Syracuse vs. Macaulay Hunter vs. UMass Amherst vs. Penn State

College Search & Selection
1

I live in NYC and was admitted to these colleges with these costs/pros/cons:

–
Syracuse’s College of Engineering and Computer Science

  • $19,280/year (grants, loans)
  • I’d have to pay about $43,000/year
  • Pro: Diversity, spirit, party scene, college of engineering/compsci
  • Con: Weather, cost, attention?

Macaulay Honors at Hunter College (Comp sci major)

  • Full scholarship
  • Free Macbook Air
  • $7,500 Opportunities Fund
  • Pro: listed above, in the city, attention
  • Con: I’m majoring in comp sci and hunter is a mainly a med school, close to home, cuny rep(?), not a campus

UMass Amherst (undeclared)

  • $10,000/year (Chancellor’s Award)
  • I’d have to pay $29,770/year
  • Pros/cons? I don’t know much about this school

Penn State (undeclared)

  • $14,175/year of aid
  • I’d have to pay about $35,000/year.
  • Pro: Diversity, spirit, party scene

- Con: Cost, too many people, don't know if I will get the attention I need

I am intending to major in comp sci, maybe sociology. I’m really undecided. Any helpful information or advice would be great! Cost is an important factor for me, but so is location.

Thanks!

2

bump would really like some advice!

3

Please

4

I would choose either UMass Amherst or Hunter College. I’m leaning towards Hunter, but if you can afford UMass without a significant amount of debt, I would go for that.

5

I would choose Macauley Honors at Hunter over UMass Amherst.

6

thanks!

7

If Hunter will get you there, it’s an obvious choice. The only concern I’d have is if they have enough classes for you to take. It sounds small.

But if you’re seriously thinking UMass, it is only $6k more to get to Penn State’s pricetag. If your parents can afford either one, then I would study the differences between the two programs before deciding. One difference for any computer science major is whether you are in the engineering school or in the school of arts and sciences. Another is whether you have to apply to the major.

8

I’d go with either UMass or Macaulay (did you make Honors at UMass? If not, can you email the Dean, present your stats, your academic awards, etc, and request an evaluation? Commonwealth Honors College is really great.) UMass has a superb CS department and if you can afford it, it’d be the best choice academically and socially, as well as financially. See how difficult it is for an undecided student to become a CS major (email the CS dept as well as admissions).
If we look at financials only, then Macaulay, but Hunter’s CS program is nowhere near UMass’ and of course it’s a commuter college, even if you get a housing package with Hunter I believe, which should help you create a little residential community. (Check on the housing package thing).