<p>Both Geneseo and Binghamton are better schools then either Siena or Providence - in Siena’s case by a lot. I maybe can see someone making an argument for Fordham but, not in my opinion. Plus, being a student in NYC is expensive. Just to go out for a burger isn’t cheap.</p>
<p>I am a student in southern California. Recently I got accepted to Pitzer college ( a part of Claremont colleges ) and few other University of California including UC Irvine and UCSD. At Pitzer I got scholarship and grants with total package around 45k/ yr ( 62k total cost/ yr ). But at UC, I probably get nothing and its might cost total of 31k/ yr for total cost. I am aware that UC system is a very fine public schools academically, but due to recent buget crisis, most of classes tend to be very large and hard to graduate in 4 or even 5 yrs. Is it a no brainer to take offer at Pitzer college with that kind of financial package versus go to one of the UC ? I am leaning toward Pitzer right now but…UC Irvine and San Diego are located in such a nice wonderful area which hard to overlook. And if I decide to go to UC Irvine, I can stay at home and commute which save my parent alot but still end up to pay the same amount of money that I have to come up with the different at Pitzer ( 17k ). Any advise ?</p>
<p>Pitzer. Hands down, especially at that net cost. (Unless the net cost is based on having two kids in your family in college at the same time, and that situation will only last a year or two.)</p>
<p>I am the first child in college, my younger brother will be in in 2 years. I though that is a logical choice, isn’t it ?</p>
<p>Yeah I am really proud of the state school she got into. Its best for her program. She wants secondary ED in Math. Being in NY will have her state certified to teach much easier than going out of state. Geneseo is also ranked very high in this region. It just amazes me when I hear her talk about certain friends who’s parents are sending them to privates like Providence, Bentley, Loyola & Fairfield ect who are taking loans for over 30,000 per year I just get stunned.How do you rationalize taking out 120,000 in loans for undergrad? Thats with out interest! I just think its crazy.</p>
<p>I would say Pitzer if your parents are ok with that. I dont know alot about the cali school system but seems like a good deal.</p>
<p>@ Arabrab : thank for your advise</p>
<p>@ GCmom415: my parents want me to go to Pitzer, Since I am planning to go to Med school, their rationale that by going to Pitzer, I have better chance at Grad or Med school eventually ( assume I am doing well there ) due to small class size and personal attention from professor. Even UCI and UCSD both have their own Med school, I have to survive on my own with a lot of distractions and competitions with weed out mentality from pre-med classes. They said at Pitzer, all I have to do is study hard and compete with myself instead of go to UCs and I have to compete with 5000 other pre med in my classes.</p>
<p>Thank you GCmom. I think Pitzer it is. Will go to UC for grad school then huh.</p>
<p>GCMom, I try not to judge others decisions. It’s possible their kids did not have the choices your D has. </p>
<p>My son was also accepted at Binghamton (he didn’t apply to Geneseo) but several of the private LAC he got into ended up being less (by several $1000’s.) including his top choice (a top 25 LAC) so that is where he is. So, in most cases, it depends on which private school it is and what the package one gets is - all else being equal. </p>
<p>And not that this really matters but I have loads of friends (doctor’s, lawyers and Indian Chief’s) whose kids have gone to both Bing & Geneseo. Their kids are now in law school, med school, dental school, etc., etc., etc. I even know someone whose D was at Cornell, hated it - though she was doing fine academically, and transferred to Bing. </p>
<p>My nephew also graduated from Geneseo a few years ago and got a full ride plus a stipend at Ohio State to a 3 year grad program.</p>
<p>Sounds like you have made the right choice. My son is junior at a small private college in PA. The classes are very small. I think that was good for him. He has also followed the premed track.</p>
<p>@emilybee your so right. I have alot of friends who went to Albany Bing & Geneseo and have done very well. Like I said in my past posts…we are heading to Geneseo on Wednesday. I was there before but she has not. I didnt want to take the trip unless I knew she was excepted. Now we will go. Shes actually been making some friends on the facebook group and she sees the kids are “normal” so I think so far it looks good!</p>
<p>@ GCmom : I see. I applied at Bryn Mawr too, but got waitlisted thou, same as Wellesley. I don’t know much about East coast, but in california, the Pre med competition is very tough due to a large group of Asian student population. It is very cut throat and I dont think I can be able to do well in that kind of environment very well.</p>
<p>@socalgirlnguyen I see that. We have that here too. Thats why for my son it was a better choice.The smaller private. He also got a good package at a private so I didnt mind.</p>
<p>Thx GCmom, hands down Pitzer then. But most of my friends in my hs go to UC’s thou.its ok, I can still see them on the break. Besides, Pitzer only 45’ from home…</p>
<p>Good Luck to you!! Hope you have a wonderful college experience but as a parent I need to say “Study Hard”!!! I hope all your Dr dreams come true!</p>
<p>Yes, the kids at these school are normal. 
</p>
<p>Your D has two excellent choices. If she likes a smaller school then G will be fine. If she likes a bigger school then Bing will be fine. Good luck to her!</p>
<p>SoCalGirl, have your parents read the stickies here on the the premed forum. Going to a private vs. a public will not enhance your chances for medschool. A long time poster has said that a top 5 LAC or top 10 uni may give you a “slight” bump but other than that I would take the less expensive option for UG and save the money for medschool. BTW, my D’s medschool is $73,000 per year, you might want to let your parents see medschool costs as well so they may save for medschool vs. UG</p>
<p>I will try GCmom. Already had one rejection from BA/MD school thou. LOL… such an early Med school rejection, but I will take that as a motivation to study harder for the next 4 yrs. good luck with your son too.</p>
<p>Ditto what emilybee said. My wife is a Binghamton grad (from NJ) and her friends are all successful; nearly all have advanced degrees.</p>
<p>SUNYs have lower cost OOS than some states’ in-state price. Geneseo was recently named #1, Binghamton #3, value for out-of-state students. There will be plenty of variety within the student body.</p>
<p>EDIT FOR NEW INFO: Kiplingers says Geneseo is only 2% OOS students. As an upstater, we always considered NY metro area as cuturally part of NJ so many students will “kind of” be from another place.</p>
<p>^GA2012Mom, the package that Socalgirl got from Pitzer makes Pitzer much less expensive than a UC. </p>
<p>Pitzer is obviously the best choice in this situation. Plus, if she does well she will get into med school - it’s not like Pitzer is some rinky dink school no one in med school admissions has ever heard of.</p>