Need Advice Choosing a College!

Hi everyone,

I’m a Canadian citizen, recently graduated from a NE prep school and am currently taking a gap year.

I got into the University of Toronto for Chemical Engineering last year, which is a great program and will be relatively cheap for my family (around 20k USD per year).

I also have the option of withdrawing from U of T and applying ED to Amherst College, as I’m being recruited for swimming. The thing is, even though Amherst is need blind for internationals, my family is middle to upper middle class and thus does not qualify for much financial aid. Based on the calculator online (and the swim coach told me it’s pretty accurate, maybe a touch conservative), I’d receive 15k USD a year… so I’d be paying about 55-60k USD a year.

Even though my parents would be willing to pay for Amherst, I feel bad putting a stress on the family for my undergrad. On the other hand, I’m very undecided on what I’d like to do, career wise. I’m thinking I might do some pre med courses (I know everyone suggests to have as minimal UG debt as possible, but that’d mean going to my in province university, and then if med school doesn’t work out, what then?), but I’m also open to exploring econ and comp sci classes, which is why I think Amherst & its liberal arts setting is a good fit for me. I know an engineering degree is valuable, but I don’t quite like the idea of having to be bound to a certain degree & career path at the age of 18. Even if I decide a year or so into undergrad that I do want to do engineering, I can transfer to U of T or apply to Amherst’s dual program with Dartmouth. For personal & professional reasons I’d like to eventually work and live in the States, and I think Amherst will provide a solid stepping stone for that goal.

What would you recommend I do? Should I just accept Toronto is financially more feasible for my family and head there, or could Amherst work given my future aspirations?

Thank you, and any suggestions are appreciated, as I have to make a decision quickly!

Bump

Look, this is a big decision for you that needs to be based primarily on personal feelings and details that only you and your family know. I can’t in any way see how recommendations and suggestions form a bunch of anonymous strangers on an internet forum should play a part. You seem to have a pretty good handle on things. Do what you feel is best for you. Only you can determine that.

@BelknapPoint I understand that, I’m just wondering whether people think that what I’m proposing is very unreasonable or unrealistic.

“Unreasonable” and “unrealistic” are extremely subjective in this case. That’s why this needs to be your decision.

@BelknapPoint Understood. Just wondering, if you were in my position, would you take on the debt or go to a cheap province/state school for engineering?

What do you know about the job market for engineers in Canada? My guess is that employers there will prefer a Canadian degree over a US degree. But that is something you need to check out.

As you know…Amherst does not have engineering as a major at all. I believe the program with Dartmouth would require a fifth year of undergrad.

As noted…this is a personal family decision. You seem to have all the info.

All I will add…if medical school is in your future, you don’t want undergrad debt. Can your parents pay your net cost of $55-60 K per year? This is a discussion your family needs to have.

If you swim, will you have time to do well in pre-med classes at a school like Amherst?

Why not add some other schools where you could get merit, and the price would be between UToronto and Amherst?

Like some research universities where you can either do engineering or pursue other majors.

Hi there, you’ve said your parents can afford Amherst but also asked “would you take on the debt”? So it does not appear that your family can afford the 55K USD per year without debt. To make your decision, you need to know exactly how much your parents will contribute, how much debt they are willing to take on, and how much debt they would expect you to take on. You need to ask them now.

It sounds like you are leaning toward Amherst, but do not withdraw from Toronto until your financial picture is clear.

Toronto is a world ranked school. Many Americans go there and return to work in US and around the world. You might consider changing from the engineering school if you are no longer committed to engineering (if they allow it).

Good luck with your choice!

B