<p>Hi, I know there are a lot of topics on stuff like this but it would be great to get some helpful advice. :) (Sorry for the long post >< )</p>
<p>Soooo I have to decide whether to go to Boston University or Rutgers University. Boston is offering a BU grant (that's renewable annually) so I would only have to pay around $17,300 a year for the rest of tuition and housing but for Rutgers (which is giving me a $40k scholarship spread out all four years) I would have to pay around $13,000 for board and fees. And I wouldn't even have to dorm at Rutgers since it’s so close to home (meaning I would only have to pay 2.6k for fees).</p>
<p>If I go to BU, I’m guaranteed debt outside of college (~70k and that’s if I get the same grant each year). Going to Rutgers means I can avoid all debt or come out with significantly less if I dorm for one or two years. And if something happens financially with my family, Rutgers is all around cheaper in the end regardless.</p>
<p>BU is in a way cooler area but it’s damn cold up north and I hate the cold. I dunno, I don’t want to come out with debt from college especially if I go to med school (I want do Pre Med and MAYBE major in film but I wanna keep my options open since I'm a very indecisive person), but I don’t want to end up at Rutgers either. It’s not a bad school but it’s just so close to home. BU is ranked higher than Rutgers but it’s 5k more and I can’t get out of it by commuting (I'm going to dorm maybe one or two years at Rutgers idk, but I always have the option of commuting so that's a plus).</p>
<p>Anyone who goes to either of these colleges, do you have any advice? Where do you attend and why? How do BU Grants work anyway, because I don't want to rely on it and have it ripped from under my feet ><. </p>
<p>(And yes, RU being close is both a pro and con for me lol- commuting saves money but I'll be close to my family who I don't really get along with hehe)</p>
<p>While I’m not entirely EXACTLY in your situation, I too have to choose between Rutgers and another very expensive school. If i do Rutgers, my debt will be significantly lower when I graduate, just like yours. I’ve basically determined that 100,000$ in debt to go to my choice school is definitely not worth it, when I can graduate rutgers with under 30,000. Not to mention, the degree from the other school is for lack of a better term, on the same level of “prestige” as Rutgers is (in my case, i don’t know too much of BU).</p>
<p>I’m pretty much in a similar boat though, Rutgers was not even really in consideration for me as of a few months ago, but now It looks like it’s between Rutgers and Community College for me, so I’m pretty sure I’m gonna go with Rutgers as of this point, and I also have to be closer to my family, which i really didn’t want.</p>
<p>I recently visited there, and you may know this already, but I cannot tell you how many people told me that they really didn’t want to end up at Rutgers, but when they did, they loved it after a short while…</p>
<p>Thanks for the response Surfer36! I’ve been to Rutgers too and I’ve also met people who said Rutgers was like their last choice haha. I’m going to BU tomorrow to get a feel of the place but given my family’s current financial status and my own aversion to debt, I will most likely choose Rutgers. There’s not a significant difference in quality between the two (BU is just in a way prettier location lol) so my decision is mostly focused on money.</p>
<p>Can anyone give me a little info on BU’s film program or even Rutgers (I know it’s kinda nonexistent)? Which one offers more opportunity? I’d think that being close to NYC and Philadelphia gets Rutgers more internships but I’d love to know more about BU as well.</p>
<p>Another vote for Rutgers. I don’t think BU’s overall reputation or quality exceeds Rutgers’ in any meaningful way. BU is a fine place but not worth the price premium over Rutgers if money is a concern. It will not provide you with more opportunities than Rutgers would.</p>
<p>Thanks NJSue! Anyone else have advice/experience to share?</p>
<p>I’ve worked out the pros and cons for each:</p>
<p>Rutgers: PROS- diversity, cheaper, between NYC and Philadelphia (more internship opportunities?), easier to get part time jobs in surrounding area, multiple campuses with different feels, feels like actual college town, scholarships for all four years
CONS- 15 min from home (I’ve heard from others in my situation that it’s actually not that big of a deal), less chance to get financial aid, New Brunswick isn’t exactly super amazing, no strong film program (though I have gotten a first hand account of several options available for those interested, including a personal major)</p>
<p>Boston: PROS- higher quality of education, solid film major, city life, more chance to get financial aid
CONS- internship competition in Boston b/c of surrounding colleges, not much diversity, cost, five hour drive from home (this is a bit too much for me), weather isn’t all too great, expensive city</p>
<p>What I know: I’m not too certain what I want to major in even though I want to pursue a career in the medical field</p>
<p>Anyone who attended either of these schools, please let me know your pros and cons and what I should do! I’m getting super stressed since there’s so little time left to decide ):</p>
<p>I’ll be honest, neither school is exactly what I’m looking for but I’ll never know really. I’m also a bit worried that I’m too focused on the financial aspect since BU is generous with aid and can very well give more as the years go on/if I appeal (Sadly, I was too late this year).</p>
<p>I’m not sure if I can picture myself at BU though…that may be because I’m so use to Jersey and Boston is a whole other experience…From what I can tell, I prefer BU in the academic aspects, but like the Rutgers social experience. </p>
<p>It’s difficult for me to decide even based on this, especially since the costs aren’t extremely different. (About 6k difference for me each year)</p>
<p>Any response would be helpful- I’ve done research on both schools and was admitted to the Rutgers SAS Honors Program which I heard has great benefits. How much does that offer?</p>
<p>I feel that coming out of Rutgers with distinction (Honors) would offer more opportunity than being at BU… I keep flip flopping though xD is that just normal about deciding what college to attend?</p>
<p>My sister went to Rutgers along with tons of my high school classmates and while she was happy to be 15 minutes from home (we were from EB), she lived in NB, in the dorms, and had the full college experience. It’s what you make of it. I think some of my brother-in-law’s classes were closer to his house than to his dorm, but he was very active on campus and remains a faithful alumnus and perhaps the most faithful Scarlet Knights fan on the planet. </p>
<p>I’d live in the dorms to begin with, rather than the other way around. This way, you can establish yourself away from home as soon as you start college and maybe score an RA position later on that will pay for some or all of your housing. </p>
<p>And I definitely wouldn’t let one stupid decision like paying for Snooki to come to campus (in a non-academic capacity) influence your decision too much, if at all.</p>
I’ve been to Rutgers too and I’ve also met people who said Rutgers was like their last choice haha. I’m going to BU tomorrow to get a feel of the place but given my family’s current financial status and my own aversion to debt, I will most likely choose Rutgers. There’s not a significant difference in quality between the two (BU is just in a way prettier location lol) so my decision is mostly focused on money.</p>