Help deciding? OSU/Miami/Cincinnati/UIC

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hey guys, I'm having trouble focusing on which school I really want to go to. I know ultimately the decision will be mine but I was just looking for outside opinions and thoughts. The choices I have are my top choices and all are in-state except for one, and I've visited each one so far but I'm still having a tough time deciding so any feedback? </p>

<p>Ethnicity: African-American/Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander</p>

<p>Ohio State:
Pros: Urban (city person), large size (I like it as I think it's good enough for me to network with lots of people but not really "stand out" if you know what I mean. Nice comfort level.) and nice campus and facilities
Cons: Maybe not as much professor-student interaction</p>

<p>Miami:
Pros: REALLY nice looking campus, seems to be more nature oriented (I'm just as much of a nature person as I am an urban person), good undergrad program
Cons: Preppy jock stereotypes (It didn't seem to stick out too much when I visited but people have said that this was the dominant disposition there, which doesn't really vibe with me. I like to make sure I look decent but I am far from a prep or jock and very laid back.), maybe not as diverse as I'm hoping for (again has a reputation to be predominately of the preppy jockish upper middle to upper class white persuasion but not too sure about that either)</p>

<p>University of Cincinnati
Pros: I REALLY love this campus, great architecture, urban, students seemed very friendly, their CO-OP program serves my intended major so that's a plus.
Cons: Little more expensive for me than OSU or Miami, heard it's not in a very desirable area (I guess it doesn't bother me as much as some other people, I live outside of Cleveland so I know how to deal in an urban environment pretty well, very streetwise etc.)</p>

<p>University of Illinois at Chicago (Out of state)
Pros: Urban (Chicago! One of my favorite cities ever), Diversity (I really like the amount of diversity here, and seems to go hand in hand seeing as how my intended major will be in the Sociology/Ethnic Cultural Studies area)
Cons: Out of state tuition (we're talking about almost close to $40,000 a year here. Would it even be worth it?)</p>

<p>Anyone else care to give me a little insight of their own? I guess one of my main concerns would be diversity (racial, economic, cultural, attitude, etc.) Father is Samoan, Mom is African-American so I grew up bilingual (Fluent in Samoan) and bi-cultural along with living in about 4 different states so I'm kind of looking for something that can cater to that feel and my intended major easily but I don't NEED it to survive. And with that kind of OOS tuition should I cross out UIC completely from my list?</p>

2

<p>OOS tuition for UIUC (or another Big Ten school) is one thing. I’d never pay it for UIC.</p>

<p>Of the three Ohio schools, they are all very different. </p>

<p>One is a top 20 public university and AAU member university that makes lists of the most friendly campuses for multiple minorities, has a faculty with multiple National Academy members and a Nobel laureate, has Big Ten sports and is actually the least expensive of the three (even before considering its much higher scholarship endowment) while being the highest ranked and most selective.</p>

<p>The second is a solid undergraduate college but not diverse at all. In fact, it’s represented annually on Princeton Reviews list of schools where diversity is not welcome. It has a well regarded undergraduate business school but nothing else that really resonates on a national level.</p>

<p>The third is pretty much an open admission, commuter campus with some mid-level grad programs with the exception of architecture and design which do stand out.</p>

3

<p>The average UIC freshman has an ACT score of 24 and is ranked about the 75th percentile. UIC accepts about 60% of its applicants. It is now considered to be 1st tier school in the USNWR rankings. The University of IL does have a philosophy of sticking it to the OOSers. It also has the largest med school in the country. UIC has an extremely well respected health care program.</p>

<p>The area around UIC has been gentrifying rapidly. I never felt in danger. Just use common sense. The worst areas in the UIC area are closer to the west campus. That is an area an architecture student will probably never head over unless he/she needs to go to one of the outpatient medical clinics.</p>

4

<p>*Cons: Out of state tuition (we’re talking about almost close to $40,000 a year here. Would it even be worth it?)
*</p>

<p>How will you pay it? Are your parents willing to pay?</p>

5

<p>My parents are only willing to about half of the OOS tuition so the rest would be up to me with scholarships and stuff and other aid.</p>

6

<p>What are your test scores and GPA?</p>

<p>What is your likely major?</p>

<p>What is your EFC?<br>
Quick EFC
[FinAid</a> | Calculators | QuickEFC](<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Quick EFC - Finaid) </p>

<p>*My parents are only willing to about **half of the OOS tuition **so the rest would be up to me with **scholarships and stuff and other aid. ***</p>

<p>So, if an OOS school charges $20k for tuition and $12k for room, board, books, fees, misc, are you saying that your parents will pay $10k per year?</p>

7

<p>Apparently my EFC is 389? I’m not sure exactly what kind of score that is but yeah. My parents can only afford to pay up to about $15k a year. I’m not entirely sure still as of yet but my likely major will probably be either Sociology/Anthropology</p>

<p>SAT
Critical Reading: 700
Math: 610
Writing: 710</p>

<p>GPA: 3.7 (unweighted)</p>

8

<p>Apparently my EFC is 389?</p>

<p>??? Something doesn’t sound right. How could someone with an EFC of 389 also pay $15k per year (is that the amount your PARENTS said that they could pay)? </p>

<p>What amount did you put in for income? How many people are in your family?</p>

<p>Are you testing again?</p>

9

<p>AH! I’m sorry about that, I get really confused with the financial aid thing, I accidentally put 2 for the number of family when I meant to put 3. Right now family income is $24-25k since my dad is the only one working at the moment (mom had to retire due to illness) but my mom has recently recovered and she said she would start working again and help out. </p>

<p>I also know they’ve been saving up in a college fund for me, I’m not sure for how long and that some of our relatives who have WAY higher incomes have been giving to my parents to help put me through college. But when I asked my parents they said they didn’t think they could go over 14 or 15k a year?? I’m very confused, they kind of keep me in the dark and tell me not to worry about it but I’m getting very nervous.</p>

10

<p>*I’m very confused, they kind of keep me in the dark and tell me not to worry about it but I’m getting very nervous. *</p>

<p>So, you’re an only child?</p>

<p>I would sit my parents down and explain that you HAVE to know what the situation is for college. Do they have $60k saved for college (4 X $15k)? If not, how much do they have saved for college. </p>

<p>Explain to them that your application choices could change depending on what they tell you. </p>

<p>I would take off all OOS public colleges (like UI-C) unless you are ASSURED that you will receive a big scholarship from them. Schools like UI-C aren’t going to help you with need-based aid beyond the small amounts that you would get from the federal gov’t.</p>

<p>*SAT
Critical Reading: 700
Math: 610
Writing: 710</p>

<p>GPA: 3.7 (unweighted) *</p>

<p>Since you are all male URM with decent scores, you should look into some privates that are very generous to male URMs because they want to expand their diversity numbers.</p>

<p>What is your likely major and career goal?</p>

11

<p>Based on your descriptions of the schools, I think you liked Cincinnati the most. Am I right? I’d choose the school where you felt you “fit”, if you can afford it.</p>

12

<p>Why not OU??? Much more laid-back than Miami, just as beautiful. Diversity is not bad, and getting better all the time. President of the University as well as the assistant Dean of Students are both African-American, and I think they have made the pursuit of a diverse student body a priority.<br>
The closest city is Columbus, which is 1.5 hours away, but the natural environment surrounding OU beats Miami hands-down. The Hocking Hills offer kayaking, hiking, camping and swimming opportunites. School is very green and composts its dining hall waste. Honors Tutorial College is fabulous, a real gem.
Despite its long-time rep, OU is not all about partying. There are honors and substance-free residence halls. The new Dean of Students has succeded in cracking down on the on-campus partying and if you are under 21 and seen drinking in public or drunk, you will be arrested. In the non substance free dorms low key drinking is tolerated in your room as long as no one gets out of control.
OU is teeming with Miami ex-pats who couldn’t wait to leave the preppy, stuck up vibe of that school. And OU is cheaper than Miami or OSU and gives great merit money. Go to their Gateway Scholarship page You might be able to attend thier Honors Tutorial College tuition free! Gateway scholarships are guaranteed and based on your GPA and V M SAT score.</p>