<p>Hi, my name is Hannah, I'm a senior in high school from NYC. I'm having trouble choosing between four schools, since I'm not sure how they particularly rank against each other as different kinds of schools. I'm looking to major in Political Science on a Pre-Law track, but I'm not really sure. My choices are:
UMass Amherst Honors (10k scholarship)
Hobart & William Smith (25k scholarship, can play varsity sports at)
Denison University (22k scholarship, can also possibly play varsity sports at)
SUNY Geneseo (0k but cheap)</p>
<p>I'm looking for the best school academically but also the best environment. Advice would be greatly appreciated!! :)</p>
<p>Can you give us (tuition+ R&B) - (grants+scholarships) = ?
What’s your parents’ budget - how would they pay for the net cost?</p>
<p>Sure,
UMass: 40k - 10k = 30k
HWS: 60k - 25k = 35k
Denison: 60k - 22k = 38k
Geneseo: 17k total</p>
<p>My parents’ budget is around 30k a year, which they would be paying for out of income. I would really hate to take loans out, but for something say like HWS where they would be paying 35k, as long as it was academically worth it my parents would try. I would also be getting a job on/off campus.</p>
<p>Denison should be crossed out right away.
How important are varsity sports to you? If you’re interested in playing, then HWS is your best choice for a private school, especially since it’s strong for poli sci. In order for your parents to be within budget, you’d have to take on a subsidized loan ($3,000) and have a job (about 5 hours a week during your sports season, 10 hours a week outside your sports season). Would that be possible for you?
SUNY Geneseo vs. UMass is different: you’re into honors for both (Geneseo is de facto honors). So, it’s smaller school with more personal attention, although strictly speaking it’s medium-sized, vs. Umass which is huge. It really depends on the atmosphere you’re looking for. Umass has more rah-rah spirit, Geneseo is more serious overall. UMass has a 5 college system, where you could take classes at some of the most prestigious colleges in the US.
Check out their respective career centers (all three). Ask about internship opportunities, if any company comes to recruit or if they organize career fairs or hiring fairs with other colleges, etc.</p>