Hi all!
At long last I have narrowed down my college decision to two schools: Notre Dame and TCU. This may seem like an obvious choice at first, but allow me to explain why I am so conflicted.
A little about me and what I’m looking for in college:
-I’m planning on majoring in business (not quite sure what aspect of business yet-leaning somewhat towards management) and will probably get an MBA. I’d eventually like to end up in either Texas, Colorado, or the West Coast, but I’m not 100% sure and feel like I would probably be happy anywhere
-I’m looking for a really strong sense of community and somewhere that would be a good fit for me socially
-I want to get involved in a lot no matter where I go, particularly in service and religious organizations
-I’m from Colorado and am used to spending hours on end outdoors, and while location isn’t necessarily a deciding factor, I’m definitely taking it into consideration especially since I tend to get depressed during the winter months
Notre Dame:
Notre Dame was the first college I knew I wanted to go to and I would have a super hard time turning down their admission offer. I know their business school is top-ranked and I have received pre-approval for entry after the first year of studies program, and doing well academically would definitely help me get admitted into a competitive MBA program. The academics are obviously top-notch and I know the alumni connections are very strong as well. I really really like the strong sense of community at ND and think I would do well socially and enjoy the “dorm life” that they have rather than Greek life. I also like the fact that ND is a religious school as well. All this being said, there are a few downsides. Notre Dame costs roughly $30k more a year for me to attend and I would be in debt after undergrad. I didn’t think South Bend was as bad as people say, but I don’t think I would thrive during the 6 months out of the year where it’s gray all the time, but would enjoy the more moderate summers/falls. I think Notre Dame would be more comfortable socially for me, but at the same time I think going outside of my comfort zone would help me grow a lot. Also, I didn’t get the same vibe at ND as I got at TCU. ND seemed more serious/intense and not as exciting. It felt older in a way and I also kind of feel like the college as a whole is resting on its laurels, so to speak. But, I do feel like I would fit in better here, though I also feel like I’d find my niche wherever I decide to go.
TCU:
TCU really exceeded my expectations. A rep came to my high school and spoke to us about it, and I remember being pretty excited to apply but not as excited as ND. About a week after being accepted to ND I was accepted to TCU and received some scholarship money but was invited to campus to interview and give a presentation in hopes of receiving a “more prestigious” scholarship. I figured why not, I’ll do it and see what happens and I was blown away by TCU. The campus and surrounding area are very beautiful and I definitely like the fact that it is sunny there almost all the time and is green for almost all of the year. However, I’m not sure how well I would do in the heat of the summer. The people there, including the students, are so friendly and welcoming and you can tell everyone genuinely cares about the school. I ended up falling in love with the school (but I also love Notre Dame) and did receive the full tuition scholarship that I interviewed for. This makes TCU a more affordable option for me and my family (we could potentially make ND work, but not without going into debt). Like I mentioned earlier the vibe at TCU was different-you can feel that the school is certainly up-and-coming and everything feels fresh and exciting. It also seemed more laid-back than ND, which I think I would like. I feel like TCU might be more fun than ND. Also, at TCU I know of quite a few things I’d like to get involved in on campus. Even though TCU might not be as good academically as ND, I am in the honors college at TCU as well as the chancellor’s scholars program and would likely join the business honors program. Whereas I’d be a middle of the road student at Notre Dame, I’d be at the top of the class at TCU. The main thing I’m worried about at TCU is fitting in socially. I know Greek life is a big deal there and I’m not entirely sure I want to go Greek. I like the friendship and philanthropy elements, but I don’t drink and I’ve never really been to a party so I feel like it would be awkward for me, and I’m worried I’ll have a hard time socially if I don’t go Greek. Also I’m worried that I’d be closing doors if I went to TCU, whereas I’d be opening them by attending ND.
I apologize for being really long-winded and rambling but I just want to make sure I make the right choice for me and would greatly appreciate any input. Thank you so much!!!