<p>The application deadline for Rutgers SAS Honors was Dec. 1. Notification of admission to Honors is included with admission to the University. The OP’s stats are not a slamdunk for that program, although it partly depends on where he went to high school. Also, SUNY Binghamton merit scholarships are primarily for NY residents, and there is no tuition reciprocity between NJ and NY: the OP would be paying OOS for any SUNY and that’s not a great bargain.</p>
<p>It’s February and that’s generally too late to apply for really big competitive merit scholarships. OP, unless you are prepared to take a gap year, I think you should go to Rutgers. Forget what ignorant kids in your high school say. They don’t know anything, and at any rate, they aren’t going to pay your loans. You can get a perfectly good experience and education at Rutgers. It’s a big place and you’ll never see your HS acquaintances unless you want to.</p>