Job opportunities and alumni network: UNC/W&M vs. Bing.

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm still trying to</a> decide between UNC Chapel Hill and William & Mary, but another factor has come up. Yes: the cost of tuition. I also got into SUNY Binghamton, and my parents think I should go there, because as a NY resident Bing will cost like $17,000/yr, while UNC is about $31,000 and W&M about $35,000. My parents are contributing $10,000 a year to whereever I go, so I'll have to take out a loan to cover the rest. </p>

<p>Now, part of me wants to go to UNC or W&M just because I think I'd have a better time there. I'd much rather have a big, open, green campus than the smaller and more urban campus at Binghamton; the faculty to student ratio is higher at Binghamton (20:1, vs. 14:1 at UNC and 11:1 at W&M), and I've heard that student morale is often comparatively low at Bing.. </p>

<p>But there's also a more practical sense. I most likely want to go into finance (or possibly law), and I was wondering if UNC or W&M would have a more effective alumni network, or better recruitment than Binghamton (or better internship opportunities). Because the $50,000 or so additional debt I'd have by going to UNC or W&M would be much less of a problem, obviously, if I could make more money (or get a job with more upward mobility) by going to those schools. </p>

<p>(And yeah, I know there's another thread going on about this general idea, but this is more just about the difference specifically between UNC/W&M and Binghamton. And I also know that I shouldn't group UNC and W&M into one entity by putting a slash between them, like I just did, because the recruitment may vary between those two schools, but this makes it easier to write.) </p>

<p>Basically, because I want to go into a high-paying field, and because even though $50,000 additional debt is definitely a lot, it's not astronomical, I would consider going to UNC or W&M anyway, if I decided I really didn't like Binghamton. But it would definitely make my decision easier if I thought there was a decent chance that I'd be able to earn more money to offset the additional debt at these schools.</p>

2

<p>"But it would definitely make my decision easier if I thought there was a decent chance that I'd be able to earn more money to offset the additional debt at these schools."</p>

<p>No. The difference between starting salaries of people who went to top tier colleges and those who went to average colleges is not very large and even the small difference in average salary is largely attributed to the fact that kids at top tiers are generally more motivated and do better work, thus getting paid more.</p>

3

<p>binghamton is good for business if you got into their school of management. Also, there are a lot of recruiters from new york city at binghamton.</p>

4

<p>Dont go to college for a job. Go to the best college you can so you can get a life. The money will follow. Trust me. Its the best advice I was ever given.</p>

<p>Would you think twice about debt for a car? of course not. Than why not for your education which is prob one of the most important decisions in your life. You have worked too hard to scrimp now.</p>

5

<p>Go to UNC or W&M (I would pick UNC personally). It will be worth it.</p>