<p>Hello! I am a high school senior attempting to decide between UMD Honors and Pitt Honors. I have to decide in a week (by May 1) and am really stressing out about it. I have no idea which one I would rather attend, so any insight would be greatly appreciated!
I have a $9000 scholarship to UMD. I was unable to get merit aid to Pitt, because I applied about 3 months after that deadline. However, my father is military, so I am using his GI bill for the first two years of college. Therefore, the first two years at both schools would be free. I have in-state tuition to Pitt, but with my scholarship to UMD, the cost for the last two years at both schools would be extremely close. Because of that, money isn't a consideration.
I hope to do a double major in Biology and Anthropology, but am considering Political Science as well. I hope to get a feel for all three topics at college. </p>
<p>Again, any help would be very much appreciated! Thanks!</p>
<p>You need to ask UMD if they will hold that scholarship for you to use in your last two years if you use the military benefits in the first two years. It might not be possible to do that, or the scholarship might depend on you having a certain GPA after two years.</p>
<p>The scholarship is going to be used in conjunction with the military benefits for the first two years, and then used alone the last two. I must earn a 3.2 gpa each year.</p>
<p>Good!</p>
<p>Have you been able to visit both campuses? UMD is HUGE. Happykid won’t even look at it because of that reason. The neighborhood around UMD isn’t particularly attractive, but it is convenient to Washington, DC. The winter weather is a bit milder in College Park than in Pittsburgh, and there does seem to be quite a bit of school spirit. For some parts of PA, College Park would be a shorter drive (in miles) than Pittsburgh, but the traffic in the Baltimore and DC area and along I-95 can be truly hideous so there may be no savings in time.</p>
<p>For ideas about Pitt, you might like to take a look at Pitt’s subforum: [University</a> of Pittsburgh - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-pittsburgh/]University”>University of Pittsburgh - College Confidential Forums)
UMD has one too: [University</a> of Maryland - College Park - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-maryland-college-park/]University”>University of Maryland - College Park - College Confidential Forums)</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>I would opt for Maryland.</p>
<p>Biology better at Pitt, political sci probably better at UMCP (close to the epicenter of DC with its opportunities). Pitt campus more urban, UMPC’s is nice and you can catch metro or MARC to DC. Honors programs operate differently between the two too. Which campus gave you the best feeling? Maybe that’s a tiebreaker.</p>
<p>I definitely favor UMD’s campus over Pitt’s extremely urban one. And in my opinion, UMD’s honors college is much better than Pitt’s. However, I do love the opportunities that Pitt has to offer, the great location, and the much nicer dorms. I’m stuck!</p>