Torn Between CMU, UPenn, UMD (full ride), Georgetown, JHU, Penn State (full ride), and UMBC (sortof)

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Okay, first I know this is kind of lazy- asking about the pros, cons, etc. of each school, but I don't currently have time to go through CC looking for information on each school, so I just wanted to ask here.</p>

<p>First, I have been accepted into all of the aforementioned colleges, and I am trying to narrow down my choices.</p>

<p>I'll Start with Penn State:
- Currently I have a full ride there because I got a scholarship through the Millennium Scholars Program which gave me 40K; as well as 4K from the SHC, and financial aid.
- The reason I am hesitant about going to Penn State is because if I got, the MSP comes with having to spend 6 weeks of my summer in an intensive program (learning math and science) on the campus.
- The reason I'm not really into doing this is because I'm going to through an "illness" as a result of gluten allergies, and I am currently in a precarious and weak state, and I am sure that doing this over the summer will not help at all if I want to recover even partially before school starts. </p>

<p>UMBC:
- I don't know much about UMBC, except that it has a great math and sciences program, and it is a "nerdier" school.</p>

<p>UMD:
- If I don't select another choice of this one, I will go here.
- I loved the atmosphere, and they have a very strong African presence/community.
- I am in the Honors Program (Gemstone), so I am pretty excited about that; and I am a Banneker Key Scholar</p>

<p>CMU:
- A great school for research and it is in the city (though I don't know that much about Pittsburgh)
- They have a Speech and Debate team, which is something I am really looking for in a college.</p>

<p>UPenn:
- This is my top choice; speech and debate team, Igbo (this is a Nigerian language) courses, Chem major and Nutrition minor (which is another thing I am looking for), I love the interdisciplinary approach to learning, ABCS, and it's in Philly (which I have heard good and bad things about)
- The only problem is that it cost money; I have also heard that a majority of students drink and party on weekends (which is not my scene); as well as there being a bunch of snobby rich kids who are not as eager to learn as I am.
- I also recently read an article that 4 students have committed suicide since Christmas (any input on this would be helpful, as well)</p>

<p>Georgetown:
- close to home and in the DC
- I like their approach to "educating the whole person" </p>

<p>JHU:
- Very good for sciences, etc.
- It's in Baltimore, but it also has its own campus. </p>

<p>I would like anyone's input- as I continue to narrow down- on the Chemistry programs here (my major- I am currently looking to go into Integrative Pharmacy), the social life, the surroundings, and any pros and cons of each school. (I am okay if you post a link to a certain forum.) </p>

2

<p>Yes, it is lazy. I have no idea how a person can be torn between seven alternatives. You mean you can’t narrow this down further?</p>

3

<p>I still have yet to visit UPenn, UMBC, Georgetown, and JHU. I’m actually leaning toward UPenn and UMD, but I am considering the other ones because I was accepted. I would just like information from students or parents concerning schools that they have been to or have information on. </p>

4

<p>Can you give us (tuition+ R&B) - (grants+scholarships) = ? for each?
What’s your parents’ budget?</p>

<p>As of now, I’d say your best choice is Penn, but cost:: budget will be important when looking at downsides and advantages.</p>

5

<p>Sure. Right now Georgetown is no longer one of my options, (but I can’t edit my post). </p>

<p>Not sure what my parents budget it, but I’m sure they don’t want to put more than 100K into college (I have younger siblings) . And I haven’t received any scholarships I have applied for yet.</p>

<p>CMU- I am not sure about this yet, because we called yesterday to understand why the website said they had not gotten my FA documents, so I’ll have this in a few days.</p>

<p>UPenn is (64000) - (0) = $64000
Though, they haven’t given an estimate with my 2012 Tax Returns</p>

<p>UMD is (a bit over 27000) - (full Banneker Key Scholarship) = $0</p>

<p>JHU is (63000) - (5500- from the FAFSA) = $57500</p>

<p>Penn State is (47000) - (40000- MSP) - (4000- SHC) - (4000- from 4 year provost fund) - (5500- from FAFSA) - (4000- Academic scholarship award) = $-10, 500
Though I’m not sure if your total scholarship can exceed a certain amount. </p>

<p>UMBC is (25000) - (8000) = $17000</p>

<p>My biggest problem is that my parents don’t fill out the 2013 Tax Returns later in the year, when they have all the proper forms and documents; so I’m also considering whether I should risk having them pay a certain amount for the first year to see if the cost will go down later, or just abandon that and go to a much cheaper school.</p>

6

<p>Unless you get a lot of money from the other schools , take Maryland. Paying zero for a very good school is hard to beat. This is particularly true if you have to incur substantial indebtedness for your education.</p>

7

<p>Right now, your best choices are UMD and Penn State. Compare Banneker and Shreyer, their advantages in particular. See what CMU offers but I doubt it’ll be as good as either one. UMD and Penn State are both great schools, you can’t go wrong with either one, and going for free is a fantastic opportunity for you. You should start a UMDvs. PSU thread, stating they’re both free.</p>

<p>Did Penn offer 0 FA or did they, like CMU, not receive your information/not on time?</p>

<p>MSP only applies at Penn state?- just curious as to why.</p>

8

<p>I agree , go where you get full ride</p>

9

<p>@MYOS1634 Thanks! Penn hasn’t given me any yet. And I’ll consider staring that thread, if I don’t find it in the archives. </p>

<p>The Millennium Scholars Program at Penn State is similar to the Meyerhoff Scholars Program at UMBC- they give the scholarship for students who plan to pursue a science/engineering degree higher than a bachelors’s degree. </p>

10

<p>Thanks for the answer. Your financial aid offers should all be in today, check out your Penn Portal.</p>

11

<p>Nothing yet, but I’ll check towards the end of the week.</p>