HELP - GT Student looking for some input

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

<p>I was recently offered the GT offer for Cornell for the Fall 09 term. Pretty much, I would go to another school for a year, maintain a 3.0 GPA and not have any grades below a B. This got me thinking, would it be smarter to go to a 4-Year college for this first year and live a traditional college life, or stay home and go to community college. One of my goals for next year was to move out and not live at home. Obviously at community college this would not be an option. I have been accepted to Villanova, U of Miami (FL), Loyola Maryland, Fairfield, Fordham, and Delaware. The only problem with these schools is that I did not receive much financial aid or scholarship offers. Going to a college for one year and paying $35,000 + compared to community college and $4,000 tuition is a big difference. So I guess what I am asking for is some input on my decision. Maybe from fellow GT'ers, Cornell students, or just any other person willing to give some input. </p>

<p>Heres a quick list of my pros and cons</p>

<p>Going Away - 4 Year School
Pro
-Chance to get used to college life.
-Live on my own.
-Have a much higher morale
Con
-$ Issues
-Possibly harder to concentrate living on campus compared to living at home</p>

<p>Staying Home
Pro
-Save money
-Assure myself of getting the grades I need
Con
-Living with my parents
-Staying home while all my friends will be experiencing new things at college
-Sacrifice independence</p>

<p>I feel like going away is what i want, while staying home is what i need. For anyone who has actually read this far, thank you and any input would be great.</p>

2

<p>personally, i would go to a cheaper state college or a community college (for financial reasons). you may not have the "college experience" for the first year, but you'll be able to enjoy plenty at Cornell for the next 3 years!</p>

3

<p>I'm a 2008 GT to the Hotel School, and I am spending this year at University of Delaware. I chose to enroll in their HRIM program, which is fairly comparable Cornell's hotel school. I definitely recommend spending your year at a traditional 4 year school. You only have one freshman year, and you don't want to be experiencing college life for the first time as a sophomore. Not to mention the fact that you'd be missing out on one of four of the best years of your life. I considered an alternative such as community college, but looking back I know I made the right decision. I know you're concerned with the financial aspect, but I saw you also got accepted to Delaware, and compared to the other schools, it's very cheap. I don't know what your intended major is, but for me, if I had only gone to a community college for this year, then I would be behind my fellow Hotelies in terms of making connections with employers and having internships. You also mentioned the grades issue, and if you're capable of getting a GT to Cornell, then you'll definitely be able to do well at Delaware. I'm taking harder classes than most freshman take, and I still have a 3.8 GPA, so don't worry too much about that. Good luck! Hope this helps!</p>

4

<p>I am a GT for this fall and I am currently enrolled in the University of Virginia. UVA actually gave me a full ride, but I would definitely understand you dilemma. One of the pros of attending a decent 4-year college is that you are exposed to an environment which is similar to that of Cornell. On the other hand, you have to put more work into study to fulfill the requirement. Further, once you enroll in a 4-year college, you may want to stay because you have already established a social network and your school may not be that bad at all. After all, I will still recommend going to a four year college because I feel like I would have wasted a year if I spent my freshmen year in a community college.</p>

5

<p>Well, I'm a GT for Fall 2008 and I've spent the past year at a community college. I had the option to go to UVA (I'm in-state, so money wouldn't have been a huge problem), but I decided to stay home instead. I'd known from the beginning of my college search process that Cornell was where I wanted to end up, no matter what. However, staying home this year was definitely not as easy as I thought it'd be. </p>

<p>I work a lot at my job and my classes are easier than anything I took in high school (I was an IB full diploma candidate), which is really not what I expected I'd be dealing with during my first year out of high school. I'm glad that I've known all year long that my grades would undoubtedly be good enough to get me to Cornell this fall, but I miss the academic challenge. I don't have many friends at home (all of my good friends go to school at least three hours away, sadly), but breaks and weekends home are usually spaced far enough apart that I don't go very long (usually only three weeks or so) without having a good friend at home for a few days. I'm not sure what your situation with friends/social opportunities would be if you went to community college for a year, BSolz2005, but for me that's definitely been the hardest part. That, and my ego taking a hit for being a valedictorian and going to community college right out of high school. </p>

<p>If money is an issue and you don't have many other options, community college is a good idea. If you have other things to occupy your time other than coursework (friends, a job?), community college is a good idea, considering the work will be easy (...or, it was for me). </p>

<p>In terms of sacrificing your independence, I'm not sure what your parents would be like, but mine became super relaxed this year after I argued that I wouldn't have a curfew were I away at school, would have to be responsible for myself, etc. Talk to yours, see how things would change if you stayed home for a year.</p>

<p>If money is an issue, I wouldn't waste it on a school you're not crazy about if you have less expensive options, you know?</p>

<p>Let me know if you have any other questions--I'd be happy to answer them. :)</p>

6

<p>Thanks to everyone for their ideas and input. Getting exposed to college life during my freshman year compared to my sophomore year is extremely important to me. I listed in my original post that one big factor in this decision was money. It actually helped alot when my mom came in and told me that she trusts me enough to get the grades I need somewhere else and that she wants me to be happy. Knowing that this is virtually impossible at home she has offered to send me to wherever I want to go. Indigo, I really understand where you're coming from. If I stayed home I would have to find a job, and the classes at community college would not be as difficult as the AP's I have taken at my high school. I live in NY, and with all my friends going away (GF to Bucknell, 2 best friends to Nova, 2 best friends to BC) I feel like I would be miserable at home. This thread has been great so far, especially hearing from other people who were in my situation. It's always easier to hear from someone who has already been through this.</p>