<p>Okay basically I'm freaking out because I'm not sure where to go to college next year (and this is new to my mom who can't offer any help). I've been reading the College Confidential forums for a while and have finally decided to post a thread because you guys seem so knowledgeable. </p>
<p>So I've applied to: UFlorida, UMiami, New College of Florida, Wheaton College (IL), Emory University, UPenn, WashU, and Case Western.</p>
<p>Most likely I will narrow it down to UF (accepted) or UPenn (yet to hear of admission decision), since NCF and Wheaton were safeties, Emory doesn't offer a chemical engineering degree, UMiami is TOO close to home, WashU won't take any college credits (I have two years of credit from going to a collegiate high school), and I'm not too interested in Case.</p>
<p>UF:
Pros- not too far from home, yet far enough. affordable. good academics. stereotypical college experience. warm climate. diversity. great internships. college town. triathlon team. school spirit. great job connections after graduation. big enough for me to not have to run into the same people constantly. friends are going. scholarship for being National Achievement Finalist.
Cons- everyone I know is going. feel like I deserve more due to high sat (1450) scores and extracurriculars. huge (50,000). hate the school colors (but at least it's not purple).</p>
<p>UPenn:
Pros- ivy. challenging academics. far away. lots of clubs. internships/other opportunities. diversity. large enough without being huge. it's out of state (have been in Florida my whole life). Quaker mascot.
Cons- cold. expensive. will only accept a year of college credits. probably will get homesick. won't know anyone.</p>
<p>Before you get ahead of yourself, UPenn has an acceptance rate of something like 11 or 12% for most of its programs, so there’s a high chance you won’t get to choose.</p>
<p>Anyway, do you qualify for the honors college at Florida?</p>
<p>UF seems like a no brianer to me. Two of your cons kind of cancel one another out…“Everyone you know is going there.” and “Huge” UF is is about ten times bigger than my whole town and it is even easy to avoid people here. Vow not to room with anyone you know, join clubs and do activities that are new to you and you will not have any reason to spend time with “everyone” You do deserve something wonderful for your hard work and I have to say that UF is pretty wonderful. I don’t know if money is an issue but the whole Bright Futures thing is enviable to those of us in other states and since you can’t use it at an OOS school it seems a waste to not attend an in state school. Save money and go somewhere else for graduate school then rake in the big bucks without being overly encumbered by student loans.</p>
<p>Plus you are in there and sort of counting your chickens with Penn so why not work on falling in love. If Penn comes through then you can revisit this question.</p>
<p>I agree with the other posters, if you don’t know if your into Penn yet, then stop worrying about picking. Focus on UF and trying to make it work, and worry about this question if you get accepted at Penn.</p>
<p>You DON’T need help --You have presented a clear and thought out comparison of all your schools. You’ve already narrowed it down to 2 schools! Get FA forms done now, then sit back and relax until April.</p>
<p>UF sounds wonderful. Be thrilled if you wind up there. Don’t care if “everyone” goes there. Your education is not to impress the neighbors.</p>
<p>Come back to this decision in April AFTER you have your Penn acceptance & FA</p>