I’m choosing between two schools - I’ll just call them A & B. They’re about the same rank, and both pretty big schools. I want to be a global health minor or double major, but I’m not sure what (else) to major in yet (maybe statistics/economics)
A
pros:
city environment
i like it a lot!
lots of job opportunities
REALLY good business school (if I want to add a major in stats/econ)
diverse
cons:
super expensive
not as good for global health
huge possibility that fall semester will be online
B
pros:
a LOT cheaper
great program for global health
cons:
small town, not near major cities (less job opportunities?)
less diverse
I feel very EH about it
The only reason I’m still considering B is because my family seems to be leaning a lot towards it to the point where I’m feeling pressure to go there. Also, A is a lot more expensive so I feel bad making my family pay for me to go to a school that they don’t like as much. I feel like if I go to A, I’ll be disappointing my family AND making them pay so much more for that disappointment.
You should share the college names. That way people who are familiar can comment on the particulars of the schools that you haven’t thought of. I wouldn’t know where to begin with this.
OP, naming the colleges on this forum is essential because while other forums are frequented mainly by other students who can be swayed by brand name, this site has many more adults who are knowledgeable about the specifics of individual schools and their strength/weakness. US news ranking is of no concern to most here.
How expensive is expensive? Can your family pay for it without loans or are they offering to borrow for your education? With unemployment so incredibly high and the economy so uncertain it’s wise to keep costs to a minimum especially for undergrad.
The schools are NYU (A) and UNC Chapel Hill (B). My parents are able to pay for it without loans, but there is a significant ~$20,000 difference between the two. We’re middle-class, so I just worry that although they say that it isn’t a problem, it will affect them in the future. Thank you!
Cost is a huge factor! But fall/virus plans, IMO, should not be. No schools are making definitive plans. They are just “planning” to be on campus, for example. I know that the virus situation really is hard for you incoming freshman, but I don’t think any loose “plans” or statements that are being put out now should be a deciding factor. All schools are going to do what they can to get kids on campus as fast as they can, and no plans are final at this point.
Is grad school in the equation? Because that would be a pro for saving the money on the undergrad school. As for the small town/job opportunities, the strength of the alumni network can help with jobs/internships all over.
Yes, I’m hoping to go to grad school, but my parents aren’t going to pay for that. I’m mostly concerned about the financial burden of undergrad on them. Thank you!
Congrats on your acceptances. In no way do I think NYU is worth $80K more than UNC. You can always do a semester or year abroad or in an urban school if you want to broaden your horizons and spend some time in a city.
Holy Cats! UNC-CH is an excellent institution. Some would argue that it is better than NYU.
Yes, you like the big city, I get it, but for a difference of some $20k each year for four years = $80k, save the money and go to UNC-CH. Use that $80k to help you get started out after graduation. As soon as you are enrolled, get in touch with the Career Center there, and start finding out about what help they have for you in finding internships and jobs after graduation.
You don’t need the nightmare of NYC. NC has much better weather. Often where we go to college influences where we live after college. Living in the south is actually affordable. As others have said, the education is great at UNC. Enjoy!
@sphjgk , that’s why it’s important to list the school names.
Personally, I like Option B, UNC Chapel Hill. It’s an excellent school in a great college town. Very good reputation. I’m not sure NYU is that much more diverse, if at all, after looking at the stats. Yes, more people from North Carolina, but there are a lot of people from the Northeast at the school. Undergraduate business school is about equal to NYU if you want to add it. Plus it has a better global health program according to you.
Now cost. $80,000 (and more if inflation is any indication and of course it always is) means you can have part of grad school funded. If not, take the $80K and buy a car, travel and put a down payment on a house.
Finally, this is your one chance to live in a college town at your age. Go to grad school in a big town like NY.
I’m guessing you are in state and I get the EH factor. But it’s a big enough school that you will meet others from different places. I know this depends on the person but I don’t feel most 18-19 year olds are ready for the big city after graduation. You can get in to a lot of trouble in the big city at your age, but few if any things can happen to you in a college town. IMHO, college towns offer the best transition, but maybe that’s just me.
I only phrase it this way because OP themself said the two schools are about equal…
OP, is it worth it to you to pay the $80K difference over the four years yourself, personally paying all the loans back for 10 years, maybe more after graduation? If not, then is is really fair to expect your parents to?
If you get into the atmosphere of college and engage in college life, the location should not matter as much because you will be so busy with events and activities on campus. UNC is such a great school! Congrats on both! 20,000 is a LOT of money. Personally I would choose UNC. you can do a semester or year abroad in a city or maybe in NYC itself on an exchange type program, probably, so can still get your fill of city life. Maybe you can do a summer program there.
I do not personally consider NYC a higher ranked school than UNC. Both are great schools.
I went to college in a place that is located in a town i felt was ‘eh’ and I ended up loving it there and was so engaged in campus life that the town didn’t really matter. There are things to do all the time and people had a great sense of community because it was a bit more isolated. People stayed on campus during the weekend. I liked that about my college experience and you may find that UNC’s location turns out to be a plus.
Absolutely UNC. Great school . Congrats!
My child just choose in a heartbit GaTech over UMich.
Same $80k difference and no significant difference in prestige.
People still ask why not UMich? Because program is better at GaTech and because we can save $80K. That is a lot of money! Same in your case - program is better for your major. You need to be frugal. Save $80k for grad school.
Chapel Hill/Carrboro is a fabulous college town with lots to do (my middle-aged sister lives there so I have visited a lot over the years). So many international eateries, boutiques, galleries… Much more progressive than the rest of the state.
And you’re right about the global health program there. I was a Peace Corps volunteer years ago and I know that a huge percentage of students in that program are either returned Peace Corps volunteers in graduate school or undergrads planning to go. There’s a huge international focus. You may have opportunities to live in exciting places anywhere in the world after getting a degree from UNC…undergrad is just the start. And if you do save considerable money for undergrad your parents MAY decide to help you with graduate expenses if they can do so.
Although it’s North Carolina, the whole Chapel Hill/Raleigh/Durham/Research Triangle Park area is absolutely booming. Professionals from all over the world have moved there, and the area in general has one of the highest concentrations of Ph.Ds in the country. Don’t know where you live within the state, but…trust me, while Chapel Hill may not be NYC, it is different from the rest of the state. Go Tarheels!