Indecisive w 3 days to decide!!

Currently trying to figure out where I want to go. Deciding between northeastern, American, and UVM. Umass honors college, Union scholars program and Fordham are also options but I’m considering them less. Here are the pros/cons for me not including the basic things that people normally know about.
Northeastern pros
-about 50k a year for me
-in the honors program
-co-ops
Cons
-worried about social life
-very close to home
-more expensive

American pros
-41k a year for me
-love DC
Cons
-long drive or a plane ride away
-worries about opportunities not related to politics

UVM pros
-28k a year (very little debt after college)
-Burlington is great, outdoorsy
Cons
-not as good a reputation
-social life seems lacking

I had high school friends that went to UVM. Both were partiers, so I doubt your social life will be lacking. One ended up getting his PHD at Cal Tech, and the other an MBA from Wash U. Why is it not prestigious enough for you if it worked for them?

I would also consider UMASS Honors. Honors colleges are pretty cool, and they give you the best of both worlds. Small college within a big university, at a low cost.

I wouldn’t go in to debt. Northeastern is a good school, and so is American, but neither will open more doors for you than UVM or UMASS. The whole opening doors thing is overblown.

OP is concerned about the lack of social life at the University of Vermont.

The Fiske Guide To Colleges 2020 gives UVM 5 Telephones (party school) & 5 Stars for Quality of Life.

Quote from the Fiske Guide To Colleges:

“UVM attracts a mix of party animals and serious types.”

“Burlington is a fabulous college town…”

“Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains”

Did you get into the Honors College at UVM?
What’s your parents budget? (What they can afford from income&savings, without loans)
What’s your area of interest or major?

Do you have any idea what you’d be interested in majoring in, or doing for a career?
As others have said, the social scene at UVM is strong, and Burlington is a great college town.

If the OP is from mass then the umass honors college seems like the way to go.
I agree UVM social life will not be lacking. And I don’t see American as a huge step up except for political stuff.

Yes in the honors college at UVM, parents have about 150-140k saved but in times like this I don’t know how secure it is, currently interested in sociology or economics but very open

Check out publicuniversityhonors.com for a review of the two honors colleges you are considering. UVM is listed as 3 mortarboards out of 5, and UMASS 4 out of 5. (that’s from the book that’s available online through Amazon)

How much is UMASS Honors per year for you, @needanswersnow ?

Not sure if it’s been said in the thread already. Check the rankings in your majors for each school, check the forums on CC for those schools and see what current students and alumni have to say. Ask questions. Pros and cons For each school that are specific to you and what you’re looking for.

About 30k

Look at EACH financial aid offer.
Look at the line that states “net cost”.
If there’s no such line, calculate yourself:
(tuition, fees, room, board) - (grants, scholarships) =…
Can you provide us with this result for Northeastern, American, UVM, UMass Amherst, Union, and Fordham? Can you also indicate your major?

If you say you will have minimal debt after UVM at $28K/year that tells me that you would have upwards of $85k debt for Northeastern (since it is $22k/year more than UVM) and upwards of $50k debt for American (which is $13k/year more than UVM). How do you plan on funding that level of debt? Is grad school (with likely more debt) in your future? Do you want to start your adult life with a sizeable debt burden?

I do think the cost of Northeastern knocks that school out of the running. And unless you want government/politics I don’t see American being a big enough step up over UVM to make it worth the additional cost/travel etc. And FWIW I do agree with other posters that one can have an active social life at UVM.

Most students do have to take finances into account when choosing a college. So my bottom line is that I’d go with UVM out of the three schools your listed. You may want to re-asses your any options that are also comfortably affordable.

Are you instate for either UVM or UMass? And both honors correct? These two schools sound like great options.

I agree with the other posters who are suggesting UVM or UMass. My S20 committed to Umass despite getting into his preferred major (Business) at our state flagship (Uconn), so I understand the desire to go out of state.

I think Umass is a little stronger overall academically in terms of rankings than UVM, but UVM is no slouch. It sounds like they are also about the same price give or take, and both have the honors option. Umass is a little bigger and less isolated, with the 5 college exchange. Amherst is a great little college town, with Northampton nearby as well. Burlington is wonderful, with lots to do. Both have New England winters, but UVM is just turned up a notch.

If you’re interested in Econ, The UMass dept is known for being heterodox, which is apparently less common. Depending upon your interests, this could be a pro or a con. They also have a resource economics major available, as well as a managerial Econ major that is new. I don’t know enough about UVMs Econ dept to say. I do have a friend whose D is a jr at UVM in the honors college (for neuro, premed) and she’s been so happy with it.

Essentially, I don’t think you could go wrong at either, but there are little things that make them different that would be about fit/interests. I just wouldn’t go into debt for your more expensive choices with these 2 excellent options on the table.

Lots of luck—let us know what you decide!

Do either UVM honors or UMass honors have internship programs easily available? Since you are unsure of what you want to study, I can see why the coop programs at Northeastern are of interest, but it’s not affordable.

So I got some more money at Northeastern and I talked with my parents and the price now is manageable. So I decided to go to Northeastern!!! I think it’s the best for me socially and I really think it will help me figure out what to study and I’ll also have great global opportunities. I’m also very excited for the co-op program because I’m ready to be more grown up and to find a job I really like. Thanks for all of your input!

Congrats @needanswersnow