Help Me Pick Where to go to College

College Search & Selection
1

Okay so basically I have 2 weeks left to pick where I am going to undergrad next year and I am freaking out. I don’t really have a front runner and have conflicting opinions on each of my schools. I am undecided at all of my schools except for A&M, and I will most likely major in something in liberal arts/sciences - right now I am thinking psychology. So, I am going to leave all of my information and thoughts below on my 4 choices and if anyone has advice or suggestions, please send them to me!!!

Tulane University:
tuition/other expenses: $72,000
merit aid: $27,000 / year (so tuition would be around $45,000)
admitted to honors program, undeclared (register for classes early, more challenging curriculum)
7,000 undergrad population (i LOVE this size and think it suits me well)
I have visited Tulane twice and really enjoyed it each time. The only thing I am wary of is that it is in New Orleans. It is not the safest city, and while the campus is very safe, I don’t want to have to worry about my safety every time I leave campus. My parents also don’t really like that it is in New Orleans, but like the school. Also, even though I got a large sum of merit aid, tuition is still really expensive as compared to 2 of my other options

Villanova University:
tuition/other expenses: $68,000
merit aid: none
admitted as undeclared in college of liberal arts and sciences
8,000 undergrad population (again, i love this size)
I am literally in Philadelphia rn visiting haha but I absolutely loved my tour yesterday. The campus is BEAUTIFUL and I actually feel like I will really fit in with the people here. I also think I fit in academically here. I’m a little hesitant because it is far from home and also I’ve never lived in snow and am a little scared of the weather lol. Basically, if i completely ignored tuition, it would probably be my #1. HOWEVER, IT’S REALLY FCKING EXPENSIVE AND I DON’T WANT TO SPEND THAT MUCH MONEY AND I ALSO REALLY CAN’T SPEND THAT MUCH MONEY*

University of Texas at Austin:
tuition/other expenses: $28,000
merit aid: none
admitted to the school of undergraduate studies as undeclared
40,000 undergrad population
UT is a really good school and when I visited it I like it. The only thing is that it is really big and I prefer smaller schools, but I really wouldn’t mind the size. Also, it is close to home and I love Austin. Tuition is significantly cheaper than my other options and their liberal arts school is pretty good. HOWEVER, both of my parents went to A&M and my brother is there now, so I basically have been an aggie my whole life so it just would feel weird if I went to UT and I also don’t want to disappoint my parents

Texas A&M:
tuition/other expenses: $28,000
merit aid: $1,000
admitted to the Health Humanities major (I will most likely switch majors)
50,000 undergrad population
*A&M is probably last on my list. It is in the middle of nowhere, it’s liberal arts college is home to their weakest programs, and I just don’t know if I would mesh with the people there. But, it is close to home, tuition is cheap(er), and I feel like I have so many ties to A&M (my family and family friends) that I know they would be so happy if I went there. I don’t think I would be unhappy at A&M, I just don’t think it is the best choice for me.

PLEASE HELP

2

So I did my undergraduate work at Tulane and my graduate work at UT Austin. This was 20 years ago, but I’ll put in my 2 cents.

Tulane was awesome, and you are right, the size I think, is perfect. Just big enough that you are always seeing new faces but small enough that you are always running into friends and people you know, which is pretty cool. That being said, New Orleans is a very high crime city - it was when I was there and still is. My family lives there so I visit often and I am still always on my guard because I was a crime victim when I was an undergrad and I knew others that had issues as well (always off campus, but we are talking a block or two away, not far). That is definitely something to keep in mind, although the city is pretty amazing and an experience to live in. But I did love my time there (had tons of fun and got a great education)

UT is another great school, but HUGE! Totally different experience that Tulane, so you’d have to think if you want a more “campus” feel, with most of the campus limited with traffic and mostly pedestrian, or more of a “city” feel where you are crossing intersections and dealing with traffic as you walk around campus.

I visited both again this past summer with my DD, and these are observations from those visits and my recollection of my time at each school.

I don’t know anything about the other two, but hope this helps a little!

3

It seems to me from your post that you really have two choices: Tulane or UT. Villanova is too expensive and you really don’t want to go to A&M. Going just for family reasons is nuts! Plus having a little rivalry in the family can be fun. So it comes down to is it worth the extra money to go to Tulane.

4

Forget Villanova. Way too expensive for you. So that leaves three.

If you don’t like A&M, don’t go there if you have another relatively inexpensive option that you do like (and you do). That leaves two.

Tulane or Austin. For me, Tulane isn’t worth that amount of debt. To be honest, no school is. You’d come out of Tulane with over $160k in debt. That’s ridiculous. Even if you adored Tulane, unless you’re very wealthy and won’t need any student loans, you can’t afford to go there. It’s Austin. Which you like, and is near home, so it’s a major winner.

5

There’s no reason to spend the extra money for the private schools. I would take those off the list. That leaves A&M and UT, which are both great. UT does have an edge in liberal arts. The only problem is that you would pretty much be stuck in liberal arts. You need a near 4.0 if you want to change your major. A&M offers more flexibility. If you’re set on liberal arts, I would go to UT. If you’re thinking you might end up changing your major, then you’re better off at A&M

6

UT Austin all the way.

7

UT and A&M are your most affordable options. Can your family cover those costs? If they can’t then the other two are out as well. Sit down with your parents and work the numbers. Once you know what is and isn’t affordable, you will be a lot closer to your answer. Lots of nice claculators at finaid.org, run a couple of them.

8

UT. Make foootball Saturday’s more interesting at the old homestead.

9

Definitely UT Austin. It’s better than A&M and not as expensive as Tulane or Villanova but still on the same playing field.

10

For your family don’t make it about a&M/UT rivalry: UT is better than A&M for liberal arts and will offer more opportunities, it’s the reasonable choice.
Your other true choice is Tulane. Can your family afford it without parent loans - if so discuss both options. If not your best choice is UT.

11

If your parents say that they can afford Tulane (whether they take out loans is none of my business and none of yours) then go to Tulane because you like it better. If they can’t go to UT Austin. Nobody can judge your parents’ finances better than your parents. If you were my kid with your choice, I would send you to Tulane.

12

It sounds as though both Villanova and A&M are off the table.

So we’re talking $45K a year for Tulane, or $28K a year for UT… and you don’t sound all that thrilled about New Orleans.

Sit down and make a pro/con list.

Can your family comfortably afford to spend an extra $18,000 a year for Tulane? Exactly how will the difference impact your family’s lifestyle? Does that mean you’ll go without vacations? That mom and dad will have to skimp on retirement savings for 4 years? That the dishwasher simply doesn’t get replaced when it dies? Sit and talk about how comfortable your parents are with the price difference; strangers online simply can’t do that for you.

Then make your choice, put down your deposit, buy the T shirt, and don’t look back.

13

Or the dog won’t get the needed surgery when the meteor hits the truck, unlocking the emergency brake, causing it to roll over his left paw.