Help me choose my school(seriously pls help)

College Search & Selection
1

Hello my favorite people. Since I can not rely on my family or friends opinions (since every person is telling me to choose a different school) I have reverted back to my fav place.

Im stuck with choosing my college and need some desperate help, here is some quick info:
Major: Management (HR); want the ability to minor and/or double major in areas like journalism, media, sociology, (still trying to figure it out)
Cost: I will be paying for my net cost through private loans and while working in college
Other: I want to go somewhere new/ be able to make new friends, secure internships, and a job post grad in either North Carolina, South carolina, georgia, california, D.C. (so alumni and professional connections are important to me)

My options:
UMass Amherst: Net cost (15k) Good business school, liked the campus area, great cost/ ROI. Cons: In-state, two best friends go here ( i want to branch out), not sure if its the place for me

Univ of New Hampshire: Net cost (15k): Decent business school, pretty campus, in women’s leadership program. Cons: not the best school compared to my other options, less ppl I vibe with, less to do without a car

Virginia tech: Net cost (28k): Good businesss school, alumni connections, amaing campus, vibes seem great. Cons: super expensive in comparison to other schools; can not justify taking out almost 30k in loans every year

Bentley: Net Cost (estimated between 20k-30k): Well known for business, amazing career placement rates, close to boston, accepted into women’s leadership program. Cons: super small, elitist vibe, not much to do if i choose not to major in business, could get need based money revoked after sophomore year which would skyrocket my cost

Wisconsin: waiting for decision: was deffered EA. Likely will be rejected and if accepted will cost too much money, but is the dream school

Other schools accpeted to: Michigan State: direct business admit (33k); Bryant: honors program(28k); quinnipiac 3+1 mba program (27k); Univ of delaware (32k)

2

If your parents are taking loans, I’d go with one of the cheapest options. Did you get a large amount of merit? My daughter applied to some of the same schools, but her costs appear higher (Bentley gave her $30,000 a year, but that’s towards $75,000).

3

Yes I did get quite a bit of merit, my EFC is relatively low so mostly need based with some scholarships.
I will be taking out the private loans in my name with a co-signer and my parents are not contributing finanically to my cost of attendace.

4

This, then reevaluate a transfer for junior year. You can totally “branch out” beyond two friends even if you are all on the same campus.

1 Like
5

With a $7500 EFC and zero help from parents I wouldn’t accumulate debt. What are your plans if your aunt is approved for a year or two but isn’t approved for your last couple of years? You’ll have the debt but no degree.

If your parents are truly not paying anything you should look at your in state options. Are there any schools within commuting distance? Did you get into UMass Lowell?

2 Likes
6

Minimize debt. UMass seems like best option. You will meet plenty of new people. Do well and move wherever you want after graduation. Minimizing debt will help you long-term. Good luck.

4 Likes
7

I don’t think I will have a problem with my aunt only getting approved for a year or two, but I plan to save a bunch of money so im able to either A) contribute to my room and board out of savings rather tha loans of B) move off campus and pay rent from savings which leaves me with 5,000 in loans per year for tuition which I believe I wont need a cosign for.

I’m not really sure how realistic that is, im kind of navigating all of this financial stuff independently, not my parents fault they both just never went through it. I’m thinking this would work best if I went to Umass Amherst, I did get into UMass Lowell but it is roughly the same cost and I wouldn’t be able to commute

1 Like
8

Thank you

9

Thank you! I know Umass is huge so I will be fine… just very “in my head” and ovethinking it, thank you!

10

So are you able to commute to UMass Amherst? If so, does the $15K include room and board and your cost could potentially be less if you commute?

I’d definitely stick with one of the $15K options. That is about what my DD’19 ended up with and between savings and working and living off campus she is able to cover quite a bit of it. If you have some savings, work, can take the federal loans, maybe save money by living off campus, get the AOTC tax credit, you might not need to lean on your aunt too much.

For the AOTC, it might be most beneficial for your parents to claim it as they are more likely to get the full $2500. If they would then give you that amount.

11

Yes, minimize debt. If any future kids are reading, if you have low EFC, apply to ample private schools - you did, Bentley is great…but won’t have journlism, etc.

UMASS and UNH are both fine. The name means less at this point.

Stay away from any school (Quinnipiac) that wants to double with an MBA/undergrad. To get an MBA worth anything, you need to work at least two years b4 going back. No real school will take you without. Getting it on top of undergrad - is just wasting time - and a salary bump you’d get if you went to a real program.

2 Likes
12

Your choices really are UNH and UMass.
UMass is huge so the odds of your hanging out with people you knew from high more than once a week is oretty small.
If you want a change of pace and landscape, go to UNH and take advantage of the special program you got into.
Those are two good choices.

3 Likes
13

Co-signing student debt is a bad idea. It’s because if a financial hardship happens with the co-signers, you have no recourse…and you’d be maxxed out of regular financial aid. If your in-state option is that expensive, you may want to consider doing community college for your first 2 years and transferring. This would bring your debt down to the $27k FAFSA loan cap for a 4 year degree.

2 Likes
14

A friend of a daughter was a very strong student in a similar financial situation. This friend did community college for two years at a school that was close enough that she could live with her father. She did really well and then got a very good merit based scholarship to U.Mass Lowell where she could still live with her father to save room and board. I think that she is something like one or two months from graduating with great grades, a marketable major, and very little debt. The “very little debt” part is going to be important.

I think that you should very seriously consider a similar approach. You want to keep your debt down as much as you can.

I agree with others that if you want to do a full four years at university you need to pick one of the two least expensive options. These will still leave you with quite a bit of debt. U.Mass Amherst is a very good university. I work with tons of graduates from there and in general they are very good.

Sorry, this post was supposed to be to the original poster, but agreeing with @coolguy40. I do not know how to edit who I am replying to.

2 Likes