Please help me with my college decision?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I know it seems like everyone is doing this, but I need some serious help. My family and I have been stressing over this decision for months, going back and forth between each college. Also, I have a boyfriend who was long distance in high school so that's something else i have to consider. I'm just asking for some insight. The following are my choices and the pros/cons:</p>

<p>Wash U in St. Louis: pros- great academics, all the programs I am interested in. I would fit in well with the students (im not a partier or a sorority girl) and I would get the experience I'm looking for (I went to a very bad high school, the teacher wanted to be anywhere but teaching and the students were underachieving and superficial; in college I want to make deep connections with inspiring professors and intelligent peers). I like the location of being a contained campus on ear a city, and the campus is beautiful. Cons - extremely expensive; would make my parents, who are nearing retirement, uncomfortable, as well as out me somewhat into debt; that leads to less options about graduate school (on that note I don't know what I want to do. Business or engineering, but I'm not sure) I would not be with my boyfriend, I'm not sure how much more long distance we can take honestly.</p>

<p>ASU Barrett- pros: inexpensive, close to home, boyfriend is going there. Cons - just like high school? I don't want to be just a number either. There is less flexibility with such a huge bureaucracy. I heard its just a diploma mill, not sure about Barrett though. Asu is a party school...opposite of me. I know several people (like my sister) who graduated from Barrett and could not get a job. Asu's only goal is money,
They ultimately want to have 100,000 undergraduates.</p>

<p>University of Alabama honors : pros- theyre offering me a free ride, beautiful dorms, million dollar band is great (I would obviously join it), administration that seems to care more about students than money. Cons - not the best academics, not sure about how prestigious it is, lacks a lot of the programs I'm interested in (biomedical engineering, neuroscience)</p>

<p>Hopefully I got everything. I would appreciate greatly any advice anyone has to offer. Thank you.</p>

2

<p>ASU is HUGE.perhaps there is an Honors College there that can offer a smaller college connection there…</p>

<p>WA in St Louis is a remarkable school…if your folks are not in position to put you through 4 years there, I would not recommend it - especially since there will likely be further expenses beyond…unless you intend to absorb those loans they are taking on…</p>

<p>as far as an 'inferior; education, remember, the #1 ingrediant for you getting the MOST out of your college academically as well as socially is to seek the best match for you…if you are in the safest, friendliest and most supported environment, you will excell beyond a scenario where a less than ideal setting is attained - even if higher cost/prestige were balanced against it.</p>

<p>That said, I would focus on a wonderful undergrad experience in the full ride, get amazing grades and qualify for the best grad school - opt for prestige then, regardless of cost - better value as it would be a shorter term, and you post graduate work will make more a difference to your professionally than your undergrad education…</p>

<p>good luck and enjoy!</p>

3

<p>The difference between ASU and Alabama are negligible academically. WASHU is out - too much $ I would take the full ride at Alabama, join the band, watch some BCS football games for free and take advantage of all the honors college has to offer. Roll Tide!</p>