Hello! My daughter is having a very tough time coming to a final decision of where to go next year and we would love advice, thoughts, feedback on her choices. She is undecided on her major but she is possibly interested in something to do with environmental science/studies or a more liberal arts major (not STEM). She received the National Merit scholarship from Fordham, making this the least expensive option. We were able to visit the campus last week and she really liked it. Overall she likes the size, curriculum and general vibe of the school. She is unsure about living in NYC for 4 years.
She received a decent merit scholarship from U Rochester, but this would be the most expensive option. She loved the campus when we went last week and also really likes the idea of the open curriculum and the research opportunities. She also likes the diversity and size of the student body. She is nervous about the cold winters (but we are from the Boston area, so not sure how different this would be).
Finally, she received a merit scholarship at UVM and this would be the middle school in terms of cost. She likes the campus and general area of Burlington, VT. Sheās a little nervous about the lack of diversity, but likes the curriculum and the opportunities within the Honors college.
Thanks for any help!!
My D will be attending Fordham come fall. She is completely undecided for a major. The range of options at the school is very attractive. We are NYC people, and her being able to explore the city while at college is what sealed the deal.
The campus is great! It is enclosed, very green and serene. A student can do as much or as little of the city as they would like.
Good luck on your decision!
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If weather is a concern, then Rochester will be close to the lake and Burlington is North.
I think you go to Fordham if and only if:
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Money is an issue
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You want the thrill of living in NYC. You say sheās nervous about it for four years - but you donāt know it til you do it. Itās certainly a different way of attending school.
I think all three options are great. Finances are important - is there a huge difference - you say small, medium, large.
Rochester has the most pedigree - but I hear amazing things about UVM.
It also sounds like she likes it best. A jacket can handle the cold weather part 
which is just a few months anyway.
If itās within a few thousand and you wonāt have to take loans, sounds like your best fit. If itās $20K more a year, thatās a lot - so youād have to make a family decision.
Honestly, sounds like you canāt go wrong anywhere - and if the deal at Fordham is super strong due to NMF, how can you say no? Sheās unsure about living in NYC. If she happens to love it, her assuredness will come very quickly. And if you are saving $80 or $100K over UVM (you never gave $$), thatād be a bonus.
Good luck.
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Sorry - to be clear, it sounds like Rochester is her love. But if Fordham is, pick a #, $100K cheaper over 4 years, thatād be tough to pass up.
UVM is great too and they have Honors (if sheās in).
This is like picking between Billy Joel, Elton John, and U2. Thereās not a wrong choice in the bunchā¦
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Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply. Fordham gives her 55k/yr bringing cost to 25 for us. Rochester gave 22k/yr bringing cost to 57 and UVM gave 20k/yr bringing cost to 41 (she is in the honors college there). We would have to take some loans for both Rochester & UVM after we use up the 529 money but nothing too unmanageable for us. However, the more I read and speak with people, the more Iām leaning towards just going for the least expensive undergrad as she may end up going to grad school. Sheās a super smart kid, who has worked extremely hard, and we are excited for what lies ahead! Thanks again for your response.
hahaha - love the concert choices!! Thank you, good way to think about it! 
In the end, we all want our kids to be happy. But Fordham is 128K less.
We all may be able to afford it - but people talk like 5 or 10K is nothing - and itās a lot.
$128K - grad school, another kids school, or you figure out a way to get it from the 529K. Thatās a lot of $$$ to just spend.
Not saying Rochester wouldnāt be awesome- but is it $128K awesome.
Why be under financial stress? Every time the market crashes most will panic. Even $22K a year isnāt cheap - but relatively in education, yes itās great. Itās still a lot of money.
Thatās just how I think.
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Great points again. Thank you!! You gave me alot to think about during another sleepless night tonight!! LOL! And we do have a HS freshman son coming up. Thanks again.
My sonās 529 has 150K in. My 2nd kid 50K.
Iāve barely tapped the first. Iāll take more out this year - but Iāll be transfering my first kid to my 2nd kid who starts in the Fall.
Iāve been paying out of regular incomeā¦but I need to make sure I tap it and in hard form.
There are penalties otherwise.
Just manage it well and youāll be fine. Since you have another kid, youāll have a later bite at the apple.
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All three are wonderful options, but I would definitely consider the least costly undergraduate option if she plans on going to graduate school. FWIW, Vermont Honors (like many state school honors programs) offers a lot of the same benefits of private universities ā smaller classes, opportunities for research and faculty interaction, etc.
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The 3 colleges have different approaches to environmental studies. Since that is her primary interest (?), a deep dive into how each college approaches that subject might help to revise any lingering doubts.
Fordham certainly seems to offer a lot of hands on opportunities for environmental studies - Fordhamās Calder Biological Field Station not far in the next county, on-campus urban agricultural garden, food partnership with local organic farms, campus sustainability program, partnerships with NY Botanical Garden, Wildlife Conservation Society, and Bronx River Alliance, all across the street from campus in Bronx Park. If she doesnāt want to live in NYC for 4 years, Fordham makes available access to study abroad opportunities in environmental research all over the world, which provides a break from city life.
This is a tough time for kids with lots of emotion going on as they anticipate separation both from home and friends. Underneath, this may be the strongest thing going on, which could have her ānot feeling itā. Almost impossible to convince someone of what to do when theyāre in that state. Tough time for parents too, as a result. All the best.
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Among the three options, one appears to be unaffordable.
The choice then becomes NYC versus Burlington, Vermont.
My first reaction when I read environmental studies major was the University of Vermont.
But, there is a serious lack of diversity at UVMāan area of concern to your daughter.
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My d started as a humanities major at Roch and quickly switched to environmental science/public health. They dropped her FA by $20k sophomore year so she transferred out. While we all loved the school, and it was a traumatic time for her, we just could not justify the cost. We did not feel it was worth the price. Personally, I would take it out of consideration. UVM offers many options in and is well known for their environmental majors. But itās still a lot more than Fordham. Tough call. Best of luck to her in her decision!
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Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply and great advice. I will have her look closely at each schoolās environmental studies programs. You also bring up some great points about the opportunities at Fordham. Your response actually made me cry because I think you are 100% right about the effects of the pandemic and the separation from family/family home that has truly become their main āsafeā space. Whether she realizes it or not, I am sure this is impacting her ability to make the final decision. Thank you again for your response - very helpful!
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Sounds like you are in fantastic shape!!
Thanks so much for your reply. Great points about the Vermont Honors program! I do think cost has to become one of, if not THE, top consideration for her final choice.
Thank you for your response!!
Iām so sorry that your daughter had to go through that!! I canāt even imagine how traumatic. I feel like Iāve read about others who went through the same thing at Rochester. I truly appreciate your honest reply and I hope that your daughter is now doing great!
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Iām a current student at RH! I also went here because of the major scholarship they gave me, making it the cheapest option. For the money Iām paying, itās definitely worth it with access to NYC being the BIGGEST pro. The city is an incredible place to go to college. Iām not from a big city, but I love how much there is to do and experience and I think this is a great age to have that experience. There are also tons of other college kids in NYC that are willing to hang, so thatās a fun community.
It just depends what sheās looking for. Fordham isnāt a big sports or greek life school, but the campus is gorgeous and it is so easy to get into the city. As for diversity, sometimes it feels like itās lacking here too but I think because a lot of our diversity comes from commuter students. For geographical diversity, everyone is either from the NE/NY/PA area or international (there are a LOT of international students). There are lots of extracurricular options, campus activities, etc. However, I think the student body isnāt that unified as a lot of kids are doing their own thing and exploring NYC in their free time. I donāt think thatās a dealbreaker for me personally, and regardless everyone here is so sweet. On nice days though, everyone is out on the quad so I think itās nice to have that campus life even though I am in a big city.
Lastly, the food is terrible! A lot of people come regardless though. I hope this helped! Let me know if you have any other questions.
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Look at Environmental Science rather than Environmental studies combined with Urban Studies at Fordham. It would combine solid science and environmental issues linked to urban design.
Being in NYC would be ideal for both.
Would she be allowed to pursue a personal research project? Does her scholarship cover study abroad (if so, an environmental science study abroad program in Costa Rica sophomore year and an urban studies " environmentally friendly urban center" study abroad program jr year would provide fodder for a great research project/thesis.
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