<p>Medical and Law are GRAD programs. U of Chicago better for undergrads because more classes taught by profs rather than TAs</p>
<p>I know this is an old thread, but it’s not like the topic is dated or whatever. </p>
<p>On the surface, my college choice could be looked at as a dumb decision. I also had severe state school syndrome. I turned down USC and Boston College for Ohio State Honors (in-state). I want to major in finance and accounting, which makes it even worse since business seems to actually care about undergraduate prestige (especially if I want to go into IB). Boston or LA would have been sweet, new cities for me to go to college in, but it just wouldn’t work out. </p>
<p>But it came down to money for me. Long story short, parent’s underestimated their total income/assets until it was too late for me to apply to other places with merit scholarships and the only place I applied to that could come close to meeting my need with need based FA was Penn (even then I would have had to borrow about ~$7k a year to go there). And I got rejected from Penn, no real surprise there. </p>
<p>But anyways, I’m not knocking OSU for prestige; I did not want to go there because it was in-state. 2 hours away from home, but still too close. Plus I"m not from Ohio anyway. </p>
<p>Got decent merit aid offers from Alabama and South Carolina. Liked Alabama and would have gone there if they had given me more money but I was not pulled from their “reserve pool” for a special program that would have also upped my scholarship money. Program would have been really cool too. </p>
<p>Visited South Carolina and I liked it. Sort of. Looked good on paper, cheapest option, nice campus, good/decent business school, good honors college, awesome school spirit, etc… But when I visited, I liked the campus, it was very pretty, but I just didn’t get the right feeling from the school. I was trying to force myself to go there, justifying it because of their #1 Intl Business ranking. But I wasn’t even really that interested in Intl Business, I was just going to major in it because they were number 1. </p>
<p>I’m sure if I would have gone to South Carolina I would have been happy and loved it, right now I’m going through a little buyers remorse, but I’m sure that will change once I get down to campus. </p>
<p>So (wow this post is getting long haha, sorry) I guess what I’m saying is some of these “dumb” decisions may have been fueled by money. </p>
<p>I’m over my “state school” syndrome now. I was not happy at all about staying in Ohio initially but I guess I’m lucky that OSU’s school spirit is so infectious and now I can’t wait for school to finally start!</p>
<p>Moral of the story-there are likely many places we could be happy & many which don’t satisfy.</p>
<p>People go where they are happy, who cares if they turn down an ivy leave school for honors college at their local state school. Why should you be miserable, when you can be happy elsewhere?</p>
<p>Girl at my school turned down harvard for pomona</p>
<p>Harvard for Pomona? Stupid? Hardly! Sounds rather brilliant to me- turning down gloomy, dingy Cambridge for beautiful sunny Cali! Guess that is why she got into both schools!</p>
<p>One of my closest friends is one of the smartest people i know but absolutely refuses to consider any school except community college. This girl really is a genius, she speaks six languages and has outstanding ECs, could probly get into some great schools with merit aid too. I am trying to understand the logic of this.</p>
<p>Another close friend has had some family problems but she chose to take a full year off from high school (she was homeschooled so it was okay) and then another full year after graduating during which she didn’t study or work at all. I am sympathetic to her situation but I can’t understand the logic of losing two full years of education, I mean most homeschoolers I know finish their work in 2-3 hours a day so it’s not exactly difficult to do. Why let yourself fall behind?</p>
<p>A third friend is younger and is absolutely determined to finish high school early and go to Stanford at 16. I feel bad because she insists she can do it but the truth is it will be close to impossible to get in. If she would just wait two years she will have a great shot at admission but I am worried she will be disappointed and end up at a lesser school.</p>
<p>I have heard of homeschoolers who are opposed to standardized tests on principal and so only apply to schools that don’t require them, even though they’d probably do well. Why limit your future educational opportunities in this way? I have also heard of libertarian students who refuse to accept federal financial aid money on principal. What a bunch of idiots.</p>
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<p>While community college is inappropriate for those who want to take college junior/senior level courses early (as freshman/sophomore), and those who want to major in something whose prerequisites are not offered at community college (requiring “catch up” after transfer to a four year school), it can be a good choice for someone looking to get the freshman/sophomore courses done inexpensively (and often in smaller class environments than the huge lecture halls used for freshman/sophomore courses at large universities), followed by transfer to a four year school (such as the state flagship) to complete the bachelor’s degree. Also, a student who is very undecided between many possible non-overlapping majors with long prerequisite chains may find that community colleges gives more time to explore one’s interests, instead of being on a two year clock to decide and declare a major.</p>
<p>On the other hand, if she really is a top student and is considering community college mainly for cost reasons, she may want to consider applying to four year schools with generous merit scholarships to see if she gets such a scholarship (although there may not be that many full rides that would bring the cost down to that of commuting to community college).</p>
<p>There are also social aspects of residing at the college versus being a commuter – but many people commute to college (including four year schools) and may prefer it that way.</p>
<p>Tarhunt #13, hilarious!!!</p>
<p>I’m sure that Tarhunt, who hasn’t been heard from for three and a half years, will appreciate the shout out for a post made over five years ago - wherever he or she may be.</p>
<p>Feel better? Glad I could help :)</p>
<p>A girl in my class got into stanford and went to university of central florida…might have been money issues but STILL</p>