<p>If you are interested in CS, Drexel is probably the best choice since smaller schools don’t usually have as much choice in classes. Furman is a very good LAC which means you will have a great education if you are interested in humanities and sciences. Furman also has a top rated golf program!</p>
<p>@texaspg To be honest, I would have gone to an Art school if it wasn’t expensive.</p>
<p>What I understand then is that, for you, these factors like location, diversity, campus/class size, are not hugely important issues to you, and that you wouldn’t reject either school because of them. If that’s correct, then it’s probably going to come down to your career goals, what academic program best meets those goals, and also net cost. </p>
<p>I know you said your family can afford both schools, but if you want to continue on to grad school, an $8,000 savings per year is quite sizable. It’s about finding the best value, not necessarily about what you can “afford”. Which school will allow you to reach your academic and career goals more easily, taking net cost into account? In my opinion, Drexel is not worth the extra 30K when you look at academic quality alone. But it might be worth the extra cost when you consider your career goals and talents/interests.</p>
<p>What are your artistic interests? Drexel has more of a media-oriented focus (GD, photography, animation, etc.) which indicates it has vocational priorities (typical of a large research uni). Furman has a liberal arts focus. If you’re interested in exploring a more diverse assortment of visual arts (drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture) then Furman is probably better equipped to deal with that. </p>
<p>If an art school like PrattMWP is really interesting to you, you might be more at home in the smaller liberal arts setting of Furman. Or maybe you’re just interested in graphic design/computing, and not necessarily in the visual arts in general, in which case Drexel would appeal. These are things you need to think about.</p>
<p>If you haven’t already, you might want to consider a double major in CS and Studio Art at Furman. Or if a double major seems too challenging, then you could very likely combine CS and Studio Art (Graphic Design focus) in an Individualized program. Liberal Arts Colleges are quite accommodating in that regard, but you might want to check with them on the feasibility of that.</p>
<p>At Drexel, it sounds like you’d major in GD and maybe minor in CS.</p>
<p>If you are artistically inclined, I would say Drexel has more to offer. Philadelphia has a very vibrant arts community, because it is one of the few affordable cities for young, creative people, and a lot of creative businesses are starting up there. Drexel is very strong in technical fields, furthermore. I think that Phlly’s cultural environment sounds like a better fit for an international student with artistic impulses.</p>
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<p>Yes @Dunboyne you’re right. Location, diversity, campus doesn’t to me as much as the value of education for the money does. And as for grad school, I think I’ll try and do a MFA in a college like RISD, Pratt or Parsons. So, do you think $8000 per year would be fine?</p>
<p>I didn’t get the point about Drexel’s extra 30K. I’ll have to pay around 20K as I’ve been get a full ride for the tuition fees.</p>
<p>As for my artistic interest, I’m not that good in Fine art and I’m more interested in Digital Arts. School like RIT was a great fit for me but they declined me due to financial problems. I know that I won’t get that in Furman but the Head of the Department at Furman is a PHD in Graphic Design which is keeping my thinking.</p>
<p>I have considered doing a minor in CS but my focus is mainly Graphic Design here. I’ve heard that academics in Furman is rigorous and hence I’m apprehensive of doing a Double major. I was even thinking of doing a double major in Art and Communication major. </p>
<p>I also have a option to do a concentration in Graphic Design at Furman but I don’t know how is it different from a just simple art major.</p>
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<p>Sounds interesting @woogzmama. I never knew that.</p>
<p>I’m not sure what you mean by whether $8,000 per year “would be fine”. I’m saying that’s what your savings are likely to be per year at Furman over Drexel. So roughly $30K total in savings over 4 years (pending future scholarships). A grad degree is going to be over $60K per year (gross cost), so if you’re seriously considering an MFA, you should take into account where that money is going to come from. Saving $30,000 on an undergrad education is quite significant. </p>
<p>Drexel might be worth that extra cost to you, but you should be very careful when that much money is at stake in assessing value. Are you getting something at Drexel that is worth $8,000 more per year?</p>
<p>In your case, without being able to visit, and without having very specific requirements about social/cultural “fit”, you should take a very close look at the program of study that you’d likely pursue at both Drexel and Furman. Look at your academic program options. (You might want to send some emails to Furman to get a better understanding of what shape your program of study might take: double major, individual study, concentration, etc.) Figure out what you want from your undergrad degree and undergrad experience, and what skills you want to have 4 years from now. Compare the programs at Drexel and Furman, and evaluate if the extra cost of Drexel is reasonable for what it’s providing you.</p>
<p><a href=“Drexel vs Furman - Applying to College - College Confidential Forums”>Drexel vs Furman - Applying to College - College Confidential Forums;
<p>Here are some points @Dunboyne. </p>