<p>Okay so I know their are a bunch of these threads already, but I am really stuck. The two schools I have narrowed it down to are Bard and Binghamton (in state). Bellow I have listed the pros and cons of each school, I have included question marks next to items that I am unsure of. Any advice will be appreciated, thanks!:)</p>
<p>Bard cons:
cost- about $30,000 a year (I have written an appeal for more financial aid, but have not heard back yet)
Too small? (may feel claustrophobic at times?/hard to avoid bad profs?)
Possibly too much empathize on the humanities/arts (the science program may be weaker than Bing?)
further from home</p>
<p>Binghamton Pros:
Undergraduate engineering (I am not completely sure I want to major in science for undergrad)
Large, more resources, easy to avoid bad profs, a lot of things to do, more research opportunities? (about 12,000 students)
More diversity? (mostly because of its larger size)
cost- about $18,000 a year, possibly less after freshman year (Bing does not give scholarships to freshman)
closer to home
Nature preserve
Stronger in sciences?</p>
<p>Binghamton cons:
closer to home
Large (less individual attention,larger classes, less accessible profs?) (also I am not the most outgoing person, so it might be a little overwhelming?)
TA's
I don't know if I would fit in at Bing as well as I would at Bard</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses guys, I guess the only thing that is keeping me from going to Bard is money, but I can’t decide if the $12,000 difference is significant or not. It wouldn’t be if I wasn’t planning on going to grad school, but I am.</p>
<p>^ And that 48K would be ADDED onto your potential 72K of loans (18K/yr x 4). It would also cost you an additional 2 years to get your engineering degree. More $ out of pocket and more time before you start earning $.</p>
<p>Take the distance from home off your lists of pros/cons! Once you get going at either school you will only have time/want to go home for Thanksgiving, etc, even if home is only 20 min away. Believe me, it’s true.</p>
<p>Second – think carefully about taking on all that debt. Unless Bard gave you a handsome fin aid package, that is alot of $$$ to start life in hock–or into grad school. Grad school is not free, either. </p>
<p>Owing that 48k more, or whatever it will come to, will make you wait longer to be able to do things like buy a house/condo, or have kids, or whatever. </p>
<p>On aid appeals – photocopy your family’s actual bills for things they cannot change – I mean mortgage, electr, gas, heating oil, medical bills, life/health insurance, tuition of other children, etc. Not bills for car loans or charge cards. Send them with a polite covering letter to the school. They use a formula that calculates average expenses, but if they have real life expenses of these sorts in front of them, they can use those. </p>
<p>So I just heard back from Bard and they decided to add $1,000 onto my scholarship, which now totals at $25,000 a year. It seems like the amount of scholarship money I am getting is to good to pass up, I think I am going to go to Bard. My parents are pretty much making me decide by tomorrow, so thanks for all of the help guys.</p>