Someone enlighten me (UF/IU/UIUC/UM/Emory)

College Search & Selection
1

<p>With the deadline to put my deposit down less than a month away, I'm freaking out because I am pretty much clueless as to where I want to go. UMich has always been my top school and I was accepted EA, but their cost of attendance is a good $12K a year higher than every other college I was accepted to, and their financial aid offer was a measly $3500 loan. Comparatively, Emory gave me a pretty good FA package and Florida, Illinois, and Indiana all offered me scholarships. Here's a list of the schools I'm considering and their approximate costs of attendance for me:</p>

<p>Michigan: $52K
Emory: $40K
Illinois: $35K (James Scholars Program)
Indiana: $30K (Kelley Direct Admit & Hutton Honors)
Florida: $20K (Honors)</p>

<p>I plan on majoring in some kind of business (probably accounting), but I also might want to switch to engineering/physics. So that's kind of a problem that Emory and Indiana don't offer engineering. Obviously UF is the most affordable, but it has the least academic prestige and I'm not guaranteed housing there. Other items of some importance are athletics (where Emory is the only one that isn't D1) and weather (where Emory and Florida take the cake). My parents are behind me on any decision I make, but I'm not so eager to get $200K in debt just to go to my favorite college. Can anyone offer any advice or suggestions that would sway me to or from any of these colleges?</p>

2

<p>Anyone?</p>

3

<p>UF, although not as prestigious, Great D1 Program, Great Weather, Nice location. It pains me to tell you to pick the Gators but you should! GO NOLES though.</p>

4

<p>Indiana: you’re a Kelley direct admit (congratulations! those are rare) which means that you will have a great-paying job as long as you manage not to flunk out :). If you add Honors, it’s definitely the best scenario for you.
However where would the 30K come from? Parents’ income&savings? Would you have more than federal loans?</p>

5

<p>Indiana, if you can afford the additional $10K a year. </p>

<p>However, if you really want an option to go into engineering, then look at UF. Engineering isn’t an option at Bloomington (it’s at Purdue). UF has strong colleges of engineering and business, so it would be more flexable.</p>

<p>You may also want to take into account where you want to live and work, after graduation, when picking a school.</p>

<p>Great choices all. :slight_smile: </p>

6

<p>Your parents are behind you but they’re not contributing anything? I ask because you say that you’ll be $200K in debt. Will they take out loans for you? </p>

<p>I know three people who graduated from Warrington at UF and they’re all doing very well professionally (and only one of them still lives in Florida). Definitely consider it. </p>