I got into Texas Christian University and Purdue University. Those are my top two, however, I am still waiting on a decision from Wake Forest University. I love TCU and the small enrollment size. I wanted to go south for college, but am worried that I will miss out on a lot because I have to pay for my own Greek Life, groceries, nights out, food, etc. Purdue is my second choice, and is close to my home. I visited and got to stay the night but did not feel as at home as TCU, however, I did not stay the night at TCU. Purdue is a large school, but the campus size makes it feel smaller. I got great scholarships to both schools and am not sure which to choose. Both schools are so different. I feel so blessed to have such great choices! Any suggestions?
Your heart tells you to go to TCU, and it does sound like a great fit for you based on your reasons; therefore, TCU!!!
What’s your intended major? If it’s engineering or CS, hands down Purdue.
If you are wanting a small school environment, sign up for a living learning community at Purdue. They are wonderful!
So do you have to pay more at TCU since it’s more expensive? Kids usually can make like $1500 /semester working 10 hours a week or something like that. Do you get work study? As above if it’s Stem then Purdue and if you got money even better. You can try to do co-ops /internships in the south if you want to. I also am in the space of making college as easy as possible. Even though TCU sounds more appealing to you why put pressure on yourself to not have? College is very hard. What if you can’t work a semester etc. Too many students are food insecure etc. I would go where you know you will have a full college experience and that you can afford it easily without worrying what you have to pay for or not. This will take a stressor away that you just don’t need.
Hey @eschuh12! Well, I might be pretty biased here, but I would say TCU. For the reasons you pointed out, it seems like you would really enjoy the experience, and it really will feel like home. I also have a high opinion of Purdue, but since it’s close you probably know it better than I would. Would you join Greek Life there? How much difference would there be in costs between the schools? What kind of athletics do you enjoy watching?
When I was having trouble choosing between TCU and another OOS school with great scholarships, the best exercise was someone telling me: With all costs equal - imagine the gap in financial aid was magically filled - where then would you want to be? And that’s what led me to my answer to know that what I really wanted was TCU. If you can figure out the finances, whether that be loans, work study, budgeting, etc, I would follow your first choice.
Also, freshman year as far as groceries go, everyone is required to have a meal plan, and honestly I (nor my friends) did not go shopping all that much.
Go Frogs!
I’m not a big math girl, I am undecided right now but am considering physical therapy/kinesiology or marketing/fashion merchandising route.
I’m not sure what programs Purdue has, but the marketing/fashion merchandising would definitely be a good option here. Recently a new Fashion Merchandising building was built that will (and already is I guess haha) better allow students to be hands on in their learning, and it is not too far a walk from the Neeley School of Business.