Hi everyone, how are you doing?
I am a high school senior who is stressing about college. I have applied to many schools, and I am down to the final four that have admitted me and I would want to go to. I have several questions that I need advice about today.
I am from NY and applied to BSC in Birmingham, Alabama. I have family there. This was originally my top choice because I was in the running for a full ride scholarship. Today I found out that I will not be getting this scholarship and this makes it really hard for me to go there because of how expensive it would be. I was wondering if I should even consider it anymore? I just can’t stomach paying so much when there are more affordable options up north even if I did want to be closer to my family down there.
The other three schools are Hartwick College, University at Albany, and Hudson Valley Community College. Hartwick is a very nice school that is offering me a lot of aid but I still can’t stomach paying thousands of dollars and going into a lot of debt when I’m not even sure what I want to do. UAlbany is close by, and it is a very good school. I have been admitted into their honors program. The problem with UAlbany for me is how big it is and how I feel I would get “lost in the system”- something that I don’t think is best for me. HVCC is also a really good option, for a couple of reasons. The most important reason is that I was accepted into their honors program. This means that I get a scholarship for 75% of the tuition, and I have a pell grant so I would be going for free. The problems with HVCC are 1) I live about 30 minutes away, so I would have to find a way to get there every day unless I got an apartment, 2) I don’t know what my car situation is going to be and 3) what will I do when it’s time to transfer. These are all really big questions that I have to consider with HVCC, because at least with Hartwick and UAlbany I could live on campus. With HVCC I’d either have to commute 30 minutes every day or find a way to get an apartment. At least I wouldn’t have to worry about my tuition though.
I have a lot of choices I have to make, and I don’t know which is the best option. If somebody could give me any advice that would be great because I really don’t know what to do right now. Anyway, that is my story. thank you for reading.
I believe that UAlbany would be my choice. It is bigger but the time, stress and energy you save
—commuting every day to the CC
— the cost of a car and gas
— the apartment costs, food etc
Your energy could be channeled in a meaningful way to become perfectly familiar with the “ins and outs” of UA. And it’s not UCF, OSU or ASU big. And thousand of kids successfully navigate those waters each year.
The cost is right. The honors program is great. And the studying and performance will be better for you on the whole. You will have access to libraries and labs day and night right outside your dorm.
Walking home after class, taking a nap because you studied late, grabbing lunch that’s paid for and then returning to study - all within a walk of your dorm will be an example of your day living on campus. Compare to the alternatives you suggest.
Also if you want to transfer, you will be in position of moving to a better situation or staying put where you are at UA. At CC you have another big set of issues in two years and no option of continuing.
The vast majority of people who choose a school, ultimately end up staying and being really happy with the choice.
Sorry for the disappointment about the scholarship at BSC.
If you do decide to go the community college route, is there a particular reason to choose Hudson Valley, or is it just the closest one to home? There are a fair number of CC’s in NY that have on-campus housing; perhaps there is one that would give you the more intimate, residential experience you would prefer, while also offering an honors program comparable to HVCC’s? I understand that living at home is cheaper, but having a car and insuring a young driver are expensive too, so you have to figure that into the comparison. (Plus the safety issues inherent in being on the road an hour+/day, especially given the fatigue that’s almost universal among college students… and the activities and experiences you’d be forfeiting by commuting.)
My sense is that Honors at Albany would go a long way toward mitigating the “too big” problem that you’re worried about. (Not to mention that Albany’s undergrad enrollment of around 13,500 is really not that huge as universities go.) Honors housing would be available to you all four years. Honors has its own orientation in addition to the University’s. I think you would find community there that would make the size feel manageable.
As to the issue of not knowing what you want to do… I do understand what you’re saying about being hesitant to commit to a four-year university without having a clear goal in mind. However, the other edge of that sword is that community colleges, by nature, do not have course offerings as broad as four-year U’s. You might end up taking classes at Albany that would inspire you and help bring your path into focus, on topics that aren’t even taught at community college. (Both the small Honors-only seminars that you’d be eligible for, and other offerings from throughout the University.) You could have opportunities get involved in research that would inform your interests and goals - opportunities that wouldn’t be available at a CC. And you would be building momentum, in terms of your support systems and mentoring structures, that could carry through the whole four years, rather than having to transfer and make another adjustment.
There are definitely valid arguments in both directions. Personally I think I would lean toward a four-year experience unless the cost difference were really prohibitive. Based on what you’ve said here, I see Albany as the front-runner. (Though I’ll admit don’t really know Hartick well enough to weigh its strengths against Albany Honors, nor am I entirely clear on the cost differences.)
Are you going to attend accepted students’ events at Albany and/or Hartwick? These could help you to get perspective as well.
I am very familiar with all three of your NY choices.
First - HVCC. There is a brand new apartment complex next to the school called “college suites.” I don’t know anything about it but if you don’t want to commute, it would be worth checking out. Please be sure to check into the safety of the building/living. I wonder about that. I also imagine it is expensive but I have no idea. Otherwise, you will have to determine if you will have a car before you can consider HVCC. HVCC is one of the best community colleges in the country. You can’t go wrong with it as a choice. However, I always advise students to go there with a plan meaning a four year plan. Where will I be going after HVCC? They have many direct transfer programs. Is there one for you? Many students go there “to get their gen eds.” or “to get started” but end up not transferring all of their credits because what they took at HVCC did not align with where they ended up. It is also worth considering what you want out of the college experience. If all you want is credits - this is your place. Some students do get involved in activities at HVCC but most park, take class, drive away. Oh, one other thing I will mention…some of their programs are very difficult to get into. Students start school thinking they will be admitted into their program of study after completing certain prerequisites only to be denied because the competition is so fierce (for example nursing but that isn’t the only one).
U Albany - Honestly I don’t think you need to worry about “getting lost” there if you would be living in the dorms. As a full time on campus student you will meet many other freshman and find your place and your people. If you commute, yes I agree…you will be lost there and just a number.
Hartwick is a beautiful campus and a very nice environment. It sounds like that is a smaller place where you might feel more comfortable and less like a number. A small, private school such as Hartwick can offer a lot in terms of the college experience. If it is affordable and they have a field of study for you, it’s also a great choice.
Maybe you need to start with deciding if you will live on campus or at home? Then from there start breaking it all down. I will add I agree with the previous poster’s thoughts about going the four year route. Good luck!
Another vote for Albany Honors. The honors college and honors community would go a long way in making your experience personable.
The benefits are numerous: first, they only admit the top 5% of the entering class. Only 125 students, whom you’ll meet during a special orientation, live with in the best residence hall, participate in special trips with: you won’t be lost in the crowd. In addition, the honors college provides you with special advising and support plus advanced registration (which in college is worth its weigh in gold: you can pick the best professors, the most interesting courses, the sections at times that best fit your personal schedule or other obligations, and never have a bad prof). On top of this honors classes have the best teachers and are capped at 25 instead of 80 or 200 so they’re interactive and you’re not a number, you know your professors and they know you.
Since you’re Pell eligible you’re eligible for Excelsior and since you’re in honors there should be some scholarships coming from that (but do check out the honors website to see whether you’ve got to apply to them… And apply for everything you’re eligible for!)