<p>I think the O.P. has done a very good listing the pros and cons. It’s weighting the pros and cons that become more difficult. </p>
<p>We all have our opinions, but it is you that has to live your life. None of us will be paying your travel expenses back and forth to Pomona or purchasing you a laptop. None of us will be working jobs to pay for the school year ‘incidental’ expenses that aren’t incidental if you don’t have the dough. None of us will have to deal with the reality of roommates flying off to Mexico on break when you can’t afford to. And if your financial package reduces in this economy, none of us are going to be paying that off over a bunch of years. </p>
<p>In some ways, this thread is the poster child for the subjective debate. Big state school with a strength in your preferred major versus very strong liberal arts school. </p>
<p>In my limited time on this board, some posters like to wear the badge of honor of the elite college experience. And that’s fine. What drives them crazy is when you tell them the realities of college, as partly a commodity experience. That’s the last thing they want to hear or acknowledge. Going to a top level school doesn’t get you any different journalism textbooks than any other college. Your first couple of years of courses are going to cover the same basics as any other college. It also doesn’t make your professors necessarily any better. The other reality is that with study abroad, a good part of your junior year may not be in Pomona or Mizzou anyway. One could make the argument that for undergraduate the difference between the schools may get down to the differences in freshman and sophomore year class sizes, seminars and senior year courses. So, it really gets down to the school’s environment/facilities, classmates, job opportunities and the differences in study abroad opportunities. </p>
<p>Doing the math, if only 5 percent of Mizzou students ever leave there to be able to provide an opportunity for another Mizzou student that equals the same number as if 100 percent of Pomona’s students come out and provide an opportunity - so there goes the job opportunity debate. </p>
<p>As you already know, journalism is the star program at Mizzou. Bottom line is that recruiters will come to your school based on that rep. Being a major scholarship winner is something that will never ever leave your CV and will impress many a recruiter or a grad school admissions officer. </p>
<p>A beautiful campus and beautiful weather absolutely matter but bricks and mortar nor sunny warm weather will not make you a better journalist.</p>
<p>Your dad has a point about grad school. An average student at an Ivy league school is not getting into a top medical or law studies program whereas a top non-Ivy is. That said, I disagree with some of his other points. You will learn from those around you and the competitive nature of classes. Many rise to the occasion. And being around better students offers the opportunity to make you better. That said, won’t being around other top journalism majors at Mizzou be quite stimulating? As others have pointed out, it is a growing (and healthy) experience to truly go away to school. </p>
<p>Btw, does Mizzou have an honors dorm? Or a journalism major floor? Will your scholarship at Mizzou help pay for study abroad? All of these things can help.</p>
<p>Best, of luck with your decision. I have been impressed with your posts.</p>