HELP! Plenty of acceptances, can't decide where to go. . .

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I am an international student, and knew that getting admitted into a good university would be difficult, so I applied to plenty. Now that the decisions are out, I can't decide where I should go, even though I am leaning towards Cornell, which is rather expensive and will put my family in a weird financial position. Help me out please? Point to keep in mind: I want to do engineering, in an environment that supports all kind of knowledge, and will encourage me to explore my interests.</p>

<p>ACCEPTANCES:
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
University of Texas at Austin
Vanderbilt University
Cornell University
Georgia Tech
Johns Hopkins University
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne
Washington University at St. Louis
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute</p>

<p>WAITLISTED:
Columbia (Spring)
Harvey Mudd (Fall)
UChicago (Spring)
Northwestern (Fall)</p>

2

<p>Hands down Cornell</p>

3

<p>Reasons, reasons? [I have dreamt of Cornell since the beginning and would love to go there, but I am just exploring my other options keeping in mind my family’s financial position]</p>

4

<p>It’s ivy :slight_smile: </p>

5

<p>Ah, yeah, I know :stuck_out_tongue: I’m mostly exploring my options because of the cost of Cornell.</p>

6

<p>what do you mean cost of Cornell? Isn’t Cornell 100% need based School? </p>

7

<p>Ah, I am an international student - didn’t get ANY aid >_____<</p>

8

<p>Georgia Tech- Good for engg </p>

9

<p>Georgia Tech is an extremely preprofessional school with the overwhelming majority of students majoring in a hard science, engineering, or buisness. If you want an intellectually diverse environment, Georgua Tech is not it. </p>

<p>I would choose between Cornell, Vanderbilt, Johns Hopkibs, and the University of Michigan. Vanderbilt has the lowest percentage of large classes and is much smaller than Cornell or Michigan. However the engineering program does not recurve as much fundibg as the one at Cornell or UMich. JHU also has smaller classes, a well funded engineering program, and fantastic humanities. Cornell and UM are obviously excellent schools and are strong in a wide range of fields. </p>

10

<p>UMich is #2 in Material Sciences & Engineering after MIT. </p>

11

<p>(1) Forget the waitlist schools.</p>

<p>(2) Enroll at whichever of the other colleges is the least expensive! You’ll get a great education (and an engineering degree) at any of them.</p>

12

<p>Thanks for all the advice! I’ll have to confer with my parents before taking any final decisions, obviously.</p>

13

<p>My son also deciding umichigan , Georgia tech, vandy </p>

14

<p>What is the financial bottom line for each? Since you will get a great engineering education at each, you can afford to consider what will make you happy. Wenhen is right about GTECH, not quite the all around college experience you seem to desire, though for some students it would be just perfect. And you don’t go to a college brainlessly just because it is an Ivy. And with engineering you don’t need to. You weigh cost in the formula and make a sensible decision. </p>

15

<p>I would choose Vanderbilt/Cornell just for the environment…remember you are going to be there for FOUR years of your life. You don’t want to live in a place that is not enjoyable for you.</p>

16

<p>AGREE with “Collegebound1111”. Most of these school you have listed especially the private ones meet 100% of students needs - International or Not. Except the financial information on your application was inaccurate. That being said… Cornell University, Vanderbilt University, Washington University at St. Louis, and Johns Hopkins University will provide you with an excellent education and great access.
In all, let “FIT & BALANCE” be your guide, and that includes your family… because there is no joy in leaving your family in a stressful financial situation when it can be avoided.
I know it is a difficult situation, and Best of luck to you.</p>

17

<p>This is not a difficult situation. It is a joyous one. Congratulations. You’ve earned every bit of this day. But when this day ends, you still have to do the thing that’s right for you and for your family. An all-around school that fits you and fits your family. With that, ccco2018 and I agree. You can, however, enjoy doing something for your family as well as yourself and not find it difficult.</p>

18

<p>Select the school that works for your budget and has the best overall environment for you. You have great choices, do not make your selection on something as shallow as “it’s an ivy”. For engineering, some of the public universities you listed are quite good, if not better than the Ivy League.</p>

19

<p>My parents and I have decided on Cornell for the following reasons:

  1. I has a very diverse and open learning environment, where one can study LITERALLY ANYTHING.
  2. It has a strong engineering course
  3. My parents can manage the cost for four years, and I will have to work hard and live frugally. After that, I will help them fund my sibling’s education.
  4. As an international student, I feel that Cornell will introduce me to a more diverse community, and a more holistic view of the US culture (as compared to say, Vanderbilt)
  5. It is in a cold place - I want to experience living in a region where it snows :stuck_out_tongue:
  6. I have family living close by
  7. I have support there in the form of friends and acquaintances.
  8. For undergrad, I’m focussing more on the opportunities provided to me by the school, rather than just the strength of its engineering course.
  9. Lastly, it DOES happen to be an Ivy League school. Now that doesn’t automatically mean it’s better than the other colleges on my list, but it does happen to have certain advantages.</p>
20

<p>

This is not true for international students, only few schools give FA to internationals. I know Cornell only give FA to select fews.</p>

<p>Cornell is a great choice if your family can afford it. It has 7 schools where you could take courses from. </p>