<p>I am having a hard time deciding on a school because cost and reputation is important as well as student life and course offerings. I want to do chemical engineering or biomedical engineering but I prefer chemical engineering. If I change my mind about engineering, I might want to do something in business or media.</p>
<p>The schools I am considering and out-of-pocket cost (also known as PLUS loans I have to take out) are below:
Binghamton University - $15325 + $5500 Stafford Loan
Worcester Polytechnic Institute - $13664 + $5500 Stafford Loan
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - $16636 + $5500 Stafford Loan + $2000 Perkins Loan
Northeastern University - $30078 + $5500 Stafford Loan + $1000 Perkins Loan
Syracuse University - $37190 + $5500 Stafford Loan</p>
<p>Here is some of my problems with the schools: Binghamton doesn't have chemical engineering. WPI and RPI have a gender gap and are not located in the best towns in the world. Northeastern's financial aid offer is final. Syracuse's only "issue" is that it's expensive and I am not sure if they will significantly increase my financial aid.</p>
<p>How much can your parents contribute to your college education? Is money an issue?</p>
<p>I feel RPI is the best university for your major. No, it may not be the most comfortable environment but it’s rather difficult to find a quality engineering program full of women. If there ever was one, it’d probably be in a women’s college. </p>
<p>If the gender gap intimidates you, you may want to reconsider your major because it is something you will likely have to deal with for your entire career. -.-</p>
<p>They are willing to take out a PLUS loan of any amount for any school I go to but I have to pay it back on my own eventually. They are very supportive in terms of taking care of personal expenses and travel expenses.</p>
<p>In terms of the major, I do not know another major that involves math and science and results in a high paying job.</p>
<p>I need to decide what school I am going to by the end of today. So far, RPI is “winning.” If anyone has any other input or has any other suggestions. PLEASE tell me. This is urgent. :(</p>
<p>If so, remember it will be multiplied by 4 (or 5).</p>
<p>I think Syracuse and Northeastern are definite no’s. I know as a parent <em>I</em> would not be qualified to keep borrowing over $100 grand by the time you approach graduation, and you might get stuck. Even if you are personally committing to paying it, it is still their credit.</p>
<p>Worcester and Binghamton are basically equivalent financially, whereas RPI is almost $10 grand more over 4 (or 5) years. </p>
<p>I am really surprised you didn’t get any merit from Binghamton, though… you didn’t get a Provost scholarship? You must have the stats for it since you have acceptances to these other schools.</p>
<p>You do have a difficult decision <em>hugs</em></p>
<p>Thanks susgeek for all your help and the hug! It gets me thinking. Yes, this is my out-of-pocket cost every year. I agree that Syracuse and Northeastern are basically not affordable at all unless Syracuse responds to my appeal and does a good job.</p>
<p>I emailed Binghamton and they said: “All of our incoming students are “top of their class” during high school and therefore, because of the academic selectivity that makes up Binghamton University’s incoming freshmen class, we have made a conscious decision to award scholarships based on financial need as well as academic merit. Scholarship funding is given first to those students who not only demonstrate high academic merit but also high financial need, as demonstrated by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If you have been selected to receive a scholarship, either merit or need-based, it will appear in your Financial Aid Award.”</p>
<p>I am trying to think of whether or not RPI is worth that 10K more than Worcester or Binghamton.</p>
<p>Another factor is that I didn’t hear from University of Rochester yet. I am unsure if I will be admitted of not but if I get accepted there then I have to think about them too.</p>
<p>You’ll hear it a lot on these boards (because it’s true). That is a LOT of money to borrow. I think Northeastern and Syracuse are not affordable.</p>
<p>You are right to be concerned about the gender imbalance. I went to a school with that kind of ratio many decades ago and I definitely encountered some strange social situations. However – I still have several very good female friends from my college years. I also met my husband there. Each college is different, but each person’s experience at that college will be different, too. The careers you are interested in will have similar gender imbalance when you are out of college. It’s not a good thing or a bad thing – or rather, it can be both at times.</p>
<p>Within the engineering field, WPI and RPI are both well respected, so reputation should not be an issue.</p>
<p>Can you visit again? Or talk with a female student or recent alum? I see that you are supposed to decide immediately, but why? Don’t you have until May 1st? (Also, if you truly have not heard from Rochester yet, you should contact them on Monday.)</p>
<p>The reason why I have to decide quickly is because RPI’s Accepted Student Celebration is on April 9th and if I decide to go there I want to go to it. If my parents take me there, they will be mad if they spent money to take me there and I decide not to go.</p>
<p>Ask your parents to consider your attendance at the RPI admitted students day as an insurance policy or an investment in your decision. One buys insurance to make sure that nothing goes wrong and one carefully considers all aspects of a large investment before committing. I say visit, but take the little time that you have left to make the best choice for yourself.</p>
<p>I’m certain that they would hate to have you commit before hearing back from U Rochester or before hearing back from any financial appeals. What if you go to the admitted students day and then decide that you’d rather be somewhere else?</p>
<p>That said, RPI sounds like a very good choice for you.
Since you’re still rather undecided as to where you want to focus your academic attention, as it will allow you to explore and refine your choice of major.
The advising at RPI is stellar, but only you and your family can determine if it makes sense financially.</p>
<p>Ask yourself, is advising, smaller class size and more interaction with professors something that would be equal at the state school? Is the individual attention worth the extra tuition?</p>
<p>Thank you hop for your wonderful advice! I am crossing my fingers to hear good news from the University of Rochester tomorrow. I called the admissions office on Friday and they said they mailed my decision recently. Regardless, I feel that RPI is a solid choice amongst the schools I have to choose from. I really want to visit because I want to see if the town of Troy is as bad as people make it seem and I want to meet other students that were accepted as well.</p>
<p>Susgeek you are right. If it takes that trip to realize what is right for me then it could help a great deal. My parents won’t have to waste 16K a year on a school I do not want to go to.</p>
<p>RPI is the best school on this list and it is not as unaffordable as some of the others. An argument could be made for SUNY Buffalo, but I don’t think Binghamton is especially known for engineering.</p>
and I definitely encountered some strange social situations. However – I still have several very good female friends from my college years. I also met my husband there. Each college is different, but each person’s experience at that college will be different, too. The careers you are interested in will have similar gender imbalance when you are out of college. It’s not a good thing or a bad thing – or rather, it can be both at times.</p>