<p>Hey everyone, I'm really stuck over which college to choose. I was accepted into the Macaulay Honors program through Brooklyn College and I've been accepted to Trinity College in Connecticut. </p>
<p>I'm not exactly sure what I'd like to do yet, but I'm really interested in economics, philosophy, math, physics, and languages. Medicine is also very interesting. Either way I know that I was a post graduate degree whether that be a PhD or a MD. </p>
<p>The main issue is cost. Macaulay would cost me around 10k a year for housing as the rest is free. Trinity would cost 22k/year including housing. I have 40,000 saved up, but my parents most likely won't be able to help me out much with tuition cost. They said they would help me with books, food, and possibly contribute some to my housing deposit. </p>
<p>I like the locations of both schools, and I really don't care too much about name as long as it doesn't affect graduate school admissions. My main concerns are being challenged, having academic freedom, and working with intelligent kids.</p>
<p>I believe that the differences in schools will be more apparent in both the locations and the composition of the student body. Trinity will have a large majority of students from New England states with a good percentage of those from private prep schools. In the McCauley program I believe you will have a large majority of students from New York City, Long Island and New Jersey with very few from prep schools. Also living in New York City vs. Hartford Connecticut would be vastly different. I don’t see a major difference academically between the programs. Both opportunities will allow you to succeed in your stated goals. Your decision will come down to which environment will you feel most comfortable in and which financial package meets your needs and comfort level. Good luck…you have two good choices!</p>
<p>Please don’t put your grandma into jeopardy, Macaulay is as good and if you do well, you will go some where. Its in the City and there are plenty of opportunity to intern or get a part time job.</p>
<p>Please don’t do this to your grandma. Plus, if anything happens to her, you’re sole responsible for continuing with the loan or repaying the loans and interests.</p>
<p>If you have $40,000 saved up and your parents can contribute for food and personal expenses ($4,000 per year?) I suppose you would have to come up with $8,000 on your own. Is the amount you cite before any work study and federal loans, or are those included in the amount you subtracted to get to 22K?</p>
<p>Macaulay is a FANTASTIC program. Grad schools and employers are aware Macaulay scholars are the stars of the city’s university. The opportunities are great, especially the cultural program and the first-year seminars. Macaulay scholars will form a little cohort so it’ll be easier to make friends, as Brooklyn is primarily commuter - and Macaulay scholars come from all CUNY’s which is an opportunity to meet more students.</p>
<p>As for Trinity, the financial question is essential.</p>
<p>The 22,000 is before any loans or work study. Also, I feel like I’m leaning toward Macaulay. Do you think grad schools will recognize its strength?</p>
<p>I have several friends who are in the Macaulay Honors program. They are almost all pre-med; so I believe that you will be well prepared. And I think that it has a better reputation that Trinity College actually. But as someone has said, the student populations and environments are different. CUNY is a commuter college and Trinity College is more of a traditional college experience. </p>
<p>Trinity is a terrific school with a great reputation and sends many students on to med schools and Phd programs.If money is an issue, there are certainly other options, but make no mistake- you can’t go wrong at Trinity.</p>
You’re in a tough bind because Trinity is a great school, and Brooklyn College is not. Basically, the equation is if you are planning to go to grad school, the CUNY honors program won’t be much worse than Trinity for getting a job, but your education won’t be as good, and your social skills won’t be improved as much at Brooklyn. If going into $120,000 in debt isn’t something you want to do, go with the honors program and save your money for grad school. The trouble with Trinity is that it’s not clear that you will earn back the $120,000 in 10 years. With today’s taxes, you would need to earn a $20,000 premium, and that’s not likely.