<p>im a high school senior and i was accepted to rutgers- honors college on a full scholarship. at first rutgers was a complete safety for me and i didnt want to go at all but after i got the scholarship my parents are telling me to think about going there. for those of you that had rutgers as a safety and ended up going there, do you like it? is it like high school all over again? hows the honors college program?</p>
<p>Well, I'm not a current student (but I will be come this fall), but I think you should listen to your parents. I mean, a FULL SCHOLARSHIP?! Wow, take advantage of that. </p>
<p>Think of it this way: if you plan on going to graduate school later on, you'll be saving money. You won't have to pay for both UNDERGRAD and GRAD, only GRAD school. </p>
<p>The issue about it being like high school over again....if you are worried about seeing the same kids from your current high school at Rutgers, I hear that one rarely sees the same people since the campus is so HUGE. </p>
<p>That's all I can answer. I'm sure you can get a better response from a current student, but I think they rarely visit this site (I wish they did, 'cause I sure have a lot of questions too!)</p>
<p>What other colleges are you considering? Is there a particular one that you want to attend that is making you feel torn about going to Rutgers?</p>
<p>what other schools have you applied to? if you gotten into, say, HYPMS (which you probably mite considering they gave you a full scholarship) then I would say go to the upper-tier schools. they open doors that most people at other schools may never have! It's a lot of money, true, but in a few years it will probalby be worth it.</p>
<p>If I were in that position, I would definitely go to Rutgers, especially if you wont be able to receive need-based aid from (I'm assuming) the HYPMS level schools you applied to. Hmm...50k over 4 years = 200k vs. free undergraduate education...I'd take the 2nd option. While the uber prestigious schools are great schools, they aren't really worth it if you and your family are going to be put through financial difficulties or if you are going to come out with 100k+ in student loans - probably more for many students. Besides if you can only go to an ivy for 1 degree, I'd make it my masters over my undergraduate degree. </p>
<p>Oh and just so you know, I attend a rather 'prestigious,' top-notch public high school in NJ where 5-10% of the class goes to schools on the level to HYPMS, JHU, Duke, Cal Tech, Georgetown, BC, etc - basically I attend school with rich, elitist, and snobby kids. They aren't always exactly the schools one would imagine that they are cracked up to be. I would definitely visit the top choice school you get into and really weigh whether the added financial burden would be worthwhile. Make sure you are happy with the environment as well. I'm awaiting my decision from UPenn and it would be my top pick school, however 1) I also received a scholarship from Rutgers and my parents want me to go there and 2) I dont know that the environment there would make me comfortable, but thats just me - then again UPenn is definitely much more social than the other Ivies. But yeah, I know of people who went to schools like Brown and Columbia but the environment just wasn't right for them and they ended up transferring.</p>
<p>Granted Narcissa is correct in stating that those types of schools tend to open more initial opportunities than a school like Rutgers might, that doesn't mean you can't succeed in spite of that. A lot of people on these forums seem to think that an Ivy degree = automatic success but that isn't really the case. It still takes a lot of hard work and while I know family friends of mine who went to Wharton and make 500k a year, I also know of people who went to Wharton and don't make more than 60k and work with people who didn't go to any mentionable school earning the same as them in the same company. It really depends what you make of it I suppose.</p>
<p>i don't know, there's quite a difference b/t starting salaries of HYPMS and Rutgers for certain majors. what do u want to major in? if it's like medicine or business than you're better off at the more prestigious schools...it'll only take a few years to pay back all that money PLUS you earn more as you get older. at rutgers you kinda have to start at the bottom</p>
<p>s217, I'm in the same position and am wondering about that. I also applied to WUSTL, JHU, and Brown, and have almost a full ride at Rutgers honors. But if you want to go to an Ivy caliber med school, is it a good idea to go to Rutgers? Will it lower your chances?</p>
<p>What is your major?
And where do YOU want to go?</p>
<p>one of my friends was in probably a similar situation last year. he was accepted to some good schools (cornell, brown, nu, etc) but didn't know whether or not he wanted to take the full scholarship (plus more money and other sht) that rutgers gave him. He went to visit, though, and thought that the professors didn't know what the hell they were talking about and the students there did not provide a stimulating environment at all. he later went to NU</p>
<p>Well, I guess you got your answer: Give up the scholarship and go to a school of high caliber. Simple as that.</p>
<p>Just reading that the "students there [don't] provide a stimulating environment at all" makes me feel like I'm just going to a crap school next year. Thanks guys....</p>
<p>Mushaboom - You should never base any decision solely on what one other person has to say. I'm not saying that Narcissa isn't right, but what she considers to be a "stimulating environment" varies from person to person. I would strongly recommend you visit any school that you are considering and get a feel of the school for yourself before making any decision. Then measure the pros and cons of each choice. Best of luck in your college "hunt" =D</p>
<p>My hunt is over. I already enrolled at Rutgers simply because I liked it when I visited (despite the huge campus) and it is cheaper for my family. If money wasn't a problem for my family, there were 2 liberal arts colleges that I planned on applying to. I thought they were both "matches" for me.</p>
<p>Sorry, I guess I came across a bit bitter in my previous post, maybe 'cause I wish I received scholarship money to attend Rutgers :)</p>
<p>lol sorry, I'm not saying that Rutgers does not provide a stimulating environment, I'm just saying that my friend who visited the orientation said that he didn't like it (and then again he was pretty stuck up and arrogant). He just visited in a pretty isolated department which was probably not indicative of the entire rest of the school. But congrats on being happy with your selection!! :)</p>
<p>my other schools are Umich- Ross, Harvard, UVA, JHU, UPenn, Barnard, Duke, UChicago, Georgetown, Carnegie Mellon- Tepper</p>
<p>at UMich and CMU, i applied to the business schools and everywhere else i applied as a math or econ major. but im not sure what i really want to do. i picked econ/ math because i figured it was a good stepping stone for whatever i decide to do in the future. </p>
<p>but last year i was dead set on going pre- med and was going to apply to the rutgers 7 yr med program but then i decided not to because i wasnt sure what i wanted to do. but now that i got the scholarship i wish i applied to the med- program because (assuming i got into it) i could do my undergrad for free and still have my med degree from UMDNJ, which is pretty good. but i got the scholarship to New brunswick college of arts and sciences. </p>
<p>my top choices are Uchicago, harvard, georgetown, and JHU. and especially with harvard, if i get in, with their new financial aid plan, i would end up paying about 80K for all four years. </p>
<p>and i prob wont get much need based money because my sister graduate from college 11 years ago and my parents dont have any other major expenses.</p>
<p>yea and thats the other thing, i want to be around kids that are like me and as motivated and what not. (not to sound obnoxious or anything)</p>
<p>btw what is HYPMS? and thanks for all your help.</p>
<p>HYPMS is basically an acronym that people on this site use to name the top ivy leagues (although one of the schools isn't an ivy, but quite close to it)</p>
<p>H: Harvard
Y: Yale
P: Princeton
M: (I believe is M.I.T.)
S: Stanford</p>
<p>Just want to give a different perspective here. I graduated from Rutgers more than 20 years ago. I got a fantastic education. In my career, I have met many Ivy grads who don't have the skills that a Rutgers education gave me. And I started my working life debt-free, so that I could take whatever opportunities I wanted. </p>
<p>Rutgers is a big school. There's some of everything. There are some fantastic professors (for example, Toni Morrison was a Rutgers professor when I was there) and some so-so professors. There are some students who are just scraping by, and there are some students who are stunningly brilliant, and there are students everywhere in between. But here's the good thing: Whatever you are, you can find people like you at Rutgers.</p>
<p>^my friend's parents are rutgers grads, and they're effing rich. lol =]
[quote]
although one of the schools isn't an ivy, but quite close to it
[/quote]
neither MIT nor Stanford are ivies, but they sure kick HYP's ass :)</p>
<p>Wackymother....hearing (or more so reading :) ) that makes me feel that I made the right choice in enrolling at Rutgers. Of course, I have to wait until autumn when I actually attend to experience the good (and the ::gulp:: bad). </p>
<p>I do read about people putting down Rutgers because it is an "easy" school to get into and that "ANYBODY" can get in, which is not true. Also I hear how there are many unmotivated students who attend that do nothing but party and receive STDs (oh that STD rumor...). That turned me off at first when I researched Rutgers during my junior year. </p>
<p>But then I thought of my fellow classmates who plan on attending Rutgers. They are motivated kids. One of them who I know is ranked within the top 10 of our senior class. He decided to apply and enroll at Rutgers simply to avoid large debt after graduation, while receiving a good education at the same time. </p>
<p>And I'm sure there are bad professors at almost every college out there :)</p>
<p>Sorry, I write a lot. Anyway, good luck s217! Go wherever you feel will be best for you</p>
<p>Another parent jumping in here because my daughter (honors engineering, full scholarship freshmen) was in a very similiar situation. She at rutgers and LOVES it and every time she comes home she thanks me for providing perspective on money , options etc.</p>
<p>Narcissa - Oops I read way to quickly, my apologies for putting words in your mouth. </p>
<p>And yes, I know just the type of friend that you are talking about, I'm surrounded by them at my new high school. In fact, after moving into this totally different society I've kind of really been turned off by the snobbishness involved when people discuss the prestige of schools. That is one of the biggest reasons why I've kinda turned my back on Upenn, even though I have been enthralled by it in the past few years. I know that while Rutgers Honors is not comparable in prestige to Upenn, at the very least, I will mostly be around down-to-earth individuals who are as hard working as I am. I used to think I'd love motivated individuals such as myself, but being around such people has revealed a darker side and unmotivated me in the past few months. Some might call me stupid but each individual has to do what they believe is best for themself.</p>
<p>full scholarship? GO. </p>
<p>That's just my opinion though. :D College is so expensive.. if you can go for free, you need to think about taking advantage of that.</p>