<p>these are my four options, and I have no idea which one to pick. My heart is set on Providence but it is the least affordable. Can anyone comment on these schools?</p>
<p>What do you plan to major in?</p>
<p>Santa Clara has a good reputation in the Bay Area for accounting and business. It’s also very good in the social sciences. I suspect each of these schools is well-respected in its own region, but not well-known outside of the region. They probably have similar class sizes and atmospheres.</p>
<p>I want to major in Accounting or Health Policy and Management!</p>
<p>If you are willing to major in accounting, I’d strongly suggest Fordham.</p>
<p>USD has an absolutely gorgeous campus. And year round great weather too.</p>
<p>San Diego is a great city and a good school.</p>
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<p>these are my four options, and I have no idea which one to pick. My heart is set on Providence but it is the least affordable.*</p>
<p>Why is Providence the least affordable? Don’t they all cost about the same? did you get merit scholarships from some of these schools?</p>
<p>Why is Providence your favorite? What do you like about this school?</p>
<p>Which schools have you visited?</p>
<p>You’re going to have to give us more information to help you. I go to SCU now, but without specific questions I can’t give you any details beyond what you probably know already (midsized Jesuit university in a suburban setting).</p>
<p>I will say the strengths of SCU are: small class sizes, accessible and concerned professors, the business school’s reputation and cafeteria food. Low points are (in my opinion, at least), the new but unusable library and expensive off-campus housing.</p>
<p>I was on Fordham’s campus recently and I got a very similar feeling on campus, almost like SCU was transplanted to the Northeast.</p>
<p>I’d recommend visiting SCU. If you have any more questions, feel free to PM me (not sure how that works, though).</p>
<p>Why is the scu library unusable?</p>
<p>I love Fordham</p>
<p>Do finances play a role? What is the net out-of-pocket cost to you at each of these places? Did you get any merit aid? Will you receive any FAid?</p>
<p>Where do you plan to settle? I agree that SCU is a beautiful sprawling campus, tho the dorms range in age. Some like to attend college where they might want to settle afterwards.</p>
<p>My problem with SCU’s library isn’t the availability of resources or staff. There are a lot of really helpful databases and the library is part of a large consortium that makes almost any title available to students in one or two days.</p>
<p>The library is brand new, very expensive and, I think, optimized for tours. There aren’t enough private study booths. Instead of keeping it boring and simple, they threw oddly shaped sofas all over the place, giving you not enough work space, an awkward position and a lot of noise. This is just my personal opinion, though, a lot of people have no problem with it.</p>
<p>heyy, thanks for all the replies.</p>
<p>they all do cost around the same but I got packages ranging from 7k-11k from all but providence. A plus on providence is there would be not much travel expenses since I am from the east coast. I don’t qualify for need-based aid, but my parents are only willing to contribute about 30k and I have an aunt who is giving me about 5k per year. The scholarships at some schools will limit my personal debt, but either way I am still looking at anywhere between 5-20k in loans per year. Also, my parents are going to cover half of the loans. </p>
<p>I am basically undecided on a major, but I’m considering Health Policy and Management, accounting, business administration, or some of the humanities such as political science. </p>
<p>My end goal is to go to law school and land at a career that is not doing billable hours for a law firm. I want to do something that combines social justice, law, and whatever my business or humanities degrees would be…I know that is a little all over the place and abstract, but I’m only 17 and I have no clue where I will land. </p>
<p>I like providence the most because I have been there three times and I feel very comfortable there. I have a gut feeling that it is the place for me, and after I went to admitted students day, I have a very closed mind about the other choices. I have only seen pc and usd, but I am going to be at scu and fordham next week.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that your expressed career goals tend to be paid at rather low rates, so try to keep your total debt as low as possible, especially if you do end up attending law school, as you are currently thinking. Low debt is always a good idea, in any case.</p>
<p>SOMETIMES, if you love one school but it has offered a lesser financial package than your 2nd choice, it can be worthwhile presenting it to your 1st choice and asking them if they could please increase your merit package to make your net cost more affordable and more comparable. If you narrow your choices, it’s worth trying, as long as you’re willing to attend if they do sweeten your merit award. Just another thought. :)</p>
<p>since when is business and law rather low rates? Thanks for the help, I am thinking of sending a letter with my other packages to my first choice, but I am pretty sure that will not work! thank you though!</p>
<p>Actually, when we do things for the public sector to “try to make a difference,” many of us do unfortunately live on fumes (I speak from experience). I also know quite a few attorneys who live from paycheck to paycheck, if they’re lucky enough to have a job. You asked for thoughts and I am doing my best to try to give you a perspective. I have a law degree, working in public health and earn MUCH LESS than my S’s projected salary from working as an EE just out of college. I know many others like me, with decades of experience individually and between us. This is just a reality check. 
Of course, your mileage may vary, as is often the case.</p>
<p>Do keep in mind that airfares are ever-climbing, and even a few trips across country will increase your overall costs by several thousand dollars each year, and the hassle of doing so. If money is really a factor, strongly consider staying within driving distance of your hometown.</p>
<p>As part of travel costs, when the U is a distance from the airport (SCU is a considerable distance from SFO, which is where many of the direct flights from the East Coast are routed to). Travel costs are indeed a factor, especially if you may wish to come and go for Christmas Break, perhaps spring break and summer break. Plane fares do add up and planes take a considerable amount of time, especially when the campus is a distance from a major airport.</p>
<p>thank you for the help himom and everyone else! i think fordham will probably be my best bet!</p>