<p>Hey CC,</p>
<p>So I committed to Stony Brook University this week and recently I've been questioning whether or not it was the right decision. I'll be majoring in either Mechanical or Computer Engineering and my choices were basically Stony, UBuffalo, and UMinnesota. What I wanted was a place where I could get a great education with plenty of research and internship opportunities, good job prospects, plenty to do on/off campus, just an overall great college experience while still getting the education.</p>
<p>I ruled out Minnesota because I would have to take out about 30k in loans over the four years compared to graduating debt free at a SUNY school. It was also wayyy to cold for me, I'd like to have moderately warm springs/falls. </p>
<p>However whats been bothering me about stony brook is its location (too close to home, I live on Long Island) and I feel like its not enough of a change in scenery than what I've known all my life. Another thing is the lack of a college town or much to do off campus. I feel like although Buffalo may offer a slightly worse reputation, it may have been a better choice due to the location (has a sizeable city, in a new locale) even though it'd be pretty cold there in the winters. Also, one thing I've noticed about those from my highschool attending Buffalo are typically not the brightest compared to those attending Stony Brook. One thing I like about Stony Brook is that people understand that you go there if you cant afford anything better and that the student body is less focused on drinking and partying though its still available. </p>
<p>So what do you think? Should I have chosen the school with a slightly worse program, harsher winters, but with a change in location, better social life, far away from my overbearing mother or the school with nicer weather, a better reputation/program with many research and internship opportunities, but a poorer social life and not much of a college town or much to do off campus, with a generally more intelligent student body?</p>