Prestigious schools vs. scholarships/binghamton

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi, I'm having a really tough time weighing out all my options. My mom wants me to attend Binghamton because it's in-state for us, which would be the least expensive option I have. I won't be getting financial aid anywhere because my parents have the money but think it's a waste to spend it because they don't want to clear out a ton of their money when they don't have to. My first choice is Emory- I love the school and it is a perfect fit for me; I've also shown a ton of interest.</p>

<p>Already accepted to: UMich, Brandeis, Tulane Honors Program ($22,000 scholarship per year), Univ. of Florida- Gainesville ($16,000 scholarship per year, OOS), and Binghamton.</p>

<p>I would prefer to go to a school that challenges me to be smarter, work harder, and learn more. I like being surrounded by bright students who love learning, are intellectually curious, and are driven. I don't necessarily want to go to a huge party school.</p>

<p>If I get into Cornell, my parents will make me go there- because of In-state price, intellectual environment, and prestige. However, I still love Emory and want to go there because of the size, smart students, and balance of great academics and social life. I'm also waiting to hear from Tufts.</p>

<p>Stats:</p>

<p>ACT- composite score- 30; (math- 35, reading- 24, writing- 32, science- 30)
GPA- unweighted: 95.5. weighted: 100.62
I also come from a very good but competitive high school.</p>

<p>Many extracurriculars including President of a volunteering club, secretary of Deca (business club), and 250+ volunteering hours. Jobs include tutoring, babysitting, and deli job over the summer.
Great recommendations and essay was pretty good.
Graduating with 6 APs- the rest are all Honors.
I play piano and sing. I'm in all 3 Honor Societies at my school (National, Foreign Language, and Music)</p>

<p>Thoughts? Where will I get an intellectual environment, good grad school acceptances, an amazing and fun experience, and an education that's worth my (parents's) money?</p>

2

<p>Emory is $35,000 a year more than Binghamton. That’s $140,000 difference, assuming you graduate on time. If you’re planning on graduate school, that’s cash that could make a big difference in paying tuition. Since your parents are paying, you’re going to have to convince them that the other schools don’t provide the same benefits as Emory and it’s worth the difference in price. I don’t think saying that you’ll have an amazing and fun experience at one school and not the others is going to work.</p>

3

<p>HS students always assume that just because a school has high admission standards (say, 30 and above avg ACT), said school will then be filled with students who love learning, are intellectually curious, brilliant, yada, yada, yada. That is not always the case especially at schools with a pre-professional focus… like Emory. The reality will be that most students (even at schools like Emory) will not be intellectual dynamos but instead more interested in doing what it takes to get that first job or get into law/med school. Period.</p>

<p>If you get into Cornell, go there. It sounds to me that you would have been better suited for a LAC.</p>

4

<p>It looks like your parents have a particular college budget in mind. Once you get all of your admissions and aid packages, sit down with your parents and eliminate the places that won’t work out given your budget. There is a good calculator at [FinAid</a> | Calculators | Award Letter Comparison Tool](<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Award Letter Requirements - Finaid) that can help you sort through the numbers.</p>

5

<p>Binghamton is a very good school!!! Just because it’s in-state and a state school you should not discount it. There are many smart students in NYS and OOS who do not get into Binghamton. It’s nationally recognized as a very good school and a great value. Compare all your options but price or debt after graduation should be strongly taken into consideration.</p>

6

<p>It wouldn’t surprise me if the brightest students at Binghamton were as bright as the brightest students at Emory. A lot of very bright people go to flagship state schools for the same reasons your parents want to you go to Binghamton.</p>

7

<p>Hate to, have to, agree with your mom.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Most people who know these schools will tell you you’ve undervalued Binghamton and overvalued Emory. </p></li>
<li><p>Cornell in-state for the contract colleges (Ag, HumEc, ILR) is a relative bargain. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>Can’t see spending $20K/year more for Emory and personally think you’d be at least as likely to find kids to bond with at Cornell or Bing. Don’t really believe there are any measurably significantly greater number of intellectuals/any fewer party animals on one or another of these campuses. Plenty of NYers at Emory, but obviously many fewer than Cornell/Bing. Still could see how the atmosphere in Atlanta might appeal to you more, certainly seems more removed from what you’ve known up until now.</p>

<p>Bing brings a ton of economic/social diversity to campus, Emory more geographic diversity, Cornell probably the most intellectual diversity by virtue of its 7 undergrad colleges.</p>

<p>And don’t dismiss Tulane. With your scholarship, price would compare with Cornell contract colleges in-state, it would certainly be a less familiar place to spend 4 years, but don’t expect any less partying (this is NO, after all). Unless there’s money coming, would probably toss out Mich, Tufts and Brandeis. Don’t understand the Florida application at all.</p>

<p>Last issue is what you’re interested in studying. You didn’t mention. Unless it’s a nichy area (e.g. engineering, geology, classics, astronomy, etc.) this shouldn’t really play into decision making. Just mentioning, in case it is, in fact, nichy.</p>

8

<p>

All of your schools can fulfill these requirements. Your UG school has very little to do with where you are accepted to grad school. All of it is up to how engaged YOU are in your education.</p>

9

<p>The so-called in-state price for Cornell is no huge bargain. Tuition for the contract colleges is 16K less than the rest of the university. Nice discount, but that’s still a total COA of $41K, about double the cost of Binghamton. Hardly the bargain people think. And you need to want one of the majors available from those contract colleges.</p>

<p>OP, what do you want to study?</p>

10

<p>And…you have yet to be admitted to Emory…given your demographics, that could be a waitlist, not to burst your bubble…they take tons of NY kids in ED…</p>

<p>Otherwise, totally agree with above posts…</p>

11

<p>If accepted, would you be going into one of the very few colleges at Cornell that has a bit lower tuition? If not, then I don’t think there’s a discount. Are your parents aware of that?</p>

<p>No offense, but your ACT is a 30. That’s very good, but it’s not so high that you’ll be “head and shoulders” above your likely classmates in your major at Bing. Your ACT is about a 1330 M+CR SAT. That’s below the top 25% for Bing. The top 25% of frosh have about a 1400+ M+CR or a 32+ ACT. </p>

<p>I’m guessing that you’ll be selecting a challenging major? If so, then your classmates will likely have similar or better stats than you have. For instance, if you choose engineering or some other STEM major, then you’d probably be rather average for that major.</p>