<p>I was accepted to case western, U Rochester, Fordham, union, villanova, Carnegie Mellon (Humanities/social sciences college), Williams, University of Miami, and others. I am planning on being pre-med. I think that I have narrowed it down between University of Miami and Williams; even though I did like Rochester and didn't get a chance to visit case western. Also, I am planning on playing football. Williams is a Division III, NESCAC school, and the University of Miami is a D1-A program. I was offered a spot and recruited by Williams since a few months ago. I liked the school when I visited and feel that it offers a lot of great opportunities, especially academically. UM is giving me a spot as a walk-on since they are in need of players in my position. UM is in my hometown, and I would probably live at home to cut down on expenses. I feel both schools have a lot to offer but have their own pros/cons. One huge factor is the financial aid. I received a pretty good package from Williams that included a large grant and only a small loan. However, UM is just as expensive but does not provide nearly as much grant money. They are giving me only 14K in grants, so I figure I would have to make major cutbacks along with my family and take out major loans. This is not something that we wanted to do even though I am pursuing a career in medicine. I will probably have to get loans for medical school later on as well. If I left out anything feel free to mention it or tell me about any of my misperceptions. Please let me know your thoughts on the situation and if you can offer any good advice. Thanks.</p>
<p>Williams would be the best choice if it is more affordable – unless you are planning a career in football. You will be more relevant to the team at Williams and get a great education in preparation for medical school. Appeal the Miami aid offer by sending the Williams offer and see if they can match.</p>
<p>Yes, both schools are great academically, but Williams is probably better, although I think both are strong in pre-med. No, I’m not planning on a career in football so academics is extremely important (to get into medical school and do well). However, UM is my hometown team and my parents would like me to stay home if possible. Also, they are a very strong program and it seems like an offer that I can’t easily pass up. I will try to appeal the aid, but the school is very stingy with the money they give out. Williams obviously provides much better packages. I didn’t get a merit scholarship at UM and they didn’t give much grants.</p>
<p>Miami is not “very stingy with they money they give out.” Just because you didn’t get a lot doesn’t yield such a generalization or make it accurate. Miami is in fact fairly generous with their aid, especially with high-achieving students. They give out so much merit aid and it really shows how much they want strong students. They also meet need-based aid pretty exceptionally, as well. </p>
<p>As suggested, try appealing the aid using your Williams package and see if that gets you anywhere. Best of luck!</p>
<p>Ok, well as far as my situation, Miami did not give me nearly as much grant money as Williams did. I know they give out merit money but I did not receive any. I will try to se if there is anyway I could make it possible to afford UM, that is if I would rather go there.</p>
<p>Williams is on par with any top notch Ivy League, people have turned down HYPS to go there - Miami is nowhere near the same class. Do yourself a favor and go to Williams.</p>
<p>Is staying home worth the cost differences? Save the money and use it for med school and stay home then, if possible.</p>
<p>That’s the issue at hand: is it worth it to go to UM and rack up a large amount of loans in addition to the loans that I am planning to use to pay for medical school as well? If I went up to the northeast, I would have to pay for flights and for a room, but if i stayed home I would have to pay for a car.</p>
<p>there is no comparision here unless you are more serious about football than academics</p>
<p>this is an easy Williams decision, which seems to be also less expensive for you…</p>
<p>take four years out of your life to experience another very different part of the U.S. at one of the premier academic institutions in the U.S.</p>
<p>Williams is a very very special place</p>
<p>I visited Williams and although it is a very different place, I thought it had a nice atmosphere and would be good fit for me. This is a very tough decision because both schools offer so much and I would also lose opportunities either way.</p>
<p>Williams is a huge cut above UMiami as an undergraduate institution. Something to consider.</p>
<p>Be, I don’t know that you could find two more vastly different choices if you tried! :)</p>
<p>I think the core question really is are you ready to step out of your comfort zone into a different environment, different part of the country, different living arrangement, different climate, different culture, different football, different everything? Only you can answer that question.</p>
<p>Williams is a welcoming and nurturing community. If they admit you they’re reasonably sure that you can do the work and that you will fit in. There are plenty of support systems in place to make sure that you transition smoothly, both socially and academically. </p>
<p>And the Williams degree will open doors for you all over the country, especially to graduate and professional school. They will help you achieve your goals. The money is a very big cherry on top of the sundae. Believe me, you don’t want substantial undergraduate debt.</p>
<p>As the parent of a highly satisfied Williams grad I, of course, say go for it. My guess is that you’ll regret it if you don’t seize this extraordinary opportunity. But, again, it’s up to you. Staying home isn’t a wrong choice; it’s just a different path. </p>
<p>Is there someone else that know you and your family that could counsel you? Perhaps a teacher, a relative or a clergyman? You and your parents need to put the emotional elements to the side here and look ahead a few years, beyond who are are now and to who you will become. </p>
<p>We all fear the unknown and for sure Williams is not a household word in your neck of the woods. Not an easy decision, I know, but not as radical as it may feel to you right now.</p>
<p>I agree with fliqer. Williams is outstanding and has a very high rate of acceptance into med school</p>
<p>Thank you for the advice, to the last two posters. I know how great Williams is academically and I am very surprised/thrilled that I managed to get in somehow. I am probably going because of the future opportunities that it will provide and set up my path towards a solid career. In the long run, I know it would better prepare me academically and help me get into medical school, like you said. I will also be able to grow more as a person and become more independent. Even if the money was not an issue, this would probably be the best choice. It’s just hard to disregard UM because my parents would like me to stay close to home and playing for the football team there would be amazing. It’s also a pretty good school, but Williams would probably be better for me overall.</p>
<p>Beperfect, Your best approach would be to (gently) educate your parents on the career advantages and acdemic status of Williams. As a Williams parent, I can empathize with their bewilderment. Outside of the Northeast the name generates a lot of blank stares. A lot of “too bad your kid couldn’t get into a good college, like the ones I’ve heard of.” :)</p>
<p>But the people who will matter later on – graduate school admissions, hiring managers – all know and respect the Williams name.</p>
<p>At the end of the day, it’s your life. Carpe diem! Come back in a year and tell us how you’re doing.</p>
<p>I agree with your comments and I definitely recognize how great Williams is.</p>
<p>Also, do you think Williams is better than the other colleges I was accepted to? (I am planning on pre-med)</p>
<p>Ave Maria, Case Western Reserve, Florida State, Fordham, UM, RPI, Rochester, Union, Villanova, John Carroll, and Carnegie Mellon</p>
<p>There are some excellent choices on your list, and although I would put Williams academics at the top of the list – with CMU next – you could get an excellent education at several of the others. You will do best short-term and long-term at the school that is the best fit for YOU, in culture and in teaching style.</p>
<p>As someone else mentioned, Williams has an excellent track record for medical school advising and admissions, but at the end of the day it’s what YOU accomplish as an undergrad that will get you admitted.</p>
<p>I have to echo what others have said here. Williams is just such a HUGE step up, academically, from most of the schools here, including Miami, barring the possibility of a football career, it would take a LOT of really, really, really strong reasons to pass it up – and that is even if Miami was the school offering the better financial deal. As is, Williams is just a no-brainer, if you believe you would be happy there, which it sounds like you do!</p>
<p>Now, the football will be a HUGE difference, of course. At Williams, other than the Amherst and maybe the Trinity game, you’ll be playing in front of small, indifferent crowds, for the most part. The athletes are probably smaller and slower than most of the Miami-area high school stars. But, you will be part of a great tradition (google Williams College and gameday to get an idea, or “the walk”), and unlike Miami (with some exceptions I’m sure), the football players are all really, really smart and academically motivated, and academics comes first, even for the football team (my frosh roommate was a three year starter who went to an Ivy league med school, as just one example). At Miami, if you ever want to be a serious contributor on the team, you will no doubt be asked to make a lot of academic sacrifices, as it is basically a semi-pro program, as i’m sure you know. Of course, an awesome thing to be a part of, from a fun perspective, no doubt. And of course, the odds of ever making an impact on the field may be stacked against you, whereas at Williams, you will probably make an impact by your sophomore year, if you were heavily recruited. </p>
<p>At Williams, academics and the intellectual life will never play second fiddle to football. So, if you want to have fun, be a campus celebrity, enjoy the beach and nightlife, Williams certainly can’t come close to competing with a place like Miami. Conversely, if you want to focus on academics, have a better chance at going to a top med (or any) med school, or really are worried about post-grad options, period, plus meet a lot more people who are far more academically engaged / serious about their studies, it’s not even remotely a close contest. Ask your parents, if it was Harvard vs. Miami, would they feel the same way, then show them how Williams, like Harvard, is ranked first in US News, and how Williams beats Harvard in Forbes. You would basically be passing up the best education in the country, and your parents need to realize this (many, many do not, when it comes to Williams, alas), before pressuring you to stay home for other reasons.</p>
<p>I think I am pretty much set on Williams now. My parents and I realize how great it is; mostly because of ranking and because of the number of people passing up Ivies and other amazing schools for Williams. Of course, I visited and I liked it a lot. I think it fits my personality and goals. Although it is not in a big city, I think that it provides a helpful environment that will help me grow as a person. The town is small and serene, but should provide enough to do while remaining a great place to focus. I am choosing it because I feel it is the best fit for me and will benefit me the most in the long-term. Even though it would be really fun to play football and stay in Miami, I know that I will be better prepared for a career in medicine after going to Williams. It will also give me a chance to become independent and live in a different part of the country. My parents realize this and are willing to let me go up, even though it would be nicer for them to have me here.</p>
<p>Congrats!!!</p>