<p>Hello!</p>
<p>I am currently deciding between Ohio University, Kent State University and Wittenberg University. I'm also interested in the computer science major.</p>
<p>Can anyone tell me some pros and cons of these schools, as well as information on their computer science department.</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>Princeton Review surveys have often shown Wittenberg to score high in quality of teaching and the classroom experience. I visited the campus once and was impressed with the beauty of the campus and how friendly the students were. I’d take a second look at Witt over Kent and OU.</p>
<p>^I was going to recommend Wittenberg, too, for the excellent classroom experience. Look at their CS and math majors.
How much would each cost, before loans but after scholarships?</p>
<p>Would you enjoy more personal attention and contact with professors, or large lecture halls (…that are easy to skip)?
Would you prefer a residential campus, where most students live together on campus, or a commuter campus where more students live at home with their parents or off campus?</p>
<p>Classes under 20 students Ohio U 37% Kent State 45% Wittenberg 63%
Classes with 40 or more students Ohio U 25% Kent State 15% Wittenberg: 0%
% students living on campus: Ohio U 43% Kent State 29% Wittenberg 93%
Graduation rate in 4 years: OhioU 44% Kent State 28% Wittenberg 60%
Freshmen returning for a 2nd year: OhioU 79% Kent State 77% Wittenberg 78%</p>
<p>Based on the numbers, Kent State is like a less good version of OhioU, so unless you got amazing scholarships for Kent State including honors, the choice really is between OhioU and Wittenberg.
Calculate your costs on the basis of 5 years for OhioU since most students do not graduate in 4 years.</p>
<p>Thank you for your feedback! </p>
<p>What did you decide? And what was your reasoning process? This would be very useful to future students who come here to read about your experience. :)</p>
<p>I’m starting to lean more towards Wittenberg. I’ve read different forums from CC and all seem to have good reviews on the school. I have also considered financial aid, safety and how close it is at home. Wittenberg is also considered a great liberal arts and sciences college with a beautiful campus.</p>
<p>I’ve considered financial aid in deciding. I will receive more at Witt than the other schools, sure it may be more expensive because it is a private school, but they offer lots of scholarship opportunities.</p>
<p>I have even reviewed safety at the schools, they all seem equal but Witt ranked higher in safer campuses. </p>
<p>Also I do not have a car and will have to rely on some sort of transportation until I do. Whether it’s the bus or my parents, it is a short trip from home. </p>
<p>I will probably research more about each school before I completely decide, but Witt is my top choice at the moment. I do not want to commit until I am 100% sure if I would like to go.</p>
<p>Adding to my last post the school has smaller classes which would be helpful if I every need a teachers help. I would not be just a face that he/she does not recognize, rather a student with a name and face that a teacher can remember. </p>
<p>I am more of an introvert and quiet but with smaller classes and less people I could be more comfortable at the school and making friends would be easier. </p>
<p>And adding to the issue of my shyness, Witt does not allow freshmen to have a single room during first semester. At first I did not like the idea, but I realized that I would not be able to go out on my own and meet new people. If I had a roommate they could maybe be the first friend I make at college, and roommates are assigned by a survey that matches students with similar interests and etc.</p>
<p>Also there is a lot going on in campus, such as clubs, so the weekends would not be boring if I decide not to go home on the weekends.</p>
<p>Wow, it sounds like your decision toward Wittenberg is really well thought-out and rational. I hope the financial aid works out!
Have you been able to visit OU and Wittenberg? </p>
<p>I have visited OU because of a friend that used to go there. The campus there was great too with lots to do in the town streets.</p>
<p>The big factor in deciding which college could be money. College costs so much that I feel like scholarships with lots of loans will be the only solution.</p>
<p>Haven’t you received your financial aid packages?
Can you list cost like this for each university</p>
<p>Total costs
Scholarships/grants
Out of pocket costs =</p>
<p>Federal (Stafford) Loans
Work Study
Other</p>
<p>Your loan should only be $5,500; then you may have a work study job on campus to cover your personal expenses.
If your financial aid package includes “PLUS loans”, those aren’t “financial aid”, they are loans taken on by parents, who must get approved for them (which they may not be) and which they must repay immediately, with everything compounding.</p>
<p>You should really go for an “admitted students” day. Living in a place is very different from walking around it or visiting. Attend a class: are the students engaged, prepared, interesting? What about the professor? Eat in the cafeteria: do they have food you like, are your dietary needs supported? Listen to the chatter: are those conversations you’d like to join in? Read the campus newspaper: what are the students concerned about? If you stay overnight, did you like the dorms, were the students friendly? etc…</p>
<p>The only information I have received is on scholarships.</p>
<p>Wittenberg-
Total cost- $48,000 per year
Scholarship- $21,000 per year
OOP- $27,000 per year</p>
<p>OU
Total cost- $22,000 per year
Scholarship - $2,000 per year
OOP- $20,000 per year</p>
<p>Kent-
Total cost- $20,000 per year
Scholarship- $4,000 per year
OOP- $16,000 per year</p>
<p>I still have the Pell Grant that I would receive and I will probably apply for more scholarships. Also I will probably apply for work study at the college. During the summer I will try and save up some more money but that will barely be a portion of what I need.</p>
<p>Would the loan of $5,500 be per year? What if I need more than that amount? </p>
<p>You get $5,500, plus what you can earn in work study, summer job, whatever other job you can have, which would total $2,500-4,500 depending on how economically thriving the area you live in is, how many hours you can work, etc. Then add Pell (likely to be about $5,000).
That leaves $12,000-14,000 for Wittenberg, about $5,000 for OU, and $1,000 for Kent that your parents must contribute through savings and income (plus/and your own savings). You can also try to skimp on some aspects of total cost of attendance (find your reading lists as soon as you’re registered by asking the professor, then either borrow the book from the university or town library, or find a cheap, used version online. Skimp on going out, eat in the cafeteria often. Take advantage of all the free activities and entertainment options on campus. Don’t go home often and save on gas to refuce the cost of transportation. All of this, of course, only shaves money here and there, but it can add up over the year, especially saving on textbooks. Also, don’t rent your textbooks since some books are used over two semesters and costs of renting for 2 semesters are higher than buying at the beginning of one… not to mention you can always sell back your book after the semester or year is over.)
If you need more in loans, your parents need to be approved for Parent PLUS loans or co-sign on loans, but that’s really not a good idea, especially if they’re lower-income, as it could bankrupt everyone.</p>
<p>Frankly I don’t see how a Pell eligible family can swing Wittenberg. @MYOS1634 has some very good recommendations to save $ but they won’t bridge that kind of a gap. And any scholarships you apply for and get will be for a single year which won’t help you after your freshman year. You need to have a long talk with your parents about what they can realistically help you with.</p>
<p>It sounds like you haven’t received your actual financial aid packages yet?. Witt was pretty generous to my S’12, bringing the final cost lower than the state schools. So if the $21K is an academic scholarship, they will still add Pell, work study, loans and maybe large-enough need-based grants - either their own or SEOG and/or an Ohio grant (if you are an Ohio resident).</p>
<p>Yes I am currently waiting for my financial aid letter. Hopefully they come soon because the May 1st deadline is just around the corner.</p>
<p>To whoever is reading this forum for Wittenberg University, I have decided on not attending here. After thinking about it Witt was not the place for me, and I wouldn’t feel comfortable here.</p>
<p>Thank you to those who commented and helped!</p>