<p>So right now, my top choice school is the University of Pittsburgh. I LOVE it, but financially, Rutgers is a better option because it's in state. I'm going to be in the school of arts and sciences for psychology. Is it worth the extra 7k in total costs for me to go to UPitt over Rutgers? I know Rutgers is a great deal money wise, but I don't really like the idea of being so close to home...</p>
<p>Pitt ranks at #58 and Rutgers is at #68 according to the US News National University Rankings. So they're pretty close, and Rutgers still ranks much higher than my other schools (UMass, UVM, UNH, URI). So I know Rutgers really isn't too bad of a school (it just has a bad stigma in my hs because everyone wants to get out of Jersey). I just really LOVE the location of Pitt, being in a city, and the idea of being somewhere new. But then again, money is an important consideration...</p>
<p>Anyways, would it be worth the OOS tuition for Pitt for the location and education/programs?</p>
<p>Go where you are going to be happy and don’t let 7000 a year be the deciding factor. $28,000 over four years is a lot of money, but sometimes it is a small price to pay for your happiness. Both are fine choices so visit both again and make your decision. Good Luck!!</p>
<p>Both schools are very similar academically, with Pitt probably having a small edge in most social sciences. 7,000 dollars is nothing, especially many years from now when you take inflation into account. I would suggest to go wherever you want, and not worry about such a small amount of money. If it was a 20,000 dollar difference, then that is another story; However, 7,000 a year is very miniscule.</p>
<p>Pitt is pretty good, and so is Rutgers; they’re pretty similar schools in terms of academics. If you want to get away from your family, go to Pitt. If not, come to Rutgers.</p>
<p>“I don’t really like the idea of being so close to home…”
Lol, I know exactly how you feel. Go to Pitt. Good luck!</p>
<p>I recommend that you visit both schools. While you’re at it, actually visit the city and not just the campus. </p>
<p>If you really love Pitt, I recommend that you go there because $7,000 (I’m assuming 7K and not 28K b/c u said TOTAL COST difference) is not that big of a deal when you’re talking about where you’re going to be for 4 years and how that’s going to impact your life. </p>
<p>And make sure to talk to your parents as well!</p>
<p>Rutgers is in noway a bad school. If you come to Rutgers and find that the only good thing you can find is Livingston dining hall, then I regret to tell you that I sense little success in your close-minded future. College is what you make of it.</p>
<p>Several people who come to Rutgers have very poor sense of what college is really about. These are usually the kind of kids who drink and party, who have no ability to prioritize tasks, and who fail classes and drop out. If you’re sincere about going to college, don’t live like that; don’t be so disillusioned.</p>
<p>I have to agree that Rutgers isn’t the most challenging school to get into and that we accept excess number of mentally and intellectually incompetent students each year. And yet, many of them feel an obligation to come to a public forum like to openly deride our school by listing all the negative aspects that they see only to reveal their inaptitude of handling responsibility. Whether you go to Pitt or Rutgers, try to keep your mind open at all times in college. Best wishes.</p>
<p>Another thing about what oh9999, if partying is your thing and that is a deciding factor, you can find a party at RU pretty much every day of the week except maybe monday or tuesday. Yes, at frats you need a ratio and you may need to pay at a house party, but its expected that you need a ratio and the cost is not too much and is worth it.</p>
<p>Just don’t come to Rutgers because you will start regretting. It’s impossible to get to your classes in time during rush hour because the buses are just way too overcrowded, and you have to wait for like the 5th bus, where there’s just barely fewer people inside. Not much to do either on the weekends … thank lord for the train station where it can take me to the City, where I can actually have fun rather than rotting in this disgusting city known as New Brunswick. I feel like I’m part of the grimy “New Brunswick” community, and not the “Rutgers” community as a school, which I have to say is pretty sickening. Take my advice and go to PITT.</p>
<p>College is what you make of it and it is very difficult for a group of strangers to tell you what you should do. My son has thrived at Rutgers - both academically and socially. His friend who went to Pitt hated it, left and is now at a Community College thinking about what he wants to do next.
You really have to know yourself and decide what is best for you.</p>
<p>If anyone posts an extreme opinion on any thread, I find it helpful to review their old posts in order to see what else might be going on that is affecting their current opinion. </p>
<p>There are pros and cons with any school in any price range, you just have to weigh each one and determine how important that aspect is to you, before you make your final decision. </p>
<p>There are no miracle schools that will ensure your happiness and success; you have to take that responsibility for yourself.</p>