<p>Hi,</p>
<p>So I'm probably going to choose a college within the next two weeks, but it would be extremely helpful to have some solid opinions on what I should do. </p>
<p>I have narrowed it down between two colleges, essentially. </p>
<p>College 1 is a highly ranked liberal arts college. The pros are that the program that I want to pursue is very well rounded, so I can explore other interests, and they have a rare 4-year program that matches up with my academic and career interests literally perfectly. It is also smaller and the class sizes are small, so this would benefit me (because I ask a ton of questions and discuss in class frequently). I felt very comfortable there and the campus was beautiful, although I'm trying not to focus on the artificial aspects lol. Further, it is easy to switch majors should I choose to.
The cons only really have to do with the price. Even with financial aid and a scholarship, I will have to pay around 25000 per year, more or less.
I looked it up, although I'm not entirely sure how accurate this is, but the average mid year salary according to payscale is 115k. </p>
<p>College 2 is a non-flagship state school. The pros are that I feel comfortable there, it has a pretty good program for the major I would pursue there, and it would be my most affordable option. I am also in honors/ scholars programs. Every year it will cost me (this is just a range I am assuming) around 13-15,000 to attend.
The cons are that there are strict major requirements, so not much room to explore my other interests. Also the college is really only known for good academics within a few particular majors, so if I happen to switch my job prospects may not be as good. And the college doesn't have the exact major I want; it is somewhat similar, but not same, so that may not be too good. Further, I am receiving a specialized departmental scholarship, so if I switch majors it will basically cost around the same as College 1. Aaand finally, at least half of the people in this college finish my major in 5 years, while in College 1 it takes 4 for about 85%. The Average mid year salary for grads is 80k.</p>
<p>So basically, should I go to the college that is a better fit for me and be in more debt, or go to the cheaper but still good school?</p>
<p>I appreciate every answer! Thank you!</p>
<p>So that is the only choice available? Details might be helpful. After all, are you saying that you would go after separate careers depending on the college?</p>
<p>Can you tell us where the 25.000 could come from each year?</p>
<p>It is clear that you like College 1 better, so if the extra 10K is not a huge problem, go there. </p>
<p>Can you afford the $10,000 difference out of pocket? What is your parents’ budget?
How much is the exact cost for each, after scholarships/grants but before loans?</p>
<p>Based on what you said, I’d go with college1, especially since you may switch majors and lose your scholarship at college2, and the opportunities at College1 sound much, much better than at College2.</p>
<p>However, where the money comes from is a concern.</p>
<p>Ok thanks.
I’m paying my way through college largely by myself by applying for scholarships, work study and summer jobs, and taking out loans… And my parents will contribute as much as they can, although they have not defined what this amount is. I’m assuming maybe 10-20k total? So either way I’m going to take out Parent Plus loans and incur a lot of debt. But I think that the extra 40k +may be worth it? College
1 has a specialized program for civil and enviro engineering combined with international studies. My goal is to solve enviro probs abroad, so this fits together perfectly. Meanwhile, college 2 has a chemical and enviro eng program… I would still be an environmental engineer (which is my ultimate goal right now) but I don’t really like chemistry and it would be harder to travel/ explore other interests. I’m really stuck, help!!</p>
<p>College 1 seems like the clear choice to me. The cost difference is almost wiped out if you take 5 years at the cheaper school. </p>
<p>You can’t take out a ParentPLUS loan. Only your parents can, and they are obligated to pay it. You really need to find out from them how much they can contribute and how much they are willing to borrow. This year, you can only borrow $5500 in your own name. You need to talk to your parents right now about this!</p>
<p>My parents have agreed to take out the loans. If that doesn’t work out they have agreed to find private loans.</p>
<p>If you could name the colleges this would be easier… you might learn something about them you didn’t know, too. There aren’t too many LACs with engineering degrees and a beautiful campus… so maybe we could guess. </p>
<p>Also, are you sure your parents would qualify for loans? </p>
<p>Lafayette and UMBC</p>
<p>Your job prospects are not likely to be damaged by switching majors. At least, they won’t be damaged by which school you choose or which major within that school. Skills and achievement are much more important to employers than prestige of college or major. </p>
<p>Now the details surrounding your UMBC scholarship do give one pause, but UMBC still will be the cheaper college even if it takes 5 years. Do the math. </p>
<p>Prestige is not a factor here. Where you went to school won’t matter but a hair’s breadth. What you do while you’re there, your internships, research, GPA, letters of recommendation, will matter much much more. UMBC wants you. Make sure they know who you are before you start classes; make yourself known to the professors in your department; introduce yourself to the dean of the college. Step out on yourself.</p>
<p>So I guess I should attend UMBC then? Don’t get me wrong I actually really love umbc, it’s just that I’m not so much into the chemical engineering thing, but I’ve never tried it so maybe it will grow on me…</p>
<p>The finest environmentalist and environmental engineer I know personally, a former head of a major conservation organization and a businessman who advises on a a lot of watershed construction projects, was a chemical engineer. His education has served him and us well. But for all I know he really loved chemistry. If you won’t be able to tolerate two of general chem, two of orgo, an envirochem and a pchem, plus all the engineering and physics and math, then maybe you have reason to hesitate about chemical engineering. </p>
<p>Ok thanks for the advice</p>
<p>Being a chemical engineer if you don’t like chemistry may not be the wisest choice… ChemE is super competitive so you better be ready to handle it.
Have you attended an overnight at both?
It does sound like the first college would be your first choice but if it’s unaffordable it can’t be a choice.</p>
<p>@jkeil: UMBC is really strong in the sciences but if OP switches to majors outside of STEM that university isn’t set to handle those majors. So if OP isn’t sure of his major and/or is weeded out due to disliking one of its main subjects, OP would be in a difficult position.</p>
<p>yes, MYOS, OP is in a difficult position either way. It would have been nice to have been able to recommend some application alternatives before it came down to these two. I’m a big fan of gap years and of taking time off between high school and college, particularly for boys. That might be the way for OP to go and apply to schools next year with better insight. OP could volunteer with conservation organizations, SCA perhaps or Americorps, or OP could shadow a chemical engineer and CE student. He could grunt at a stream restoration company or petrochemical remediation firm. Lots of options, but students and parents usually shy away from not going directly from hs to college.</p>
<p>^that’s a very useful suggestion.
OP, would you be able to consider that?</p>
<p>Hmm I’m still confused on what the benefits of this would be. I almost applied for a Global Citizen gap year to serve in a foreign country but that would have been expensive, and I didn’t want to add more to the cost. I appreciate the suggestion</p>
<p>City Year actually provides you with a scholarship for college when you graduate the program, and it’d give you time to talk with engineers, see projects up close, think aout your majors, etc.
You could “save a spot” at College 1 by deferring* entry to do CityYear, and if you find that ChemE really is what you want to do, you’d turn email College1 & reapply to UMBC - you’d would be likely to get in since you’d still have the same stats and admission to UMBC is largely a numbers game.</p>
<p>*you would need to be admitted to CityYear or have plans for your gap year such as working or volunteering . You don’t have to do an expensive gap year and you sure don’t need to go abroad to volunteer. You’d email College1 and ask, formally, for a deferral, so that you can pursue volunteer activities with City Year (or whatever program), for entry Fall 2015. They would have to approve it but typically they do if it’s for something like a volunteering experience (and City Year is very well known).</p>