<p>I'm freaking out. I cannot for the life of me make a decision. I need advice from someone who's been there.</p>
<p>Every school that I wanted to go to, I got in (no ivies, sorry guys, I'm just a normal kid.) but I only received scholarships at my safety's and I don't really want to go to any of them!</p>
<p>My top choices are Boston University, but I haven't been there (going this weekend, didn't think I'd get in) and I received NO money.</p>
<p>University of Miami - which I loved, but I didn't get any money to so that stinks. </p>
<p>Or Penn State - University Park, which I really loved when I toured, but it's so cold! (I'm originally from NY, but I now live in AZ and my parents are moving to Pittsburgh (Far from State College) after I graduate!)</p>
<p>I'm so overwhelmed, I cannot possibly make any decision. My parents can afford to pay for Boston or Miami, but I know that it's going to take all their savings to do so basically....</p>
<p>These seem like very different environments to me.
Penn State--a more traditional college experience and campus
BU--more urban environment
Miami--kind of in the middle--suburban yet close to the city.</p>
<p>You mention Penn State is cold...I'm guessing BU will be the same! </p>
<p>More information about what you liked about Miami & Penn State and tiyr interests would be helpful in advising you...socially, academically etc.</p>
<p>One thing they all have in common is they are excellent schools with lots of opportunities at each. </p>
<p>I'd be thinking about how I'd FEEL about being there. I suspect you'll have some better perspective after your BU visit.</p>
<p>U of Miami is beautiful but please beware of life crocodiles on campus. My neighbor has a daughter that goes to U of Miami and she told me that info.</p>
<p>If your parents are able AND willing to pay for BU, it is a great choice. Great education, great public transportation, in the heart of Boston with SO much to do. I have a child in BU (not her first choice but thanking her lucky stars it was her best choice- she couldn't be happier!) I come from a family of Penn Staters and they all enjoyed it (grew up in Pittsburgh and PS did not seem far away at all, easy day trip). State College (PS) can't compare to Boston citywise but most PSers seem quite loyal to their school. The weather in Boston is milder than Pennsylvania. Very little snow and generally warmer.
Can't help with Miami.</p>
<p>"I'm so overwhelmed, I cannot possibly make any decision. My parents can afford to pay for Boston or Miami, but I know that it's going to take all their savings to do so basically...."</p>
<p>If you can't make up your mind, then my advice is to follow the money. We're in a recession, which I'm betting is going to continue to get worse. </p>
<p>Fall in love with Penn State since that's your best financial option. Also, if they save money now, they may be able to help you with future expenditures such as grad school or buying your first house.</p>
<p>Acting as well as broadcast journalism are hard careers to break into, so I think it would be wise to follow the money now. You may need a lot of help from your parents later.</p>
<p>it is easy for all of us to fall in love with things out of reach! if you were car shopping, you would of course LOVE to own that porsche, or lexus, or mercedes, and it is probably worth the money, but we all have to live within our means. so, it is dangerous to shop for those kinds of cars! but you have, and now you just may have to reign yourself back in. </p>
<p>there are MANY very successful people in the world who have not gone to the "best" or most expensive colleges in the world. you are the master of your own success. </p>
<p>I personally have not seen the schools you are considering, but Boston is a very expensive town (and a very expensive school), and cold, so there really is not a whole lot of difference weather wise from Penn to Boston (splitting hairs)</p>
<p>I say go to Penn, get excited about it, and make it wonderful, and be happy not to have the stress and huge burden of the high tuition and expenses of the other schools.</p>
<p>Ignore this if you already have the info, but as a prospective drama/acting major, do you know if you have to audition to be accepted into the major at any of these schools? At some schools, anyone who wants to be a drama/performance major can go for it; at others, you have to audition to be accepted into performance programs. I'm certain that music performance at B.U. is very competitive and involves auditions to be accepted and to be allowed to take the requisite classes. Please make sure that you can, in fact, take the classes and have the major you want before making a decision about any of these schools.</p>
<p>The alligator in the lake at UMiami was put there! Its not like they roam around campus looking for students to attack lol. For as much as I love UMiami I'm not sure going in debt 100k+ is worth it, I am a community college transfer so I am only going to have to pay for two years and I also got an 11k scholarship. Penn State is an awesome university and I turned it down due to being accepted to UMiami because Miami ended up being cheaper, I was looking for a wamer and more urban atmosphere. (Coral gables is just outside of the big city and Miami beach). Penn State would be a wonderful choice and i think you'll love every minute of it! I was ecstatic about going to penn state but Miami was just a better fit.. the important part of a college is just to be happy.</p>
<p>I'm with Northstarmom on this one. If you can't decide, follow the money. Most everyone ends up loving the college they went to - why not love one that doesn't impoverish everyone :-)</p>
<p>Also, since your parents are moving to Pennsylvania, I think that's a good reason to choose Penn State, too. Everyone leaves for college thinking they don't care how far away they get from home, but when you are sick, or sad, or depressed, being within driving distance of your parents helps a <em>lot</em>.</p>