Hello all. I need any help I can get. I feel really stuck when it comes to choosing where I will be going next year.
I applied to all of my schools for biomedical engineering and was accepted to most of them. I have managed to whittle it down to Columbia, Notre Dame, and BU, with Columbia and ND being the front runners for me.
My head tells me to choose Columbia (cheaper with fin. Aid, much closer to home, better reputation, in NYC which is key for internships, etc.) but my heart tells me to choose ND (Academically, it’s a great school; I’m Irish-American, Catholic, and a product of a Jesuit hs, which makes me think I will love the atmosphere on campus; I’ve only heard great things about ND, and the community it is, and I think I would enjoy it much more than Columbia).
Can anyone speak to, specifically, the ability to receive a comprehensive BME education at Notre Dame (which doesn’t have a dedicated department, which is why I’m scared), the social life at each of the schools (I don’t necessarily mean parties when I say that, just the overall feel of the schools), and any unforeseen pros or cons of either school?
Thanks in advance.
Congrats on the acceptances. I’m sure you will get some feedback from people with specific knowlege of these schools. I’m simply going to weigh in on the need for a visit. If you have visited both for an overnight, taken in a class or two, then skip the rest of this.
If you have not, then this is your next important step. You are about to spend a huge sum of money the next four years (even with financial aid–that is still money being spent…). So you need to spend 2-3 days on each campus and you will know. Call admissions and ask them if you can get to some classes, meet with a prof in an area of interest for you… spend a night or two with a current student host.
You are looking for the place where you will feel at home, where you can thrive, and where you can pursue your interests. After four years you will become very much like the other students on each campus - so think about that when you visit.
If you don’t find your tribe, you’ll not feel at ease and learning will be harder …
Best of luck - let us know what you decide,
Thanks for the input! I’m visiting each of them later in the month (ND for the first time only a week before decision day) so I’m trying to be a little proactive because I’m stressing. Thanks again.
Don’t stress - seriously - you’ll know after these visits. And you may get some good feedback here next few days specific to each college. Just remember you’re a consumer who is about to spend a couple hundred thousand - so expect admissions to help you as much as you need for each visit - don’t just walk around campus - visit classes etc. really get to know each campus.
Can your family afford the difference in costs without taking on loans for you?
Yes we can afford it without loans, but I figured I would put that in because it is another positive factor.