Can't decide between two colleges! Would appreciate any advice

College Search & Selection
1

Hi! So I can’t decide between Babson College and Syracuse University. I received full tuition scholarships for both and the cost is basically the same, the only thing is that Babson gave me $1000/year for airfare.

Size: Babson is 2,500 vs 21,970 (Syracuse) Apparently at Babson the professors know you by name and connect you with outside opportunities.

Location: I prefer Boston to Syracuse any day. Syracuse, New York (Central New York) (#28 best place to live) vs Boston, MA (#8 Best place to live)

Campus: I haven’t visited Syracuse but I am absolutely in love with the campus, it gives me Hogwarts vibes.

Academics: I got into the Marketing/Public Relations double major with Whitman and Newhouse. Their communications school is one of the best. At Babson everyone receives one degree and choses concentrations, mine would be Marketing. I wouldn’t be able to fully receive a communications education, but I could join clubs on campus (ex. Babson TV) and do internships during the summer. Also, I have heard classes at Babson are extremely difficult and center around group work and presentations.

Syracuse double major is 151 credits, if I need another summer/year my scholarship would not cover it

Student life: Syracuse is D1 and very school spirited, Babson is D3 and students could care less. I wasn’t a very school spirited person in high school, but I want that experience in college. But, if I go to Babson I could adopt another school’s team or something.

Job Placement: 90% (Syracuse) vs 98% (Babson)

Internships: 100% completed an internship (Syracuse) vs 83% (Babson)

Average Starting Salary: $55,736 (Whitman, Syracuse) vs $56,267 (Babson) *Babson was #1 Private Business College for Salary Potential (Payscale, 2016) and #1 for Return on Investment, Payscale (2015) *

Study abroad: about 50% of students go abroad at both schools

Clubs: Syracuse wins, they have a student run PR firm, a crazy tv station, and another activities. Babson has the same but at a less developed level (no PR firm)

Weather: Syracuse is depressing and has one of the worst Winters in America RIP. Boston is cold and miserable, but tolerable

I really don’t know what to do and would appreciate any help. I wanted to major in Marketing/PR or advertising but that wouldn’t be possible at Babson although I could do a masters or internships to pursue that. However, I fear that I may change my mind about business since everyone says things change when you actually start taking classes. Then, I would be stuck at a school that only does business and the chances of me getting full tuition as a transfer are slim to none.

Babson flew me out for their admitted students event and I loved the people, I met extremely kind individuals from all over the world who are doing incredible things, but I don’t know how I feel about the vibe of the campus because it was basically dead. Syracuse is the classic college experience and they have one of the best communication schools in the country, but I really dislike how isolated it is from everything.

Would appreciate any input!

2

Congratulations on two excellent choices!

Thoughts to consider:

  • Babson has a consortium with Wellesley and Olin, offering more class + club options
  • Babson has the San Francisco campus
  • Boston has 250k+ college students; the Babson campus may be dead, but you’ll be a short bus ride away from a huge number of students and it’s very common to develop a network of friends from a variety of Boston colleges

Good luck!

3

Hey! congrats on the choices! I am a babson undergraduate student. If you go on thecampusinsider.com and request to talk to Chris Lally id be happy to hop on a video call and answer questions you might have. You could choose to talk to someone else too if you are interested in some specifics and want to talk to someone on a sports team or in a club you want to know more about. I’m on the team that started this and a bunch of prospective students have found it pretty helpful!

4

You could cheer for Syracuse.

5

I’m a Syracuse grad. I think my experience there was pretty great (I have no complaints). That said: I think you should go to Babson. What Babson lacks you will be able to find either in their consortium or elsewhere in Boston. You will likely not be able to create the smaller-school vibe at SU that is part of the Babson package. And yes, Syracuse winters are The Worst. Boston is fantastic. Babson is essentially offering you more money and a much more intimate setting for your education.

Congrats and good luck either way!

6

Thank you so much for all the advice! Would any opinions change if Syracuse gave me another scholarship and is now cheaper than Babson?

7

How much cheaper per year? And is the scholarship renewable or single-term?

8

@philbegas about $1000-$1500 give or take, the scholarship is renewable if I meet the academic requirements

9

@Kalilsabel Are you currently in a state that has a miserable winter? That’s no small thing and as frugal as I am I wouldn’t pick that for $1000.

10

@gearmon ha, I’m from Florida so definitely not :))

11

@Kalilsabel Babson is your answer then. At least it is fun to be in Boston when you are snowed in.