Transfer to Lewis & Clark College or University of Oregon?

College Search & Selection
1

I’m a transfer student trying to make my final decision.
I have completed an AAOT at Portland Community College with a cumulative 4.0.
I was accepted to Lewis & Clark and University of Oregon.
I’m having trouble deciding which school to attend.
I want to major in Psychology.

Lewis & Clark offers a B.A. in Psych. They are a highly rated school but they are a lot more expensive. If I go there I will have to hold a job while going to school as well as come up with about an extra $3,500 per year in tuition which won’t be covered by financial aid. I am also looking at about 2 years and 1 semester left to finish a BA at Lewis & Clark. So, I will be at mid sophomore level. I imagine that the students I will be surrounded by will be more committed to their education than the students at U of O.

If I go to U of O, it is not as highly rated but still good. They offer a B.S. in Psych which would be great as I plan to go to graduate school for psychology. U of O is also considerably less expensive. Which means a lot less debt. It is hard for me to consider going to a school where even if I had gotten normal grades I could have gotten in. I will transfer in with my AAOT at U of O so I will be a junior. This means I will graduate right on time two years from now.

Any ideas? Should I struggle to make it financially and go to Lewis & Clark?
Or should I go to U of O with less of a financial burden and try to be the top of the class to stand out?

Which do you think looks better to grad school?

B.A. from Lewis & Clark or B.S. from U of O?

2

UofO, if you are planning to obtain a PhD, in makes more sense to already be at a research institution, especially given it will be more affordable.

3

Go to University of Oregon. Grad school doesn’t care about the name of your school; they care about you, your GPA, and your performance. Don’t financially kill yourself for Lewis and Clark.

4

My DD attended L&C and I say go to UO.

Nothing more needs to be said.

5

I love L&C but in your case, I’d say to go to UO.
Be 100%, choose smaller classes with the same professors so that they get to know you (important for research experience and letters of recommendation), get involved in Psych-related activities and research if possible.

6

U of O by a long shot.
By not having to take on a job (and extra debt), you will have time for potential internships and/or volunteering in psych-related activities, which will go a long way toward grad school admission.
Grad school is expensive. Don’t add to your debt load before you have to.