<p>Background. I won't be using the U's names for the sake of fairness.
I was accepted to X university which is an out of state public school where my parents pay 40,000 (no scholarship/grants). I visited in the summer and I absolutely fell in LOVE! The size of the school, the setting around the school, the opportunities at the school, the music and sports. However, although the major I want to pursue is highly regarded at this U one of the best in the nation, only a small percentage of students get in when they apply (25% out of 400 apply each year along with a avg. pre-req GPA of 3.7 or A-). This is really the only thing hindering me from going to this school and my parents cannot afford a 5th year. In essence, this is really my ABSOLUTE dream school.</p>
<p>I was accepted to Y university which is an instate public school be paying around 28,000. Not really my setting but my major is guaranteed. The cheaper option and only a few hours away. But this is a highly regarded school in general but X has the "better" program for my major. I visited and I wasn't wowed. </p>
<p>So the problem is where do I go. The place where my heart was set from the beginning but not being guaranteed my choice of major (and pay more) or go to a school that was "eh" to me but had my major all set in stone. </p>
<p>Also dont try to find out which Uni's im talking about through my profile I really want an unbiased view because I have getting mixed reviews from family and friends and I am torn between these two choices.
On a final note, if I decide that my major choice isnt for me I would go for business and X has a business school while Y only has econ. (I would prefer the B-school)</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>I looked at your posts to see what X and Y schools are. Both your primary major and your backup majors are listed as “competitive admission” at school X, and your primary major is regarded as being fiercely competitive. Unless your backup major at school X is one where the admission requirements are not particularly onerous (e.g. math with a 2.20 or 2.50 GPA in prerequisites needed for admission), it is a huge risk to go there at the higher price (especially since it is at the absolute limit of affordability).</p>
<p>School Y is still very respectable in your intended major, and is drivable from a major concentration of employers for graduates in your intended major.</p>
<p>I’d go to school Y and use the difference in cost for some really nice trips, experiences, or to set me up in life after graduation.</p>
<p>This assumes your parents are actually paying for the school. If they were taking loans instead, I’d DEFINITELY choose school Y.</p>
<p>Many, many, many students who end up at their 2nd choice school end up liking it - esp if they go with a good attitude. School Y will allow you your major of choice and it’s less costly. That appears to be a win-win.</p>
<p>I’d pick school Y. If you face stiff competition to get into either of your preferred majors at school X, it isn’t a good bet, especially if the school was reachy for you in the first place. Once in, you would probably be competing again to get decent grades and recommendations. The fact that it is substantially more expensive is also a major factor.</p>
<p>If there were a huge gap in quality between the two, it would be another matter, but it would appear that there is not.</p>
<p>You go to college for an education. Although important, the social scene is secondary. If you weren’t admitted to the educational program you want and it’s very risky to get in, go with another school that will educate you in the area you’re interested in. In your case that means school Y.</p>
<p>Go in with an open mind, and you might be pleasantly surprised. I know a couple of people who somewhat reluctantly chose school Y (yes I looked at your profile) and ended up wowed by its academic offerings and quality of courses.</p>
<p>How is this a hard decision? </p>
<p>3 out of every 4 kids who attend X don’t get into the major that you want. You are a sure thing for the major at Y. </p>
<p>Am I missing something here?</p>
<p>Seems like it would only be a big dilemma if X were the significantly less expensive school and Y were the one that stretched the budget to the limit.</p>
<p>I would go to school Y. If you do, embrace it. Don’t look back and think what if.</p>