Hello, I am having a really hard time deciding what college to attend. May 1st is approaching soon so I could really use some guidance in making a decision between Howard and University of Miami. Both schools have totally different atmospheres. I’ve laid out the details of each school.
Intended major at both is public relations, but I’m looking into exploring other interests such as Business.
Howard:
Pros:
It’s in Washington DC. I really enjoy the DC area and could see myself living there after college
I would finally be surrounded by majority black students and faculty for the first and probably only time in my life. Because of this, I feel that I would get more support academically and socially.
They have a good social scene from what I’ve heard (hoco, parties, greeks, #4 best party school according to niche) and it’s also in DC
#1 producer for black communications and journalism professionals (from their website)
rich in history and culture
Cons:
Administration and financial aid office seem unorganized and lack communication between faculty and students
Have not visited the school
The female to male ratio (70% to 30%)
lacking sports scene
outdated buildings/ resources
The initial cost of attendance is 48k. I received a 13k scholarship so I would have to pay 35k out of pocket.
University of Miami:
Pros:
Warm weather
I would be in the Foote fellows honors program. This would allow flexibility in major and minors and I would be able to skip math and english prereqs.
#36 best school for communications (niche)
Lead Miami program. I was invited to apply. If accepted it would help with resume building, connections and internships.
Cognate program. This allows students to easily double major and minor and explore numerous amounts of courses.
Updated campus and resources
social scene (clubs, parties, beaches, sports games, literally Miami)
Cons:
Hurricane season
Only 8% black
Coming to Florida all the way from Michigan, it would be hard to get used to.
The initial cost of attendance is 72k. I received 50k in scholarships and financial aid so I would have to pay 22k out of pocket (13k less than Howard). I also had a chance to visit the campus and really enjoyed it.
I suggest contacting the FA office at Howard and showing them your FA offer from U Miami. They may come back with more money. You need to do this ASAP. Your list of pros for Howard seems to me to be stronger than your list of pros for U Miami.
their financial aid office is so unstructured (rated 1 star) i doubt i would get a response in time. the most amount of money I heard people getting is a 19k scholarship. my heart says howard but my head is saying miami.
@sakuezue, congratulations on having 2 great options. I can tell you as the parent of 2 Howard University students that the campus is a special place, but I have heard of many struggles dealing with the Financial aid office and I have not heard of Howard matching offers from other schools. I agree with @Lindagaf’s advice to see if Howard will match, and if they do not respond promptly helps with your final decision. Please let us know your final decision and congratulations again.
My mom set up a college fund that would pay 10k a year. So technically miami is around 12k/yr and howard 25k/yr. My mother said she is looking at paying the remaining balance out of pocket (no loans), but i really don’t want it to be a burden for her.
I am actually in a group chat with black people attending miami, so i feel somewhat connected to the community. I just feel that i would regret not getting the full hbcu experience even if i do find a tight knit black community at miami. When i visited campus, it seemed pretty diverse compared to most PWIs. I feel that either way i’m going to regret not choosing the other.
I started writing a post looking at some of the pros and cons of each…but I stopped when I realized that Howard would potentially leave you with $100k in student debt vs $50k at UMiami. That’s a pretty life-changing difference, especially when you consider how quickly interest will start accruing! The only plausible path I see that might allow you to pay off a Howard-size loan in a reasonable time frame would be going straight into a high-paying finance or tech job right out of college, which will be very competitive with no guarantee of success, and living very frugally until your late 20’s (instead of traveling, treating yourself to the occasional shopping spree, saving up for a down payment on a house, etc)
As wonderful as Howard may be, I don’t think any 22-year old should have that kind of a financial weight on them! If you keep in mind just how difficult your adult life would be if you took that path, I think it will help to let go of any regret you might feel from passing on Howard. If you want to live in DC, it will always be a great town for young working professionals!
It sounds like there is a lot of opportunity for you at U Miami and I hope you can fall in love with all that it offers! $50k in loans is still pretty significant, but I think you have a much better chance of being able to pay it off within 10 years without living like a monk or being forced into a career path you’re not interested in. Plus, if you can apply for some outside scholarships while you’re enrolled, you may even be able to start making a dent in that total before you graduate. You’ve got this!
Thank you all for you input. I decided to go with University of Miami. I was regretting my decision at first, but i started talking to other students going there, reading threads and even found a roommate and now i’m super excited to be at miami in the fall! I also accepted a 3k loan so my debt at the end of four years will be 9k (plus interest of course).
Congratulations @sakuezue. What you have done (choosing a great school, making the most of your situation, and doing it at a such a great cost) is a dream come true. Study hard, enjoy yourself, and take advantage of your amazing opportunity.
The beginning of a wonderful next chapter – so happy for you! Between the honors program and the friends you’ve made via group chat it sounds like you’re already building a great support network.
Miami is such a rich environment with SO much to explore…you can look for mentors in the local start-up scene or join tech meetups, find inspiration in the arts/fashion districts, learn Spanish or Creole, study ecology in the Everglades or go snorkeling in the keys. Have the best time, and congrats again!!
Congratulations! I think you made an excellent choice. HBCUs are great, but Miami is also an excellent school and you’re getting a great value. There’s a pretty big Black / Afro-Latino community in the city, too.
Once you’re there, meet some fellow black students and organize a road trip to FAMU’s homecoming - and/or Bethune-Cookman’s. The HBCU homecoming experience is unparalleled, but it’s all love and really nobody cares whether you actually go to the school or not - we get people who come from all around to party with us!
- and/or Bethune-Cookman’s. The HBCU homecoming experience is unparalleled, but it’s all love and really nobody cares whether you actually go to the school or not - we get people who come from all around to party with us!