<p>So, a little earlier I had made a similar thread but since then I've gotten some good news... it would seem I should be celebrating (and I was!) but now I've gotten into a bit of a situation...</p>
<p>SO. I've gotten into all my schools:
-Johns Hopkins University (50k in aid, including 42.5k grant)
-University of Maryland - College Park w/ Honors College (aid TBD)
-University of Virginia (unsure about aid situation right now..)
-George Washington University (20k merit scholarship, nothing else cause I...forgot to apply for aid here ;-; )
-University of Maryland Baltimore College w/ Honors <a href="12k%20in%20scholarship,%20TBD%20in%20aid">UMBC</a>
-Notre Dame of Maryland University w/ Honors Program (full tuition, aid covers most everything, leaving about $600 a year out of pocket)
-St. Mary's College of Maryland (aid covers everything but includes like 12k in loans...)</p>
<p>NOW. That being said, I have absolutely no real idea what I'd like to major in :/ I've definitely thought about medical school to one day be an ob/gyn but thinking about, I'm not sure I have it in me.... I've also considered teaching, computer science, international studies, and nursing D; helpppppp
I just don't know what to do with my life....</p>
<p>How do I decide in a month where to go??? ALL ADVICE APPRECIATED.
I like the smaller feel of schools and I just want to be able to get a good job one day :S (doesn't need to make a whole lot, just want to find one...) Thank you.</p>
<p>Since you don’t know quite what you want to do with your life yet, it would be perfectly OK to put a Gap year on the table either after accepting one of these, or without accepting any of these. Ask each of them what happens if you defer admission for a year.</p>
<p>You have been offered a whomping lot of money which indicates that A) your stats are very good so if you don’t say yes now, you will probably get in somewhere decent after a gap year, and B) your family’s financial situation isn’t particularly strong so you may want to tie down an admission (and aid package) before taking a year off.</p>
<p>It is perfectly OK to run the numbers, and choose the cheapest one. It also is OK to choose the one that is the most flexible about majors in the first two years provided it is also affordable.</p>
<p>As for neglecting to apply for aid at GW, well obviously if you had really been interested in going there, you would have filed the paperwork. Either change your mind about that and give them a call and see if they can offer you a need-based package in addition to the merit, or just forget about them entirely and move on.</p>
<p>Yeah, to be completely honest, the first thing that crossed my mind when I got accepted to GWU was “oh yeah, I applied there…”</p>
<p>I hadn’t really considered a gap year but I would definitely consider. Or I could go to notre dame of Maryland since its a small liberal arts that would definitely let me switch my major around a bit and its definitely affordable! My only real concern is… would picking NDMU over JHU or UMD be detrimental once I look for a job? Would it hinder my ability to get into a professional graduate school provided I decide to go to one in the future? My stats are good, I would say, and my financial situation is definitely not great so it was a bit of both… so I’ll look into securing admission.</p>
<p>I would just choose Hopkins. That’s a tremendous amount of aid, and you don’t have to decide on a major just yet. You will be surrounded by brilliant people and have to opportunity to explore possibilities. Hopkins is really not that big. </p>
<p>If you want to take a gap year, at least talk to Johns Hopkins and see if you can postpone matriculation for a year so that you don’t lose your grant.</p>
<p>I know my mom and counselor were pushing me towards JHU due to the aid, would be a waste to give it up. I will discuss it with them and if it is just not a good idea to take a gap year, I’ll just try one of my considered majors and see how I like it. Hopefully I don’t waste too much time, that’s one of my fears, since I’ll still be paying quite a bit out of pocket.</p>
<p>Considering a gap year just because you’re not sure exactly what you want to major in, especially with some of these really good FA packages on the table, is silly in my opinion. Do you have the time/resources to revisit any of your top picks?</p>
<p>When you visit NDMU, ask them very specifically about career and internship and grad school placement. Pay a visit to the Career Center there if you can. Should it turn out that your other options aren’t affordable, you want to be able to take advantage of absolutely everything that NDMU has to offer.</p>
<p>Good point, I’ll make sure to ask when I visit on the 7th.
As far as JHU, Hanna, I would likely still be paying 12kish out of pocket or in loans, which I know my mom has said we could do 9k… so I’m thinking if I get a job or something, we could find a way. I’m also trying to apply for as many scholarships as I can :/</p>
<p>I would choose JHU (my D has been admitted there, and is still deciding). That’s a lot of $ to pass up, it’s a fantastic school with excellent reputation and name recognition. There are only 3500 undergraduates, and class sizes are pretty small, so much like a LAC. It has tremendous depth and breadth for academics, so whatever you choose to major in you would find there. Also one of the best nursing schools and med schools in the country.</p>
<p>As others have noted, earning $3,000 per year is definitely doable. Do you have work study? Getting a campus job or a part-time job nearby will cover a good amount, as will working over the summer. You’ll probably make enough to have a bit of discretionary income as well.</p>
<p>They gave me some work study as part of the aid. I suppose it will be doable… thank you so much for all the responses, I’ve definitely been able to put more thought into all this!</p>
<p>Congratulations! You don’t need to go in to a school like JHU or Notre Dame knowing what you want to major in. Choose a school you can afford and that has a wide range of interesting courses. College is about exposing yourself to new possibilities. Take some things that interest you during freshman year and see where it leads you. Good luck!</p>