<p>I am having such a hard time choosing between two schools - Binghamton and Mt. Holyoke. When I applied to Mt. Holyoke, it wasn't really on my radar, I just applied because I could. Then I got in and I visited the campus, took a tour. I really liked it, but I figured I couldn't afford it. Then I got the financial aid package which is pretty decent. The family contribution is more than Binghamton requires. I will have to take out loans, I just don't know if it is worth it. It seems like a great school and I love the idea of being part of the 5 College Consortium. I am just so conflicted right now. I need someone to give me advice.</p>
<p>@bwhitman29:
If it’s any help, I had a hard time deciding between a much cheaper, more prestigious university in my country.</p>
<p>But I chose MHC in the end because of a number of reasons that I’d like to share with you (not in any other order than how they popped into my head)</p>
<ol>
<li><p>It’s a small college in a small town-One of the things I really wanted for college was a small, close-knit community (If you’d rather a big uni–which isn’t a bad thing at all, just different–then you’re better off at Binghamton). And, I think, the fact that it’s a women’s college would enhance this feeling of community (I studied for 2 years in a girls high school and loved the feeling of belonging, so when MHC offered me a place I was excited to be able to have such an experience again).</p></li>
<li><p>It’s a liberal arts college-My passion is in English yet I’ve always felt that it was unsafe to take it in college (again, there’s nothing wrong with taking English, it’s just my personality and the culture I grew up in which make me feel this way), and I find that, at MHC, I can take a double major in English and CS (People I’ve told about my choice of major are quick to figure out that one of them is for my interest and the other is my safety–for a job, so I figured that this -may- be a common sort of choice)</p></li>
<li><p>They offer fantastic finaid-You have mentioned that your efc at MHC is lower.</p></li>
<li><p>Consortium–Almost the same range of courses that a large university would offer, not to mention, the have exchange/study abroad programs so you won’t really be missing out on any courses.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Can’t think of anything else atm, but these were enough to keep me from going to that uni in my home country.</p>
<p>Do you know what you’re going to study?</p>
<p>By the way, isn’t it past the date to submit your enrollment deposit?</p>
<p>Yes, the date was May 1st, but I only received info on my financial aid eligibility on April 29, so I asked for a few extra days and they said they would extend the deadline for me. </p>
<p>It’s a small school, but it didn’t feel that small while I was visiting it. I visited Hampshire the same day and Hampshire felt small. I honestly do not know what I want in a school. I feel like I’d be perfectly happy at a large school like Binghamton, but I also feel like I can’t pass up the opportunity to attend Mt. Holyoke. It’s one of the Seven Sisters, practically Ivy League, the campus is lovely, it’s in an area of Massachusetts I like. I didn’t expect to have this choice, but now I do. </p>
<p>I’m interested in studying Linguistics. That’s another thing, Mt. Holyoke does not offer Linguistics as a major, so I asked them how the 5 College Consortium works, could I major in Latin (which I am also interested in) and minor in Linguistics? The woman I spoke to is asking someone in the right department, but she thinks I could work something out, even create a special major. UMass and Hampshire offer Linguistics courses. </p>
<p>I worded my original post weirdly - it would actually cost me more to go to Mt. Holyoke. For Binghamton, the finaid package includes subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans and in that way, covers the tuition. For Mt. Holyoke, it includes subsidized loans and then tells me what my family contribution would be. I basically can’t afford anything, so I would need to take out loans (a larger amount than I would have to take for Binghamton, about $3000 difference). What I don’t understand is am I allowed to take unsubsidized Stafford loans if they are not listed in the finaid package? (Which technically, it shouldn’t be listed there - it’s a loan, not aid.) And there seems to be a limit on Stafford loans. The limit is less than I would need - then what do I do? I know there are other types of student loans, but how do you know if you will qualify for them? And is it worth it to go into debt? On the other hand, everybody takes out loans. I would probably be less in debt than everybody else. Should the money really sway me in one direction or the other?</p>
<p>I am just so conflicted. I would be a transfer student. I currently attend a community college - a good one, I have great professors. It is fairly large and diverse and I think Mt. Holyoke would be a huge change to what I’m used to. It’s also an all women’s college which I haven’t really been considering as a factor, but maybe I should. Thank you so much for your reply. I think just being able to talk it out is helping.</p>
<p>Talk with Financial Aid about the loan differences, they are very helpful.
The Latin/Classics department is excellant at MHC, and you also might want to contact them about your Major concerns.
Good luck no matter what your decision.</p>
<p>Take a look at my post called “why I chose MoHo”. It explains why I picked MHC over my other choices 
hope it helps!</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice. The head of the Latin department wrote back and said I could take classes at the other colleges outside of my major/minor at Mt. Holyoke, meaning I probably can’t make Linguistics an actual minor. That’s kind of a bummer. I also looked at the numbers a little harder and I would actually have to take out twice as much in loans to attend Mt. Holyoke than Binghamton. I did write to student financial services, but I think this kind of makes my decision for me. I appreciate the responses on this board. Thanks for letting me talk.</p>