<p>I want peoples opinions on the two. I have made the following pro/con list of my own... feel free to add to it, or just to add your own comments.</p>
<p>I'm trying to make up my mind by Sunday so that if I DO want to dorm at Binghamton, the form goes online on April 15th. And I don't want to spend all this money to dorm if I can't even get the dorm I want...</p>
<p>*Cross-posted like four times. Forgive me, I'm just an anxious ball of anxiety as of late.</p>
<p>Stony Brook</p>
<p>PROS
- Easy to get home
- Long Island pizza & bagels
- Known for research advances nationally, if not internationally
- Very affordable
- Has a medical school*
- Accepted into University Scholars Program
- Ability to save money for medical school
- Continue Friendlys job
- Research = HUGE!
- More time to focus on studies, since social life would take a back seat.</p>
<p>CONS
- Feel like Im going to work = commuting.
- Need a functioning car for ALL FOUR YEARS.
- Additionally, gas money = $$$
- Dreary campus.
- Too many Northport-ers/too familiar.
- HUGE lecture halls = HUGE classes.
- Bigger than Binghamton
- Will never have THE college experience.
- Lack of school unity half a commuter school.
- Those that commute, originally plan to do so, in my opinion.
- * Going to the same school for Med. School as undergraduate isnt necessarily good. Fierce competition with others Stony Brook undergraduate graduates.</p>
<p>Binghamton</p>
<p>PROS
- Undergraduate focus
- HUGE Jewish life
- Independence
- Pretty campus
- Get away from parents, but a decent distance away.
- RA = leadership role.<br>
- Has a nursing school backup in case MD isnt my plan anymore.
- Reasonable transportation to and from school. (i.e. Bus, friend, parents)
- Really smart student body more selective.
- BIG study abroad program.
- Smaller lecture halls (approx. 400) = smaller classes in general.
- Wouldnt need a car (maybe in sophomore year, but not a requirement)
- Already foresee myself there/feel at home.
- Change in scenery/setting.
- IVY of the SUNYs reputation.</p>
<p>CONS
- Up to $40,000+ in debt (if current financial situation persists, without being an RA)
- Known primarily in the Northeast (?)
- Rural-ish area* (Though this does NOT have to be a bad thing)
- Weather = mostly rainy and cold. Could be depressing.
- Would require moving assistance to get stuff to dorm.</p>
<p>I'm a little confused about the money issues between the two schools. Isn't the tuition the same, but you'd be saving the room fee at Stony Brook (minus the gas, car maintenance, potentially insurance)?</p>
<p>midatlmom - The tuition is nearly the same. However, I was offerred a $1,000 scholarship at Stony Brook for all four years (if certain stats are maintained, I forgot the specifics...). The big clincher is the room & board which is another $9,000. </p>
<p>Though I hopefully plan to be an RA to help save money in my future years at Binghamton. And I'm willing to work for money to help... but it still doesn't eliminate loans entirely.</p>
<p>I could in theory graduate from Stony Brook without any debt. But no college experience =(.</p>
<p>Since you will still be spending some money on food (lunches and some dinner 3-5 days per week), you should try and include that in your Stony Brook costs. In addition, as I mentioned, your gas and car maintenance costs and possibly extra insurance costs should be factored in, although some of this will be a wash because of the costs of travelling to Binghamton and back a few times a year. Looking at all of it, it appears that Binghamton will cost somewhere between $6000-$8000 dollars a year more. By working during the year and the summer, you could probably earn several thousand dollars. If you really want to go to Binghamton and have a fuller, residential college experience, I think that the debt load at the end of the four year period would be manageable (not great, but not horrible either).</p>
<p>I would highly recommend dorming at Binghamton, commuting to school is a pain especially in the NYC area because of traffic (I've been commuting to Westchester Community College for 3 semesters and traffic is horrible and Long Island traffic is even worse), also maintaining a car is not only expensive but very time consuming (I've had to take the bus to school on multiple occasions if my car was in the shop), and worst of all commuting usually leads to lack of a social life.</p>
<p>Cerealkiller - I feel the same exact way. I think I need to point out the car expenses/maintence fees to my father. I don't think he's realizing that Binghamton in theory would not be that much more.</p>
<p>midatlmom - Especially if I plan to be an RA for three years... the only real loans I'd have to pay back would be those from freshman year. That is, if I get ZERO scholarship money this year, which I don't think will happen. I'm applying to so many that chances are I'll get at least SOMETHING, even if its' $500 here or there. It all adds up.</p>
<p>Perfectedxchaos--Why don't you talk to your father about this. I agree that Binghamton is not so much more expensive than Stony Brook and I think that, although Stony Brook is exceptionally strong in sciences, Binghamton provides a stronger residential, campus experience and is a strong all-around school. As a parent, I can completely understand why you would prefer Binghamton and I think your father might understand as well. If you explain all the finances to him and say that you will do whatever you can to cut expenses (share rides home, get used textbooks etc.), he might well be supportive.</p>
<p>Perfectedxchaos-I think that Binghamton does have a better academic reputation than Stony Brook at this time. Binghamton is the "crown jewel" of the SUNY system. With gasoline costs continuing to rise, don't underestimate the commuting costs, car maintenance issues, etc. Although you would save the room and board costs by living at home, it does cost $$ for your parents to feed you. Would they expect you to pay any $$ towards your living expenses if you lived at home and commuted to SB? I think you are coming up with some good ways to cut costs. Perhaps you can persuade your parents that Binghamton is an excellent choice and you are willing to do your part to make up whatever actual difference there is in costs of attendance. Good luck!</p>
<p>t1388 - I wouldn't dorm there because it's 30 minutes from home. It makes no sense. And then I wouldn't be saving the money that my father supposedly thinks we're saving.</p>
<p>But I spoke to my mother about it today, and we came up with a plan. I'll go to Binghamton for a year, test it out, and see how the finances work out. If it's working out reasonably, I can continue to go there. Otherwise, I could always transfer to stony brook. At least in this case, I've experienced the college life for a year, and I would know that they gave me the chance.</p>
<p>I appreciate all the advice you guys have put forth! I also find the parental advice encouraging. Sometimes I wonder how accurate my arguments are. It's good to know that I have others that feel the same way, who have dealt with the situation before. =)</p>
<p>I'm not out of the clear just yet.
I still have to tell my dad my whole philosophy on the college thing. And I'm visiting Stony Brook on Saturday... so hopefully come Sunday, I'll put a deposit down at Binghamton =).</p>