<p>so i got into Rutgers, RPI, Duke, VTech, Lehigh, UNC Chapel Hill, NC State, MIT and UPenn</p>
<p>due to financial reasons im only really considering Rutgers and VTech</p>
<p>I am from NJ and I got free tuition scholarship at Rutgers but i liked the campus and atmosphere of VTech better, so it is hard for me to decide. </p>
<p>If anyone could help me out with anything they know from experiance or from people they know about the academic or social aspects of any of the 9 colleges it would be greatly appreciated.</p>
have you contacted the other 7 schools with your Rutgers and VTech info and asked them to reconsider their aid package? You’d really be surprised how well this works at some schools.</p>
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<li><p>I would put Lehigh on par with Rutgers, but Lehigh does have the added benefit of the 5th year “free” program to get a masters. Depending on your plans, this might be a very good cost way to get a masters without added debt. It sounds like Rutgers is by far the better deal, though.</p></li>
<li><p>Rutgers v. VTech: Are you interested in any particular program? I think in general, Rutgers has the stronger reputation and is an excellent state school. But there are probably instances where VTech offers better programs. </p></li>
<li><p>Travel costs: with any of your non-NJ schools, be sure to factor in all the $$ you’ll have to spend: travel/flights 2-3x per year (or train rides), shipping fees for your school stuff, storage fees for the summers, any required new licenses if you’ll have a car on campus… these things do add up and are worth thinking about if you’ll be responsible for them.</p></li>
<li><p>where do you want to work after? If you’re from NJ, do you see yourself staying in the tri-state area? Rutgers definitely will give you the leg up. If you think you’ll move out west after college, you’ll probably find less of a difference. If you want to move to VA, you’ll have better luck with a VTECH degree.</p></li>
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