I'm Very Very Lost

<p>I'm posting this in dire need of help. I am a high school senior in Atlanta, GA who has been accepted at a few places. I am interested in studying Business / International Business. The problem is I can not decide where to go. </p>

<p>My top two choices are The University of Georgia (UGA), where I have been accepted into the business school to study pre business and int'l business, and The College of Charleston (CofC), where I have been accepted into the honors program. My problem may already be apparent to some. UGA is a very big state school, and CofC is a lot smaller - it’s a Liberal Arts College (LAC). My have left the decision up to me, but they prefer UGA because in their mind it will provide a better education. UGA is a well ranked school that is very respectable in the business field. To my parents, that is everything. CofC will provide me with smaller class sizes, better interaction with my professors, and in the honors program, a pretty good education. When I was in Charleston I could see myself spending the next four years of my life there. I am not a fan of taking a bus to class (like I would have to at UGA), and I don’t plan on join a frat., like most people do at UGA. But, a good education is extremely important to me, I want to work hard and get into an excellent graduate school, and also gain the most out of my college experience. There is a good possibility that UGA will help me do that a little better than CofC will, but I couldn't see myself living at UGA. </p>

<p>Money is not an issue because I received a scholarship at CofC that would make it the same price as UGA (in state tuition). Please respond with any information at all, and ideas, something that maybe helped you decide... I just have no idea where to go from here.
Thanks</p>

<p>My close friend's D was in the same boat as you. When she started her collge search, a rah rah, southern school spirit college was what she thought she wanted. So all of her choices were that category. Except for Cof C which she was just doing a look see since a friend was there who loved it. One day there, and she was hooked. She was at home and is how graduating from the school. Never mind that it was smaller and not as big in the rah rah spirt area, it was just exactly what she wanted. It is so rare that happens, that what can you say? Go for it.</p>

<p>I have to side with UGA. While I love LAC's, in the business world prestige matters, especially for that first job. If you want your mba, job experience is HUGE.</p>

<p>Jamimom I definately agree with you. I felt at home, and it was great. But Celebrian25 brings up exactly what i'm worried about. Prestige especially in the business world. Is this true? I have heard that your education is what you make of it, wherever you are. But does that apply in my situation</p>

<p>With business it gets tricky. If you were studying anthropology, chemistry, french, or engineering, I'd say CofC all the way. But I'm catious if you plan on making it big in the business world</p>

<p>I don't think anyone would argue you can't make it to a good first job from College of Charleston. Hey, Athens is great but Charleston is truly a lovely place to live and walk around daily. It is seductive and maybe you could become "essential" down there just based on sweat equity without the more rigorous classes and peer group.
However, as a Mom, I would caution you not to avoid an academic challenge at your age and also not to avoid the social challenge at UGA either. Getting out there and hauling yourself to classes and keeping up with your peers has its merits for prepping you for the work force, too. Forget about frats if that is not your thing..I am convinced you can find a niche regardless in friendly Athens. And it is too soon to count yourself out of the peer group that is choosing the more academic challenge school...you can learn a lot from peers at a place like Georgia, which is on the upswing as a having an academically oriented student body. If you really don't like it, keep up your grades and transfer to Charleston in a year. They will still be interested in you. That is my advice although I can't blame you for wanting to head off to Charleston first.</p>

<p>Going back to Georgia for work would probably mean a bit of an edge for a UGA degree, but honestly I don't see it working that way except in anecdotal situtions as the number of kids graduating from UGA is pretty large. I would hear this all of the time about Penn State when I lived in PA, but the reality was that when I was with the high income, business clout crowd, the breadwinners came from a number of schools and there was no Penn State majority in the least. The only place where I saw a sigificant blip was for attornies and judges--they tended to be graduates of Pittsburgh schools, Pitt or Duquesne. My H worked for a long time in human resources and he says it would make a bit of difference whether you went to Charleston or UGA or any school for that matter, though the most selective schools do give a pause--we are talking MIT, Cal Tech, HPY. Charleston hardly qualifies as a LAC, it has about 10000 kids, doesn't it? It has a very special atmosphere that the private schools are beginning to notice. A number of kids from s's school went to C of C last year, as well as from my son's old school in Pennsylvania, also a selective prep school. I had not even heard of the school 10 years ago and it is now showing up on all kinds of lists of those in the know.</p>

<p>I definitely agree that UGA will be a challenge, and I’m sure I will find things out about myself that I do not know and I will also explore things and feelings I have not before, which is excellent. The only problem is, throughout my high school career I have been a pretty laid back guy... socially and academically. LAC's are the perfect place for a person like me, but is a university exactly what I need to jump start me into a hardworking, straight A student who knows everyone on campus and is the future CEO of a big company? Or am I just lying to myself, and who I am is what I enjoy being right now.... </p>

<p>I know no one can really answer that question but I was just wondering what you all think.</p>

<p>I don't think this is an LAC versus uni thing, but you want to stay where you're comfortable. You can be laid-back and do well at both places. Not that CofC won't be perfect for you, but you shouldn't pick it to stay in your comfort zone</p>

<p>Wow, Stuff2k5, you and I seem to be in a similar situation. I am trying to choose between CofC and Tulane for international business, and was also accepted into both schools' honors programs. However, cost is a concern for me. With the difference in scholarships and total cost, Tulane would still cost twice as much, while I could afford to go to Charleston.</p>

<p>I can tell you that I have noticed the College seems to have a strong focus in entrepreneurialism. The President there used to lead Babson College, which is actually ranked first in the nation in that category. I don't doubt that there would be other students as talented as yourself at CofC. I visited the campus a few weeks ago and really loved it. It's just that I don't know how respected or known the school is outside of America. UGA is a really good school, and if you end up there I think you can find your niche somewhere.</p>

<p>It seems like all of my peers are pushing me to go to Tulane for the prestige, despite the cost difference. These are the same people that will be paying the full cost for NYU and UC Berkeley (out-of-state), among others. Jamimom, you seem to like Tulane as well. What do you think about the choice I need to make?</p>

<p>Wow thats crazy stuff. I'll be honest with you, I would have never even considered CofC then I visited it and just fell in love... Theres something special about it that you only notice when your there. </p>

<p>As for Tulane, you are right it is a better school and nationally ranked. But if money becomes an extreme issue and you end up at CofC you should be happy. Its a great place and from what I hear if you work hard you'll get somewhere....</p>

<p>Tough choice. Do I hear undercurrents that you aren't so sure you want to be CEO of a major company? Perhaps you would do well at a liberal arts college that would encourage you to explore several fields and do a little soul searching? Also, Charleston is a rather cosmopolitan city, and Charlestonians have many international contacts. If you are attracted to international business, you might find some very interesting contacts there. It is also a superb location for anyone interested in tourism, hospitality management, etc. I am hearing you say your heart is in Charleston; your head is nagging you to go to Georgia. If you were my child, I would say follow your heart and take a risk. Nurturing professors and close friendships at CofC can also jumpstart a laid-back guy. Can you visit again and see what your gut tells you?</p>

<p>another thing to consider is that after your sophomore year at UGA, you have to apply to enter the terry college of business. It's very competitive, and those who dont get in are forced to major in something other than business.</p>

<p>Have you considered CofC for undergrad, UGa for MBA?</p>

<p>Pattykk, no sorry what i meant was i do want to become a CEO of a major company and i think it would be harder to do so coming from college of charleston vs UGA. </p>

<p>Fireflyscout. I actually did consider that, then i decided against it. I hope to do very well in college and challenge myself even more and apply to a much more competitive school.</p>

<p>I think that after this discussion i am leaning towards UGA because the real reason i am going to college is to get the best education possible with the best experience. And Charleston might only be able to provide one of those, the experience...</p>

<p>It depends on how hard your planning on working. At UGA, there plenty of room to expand if you want to work really hard. At Charleston, you can probably coast through without much effort if you want.
UGA is the better option. Go with it.</p>