<p>I never really had a first choice. I guess you'd say these two are my first choices. I've been accepted to both and don't know which to choose. Any advice, questions, and/or comments are welcome, I am pretty split.</p>
<p>Here are the factors:</p>
<p>FSU:
I live in Florida, so it would be cheaper.
I would know more people right off the bat.
I'd major in Political Science most likely, which is my other interest. (Music and Government are the two)</p>
<p>Loyola:
I could start over in terms of friends.
It offers a program I'm very interested in (B.S. in Music Industry Studies)
It's in New Orleans. I have always enjoyed cities more than suburbs or rural areas. Especially interesting ones like Miami, NYC, and Amsterdam. I'd put NO in that category.</p>
<p>I would go to Loyola, personally.</p>
<p>It’s a new experience entirely, and it offers the major you want! While FSU might be more at home and safe, sometimes life is about taking risks and trying new things…especially in college! I highly doubt you want the same experiences you’ve had throughout your life, which are more likely to happen at FSU than at Loyola.</p>
<p>Plus, New Orleans is awesome, just like you said. It also has the better program, why make yourself go to FSU where the program isn’t as good as it is at Loyola? Loyola probably offers government as well so you could minor or double major if you want to. Loyola wins in terms of academics and social experience, so my pick is Loyola (unless money is an issue)</p>
<p>Thanks avenlea!</p>
<p>I’m definitely leaning towards Loyola because of the whole program thing, and I’m not really torn up about starting over. I find myself saying “god I need new friends” sometimes haha. I agree that Loyola takes the edge in quality and what I’m looking for socially. So thank you for helping me tip the scale in Loyola’s favor without second guessing.</p>
<p>Money is a problem since I’m in a single parent home and the other parent is unemployed currently, but I think I should be able to muster up the money to go. Sadly, my parents (actually, just my mom) are pretty much assuming I want to go to FSU and are essentially disregarding Loyola as an option, but well see… Thanks again</p>
<p>What’s the cost difference for you between Loyola and FSU? Maybe I could help you out with some scholarship options. Did you get any merit scholarships? Based on the financial situation you described, you should get some FA from the school.</p>
<p>And yeah, I feel you. Finances are a problem for me too, and I’m probably going to Tulane next year on, but finances are a huge thing. But NOLA…can’t pass that up!</p>
<p>Money is a problem since I’m in a single parent home and the other parent is unemployed currently, but I think I should be able to muster up the money to go. Sadly, my parents (actually, just my mom) are pretty much assuming I want to go to FSU</p>
<p>Loyola NO doesn’t give great aid, os how would you “muster up” the money to go there?</p>
<p>Loyola - tiny, expensive and not rated as highly as Florida State, which was recently declared by Fiske’s Guide to Colleges to be a “Budget Ivy”.</p>
<p>These are different types of schools. FSU is a national research university with very large university opportunity for growth and research. FSU has a national D1 sports identity and nationally ranked programs and facilities. FSU hosts the only national laboratory in Florida. FSU has a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, LoyolaNO does not. Still, Loyola NO is a fine private school. I know a graduate and he received an excellent education at Loyola NO.</p>
<p>FSU’s political science program is the highest ranked program in Florida (9th among public universities by Simon Hix, see: [fsu.edu</a> | News](<a href=“http://polisci.fsu.edu/news/index.htm]fsu.edu”>http://polisci.fsu.edu/news/index.htm) ) and it is in the state capital of Florida - a state with some 14 million souls. And…it is less expensive than Loyola. Not to mention FSU has one of the nation’s best Colleges of Music (see: [College</a> of Music / FSU - College of Music](<a href=“http://www.music.fsu.edu//]College”>Florida State University College of Music) )</p>
<p>Tour New Orleans on break. ;)</p>
<p>avenlea- They notify you about merit scholarships from the university in the beginning of February, so at the moment I don’t know. I only signed up for one because I didn’t apply for the others since my SAT scores were 90 points below the standard (I got a 1210, they asked for a 1300). I’m not sure whether I apply for the business or music scholarship either since I’m applying for the B.S. in Music Industry Studies, but I’m calling them tomorrow about that anyway. But comparatively, about 29k tuition for Loyola, 5k tuition to FSU. Around $9,000 to cover the other expenses for both. To be honest, I am so lost in this whole scholarship and aid thing, and that is really what these next few months are all about, and since I got my acceptance letter from Loyola 2 days ago, that whole part of my pre-college life just started.</p>
<p>mom2collegekids- Money I personally have saved up, money saved for college scholarships, aid, rich relatives, and parents. We aren’t well off now, but to be honest, we used to be rich, and my father was very stingy with his money even then (he drove the same car for 17 years), I’m thinking he’s still got enough to help out. How do you know about Loyola’s aid though? Mind giving me some info if you have any please?</p>
<p>parent2noles- Well, at this point, I don’t really care about rankings because both are good schools. It just seems that Loyola is a much better fit for me in terms of what I’m looking for in a college. Of course, I won’t be destroyed if I’m not able to go to Loyola since FSU is still a great school at a great price and it still has some things I’m looking for.</p>
<p>TheDutchRudder,</p>
<p>You need to sit down with your mom and dad NOW, and find out just exactly how much money is going to be available to pay for your education. If they aren’t speaking to each other, meet with each of them separately. You really can’t make any kind of decision until you sort out the money issue.</p>
<p>If you haven’t filed the FAFSA, do so. [Home</a> - FAFSA on the Web-Federal Student Aid](<a href=“http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/]Home”>http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/) If you have any questions about how it works, go read through some of the threads in the Financial Aid Forum. There is a lot of good advice there.</p>
<p>Do you qualify for Bright Futures? If you do, that will make the Florida public universities very affordable for your family.</p>
<p>Yeah, I qualify for about 75% of Bright Futures. And it will be a pain to figure out the finances between both parents given my mom hates my dad, and my dad lives in Amsterdam, but I gotta get that figured out. And I’m filing for FAFSA as we speak, and the parent portion will be done tonight so I’ll get a clearer picture of the expenses.</p>
<p>Number who were offered aid: 510
Number who had full need met: 126</p>
<p>Since only 25% of students get their need met at LNO, that suggests that those who got their need met either had little need or were students with top stats who were giving great aid.</p>
<p>If your dad is stingy, it’s unlikely he’s going to give you much for college…especially since schools in his country are much cheaper.</p>
<p>Loyola NO is not likely going to be affordable. </p>
<p>costs for the current school year - each year will be HIGHER</p>
<p>tuition and fees: $31,504
Room and board: $10,388<br>
Books and supplies: $1,000
Estimated personal expenses: $1,500
Transportation expense: $750 </p>
<p>COA …about $45k per year…so about $200k for all 4 years.</p>
<p>As you’ve mentioned, you were only able to apply to one merit scholarship because your scores didn’t meet the req’ts for the better ones. That doesn’t suggest that you’ll be getting much from the school. </p>
<p>Test Scores
Middle 50% of
First-Year Students </p>
<p>SAT Critical Reading: 570 - 670
SAT Math: 550 - 660
SAT Writing: 550 - 660
ACT Composite: 24 - 29 </p>
<p>A 1210 SAT is in the middle of their scores. Not likely going to get much in merit. The best merit goes to those who are in the top quartile…which in this case would have scores above 1350. </p>
<p>I don’t know how much you have saved, or how much you can get from relatives, but you need to find out these things and get these issues settled before deciding.</p>
<p>
as noted above, that is going to be quite a challenge. Private college for financially challenged families seems to only work with either 1) BIG merit aid combined with financial aid, or 2) you got into a “100% need met” college, which is only about 20-30 in the entire country, and they tend to be ranked among the top 30 Unis and Top 30 LACs, and therefore very hard to get into… think SAT above 1350.</p>
<p>I say start learning to like FSU right now, and then if Loyola comes through with big FA, (or your out-of-country father comes through), you will be pleasantly surprised.</p>
<p>I just received a $17,500 merit scholarship from Loyola. Still yet to hear back from both in terms of federal aid, and I’m just spending my days applying for scholarships. Just an update from the previous situation.</p>