Ok, so I originally wrote this post as a rambly thing on tumblr, so apologies. I tried to cover my side of things, the pros and cons I see of both, as well as include information that makes this decision difficult. Please give me some input as to what you think!!
I need some help and some advice about my choices So my top two that I’m deciding between are Boston university and university of Texas at Austin. So for the longest time Boston was my first choice, and I honestly forgot i applied to UT until I got in. I never expected to because it’s so hard for out of state students and especially for engineering. So that made me really consider UT because I hadn’t heard back from Boston, so it ended up being my second choice.
Here’s where stuff gets interesting.
So I’m classed as an international student. I’ve lived in the US for 10 years and I’m about a month out from becoming a permanent resident. Meaning the financial aid and things I get are going to change.
Total Boston costs about $70,000, which is absurd, but I got a $20,000 scholarship, making it about $50,000, which is a similar price to UT right now.
However (things get more complicated here), my mom is moving to Houston in a week or so, meaning for the last three years of my college career, I’d be able to get instate tuition for UT, making it about $26,000 all together as opposed to $50,000. But I’m still not entirely sure what kind of financial aid I’d get at Boston, and I won’t know for either of them until this summer after I’ve made a decision.
Some facts really quick:
I want to do engineering. I didn’t really know but I liked the idea of chemical engineering because I like Chemistry, however, as the years gone on I’ve found myself liking it less and less but I can’t tell if thats because of my teacher or not.
I’ve also been considering mechanical or electrical, and while I declared as chemical for most of my schools, they are all on a similar kind of level.
Also, if this means anything, I think in the future I want to work in renewable energy maybe?
But here comes the opinion stuff.
I loved the idea of Boston. I’ve always preferred the north east and the weather there (coming from England), and I currently live in the south so its something I want to get away from. Also, ideologically, I feel like I’d fit in more with the people up there.
Also, Boston is a much smaller school than UT, granted its not tiny (about 18,000 undergrads and UT has about 40,000). I come from a high school where my graduating class is 78 people and my high school is about 400, if not less.
Another perk to Boston, aside from the scholarship, is that with it I get guaranteed research, which can be a really beneficial thing I think.
However, an issue is the chemical engineering thing, since Boston doesn’t offer it, but I’m not entirely bothered by it? Even though chemical might be best for renewable energy? Idk
On to UT.
So UT is in the best place possible for engineering, its where a lot of the work is and where a lot of the companies are. But, I’m absolutely petrified by the size of the school. I also prefer the idea of a private university, which sounds really pretentious, but I’ve been at a private school for a really long time, and I also forgot to apply to the honors college at UT (didn’t get into Boston’s either though).
With UT, the city’s awesome, but i just feel like the school is too big for me.
However, it will be much closer to my family (both my parents would be in Houston, and my sister goes to school in New Orleans), so thats a plus. Also, while Austin is a cool place, the rest of Texas doesn’t really have the same ideas, and theres nothing wrong with that, I just want to be around more people like me, ya’know?
Also about distance, I love traveling and adventures, so I feel like Boston wouldn’t be too far, even though I love to be around my family
Ultimately, I’m lucky to have gotten into both of these schools and to be struggling with this choice, I just want an outside opinion.
Both my parents prefer UT but my sister and best friend think Boston.
I’m really struggling here and only have a few days left to decide, so I’d appreciate some advice
Thank you!