College Decision: What to put on my parents?

Parents Forum
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<p>Hi parents, </p>

<p>First of all congrats to all of your children's acceptances and decisions. I am not a newbie to this forum and since I have found your advice to be helpful and eye-opening, asking you about the final decision seems reasonable. </p>

<p>Here's my situation: I am an international student who got accepted to many amazing colleges. After declining those offers my family cannot afford at all, it's now down to 6 colleges (with 4year COA after FA).
The options:
Amherst College at 127.880 $
The College of Wooster at 141.620 $
Davidson College at 132.904 $
Denison University at 90.780 $
Hamilton College at 134.520 $
Kenyon College at 122.440 $</p>

<p>-> my parents will pay 96.000 $, the rest will be one me (work-study, loans, summer work, savings).
-> we because our EFC is higher than what my parents can pay, there is a large gap; the colleges will not negotiate FA though
-> my parents would be willing to sell our house etc. to afford college so that I won't need to take on a huge amount of debt, but I don't want them to do that. </p>

<p>my thoughts:
Wooster & Hamilton might have to go next because although I loved, loved both when I visited, the cost (and in Hamilton's case remoteness/distance from an international airport) might very well prohibit any further thoughts about attending.
Obvisouly, Denison University is the cheapest (full tuition scholarship), but the scholarship doesn't transfer to study abroad (which I will definitely do) and they don't offer my prospective major Neuroscience. However, I am not really committed to neuroscience for sure and their concentration might suffice. Also, student body seems more "average".
As far as learning environment & student body goes, I would love a student body diverse in interests, hobbies, and opinions that still feels like a tight community and has a common interest in intellectual pursuit and service.
Davidson's sterotype is preppy (which I did not find at all, everyone was just super friendly, outgoing, and seemed to have it all together). Amherst is really diverese, but I am kind of scared of the Boston Prep School Lacrosse Players which seem to constitute a sizable minority. Hence, the student body seems more divided as a whole, but I love the diverse & intellectual crowd. Hamilton felt like Davidson, just more isolated (which I might not like as much as I thought.) Kenyon's student body also strikes a nice balance between intellectual and open-minded. I'm probably moderate politically (got rejected from Oberlin which was probably a good thing.) Socially I'd fit in at any of those I guess, but I really want to be in an intellectually stimulating environment where everyone is dedicated & passionate about something.
I don't exactly care about prestige. My goal being prepared for going to grad school (Public Health, Neuroscience, or something else) and having a succesful career (possibly at an international organization, public service, or research). My college years should be characterized by learning, stuying abroad, service, great 4am conversations, a lot of a cappella singing. </p>

<p>-> What do you think? What would your advice be? What is reasonable to pay for? Take the cheapest school and go, take the highest-ranked?
-> Any experiences with the schools/similar situations are also greatly appreciated ;) </p>

<p>Thank you so much and good luck to all of you! </p>

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<p>Also consider that flights may be direct to boston or NYC but denison will be difficult to get to and expensive (as will some of the other schools). So check those costs to see how much extra you will need to borrow to cover travel expenses.</p>

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<p>The 4year Cost of Attendance I calculated includes flights, insurance, and other variable expenses.
But thanks for the advice! </p>

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<p>Wow, you’ve got well-off parents. Are they adopting?</p>

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<p>There’s bus service from Boston to Amherst that’s inexpensive and pretty easy from what I gather. Also, Amherst College is part of the Five College Consortium so it gives you access to the four other colleges in the consortium. Amherst is an excellent school!</p>

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<p>How can Denison be that much if you are on a full tuition scholarship? Shouldn’t that “9” be more like a “4”?</p>

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<p>@Sally305: Well, it’s 4x Room&board, 4x2 flights, insurance for 4 years, books, miscellaneous expenses and tuition inflation taken into account (the scholarship won’t increase, right now it’s about 2000 less than tuition but obvisouly that gap will widen quite a bit). </p>

<p>@GMTplus7: It’s two full-time employed adults plus savings plus mortgages, which adds up to 24k/year that we can spend. Our EFC is 32000 I believe. </p>

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<p>Amherst, in a heartbeat: the best school on the list (Davidson the closest potential rival), easy to get to, broader social and intellectual contacts via the 5-college consortium, connections and prestige to take you anywhere you want to go.</p>

<p>And honestly, a school can only have so many lacrosse players. :slight_smile: You would find preppy athletes aplenty at Hamilton, Davidson, and probably Denison and Kenyon also. (Someone I know who is a retired prof from College of Wooster told me that the word on Denison in that area is that the kids’ cars in the parking lots are fancier than the professors’.:slight_smile: ) </p>

<p>This is a list of nice schools, each of which has its virtues. But it seems to me that unless Denison meets your needs–and apparently it doesn’t–Amherst is the clear choice on all counts: intellectual quality, location, opportunities.</p>

<p>And no, your parents shouldn’t sell their house. BTW, are you sure that you will be allowed to work in the US? I know that can be an issue for international students.</p>

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<p>First of all, be aware that you do have show certified proof that you can pay the amounts to go to school, to get your student visa. I don’t know what your options are in getting a job here in the US. You are not entitled to work study funds as an international student. You should start looking for work NOW in your own country, and for loans there as well. What you got from the schools is all you can count on getting here, especially given the type of courses you intend to take.<br>
Amherst is the best school on that list IMO and I don’t think your impressions of “types” is that relevant. I know all types who have gone there and enjoyed it. My choices would be Amherst and Denison. If you don’t take the plunge with Amherst, I don’t see the value in spending the addtional to go to those other school and might as well go to Denison. THough the test scores may not be up there at Denison, it does attract some top picks, and both that school and Wooster hold their own in preparing their students in the liberal arts. I’d have no hesitation in recommending either of those schools to anyone and paying that cost for my own kids to go there. But Wooster, IMO is not worth the premium any more than Hamiltion, Davidson and Kenya are over Denison. The only school in that group where I’d be tempted to go over budget and borrow and take a chance is Amherst. </p>

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<p>I fully agree with cptofthehouse.</p>

<p>I do have some young relatives who were able to get some kind of special visa that enable them to visit the US during the summer and legally work. I don’t know if it is possible to combine that with a regular student visa. You had better start getting solid information about these things immediately. The US Dept of State wes site is a good place to start. </p>

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<p>The number of hours you are able to work will be significantly limited. Don’t overestimate your earning potential. As an international student, you are NOT eligible for federal work study funds. As noted, you will be required to provide a certification of finances to get a visa to study here. You will have to show evidence that you HAVE the money to pay your college costs. This can include approved loans, and your financial aid…but will not include potential job earnings.</p>

<p>If you HAVE the financial resources to pay for these schools, I would choose between Davidson and Amherst. You might want to consider climate. No real heavy winter or snow at Davidson. </p>

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<p>Thank you all! </p>

<p>Regarding work and finances: I will be able to participate in Work-Study at college.
In addition I already have two jobs here (at home) that I might be able to keep for the summer months.
Also, through an ODT expasion of my F1 Visa (which I will be eligible for) I can also work in the US for a certain amount of time if my job is related to my major (since I want to have 2/3 majors, chances are one of them will relate in some way ;))
I agree, I do not want my parents to do anymore than they generously offered to me. Hence this thread. </p>

<p>Declining Wooster and Hamilton will hurt but it seems reasonable to me.
I have a lot harder time with Denison (they are so kind and they like me enough to spend a lot of money on me), Kenyon (love Kenyon and they met my full need), and Davidson (love everything about that place). </p>

<p>Does Amherst actually enjoy that good of a reputation? On some forums I read that it does in New England, but at the same time, chances are I will move to another region or country after my undergrad degree.
I am kind of concerned about the lack of minors, UMass Amherst close by, how impersonal everything seems, and the general vibe in Admitted Students FB group (much less friendly than Davidson and more party-/sports-centric, less service-centered.)
These might be wrong impressions, but I don’t want to commit until I am sure :confused: Not being able to visit makes this a lot harder. </p>

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<p>Amherst, if you are going to make your parents pay near $100K, you better get some pedigree out of it. That is the only school possibly worthy of that consideration. Still, this is some serious dough. I hope you are aiming for a lucrative career. </p>

<p>Do not pull any conclusions from the FB groups. Don’t even bother with that. </p>

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<p>Lack of minors? College isn’t like a game of Bingo where you pick up as many points as you can. Major in one thing- do a deep dive on another discipline you are interested in, take a bunch of classes outside of that. Having a bunch of double major this and minor that is not going to be worthwhile for you with a US employer.</p>

<p>I’m not advocating Amherst, but this is a dumb reason not to go there, all things being equal. And it has an excellent reputation. If you want a friendlier campus than that seems to me to a valid observation of New England vs. the Midwest or the South. But don’t decline because you can’t do three majors which is two majors too many IMHO.</p>

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<p>Yes.</p>

<p>Look, these are LACs. That means that, by definition, they have less man-in-the-street name recognition than often-academically-inferior universities with well known sports teams. But amongst people who actually know something about schools–such as many of those in the fields you cite–Amherst is a significant cut above the rest of these. It is one of the most elite LACs in the country. Some of the others on this list would be safeties for a top Amherst candidate. (And they are all fine schools.)</p>

<p>BTW, I cannot imagine why you think that having UMass nearby is a detriment. (Also, it isn’t THAT nearby!) What’s that about? You also have Smith and Hampshire and MHC nearby.</p>

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<p>^^^ Exactly! And having UMass, Hampshire, Smith and Mt. Holyoke nearby means you can take classes at any of those colleges as well. It brings so many more options to a small school. </p>

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<p>@ blossom: I picked liberal arts colleges for a reason. I love so many topics, and to me taking 12 classes in one discipline and just picking random classes for the other 20 seems kind of pointless. This won’t be my final degree, I plan to go on to a Ph.D. Actually, at Amherst I can do three majors :wink: One of the reasons I applied. </p>

<p>@ Consolation: Good to know, thank you!
The UMass-Amherst concern is about people leaving campus 4 days a week in order to party :wink: I am by no means judgemental, I for myself have just decided that I am really done with that and I want to emphasize intellectual growth instead of liver growth during my college years. I kind of don’t want to be the only one left on campus on Saturday :wink: There are a lot of prejudices against American college campuses and although most of them are not true, I just want to make sure. </p>

<p>@ BTMell: Yes, that is indeed amazing. I discovered the certificate programs. -> I may have minors after all. </p>

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<p>@AmericanHopee - my older son attends Hampshire, one of the consortium colleges. I asked him about UMass and the parties and he said that for the most part, each school tends to stay to themselves socially so I don’t think you have any worries there. I gather if you want to party with UMass students, you certainly could but you’d have to seek them out. My son is a theater major - he is not “a man of sports” as he puts it - and feels very comfortable with the students at Amherst College. He’s taken about half his classes at Amherst during his three years at Hampshire and found all to be excellent.</p>

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<p>From what I have heard from friends’ kids, it is probably far more likely that students will be coming TO Amherst from MHC and Smith. But we could both be wrong. :)</p>

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<p>@BTMell & @consolation: </p>

<p>I shall contact some current students and the Dean of FirstYears to ask some of these questions.
Also (this is probably minor, but it is really important to me), both Kenyon & davidson have a Great Books/Readings in the Western Tradition program (which I have been dreaming about my entire life). Amherst doesn’t. Smith has a comparative literature major though which offers many of the same features. But Iíf I took all of those classes I still couldn’t get that approved as a comparative literature major at Amherst I suppose.
I feel like I am compromising that by picking Amherst. Is that a valid concern or should I just get over it? </p>