My S is down to a last minute decision between the Binghamton Advantage program and Xavier University in Cincinnati. Eventually, he would like to work in the finance industry, probably in NYC. At Binghamton he would have to take his first year’s classes at community college and when he moves over to Binghamton it would not be the Business School (he could major in economics within Harpur School of Arts & Sciences). The upside is that he would get his degree from a top notch institution that probably has name recognition on Wall Street. At Xavier, he was admitted directly to the Business school, but I’m not sure if a degree from there will carry as much weight for him as Binghamton when job searching in NYC. However, he is very athletic, enjoys sports and would probably enjoy the school spirit at Xavier, as well as participating in club sports, which I understand is a big part of the school culture there. As far as costs, we’re talking 24K for Binghamton vs. 30K for Xavier (plus transportation since we live in NY). If anyone has any thoughts on this I would love to hear them.
Xavier is the better option in this instance. The Advantage program sounds like a huge sham in all honesty. It’s much better to stay on ONE single campus for all four years. I wouldn’t recommend it, nor would I call Binghamton “top notch”. It’s good, but not at all top notch. Binghamton also is NOT the school for any decently athletic kid to attend. Xavier is a good school in its own right, and he will do very fine there. MBA programs care more about what you do while in college rather than the name of the college you attended.
I am not at all sure about this Binghamton back door - which doesn’t even lead to the business school. I haven’t heard of Xavier University, so I can’t comment. Are these the only two choices?
As a higher ed faculty member and also a parent of a junior in HS, I am frankly appalled at all these “back door” programs with fancy names. It’s a way for the university to get tuition $$ without a direct admit because they are trying to protect the stats of the incoming freshmen (and thus their rankings).
Spot on @mathprof63. I always say that if you have to try to transfer into a B-school rather than being a direct admit, then it’s absolutely not at all worth it. Especially in this case where you don’t even start on the proper campus.
Thank you both for your responses. His other choices are University of Scranton and St. Michael’s College in Vermont, but both are over our 30K budget. He got quite a bit of money from Iona but I don’t think it’s as good academically as the others. He was also wait listed at Elon but won’t hear back until after May 1. His first choice was Dayton which he didn’t get into.
Also, with the Binghamton program you do live and eat on campus first year. You can also participate in club sports, but not varsity.
University of Scranton is the best one left - is it too late to haggle them for more financial aid?
“I wouldn’t recommend it, nor would I call Binghamton “top notch”. It’s good, but not at all top notch.”
@Lbad96 please. Your advice is toxic.
I’m going to write in a language you understand.
Please read carefully.
There are 629 four year public institutions in the United States.
According to US News, Binghamton is ranked 37 of all public four year institutions. That’s top 6%.
There are 2,474 public + private four year institutions in the United States.
According to US News, Binghamton is ranked 89. That’s top 4%.
Which part of top 6% and top 4% is not top notch?
You were rejected by Binghamton. It’s ok. 60% of applicants are rejected by Binghamton. You are not alone. I, for one, am tired of you jumping in to every Binghamton thread to steer people away. It’s ugly and toxic. It’s time for you to move on.
@STEM2017 you’re totally reaching now. what do I need to move on from, exactly? Binghamton was never even a top choice for me; in fact, I had already had a top choice school that accepted me MONTHS before I even heard back for a final decision from Bing after my deferral. So your boring and useless narrative of me “being the angry denied applicant” has absolutely zero base.
So you think my attitude is ugly and toxic. Is it as ugly and toxic as the city of Binghamton, New York?
If it bothers you so much, simply scroll over it. No big deal. Your hubris is beyond unnecessary.
I would go for the direct admit program at Xavier. The Jesuits have a huge network of alumni all over the country, which could help you land your first job. If you aren’t in the business school at Binghamton from the get go, and have to attend community college first, and then not to even graduate from their business school? Seems like you’d always have to explain why you weren’t part of that business school, if it’s so distinguished on Wall St and you are a Binghamton graduate wanting to work on Wall St. Xavier has plenty of name recognition as far as Jesuit schools go and Jesuit schools produce many successful and productive people. I guess it just depends on how far you want to be away from home. If you are into college basketball and sports, I would say Xavier is a great fit. I loved the campus and their faculty when we did our college visits. Our visit was not for their business program, but I think there is lots to be said about Jesuit schools, even if you are not Catholic.
I would go for Xavier and never look back. It is a better academic fit (since he can study business), it sounds like a better social fit (with sports etc.), and he will be at the same school in the same program for all four years.
Also would he need a certain GPA at the CC to switch to Binghamton? If so, that is a consideration and a risk. And if he doesn’t live at Binghamton his first year with the program then he will be essentially coming in as a transfer for his sophomore year which can make thinks harder as many social groups are formed freshman year.
I also think you need to recognize that there is a very big difference between being an economics major and being in a business school Economics is a liberal arts course of study and it is very theoretical at the upper levels. In a business school students take a busienss core including intro classes in things like accounting, finance, business law, IT, management etc. and then will major in one of those disciplines. One is not better or worse per se, but they are very different. It would be worth your S’s time to look at the classes he would have to take as an economics major and as a busienss major to see if one path or the other is more appealing to him.
I am with the others on recommending Xavier since he is a direct admit to business school there, and it is affordable for you as well. The Jesuit schools that I am familiar with have a lot to offer, so I am assuming Xavier will be similar in that respect. University of Scranton may have a bit more familiarity among employers in the NY/NJ area, but I do not know if it’s worth the loans for the extra cost. The cost/value decision is something the family has to decide for itself.