<p>Please read, I'm looking for some meaningful advice.</p>
<p>Okay, so May 1st is less than a week away, and I need to make a decision about college. Unfortunately, my guidance counselor is absolutely no help.</p>
<p>My choices are down to Case Western and Ohio State.</p>
<p>After scholarships and grants, I'm around $3,000 short for CWRU, and will have to take out a Stafford Loan and Perkins Loan for that amount.</p>
<p>After scholarships and grants, I'm around $3,000 over for OSU, which I can use for "other expenses".</p>
<p>I have a lot of people telling me to go for Case, and others telling me to go for OSU. Some people feel that the decision is a no-brainer; the problem is that they picked opposite colleges.</p>
<p>So...help?</p>
<p>Edit: Oh yeah, and I plan on majoring in Chemical Engineering, although I'm considering Biomedical Engineering. I know that Case's BME program is excellent.</p>
<p>Although it would be nice to graduate debt-free by going to OSU, 12K isn't THAT much in the grand scheme of things. If you like Case better and you know their BME program is good, go there.</p>
<p>I agree with Knights. With the costs of college these days, that is NOT that much debt to be in. If you think Case has a better program and can land you a better job in the future, I'd go with Case.</p>
<p>I third the motion. The difference in money isn't that great, especially for an engineering degree. So just go where you think you really want to be.</p>
<p>I agree with the two posters above. Especially for somewhere like Case, $12K is def. not a bad amount, one you could easily repay with a bit of work.</p>
<p>I'd vote for Case also. I think the cost/benefit scenario favors them based on what you indicated. The only thing that might sway me otherwise is if you really wanted that big college undergrad experience -- OSU is awesome in that regard. For purely acdemics though, I think Case has distinct advantages that are definitely worth the $12k.</p>
<p>Hmm... so far this thread is turning out better than I was expecting. I had been firmly decided on Case before a bunch of people told me that OSU was the way to go. But 6 people saying "go with Case" is really encouraging. Looks like I'll have to be pessimistic and ask some biased questions.</p>
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<ol>
<li><p>According to recent U.S. News rankings for ChemE, OSU is ranked at like #25 while Case is ranked at like #34. So does OSU have the better program for my intended major, and therefore I should go there?</p></li>
<li><p>If I went to OSU, I would be in the Honors Program. Wouldn't that come with some added perks and make OSU more worth it?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Please, can anybody provide an answer to these two questions? These are the only things holding me back from accepting my admission to Case right now.</p>
<hr>
<ol>
<li><p>According to recent U.S. News rankings for ChemE, OSU is ranked at like #25 while Case is ranked at like #34. So does OSU have the better program for my intended major, and therefore I should go there?</p></li>
<li><p>If I went to OSU, I would be in the Honors Program. Wouldn't that come with some added perks and make OSU more worth it?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>OSU Honors must certainly come with some perks that would wipe out any difference between OSU and Case (If there even are any really). That and being debt free swings it to OSU as far as this penny-pinching mom is concerned.</p>
<p>Are there any restrictions on your scholarships/aid? Do you have to maintain a particular GPA? Is your aid strictly dependent on your family EFC, and is that likely to change?</p>
<p>Look at the ChemE program at both schools. How alike is the course sequence? Is one of them more flexible than the other? Do you care about being able to take more electives or do a double major? Will you lose your scholarship if you change majors?</p>