To be honest, I usually try to avoid College Confidential forums because every time I read a thread my anxiety flares up, but then I realized that right now, realistic and critical advice is exactly what I need. I’m trying to make a decision between the three schools to which I’ve been accepted and can presumably afford: UTDallas, BYU, and UIdaho. Here’s the dealio.
I’m a National Merit Finalist, so all three schools offer great scholarships. BYU hasn’t released their complete scholarship or financial aid information, and neither has UTDallas. However, assuming that I only get the same Pell Grant and the NMS scholarships, my estimated costs come to this:
-UIdaho - I would be paid $1,638 per semester.
-UTDallas - I would be paid anywhere from $323-660 per semester.
-BYU - I would pay anywhere from $1,246-2,056 per semester.
Obviously, UI is the best option financially, which is a huge deal because I’m part of a low-income family.
However, when it comes to where I actually want to go, BYU is on top, with UI slightly above UTD. BYU has much better programs for what I want to study. (It’s currently history, but I’m sort of hoping that I end up wanting to change to something that can provide me with a more certain future.) From what I can tell, they’re also the easiest school to change your major. UI tends to have programs that start you out first semester freshman year, and if you changed you’d be behind.
I’ve already done most of my general education credits for BYU and UI through AP, so I’d end up having more choice in classes. On the other hand, UTD has just enough Gen Ed credits left to fill up my freshman year, so I’m thinking if I go there I’ll be able to figure out my major without getting too locked into any one thing.
It’s also a factor that I want to take two years off for an LDS mission, and that’s much easier at BYU. UI has been unclear about how that would affect my scholarship, but UTD has been very helpful about it too.
My dad went to UI, so even though one part of me wants to go continue the legacy, another part of me wants to go somewhere else and be my own person, especially because he was an engineering major and has encouraged me to look into their program for it. (Which is very good, but not my kind of stuff.) He also spent a year at BYU and has warned me that the social environment there is very relationship-focused, which I am not. UTD would be the best school for going off on my own since it’s the farthest away from where I live now, Boise.
Finally, I struggle with social anxiety, and since many of my best friends are going to BYU, it would be more comfortable for me. I have one other friend going to UTD, and a few friends going to UI. None of those friends are particularly close. (Don’t worry, I know that it’s unlikely I’ll stay close to my high school friends. It’s just that it’ll be a lot easier for me to be myself and start making new friends if I’m around a few older friends.)
So, it seems to be a decision between where I want to go and what I want to cost my family. Should I go to BYU or UI, or is UTD the surprise best option?
Oh, and a bonus question. How do I tell my parents what I decide? And how do I handle it if they’re disappointed? I’m the good child. I’ve never had to worry about that before.
Thank you! I’ve been struggling with this decision for a month, and with less than a week left, I decided that I needed advice from people who know what they’re talking about. I’d appreciate any help you can offer.