Rutgers vs. UNC vs. Cornell

Colleges and Universities A-Z Rutgers University
1

<p>There are only a few days left and I'm still deciding. Anyone have an opinion?</p>

<p>Rutgers - <em>FREE</em> since I got a full ride scholarship, which is actually the only reason I'm even considering it. Only a half hour from home, my whole family went there and most of the graduates from my HS go there too, so it's really familiar and comfortable. PROS: Money, familiarity. CONS: too close to home, not as good a school, new brunswick sucks</p>

<p>UNC-CH - A much better school, plus I was invited into the Honors program which is actually really prestigious and has some real perks (much better compared to Rutgers' Honors, which takes pretty much everyone with certain objective stats)... they also offered me a free laptop up to 1,500 bucks. I haven't visited (I know, bad idea) but I might this weekend. PROS: Better academics, more prestigious, great college town and classmates, relatively cheap CONS: I haven't gotten my finaid yet, which sucks. Also have ZERO interest in athletics, which makes up a large part of their social life. </p>

<p>Cornell - Probably the one I like the least. The only thing it has going for it is its relative prestige and good academic rep, though I think UNC is the same, if not better in these aspects. PROS: Ivy rep CONS: Sucky, depressing, isolated location, partying social vibe, overwhelming richness and whiteness of student body</p>

<p>AGAIN, I know sooo little about the latter two schools, which is why I'm posting this. If I'm dreadfully wrong about something, flame away. Also, comments like "omgggg UNC is like the best school evar hehehehe" from current UNC students are unhelpful and counterproductive.</p>

2

<p>Two of mine turned down Cornell because they hated the atmosphere. Everyone I know who went to UNC-Ch loves it, but no personal opinion. Rutgers, the price is right and it has everything. From your post, UNC looks like the one you like best.</p>

3

<p>what’s your intended major & career goals? Some of the honors programs at Rutgers are very exclusive. What’s your COA at Cornell - hard to compare $0 at Rutgers tp $50+ at Cornell?</p>

4

<p>I got about 23k from Cornell for each year in grants/work study, so I would have to pay about 34k. My parents saved enough for me to give me 20k each year, so I would go into debt with the rest… about 15k. So all in all, I would finish my degree with around 60k in debt.</p>

<p>I plan on studying History - though I’m open to related fields like antho/classics/archeo…and I also want to pursue advanced degrees after undergrad</p>

5

<p>Since you are vague on your undergrad and will clearly need a graduate degree to launch a career, I find it difficult to pass up a full ride. Counting the $20k/year, plus the $60k in debt, it’s a $140k decision. </p>

<p>PS - Rutgers is not a great place for undecided liberal arts majors and the SAS Honors program is quite easy to get into.</p>

6

<p>I agree with nj2011mom. Take the free history degree. </p>

<p>It may seem depressing now, but you will feel very happy when you have your undergrad degree in 4 years and you don’t owe anything.</p>