<p>I have ruled my college decision down to two almost totally different schools. My father accepted a new job and the process of moving this summer, finishing school, and all that stuff has become overwhelming in the process of me deciding where I want to attend. The two schools that I am torn between are: The University of Tennessee at Martin(Where my family will be after the summer) and Ohio Wesleyan University(I am from Ohio and I applied here and got a great scholarship). I've done research on each school and have visited both! I actually visited OWU today and it was much more exciting than I had expected. After long discussions with my family and friends and thinking on my own time, I cannot decide where I want to go. I have the opportunity to get full paid tuition from UTM which from what I've seen and read, is a mediocre school. OWU on the other hand, is a much better school from what I've seen and read. All of OWU's programs are taught by professors who have a Phd in the field they are teaching, there are small classes(10:1 student faculty ratio), and it has a beautiful campus and a decent surrounding with things to do in Delaware, Ohio(Columbus nearby, where I've spent 12 years of life as well). UTM of course has its pros as well. My entire life I've been around my family (as have most human beings) and it would be nice to attend college and stay with them at home. My mother and father both lived off campus with their families. I honestly can't really see myself rooming with someone else. I am pretty reserved and like to do my own thing. That is one of the reasons I am leaning away from OWU. They offer so much for students to do with others and the community, and I've never partaken in anything like that in high school, and I don't think I'd making any major changes anytime soon. UTM is in Martin, Tennesee and it is very small and quiet, and OWU is in Delaware, Ohio and has a lot to do there and in other close cities. OWU offered me $100,000, so it would be 25k per year. I am going to be studying Computer Science and Computer Engineering. The OWU class size for my program is 8:1 so I would have almost total access to my professor when I need any assistance or insight with anything, which I think would be amazing! UTM on the other hand has a size of about 15:1. It just really comes down to if I want to be paying over $50,000 when I done with school with OWU. Do you guys think the education and opportunity is worth the money? Or is an education just an education? Thank you for your time.</p>
<p>I happen to live in TN and know UTM very well. Their engineering programs have always been good. Though you might have a more exciting campus life at OWU, I would recommend to do what is best for your futures if UTM will get you where you want to be with less debt, then you should take advantage of that? </p>
<p>Personally, I think that getting out of your comfort zone would be good for you. Eventually, you’ll have to interact with people in the world (besides teachers), and if not in college, then when?</p>
<p>I tend to be practical with college costs and consider what that $50K could buy in education. It could buy a significantly better college, but I am not certain that is the case in your field if UTM can offer you as good an education in that area ( I am not comparing colleges as a whole- I’m comparing relative strengths in your major). I am not familiar with the programs, but consider where graduates get jobs as one aspect.</p>
<p>What else could $50K buy? Study abroad ? Internship expenses in another area of the US? Yes, it is good to experience being away from home, but college is one way. Study abroad or a semester/internship is another. Which academic opportunities will enhance your education more? </p>
<p>There really isn’t a cut and dry answer to this choice, you just have to weight the pros and cons.</p>
<p>How much of that 50k difference would be in loans? Remember, that you can’t borrow more than the federal loan maximum ($5,500 freshman, $6,500 sophomore, $7,500 junior, and $7,500 senior year) without a co-signer and/or without asking that your parents take out PLUS loans.</p>
<p>If you’d need to push your parents into debt for your education, I think that you have your answer right there.</p>
<p>In addition to the tuition you’ll have to pay for room, board, books and expenses. That’s another $10K+/year. FAFSA only tells the school if you’re eligible for federal aid - Pell Grants and Direct Loans. You can get the Direct Loans ($6.5K for sophomore year) buy you don’t qualify for Pell. That’s all the help you get beyond what the college gave you. Anything more would have to be borrowed by your parents.</p>
<p>It depends on costs and accreditation.
For the overall experience, I’d go with OWU. It’s time for you to step outside your comfort zone and try to live without your family (within the helpful confines of a college campus - you wouldn’t be on your own). The education is overall better (more focused and curious students, etc - although for UTM this is mitigated due to your being in Engineering).
Is UTM’s engineering program accredited? I can see it’s accredited for general engineering and physics engineering, but I don’t see anything about CS or CSE.
50k however: is that what you’d pay out of pocket over 4 years, or is that the total loan amount you’d be expected to pay back ? Because if it’s 50k out of pocket for the total of 4 years, compared to most students, it’s a bargain. But if it’s 50k in loans after your out of pocket costs then it’s way too much.</p>
<p>You need to nail down the exact cost and how much would be loans. This is too loosy goosy. Are you saying your parents don’t have any money for your college and it is all loans except your grant? I don’t think people should borrow crazy amounts for college but a reasonable amount for a good opportunity is another thing.</p>
<p>Going away to college would be an enormous period of exploration, growth and maturity for you and it is a little funny you wouldn’t be excited for that if you can swing it. You can have summer and the long winter break home. And skype and tell them all about it in between.</p>
<p>The UTM Department of Engineering offers a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Degree, with concentrations in: Civil, Electrical, Industrial, and Mechanical. One would graduate with a BS in Engineering (the one ABET accredited program) but with concentrations in one of these 4 fields. UTM doesn’t have a “Computer Engineering” program, but electrical engineers also work in areas of computer design and programming.</p>
<p>OWU doesn’t offer a degree in engineering. They do have a pre-engineering path within the Physics department, and graduates (Physics) can go on to get a masters in engineering at another school. </p>
<p>Either school is likely fine for CS, but if you want a BS in engineering, it’s only offered at UTM. If you go to OWU for “engineering” you need to think about following up your BS in physics with a master’s program (maybe at UT-Knoxville, which does offer several master’s programs in engineering, including computer; and it would be in-state for fees).</p>
<p>First of all, can you afford OW? You are only going to be able to borrow $5500 in your own name and that’s if OW hasn’t already bundled that into their financial aid package/ Are you a tradiitonal straight out of high school, dependent (under age 24) student? Why are you making this decision right now after the May1 deadline? Also has Gator points out, you don’t really have an engineering alternative at OW. It will take a lot more work, money and time to get that if you go there. </p>
<p>If you and your family can comfortably handle the costs of OW, INCLUDING the payback of the loans, yes, go there. I’ve urged my kids to take their picks (within a certain dollar amount) and if they want to take out the loans to pay for them, it’s fine with me But…, we can pay a certain amount, have some leeway and we’ll also be able to pick up the slack somewhat when we get out If we were in less solid financial situations, I would tell them unequivocally NOT to take out loans. It’s been a saving grace for my kids NOT to have loans despite being in our situation where we could and would assist them with them. So without knowing your whole situation, it’s difficult to say. </p>
<p>Also, I am wondering about UTM. Are you sure that you will actually get full tuition paid for at UTM? Need to double check on this. Free tuition is hard to pass up, but make sure that it is true.</p>