<p>For the third consecutive April, I herewith offer my annual Most Fascinating College Choices from the boards of CC. These are actual decisions being made this month by CCers who must be admired for their capacities to think outside the box and for their fine disregard of the artificial limits suggested by geography, school size, or institutional category. Honorees, your flexibility and adaptability will take you far!:</p>
<p>10 - UCLA vs. McGill vs. Hong Kong U.: Hypothetically fascinating but in reality, after the campus visits there probably wont be enough money left for college.</p>
<p>9 - Either of two UCs vs. St. Olaf: . . . for a physics and neuroscience double major!</p>
<p>8 - Lafayette College vs. NYU: Small school with beer or the Big Apple and appletinis?</p>
<p>7 - Occidental College vs. American U.: Another frequent-flyer club special. President Obama left Oxy to get to where he can include American on his daily jog, so perhaps theres a message there.</p>
<p>6 - UC-San Diego vs. George Washington: Because the twin sister is in at GW and she doesnt want to share the experience with her sibling!</p>
<p>5 - Wabash vs. Wellesley: Naaah - I was just checking to see if youre still paying attention.</p>
<p>4 - Swarthmore vs. NYU Abu Dhabi vs. UGA with the Foundation Fellowship: All very different and all pretty darned exciting!</p>
<p>3 - Scripps vs. NYU: And the students from the Deep South!</p>
<p>2 - Franklin & Marshall vs. Minnesota: Wow. Just wow.</p>
<p>1 - Williams vs. U. of Miami: Wait for it . . . for a prospective football player no less!</p>
<p>How about it - have you seen some others that should be considered for the list?</p>
<p>Especially since the original poster asking this question has two majors in mind, one of which (chemical engineering) F&M does not even offer and the other of which (computer science) F&M is very limited in.</p>
<p>Some more:</p>
<p>Eastern Washington vs. CSU Fresno vs Marymount (not Loyola Marymount) for a computer science major. Incredibly, someone responding actually recommended Marymount, even though its “computer science” major was more of an MIS/IT major (EWU and CSUF have much more worthwhile computer science curricula).</p>
<p>NYU vs. BU vs. VCU, where NYU or BU would have saddled the student with over $100,000 in student loan debt compared to $25,000 or so for VCU.</p>
<p>Michigan ($50,000 to $53,000 per year) vs. Brandeis ($58,000 per year) vs. Rutgers ($6,000 per year after financial aid and scholarships) for a pre-med</p>
<p>Seems like the thread referred to in #5 is not the only one of a NJ student who does not want to go to Rutgers. Another one just popped up:</p>
<p>Georgia Tech ($160,000 total) vs. Penn State ($164,000 total) vs. Lehigh ($200,000 total) vs. Rutgers ($100,000 total) for a mechanical or industrial engineering major whose parents will pay up to $100,000 total.</p>
<p>Next, I’d expect to see Jim Jones University or the New School.</p>
<p>How about Yale or Upper Swampgas Community College?</p>
<p>Yes, it does seem many New Jersey students will do anything possible to avoid going to their flagship. I don’t understand it. However, Penn State makes a large amount of tuition money off of that attitude.</p>
<p>Rutgers gets a terrible reputation from college guidebooks and from its in-state residents. Granted I don’t go there so I truly don’t know what it is like but from what I’ve read, it doesn’t sound like a college I would go to. It needs to work on its public relations and getting a better rep out for itself.</p>
<p>Claremont McKenna vs NYU Gallatin vs CMU vs USC.
(I suppose I have been looking for a smaller college, but I think going to a big school could be fun.)</p>
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