc of a scholarship, but my kids will certainly go there). I’m extremely impressed with your insight/fear of student loans. You’ll regret your decision to saddle yourself with loans. I know doctors who went to Tulane Med School instead of LSU who are saddled by loans.
Posted on 4/12/18 at 11:22 am to Majestikhobo
quote:
I'm leaning more towards LSU too because six-figure loans are intimidating. My plan is that if I attend LSU for undergrad, I'll try to get into a top grad school later on, although grad school won't be necessary since I'm getting a B. Arch degree instead of a regular 4 year undergrad degree.
Friend of mine went this route. LSU UG in Architecture for little to no out of pocket cost. Ivy League graduate degree for way less than $150k you're referencing.
Another thing to think about is where you want to work after graduation. If you're going to stay in Louisiana or nearby, that VT or GT degree (despite it's ranking) isn't going to matter as much to a firm in the Gulf Coast that's full of LSU grads, IMO.
Posted on 4/12/18 at 11:28 am to Majestikhobo
quote:
so I can actually waive all the required gen ed courses for the first two years.
Then, will it truly take 5 years for you to graduate then?
How about the non-financial considerations? How do you feel about Blacksburg or Atlanta versus BR? Size of classes? Greek life? Where did you grow up / breaking out of the nest that is BR?
There is a lot more to this decision than purely financial cost and ranking of the program. College is a very special time for personal growth, so I would strongly consider the qualitative factors at play.
Also, your interests may change so what school gives you flexibility to major in something else that you may prefer?
$100K+ is a lot of undergraduate debt but it also isn't the end of the world. I have never regretted money spent on my education and it has opened every door in my professional life. I recently finished paying for a six figure graduate degree and have zero regrets - education is about the long-game. It is an investment in yourself.
Posted on 4/12/18 at 12:06 pm to lynxcat
If you can get an undergrad degree for free, you do that.....I think that’s some Dave Ramsey shite.....
Posted on 4/12/18 at 12:22 pm to Majestikhobo
If you want to be an engineer, then go to Georgia Tech. I would not take on the debt to go into architecture.
Almost as importantly, as a GT alum it is worth noting that there are no girls there
Almost as importantly, as a GT alum it is worth noting that there are no girls there
Posted on 4/12/18 at 12:23 pm to Majestikhobo
quote:
I took a bunch of AP courses, and I pretty much aced all of them, so I can actually waive all the required gen ed courses for the first two years. I don't really know how much a course costs though, and even if I can scrape through the first two years, the last three years will be a financial struggle.
LSU will give you significantly more credit for AP scores than a place like GT
Posted on 4/12/18 at 12:35 pm to Majestikhobo
Avoid the debt. Education is what you put into it.
Posted on 4/12/18 at 1:12 pm to The Easter Bunny
quote:
Almost as importantly, as a GT alum it is worth noting that there are no girls there
This is the kind of thing that I'm calling for him to consider. GT is like 70-80% dudes...
Posted on 4/12/18 at 1:30 pm to lynxcat
quote:
$100K+ is a lot of undergraduate debt but it also isn't the end of the world. I have never regretted money spent on my education and it has opened every door in my professional life. I recently finished paying for a six figure graduate degree and have zero regrets - education is about the long-game. It is an investment in yourself.
I agree with this statement and why i wanted to know his post-graduate plans. Architecture is very competitive from what I understand and if you just plan on opening up your own firm in S. LA. then go to LSU, if you want a shot a big firms, find out where they recruit.
I don't my 100k in grad school debt but I know what i wanted to do. I don't want a kid to be saddled with 100k in debt and not want to do architecture. Loses flexibility.
Posted on 4/12/18 at 2:59 pm to Majestikhobo
First of do not let your friends persuade you based on their perception of the school you go to. At the end of the day they will not be paying back your student loan. Accumulating that amount of debt for a degree that will not guarantee a 6 figure salary out of school is not a very good ROI. Also, the architecture field is very up and down and goes the way the economy does. My uncle who has decades of experience as a architect has had trouble keeping a job due to the market. Engineer on the other hand is a very good profession good pay off and fairly recession proof depending on your industry. Good luck young buck 
Page 2 of 4
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News