<p>Elon, Bryant, Bentley, and Syracuse are all very good business schools, but none are known for significant merit aid. Elon would probably net out lowest due to their lower sticker price. Elon is $42K for tuition, room, and board. They offer small merit (up to $6K) to approximately the top 15% of applicants, which you are likely on the cusp. Bryant, Bentley, and Syracuse will not have enough merit to net down to $40K range.</p>
<p>FWIW, I have a finance degree from Bryant. I recently toured Elon for my son. I kept thinking if I knew about this place back then, I would have gone to Elon instead. Very impressive.</p>
<p>Since you asked about merit aid, I should put in a plug for Alabama. Surprisingly well respected business school, great student life, and the best merit aid for your situation. You already qualify for half-tuition scholarship, bringing total cost down to $26K. If you get your SAT up to 1330 (math and reading, superscored), you would get half tuition, bringing cost down to $22K. They also have two-thirds and full tuition scholarships for just a little higher SAT or ACT.</p>
<p>Vitrac, it sounds like all is going well. ShawD also had a wonderful time at Birthright. Last night, she was going to a party at the abode of a girl at another school that she met on that trip. Good friends and attitudinal changes. </p>
<p>My advice, turtleneck, has changed over time but I still would suggest business at the MBA level and liberal arts/technical education first. Learn how to think well and learn how to code or analyze data. then work then get MBA. I think that will leave you better prepared for the labor market of the future.</p>
<p>@turtleneck7, donāt worry about ānameā of the school as much as āfitāā¦do you like a particular school more than another? Do you feel more comfortable around the student body of one school than another? Have you compared curriculae - actually looked at the 4 year plans and seen what classes are required for your major, what are required for the university for graduation (general education reqs), what electives are available within your major, what opportunities are unique to each school? I suggest spending an overnight at each of the schools that you are considering/that you are admitted to. Worry less about the ānameā than where you feel you can call home and thrive at for the next four years. Rankings and name brand are really all in the eye of the beholder and one size does not fit all. So, donāt let other peopleās opinions sway you. Merit money is nice upfront, but what do you have to do to maintain itā¦and if something should happen that the scholarship should no longer be available (you donāt know in this economy if funds will dry up or if you have one bad teacher that upsets your gpa for a semester and disqualifies you), would you still be able to afford that school? On the flip side, the school that doesnāt have merit money upfront may have funds available for upperclassmenā¦so, as I said, you really need to dig deeper. Other soft costs to consider are travel expensesā¦some of these schools are going to cost you more to come home for holidays than othersā¦</p>
<p>@turtleneck7 I will add to what the others said by saying that you are getting a bit ahead of yourself with this question. It is certainly good to consider it, but it is best answered when you see what your actual choices are, total costs, and discuss them with your parents in context of your familyās finances. </p>
<p>Admission to any top college is not predictable for most students. Still, if you are in reasonable range and want to attend, then you should apply. Many merit awards are competitive, so they are not predictable either. Only when you know your actual choices and cost, can you compare attending college A with no merit to college B with merit. </p>
<p>At this time, the choice is where to apply, and rather than choose between the options, you can apply to all the colleges that you wish to consider. Then spend some time getting to know the different colleges better. Unless you have applied ED binding to any college, this process can take several months to decide.</p>
<p>In the end, I have seen families make the decision between higher cost/better in their eyes college and lower cost college in both directions. In some cases, the lower cost college is their favorite choice. In other cases, it is not, and that isnāt an easy decision, but how a college fits a student includes cost. </p>
<p>Maryversity is correct in that āone size doesnāt fit allā when it comes to college, but right now, you are in the process of applying, not committing. Rather than choose now, applying to all your options will give you an opportunity to choose in the spring. </p>
<p>Hello RVM and members of this community. It has been several years since I posted here. Found great advice for my daughtersāoldest went to Richmond and middle D is a senior at Wake Forest. (President of Hillel there and organized the Interfaith Live and Learn communityālots of great opportunities to participate in Jewish life on campus!) Now knee-deep in the college search for #3, my son. He is looking into PA state schools instead of the private, out of state liberal arts schools that his sisters went to. But it seems very difficult to find Jewish community at Millersville, Lock Haven, Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Interestingly, each campus has a synagogue within walking distance to campus, but only a dozen or two families belong. And apparently only about a dozen or two students participate in any Hillel programs. Is there a PA state school that has a more vibrant community? (We know Pitt does and are friends with the Hillel directorās parents but wonder if S will be overwhelmed with the size of PItt and Penn State.) His learning style fits better with smaller campus size and more individual faculty attention. Are we asking for too much, smallish PA state school that has any Jewish life on campus.</p>
<p>Thanks for suggesting Muhlenberg, but he is only looking at state schools (and Muhlenberg is within walking distance of our house so no way he would go that close. West Chester has been my favorite. Love the town and how close it is to Philly. Seems to have the strongest Jewish community for one of the PA state schools. They are the only state school that hasnāt gotten back to him with his admission letter yet which is frustrating him. All the other state schools admitted him before Labor Day and he is already accepted into 3 of the state schoolās Honors Colleges. Which brings up another question. Is it a reasonable assumption that being part of IUP or Millersvilleās Honors College improves the overall college experience? We toured both and it seems like a great ālive and learnā community, with special Honors dorm, unique Honors seminars based on liberal arts inquiry and debate, and very close attention by the Honors faculty. Seems ideal for a student who is shy and needs that type of individual attention from professors. What do people know about these Honors Colleges and should he forgo the colleges that just accepted him in as general admission and only select one of the universities that has admitted him into the Honors College?</p>
<p>Iām not familiar with the particular honors programs that you mention, but I can add a little information in general. Honors programs are different from campus to campus, but in general, they are good to be part of as they offer certain opportunities for students. How much that benefits the student can vary depending on the program and also on the student. Look at the class offerings and also requirements. A senior thesis or capstone project might be beneficial to a humanities major, or pre-law students, but a physics major might be better off using that time to do research and take advanced math/physics classes. Honors housing is nice for more studious or shy students, although how quiet the dorms are can vary. In general though, they are probably quieter. Some programs have small classes, research opportunities. In general, honors programs are nice perks, but part of the entire college. </p>
<p>Should he forgo colleges where he isnāt in honors? No. Honors is a part of the college experience, but it doesnāt override the fit of the college in general. Most students take about 2 honors classes a year, but take most of their classes with the rest of the students in the college. It is possible that being a non-honors student at College A is a better overall fit for him than being an honors student at College B. Also, in college, there could be several ways to have āhonorsā besides being in the honors college. Graduating with a certain GPA could be graduating with honors. College A may offer him something College B does not. </p>
<p>At this time, he doesnāt need to decide. He can keep all his options open, and choose one when he knows where he is accepted.</p>
<p>Some Honors programs have a very high cut off HS GPA and ACT/SAT score.
Dās Honors that accepted 200 top applicants was looking for the top 2% and ACT=31+.<br>
In regard to "business at the MBA level " - there are sooo many businesses big and tiny that are paying for the MBA degree. There is no reason whatsoever to go for the MBA on your own. Anyway, in business, the sooner one works the better. Both my H. and I obtrained MBAs and tuition was covered by various employers. We actually did not need it at all, but why not if it is free and fun. We always worked full time.</p>
<p>That is so not true. The number of employers paying for advanced degrees, especially if it is not needed for their job, has dropped significantly. That was a great employee benefit years ago, but not presently. </p>
<p>Glad I figure out how to see CC on iPad app since Iāve been traveling since I sent last post.
So yesterday S received admissions packet from West Chester and i encouraged him to consider it because they have the strongest Jewish life of any of the PA state schools. He dismissed their admissions offer since he feels heāll get lost āas just a regular student thereā vs. being in the IUP or Millersville Honors Colleges. While I was traveling this week to a national education conference I met several professors from both IUP and Millersville and asked them what makes their universities unique. Millersville profs talked about being a small caring school with a lot of individual attention, advising, and learning support. All sounded good. IUP profs said they are way ahead of the other state schools in global connections and research opportunities for undergrads. Also sounded good. Any words of advice as S weighs all of this? (And his oldest sister is telling him that being part of a small recognized cohort group really matters. She was a Richmond Scholar undergrad and didnāt fully appreciate what a difference it makes until she is now working on a MFA at University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and is frustrated by the bureaucracy of such a big school and how difficult it is for students to stand out as student leaders in such a large University system. She urges him to accept the Millersville Honors college offer, based on size and reputation of being a caring environment). Any thoughts? RVM have you placed any of the high school students you counsel in any of the PA state schools?</p>
<p>Elon has no religious affiliation. It was founded by the Christian church over a hundred years ago (which was news to me), but has been nonsectarian for years. </p>
<p>Hi creativecrew - no - sorry - not a lot of interest in the PA state schools among the students I have worked with in this area - I 'm sorry I do not have much to add on this topic.</p>
<p>turtleneck - Elon is actually becoming more diverse every year - and Jewish life at Elon is thriving. The current freshman class is about 10% Jewish. Elon no longer has any church affiliation. </p>
<p>@creativecrew- Iām not familiar with the colleges, but he has time to decide. It would be good for him to spend some time at the colleges. Some have scheduled overnights for prospective students/accepted students. If not, perhaps it is possible for him to spend a day with a student, go to classes, eat in the cafeteria. If you call, the college may arrange this. If not with other students, he can sit in on classes and perhaps meet with a professor. </p>
<p>One benefit of a small college is that the professors teach the classes, and they are smaller. Your son might like this. As to Jewish life- is there any kind of club or organization for Jewish students? Any Jewish studies classes? By making contact with other Jewish students, he can get an idea of what it is like for them. The group may be small, but if it is reasonably active, it might work. </p>
<p>I think visits, and spending time on campus would help him decide. You donāt have to decide until spring, so he can take his time. </p>
West Chester has been my favorite. Love the town and how close it is to Philly. Seems to have the strongest Jewish community for one of the PA state schools. They are the only state school that hasnāt gotten back to him with his admission letter yet which is frustrating him. All the other state schools admitted him before Labor Day and he is already accepted into 3 of the state schoolās Honors Colleges. Which brings up another question. Is it a reasonable assumption that being part of IUP or Millersvilleās Honors College improves the overall college experience? We toured both and it seems like a great ālive and learnā community, with special Honors dorm, unique Honors seminars based on liberal arts inquiry and debate, and very close attention by the Honors faculty. Seems ideal for a student who is shy and needs that type of individual attention from professors. What do people know about these Honors Colleges and should he forgo the colleges that just accepted him in as general admission and only select one of the universities that has admitted him into the Honors College?</p>