<p>Hi all,
So first time posting on CC (although I've lurked around quite a bit throughout highschool) and my question is State U or Private LAC. I'm a highschool senior with high stats and solid extracurriculars with several full ride and substantial scholarship offers from various colleges. My family is solidly middle class and won't spend more than $3000 per year max for any kind of college related expenses including books, food, room and board. With that in mind, I'm trying to decide between Mississippi State University and a Christian Brothers University. Here are the pros and cons of each:</p>
<p>Mississippi State Pros:
-Full ride (tuition, books, room & board, etc.)
-Parents wouldn't have to pay a penny.
-Vet school and pre-vet concentration (I'm interested in possibly going into large animal medicine)
-Solid Scientific Research program
-Would accept the majority of my 50 college credits (earned through dual enrollment and CLEP)
-Good fit for me personally
-Really great service opportunities that I'm excited about getting involved in</p>
<p>Mississippi State Cons:
-Large classes
-No honors for the first year (last minute decision, didn't make the deadline for this year)
-Concerned about the school's academic reputation
-Less personal, less challenging...all the cons that come with any big school
-Would have to leave my dog (silly, I know, but I really luvs her)</p>
<p>Christian Brothers University Pros:
-$21000 scholarship so far (still waiting on FAFSA and extra scholarship competition results)
-Accepted into Honor Society
-Built some connections with staff and faculty already
-Solid local reputation
-Would be able to commute (kind of a con as I really feel I need to move out and become a little more independent)
-Solid science program
-Will no doubt challenge me
-Very service oriented
-Small classes with excellent faculty</p>
<p>Christian Brothers University Cons:
-Not sure if I'll fit in as well. Student body is very un-southern haha, very liberal artsy-ish, very...northern? I'm pretty southern preppy. It's uhm, very beanies and chacos for the most part, and I'm very lilly pulitzer and sperries.
-Costs $30000+ a year, and there's no guarantee FAFSA and extra scholarships will cover the gap
-Really small. Not sure how I feel about that, it definitely has its pros and cons.
-No music program (very passionate about violin, so definitely a con)
-Will only accept 24 of my 50+ credits. School policy.</p>
<p>Sorry that's so long, but anyways, to sum up each:</p>
<p>Mississippi state is not as academically challenging as CBU, but in a way that might allow me to be more involved in service and leadership opportunities while still maintaining a good GPA. I'm planning on doing lots of volunteering, vet shadowing, student government, work-studying, etc. throughout college, so this is something to consider. I would also learn to live on my own and be independent as I'm very dependent on my parents right now. Oh, and the full scholarship.</p>
<p>Christian Brothers seems like it'll be extremely challenging academically, and combined with my plans to get very involved, I'm a little worried my GPA will take a hit. My GPA needs to be above 3.8 to be competitive for vet school, so this is a bit of a concern for me. However, I know that I will likely grow more and receive a much better education. It's small, which I don't really like, but on the flipside, that means close relationships with faculty which is important to me (gotta think about those recommendation letters). Then there's the cost. If I can't afford it, then that's that, but several of the faculty are really trying to get the scholarship board to consider me for more scholarships as they really want me to come. If I did receive enough scholarships on behalf of their efforts, I would feel really bad to not come. I would kind of feel like I owe it to them to come. </p>
<p>Gaah, so confused. Anyways, really hoping cc'ers can help clear this up some and give me some advice and direction on the situation. Which would you choose? Thoughts? Opinions?</p>