It's Like Deciding Between Black and White.

College Search & Selection
1

<p>It seems as though it's down to Allegheny College in Meadville, PA and The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. I'm waiting on a couple more decisions from reach schools, but I sincerely doubt I'll be able to afford them.</p>

<p>I want to either teach high school and coach, become some sort of historian (the US park service is especially appealing), or become a political strategist.</p>

<p>Here are my thoughts on figurative paper:</p>

<p>Allegheny
+Beautiful Campus
+I really love the small town atmosphere
+Beautiful campus, plenty of tradition, very old
+Heard great things about the professors from many sources
+Teacher Preparation program would allow me to get a bachelors in one discipline and then a Masters in education from another institution in around 6 years</p>

<p>-Will need to come up with anywhere from 5-7 thousand dollars per year after scholarships, family contribution, and partial 529 program to graduate debt free
-Therefore, I will be very effected by tuition inflation, went up 5% for 2009 school year, scholarship awards will not keep up
-No Undergrad Education major if I decide to go that route, would require extra study at another institution through their Teacher Preparation program</p>

<p>U of I
+Much less expensive, 529 program covers tuition, certain i can graduate debt free, and will have no problem with tuition inflation
+Has education undergrad major, wouldn't need to go to grad school before being able to teach
+Near home
+Big sports fan, love student sections
+Going to the flagship university of your state holds a bit of pride, I feel like it's something I will be proud of after I graduate.</p>

<p>-Worried about "getting lost" among 30k students
-Sciences/Maths are decidedly the major focus and I'm a liberal arts fellow
-Afriad I won't be able to get to know professors, worried getting help will be more difficult if I struggle</p>

<p>I haven't found much common ground between the two schools, I'm pretty torn. Any other input you may have would be fantastic.</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

2

<p>They’re both great schools. Allegheny is underrated in its own state (I live in the Philly area). That being said, I’d go to UIUC, because you get a great education+a TON of school pride, which you definitely dont get at Allegheny.</p>

3

<p>I completely understand the allure of Allegheny – I’m a big fan of LACs. But in reading your post, U of I seems to be the most logical choice given both, the financial circumstances, and your career interests. </p>

<p>Sure, many of your classes will be larger, but once you get into the upper levels they’ll get smaller, and there will be tons of organizations to get involved in whereby you will meet plenty of others with similar interest.</p>

4

<p>Another vote for UI. Hard to beat at the price.</p>

5

<p>+1 for UIUC. You have clearly done your homework and realize that there are some distinct challenges associated with a large university that might not be present in a small liberal arts college. The size of the university may be daunting but don’t despair, there are a number of ways to build a niche community that will make the best of the situation. To interact with professors, office hours, independent research credits, higher level courses and TAing will provide you much more one on one interaction (and with the faculty you choose). The focus, as you say, at UIUC may be on the sciences, but you will find a community of like minded students, TAs and faculty in your department of choice; you will find distinguished lecture series, seminars, projects and program assistantships within your department.</p>

<p>I feel that a large university can really offer amazing things that a smaller college cannot. The sheer amount of resources and people at larger institutions can provide a unique experience, albeit one that you have to seek out on your own, than a smaller one can. Finally, you are lucky to be from a state that has a great flagship university and you might be wise to take advantage of that.</p>

6

<p>UIUC is still pretty expensive instate (like 25k+) so its not saving a ton of money. I would recommend Allegheny if the difference in cost is less then 5k, otherwise go with UIUC</p>

7

<p>Have you been to Allegheny? I live in Western PA and my D looked a Allegheny. I went with her on the visit. To tell you the truth, we both thought it didn’t seem like anything special, certainly not what we were built up to expect. Admissions seemed “tense” and “stiff”. I know if could have just been an off day, but we left there actually cutting our trip short and taking Allegheny off Ds list. The area right around the campus seemed really depressed, and Meadville itself is not exactly the garden spot of PA. I guess the beautiful campus and small town atmosphere statements kind of surprised me. That said, one of Ds classmates is headed to Allegheny this fall, although not for the reasons you listed.</p>

<p>My main thought, save the money for grad school.</p>

8

<p>I did visit Allegheny, and while Meadville was a little run down, yes, I did find it somewhat charming (lived in a small town all my life, what can I say), beautiful country.</p>

<p>I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder.</p>

<p>Thanks everyone for your input, any thing else you have would be more than welcomed.</p>

9

<p>I also vote for UI — going anywhere that’s more expensive when you could have gotten a fantastic education for less $$ is even more ridiculous now, in this economic climate.</p>

<p>Say no to debt! :P</p>

10

<p>Thanks again folks.</p>

<p>I just got my need aid package from Allegheny. Wasn’t expecting a whole lot, wasn’t particularly impressed or disappointed. We were offered a loan, we plan to decline the loan, but they did offer some money in campus employment which I will consider.</p>