<p>If it were me, I'd drop everything and go for WashU. But that's just my stinginess. I want the best education I can afford, and if I could go to WashU for free, that's definitely what I'd do.</p>
<p>The issue of whether you are considered an international student or not could be important. At some schools, admissions decisions for international students are not need-blind. I don't know about this at Yale or Penn, but you should probably find out. If the decision is not need-blind, and you would need aid, obviously that could hurt your chances at admission. (It sounds like this will not be an issue at WashU.)</p>
<p>After a lot of thoughts, I've decided on going into business (and concentrate on either accounting or finance) and to do ED at either Penn (CAS) or WashU.
Here are some ups and downs I've come up with Penn or WashU.</p>
<p>Ups for Penn
- Better overall undergrad. school., and helps me get into a good grad school
- I'm able to take some business classes even if I don't go to Wharton
- Better location (for opportunities)</p>
<p>Downs for Penn
- I don't like the atmosphere/setting (student body too big, bad dorms)
- Money.
- Though I can take business classes there, and be in Philly, it might be even harder than WashU's Olin for me to get a decent job there because I'll be competing with Wharton students and (I'm sure) many other CAS students who want to go into business.</p>
<p>Ups for WashU
- It's free
- I like the setting (close to home/convenient, medium size student body...etc.)
- Decent school</p>
<p>Downs for WashU
- I'm thinking that St. Louis doesn't offer as much opportunities. Getting out in the future will be a hassle.
- The school doesn't have as much prestige as UPenn (so, putting other qualities aside, would a decent grad school/a recruiting company favor an Olin student or a Penn CAS student?)</p>
<p>bump10char</p>
<p>Bill, you just answered your own question:</p>
<p>"- I don't like the atmosphere/setting (student body too big, bad dorms)"</p>
<p>Don't go to a school you don't like and will put you in major debt for some nebulous aura of prestige. You're supposed to enjoy college!</p>
<p>Thank you again for your input ohio_mom.<br>
Although I don't like the setting, I think that it's something I'll get used to since the main objective of going to college is to get a good education that will prepare me well (or be a building block) for my future career.
When I talked to my college friends about my dilemma, although they're divided, some of them believe that going to UPenn will be better for me in the long run, however, I still don't feel confident enough to decide with all the ups and downs I came up with in the listed above.</p>
<p>But would you really want to spend 4 years in a place you don't really like?</p>
<p>WashU is more than a "decent" school--it is in the same small upper tier as Penn. As far as opportunities, you'll save so much money going to WashU that you can stand a few lean years.</p>