Is This College List Done?

College Search & Selection
81

<p>My family can pay $60K NO PROBLEM, but my dad is threatening not to pay to spite my mom. He will probably pay if he likes the school enough. My mom could pay, but she and I are not on great terms, and she is unwilling to pay for me, as I have done well without working hard, so she feels that I have not lived up to my potential.</p>

<p>But, here are the costs after scholarships:</p>

<p>Alabama: $-3,500 (yes, the negative is there for a reason)
Oklahoma: $-1,000
Kentucky: -$1,000
Tulane: about $33K (25K scholarship + 2K NM scholarship)
Miami: about $36K
South Carolina: $15K</p>

<p>But again, in all likliehood, money is no object for the ones over 20K. The ones under mean that I can rely only on my college fund, but $25K would put me in the same situation as $1 million: fine, as long as my dad does not decide to spite my mom and hurt me in the process.</p>

<p>Pros and Cons to each school:
Alabama- Pros: Big football, nice campus, full ride (with constant attention), in honors college, loved the atmosphere of Tuscaloosa, great weather, Conservative politics… Cons: perceived drop in rigor, at least not yet have I found a program that stands out</p>

<p>Kentucky- Pros: Full ride, Global Scholars Program (this is a BIG pro), liked it when I went for Merit Weekend, very conservative, nice campus… Cons: drop in rigor, nice, but a bit spread out campus (no central quad), Kentucky basketball (I can’t see myself rooting for them- they are the one school I applied to that I am not rooting for right now)</p>

<p>Tulane- Pros: Unique experience living in New Orleans, great weather, in honors college, seems focused towards what I want… Cons: less sports culture, liberal?.. Questions: Whether I get into the Altman Program, what my impression is when I tour</p>

<p>Vanderbilt- Pros: Nashville is great, as is the area right around the campus, SEC sports, everyone seems happy to be there, great school, most conservative of highly selective schools, study abroad strength, really felt at home on campus… Cons: no separate business school… Questions: Whether I get in</p>

<p>Penn- Pros: Wharton, a lot to do in Philadelphia, most conservative Ivy, highest study abroad rate of the Ivy League…Cons: less sports tradition, too close to home, winter exists (though not like the real North)…Questions: Will I get in</p>

<p>Richmond- Pros: #1 in country for International Business, great campus, everyone really is happy to be there, decent sports with passionate fans, access to a few cities, 2.5 hours from my family in Raleigh…Cons: a little small for my liking (but not overwhelmingly so) and not quite the sports tradition of a few of the other schools on my list…Questions: Whether I get in</p>

82

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<p>It would be a very bad thing if you go to a school where you need their (additional) money and their disagreement results in the money being cut off while you are part way through college. Fortunately, you have three full rides and one <$20,000 net school* to choose from.</p>

<p>*Assuming that potential parental disagreements won’t endanger this source of funding.</p>

83

<p>Just out of curiosity, OP–what do you plan on doing after undergrad? </p>

84

<p>@Vctory</p>

<p>International Business in Spanish-speaking countries and getting an MBA at some point.</p>

85

<p>It has now been a while since I did a full update, so let me explain what I am thinking.</p>

<p>I now have 10 acceptances, to Alabama, Baylor, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Tulane, Drexel, South Carolina, Miami, Rhodes, and Franklin & Marshall (all 10 of my safety schools). I still have to hear from Richmond, Vanderbilt, Penn, and Bucknell, but I should hear from all of them by Friday. I was waitlisted at Davidson, but I will not bother with going through the whole waitlist process.</p>

<p>After a lot of thinking, I have narrowed my list to seven schools, and I will go through what I am thinking about them and mention why I cut a couple of others.</p>

<p>Vanderbilt- I loved the school when I toured it, and it fits perfectly with many of the things that I want (good academics, sports culture, nice campus, but near a city, in the South, fairly Conservative for colleges). I, though, still have to hear whether I got in, and, while we have plenty of money to pay for it, I need to convince my dad that it is worth the investment of $55,000 (I get a $5,000 NMF scholarship) a year to go there.</p>

<p>Penn (Wharton)- To be honest, I am not expecting to get into Wharton, but I will go over my thoughts in case I somehow get in. Wharton has great academics and would give me so many opportunities upon graduation. Also, my dad has no problem with paying for Wharton because of its reputation and location. While he wants me to stay near Philadelphia, I want to get away (all things equal) and go to the South, where I fit in a little better and where it stays warm year round. Also, I feel that I would lose something by not having big sports (very important to me), but would the Wharton name be enough to override that?</p>

<p>Richmond- I may hear today, but I am optimistic that I will get in. I loved the campus, college community, and programs in international business. I like the city of Richmond, but it seems a little difficult to get there from the college. The sports are decent, but not like the major conference schools. But, I definitely did feel at home at Richmond. Also, like Vanderbilt, I may have to convince my dad that Richmond is worth it.</p>

<p>Tulane- I have been accepted into the Honors College and have a $25,000 a year scholarship (plus a little bit for being a NMF). It seems to have the balance between city and campus that I like. Its big questions center around the fact that I have not been there on a tour and on whether the party culture of New Orleans is too much for me. My dad is on board with paying for it. I have also applied to the Altman Program, but I will not hear back about that for a few weeks.</p>

<p>Miami- Despite demonstrating little interest over the application period, I was accepted with a $24,000 scholarship and an invitation to interview for a full scholarship. I really do not have a sense of the school, but I will tour when I am there for the interview. I think that it will be in a gray zone until I go for that interview in two weeks.</p>

<p>Alabama- As a NMF, I would receive all of the benefits that they offer to us. When I toured it, I felt that the campus was really nice, and, while big, had most things (even the football stadium!) right on the central quad. The honors college has a great reputation, and they have a ton of money. I really liked Tuscaloosa as well. Strangely, it reminded me of the area of Raleigh where my family is from. Of course, as I die-hard Conservative, I would be right at home in the Deep South. I still wonder if there is an academic trade-off to going to Alabama, though.</p>

<p>Kentucky- Many things are similar for Kentucky to Alabama, but there are a few other things for me to consider with it. The campus is really nice, but a bit spread out (not really one central area). Of course, like Alabama, I love the school spirit, and Lexington is great. I am also in the Global Scholars Program, which is great for my interest in International Business. However, the school as a whole has a much lower reputation than even Alabama, and I do not like Kentucky basketball, so that would be something that I would have to overcome.</p>

<p>Some schools that I cut from my list:</p>

<p>Drexel- I can be picky at this point, and I want a real campus and college community (not to mention a football team).
South Carolina- Due to applying late, I cannot get into the honors college right away, and, therefore, am not a direct admit into the International Business program.
Bucknell- A little too isolated and cold
Oklahoma, Baylor- I will not be able to visit them for practical reasons.
F&M, Rhodes- too small, D3 sports</p>

<p>Thank you all!</p>

86

<p>Most of the above still applies, but I was accepted to Richmond today.</p>

87

<p>Congratulations!</p>

88

<p>Congratulations, SF! I really liked Richmond. I thought it more conservative than any school I’d seen and D thought it too conservative. Might be closer to a political match for you, and it’s a real uni with a business school.</p>

89

<p>@jkeil911</p>

<p>At some colleges, if I asked about politics on a tour, they would try to talk about how it was not that liberal. At Richmond (an a couple others) they tried to make it sound not too conservative (to still appeal to all students), but it was a good sign that it is fairly conservative.</p>

90

<p>Let’s hope for Penn or Vandy, tho. Wouldn’t that be great?</p>

91

<p>I hope so, but the odds are so against me at Wharton (except for Penn’s relationship with my HS). Vandy could easily go either way, but I have a lot of options.</p>

<p>Looking at my long post on this page, which way do I seem to be leaning/like the most? I really can’t figure that out, so it would be helpful to have a more distant perspective.</p>

92

<p>Opinion from person totally new to this thread. (This is an opinion of how it looks like you’re leaning, not necessarily here you should go):
Bama.</p>

<p>You seem concerned enough about the money situation (and rightfully so) that a full ride may be worth the tradeoff of a more prestigious name. </p>

<p>You seem to have enough hang-ups about Kentucky (layout of the campus, sports, quality of program) that Bama is the more attractive choice. </p>

<p>People on CC who take the full ride to Bama seem to really like it. It has a campus layout you like, the conservative values you’re looking for, a growing reputation, and, I’m guessing, a basketball team you can live with (even if they’ll probably never win a championship while you’re there). </p>

93

<p>@gettinin
I have no concerns about the program that I am into at UK. I thought that it was great. The concern that I was stating was whether the university as a whole had too low of a reputation. But, at Alabama, there is a concentration towards what I want to do, but no intensive program like the one at UK. I may also get a full scholarship to Miami, but I will not know what to think of the school until I visit the weekend of the 4th. </p>

<p>Really, my #1 right now is probably Vandy, but I need to wait and see if I will get in, and, if I do, convince my dad that it is worth it (he said that he would pay for an elite school, but he for some reason does not see Vandy as one). </p>

94

<p>Yes, I understand that (about Kentucky); I should have been more clear. But you seem concerned enough about the quality of the school as a whole (not the program) that it’s enough to sway you away from the program. (Again, not offering my opinion of what you should do, just of what it looks like you want to do.)</p>

<p>If you do get into Vandy (and good luck to you), you might want to secure something in writing from your father that he will not withhold funds. </p>

95

<p>I was rejected by Wharton, but I never expected to get in. I hope to hear from Vandy tomorrow, and then it will be decision time. </p>

96

<p>After receiving all of my decisions, it looks like the decision will come down to:
University of Richmond
University of Alabama
Tulane University
University of Miami
University of Kentucky</p>

<p>Also, I will play the waitlist game at Vanderbilt, so we will eventually see what happens there. But, knowing everything that I have said on this thread, do you have any recommendations for where I should go if I do not get in to Vanderbilt (and even if I do)?</p>

97

<p>All things being said, for conservative politics - Alabama.</p>

98

<p>@vamominvabeach</p>

<p>I realize that Alabama is probably the most Conservative school on my list, but it is only one factor (and, some of the other ones are fairly Conservative as well).</p>

99

<p>Now it is time to decide:</p>

<p>After touring colleges and thinking things through, I have narrowed my list to 3, Richmond, Alabama, and Miami. If I get into Vanderbilt off the waitlist, I am almost certainly going there, though.</p>

<p>About each school:
Richmond: I loved the campus, college community, and programs in international business (they say it is #1 in the country). I like the city of Richmond, but it seems a little difficult to get there from the college. The sports are decent, but not like the major conference schools. But, I definitely did feel at home at Richmond. The campus food is also really good.</p>

<p>Alabama: As a NMF, I would receive all of the benefits that they offer to us. When I toured it, I felt that the campus was really nice, and, while big, had most things (even the football stadium!) right on the central quad. The honors college has a great reputation, and they have a ton of money. I really liked Tuscaloosa as well. Strangely, it reminded me of the area of Raleigh where my family is from. Of course, as I die-hard Conservative, I would be right at home in the Deep South. I still wonder if there is an academic trade-off to going to Alabama, though.</p>

<p>Miami: I do believe that weather should be a factor in college decisions, and you can’t beat Miami’s weather! Also, being in South Florida would provide me with ample opportunities for international business. The campus is also really good, although it looks very different from the other two. I love that sports and school spirit are so big there. One question that I have comes from my college counselor saying that I will be more academically challenged at Richmond and Alabama than at Miami. Is this accurate? Also, I am a finalist for the Singer Scholarship, which would also likely come with a Foote Fellowship, which would exempt me from taking any core requirements. One concern is that it seems a bit liberal (they talked a lot about Clinton and Obama coming to campus and only a little bit about Romney also coming).</p>

<p>Criteria:
Reputation- Richmond>Miami>Alabama
Rigor- Richmond>Alabama>Miami
Sports- Alabama>Miami>Richmond
Weather- Miami>Alabama>Richmond
Politics- Alabama>Richmond>Miami
Size- Miami>the other two
Area Surrounding Campus- Alabama>Miami>Richmond
City- Miami>Richmond>Alabama
Programs- Richmond>the other two
Campuses- Really nice at all three
Food- All three have great food to offer, with Richmond’s being more focused to on-campus
Study Abroad- ample opportunities at all three, with Richmond perhaps the best
Dorms- Alabama>the other two
Girls- Very attractive at all three (I would be lying if I said that this did not matter)
School Spirit- Alabama>Miami>Richmond
Money- Alabama $0 (perhaps even a bit better), Miami $15K if I get the scholarship, up to $35K if I don’t, Richmond $60K, but we have money
Distance from home-All three are sufficiently removed from home, but Richmond is the only one where I could get home without taking a plane. It is also closest to my family in NC.
Fun for non-drinkers- Richmond>the other two???, but every school is a “party school”</p>

100

<p>I’d say Miami fun for non-drinkers over the other two. Miami has miles of beaches. You say pretty women matter. It has sun out the wazoo, boating, waterskiing, fishing, gator wrestling, South Beach, good sports teams, etc. For IR, Miami has proximity to latin american trade. Just some things to think about, OP. What’s Pop say?</p>