seek urgent help

College Search & Selection
1

With deadline looming, I have been very stressed about the colleges choice lately.
I have been admitted into several colleges, I make them down to 3

  1. ASU Barrett (CS), got full tuition waiver (total cost $15k/year)
  2. Purdue (data science), cost (43k/year)
  3. UW Madison (L&S) cost (50k/year)

I plan to major either CS or DS

The most important for me is choosing a college I can fit in as I am smart, introvert, and not good at social. I like meaningful talk rather than random chatting. I like to go a university with lots of friendly,interesting and smart students so I can feel like kind and easily engaged. I am attracted to the price of ASU, worrying the overall ASU culture may not fit me…Does anybody have experience about these schools? I am grateful of your help.

2

A Purdue Data Science major should yield great employment & internship options. But CS majors also are in high demand. Consider an undergraduate degree in CS from ASU Barrett & a specialty 10 month master’s degree in data science from another university as total cost for ASU Barrett degree & a one year masters degree will be much less than your other options.

Should be lots of people with whom you can connect at ASU Barrett.

3

We know some ASU Barrett grads, and the experience is totally different from the rest of the university so I would not let the concern about the culture of the broader university shape your decision.

4

Thank you for the insight. My parents are able to help paying tuition no matter which college I choose as they said accademic and my happiness in college is the first priority. ASU Barrett seems good if I end up going there. If not considering cost, which school is the best for accademic in the field of CS/Statistics and student culture?

5

If finances are not a consideration, then for an introvert looking to connect with academically focused STEM types, Purdue would be a great place to be. Sports are not generally a priority for the student body, and STEM reigns supreme on campus.

6

Thank you. You insights are very helpful. I will discuss with my parents about the cost then I will make my final decision.

7

I would think that being in an honors college at ASU would help with " I like meaningful talk rather than random chatting"

8

Good luck with your decision! My daughter ended up turning down both UW Madison and Purdue (biomedical engineering), in favor of the school that gave her the most money and the honors college (University of Delaware). She loved the perks of the honors program and also loved the cost. We told her we would absolutely pay for any of the schools she wanted to go to, but she knew Madison and Purdue would really stretch us. Honestly now that she’s picked UD we are relieved and will likely have enough money to put her through grad school.