<p>I'm currently a High School junior, but I started the college search early. As in my sophomore year. For almost a year now, I've been stuck between 2 schools I would love to attend; Bloomsburg University and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. My parents are set on my going to Bloomsburg because of in-state tuition being so low and how they think it's the perfect school for me. I, on the other hand, would love to go to UIUC, but whenever I bring it up, my parents always find a way to make it seem like a bad school, and always say how they refuse to let me go there. It's one of the top schools for students who want to major in Education (not sure how reliable the source was...), and I think it would be a good fit for me.</p>
<p>What should I do? Should I settle for Bloomsburg and make my parents happy, or should I try my hardest to go to UIUC?</p>
<p>You need to talk with your parents about money. The truth may be that they can pay for Bloomsburg, but the out-of-state cost of UIUC is more than they can afford. If that is the case, you need to find out if UIUC might offer you any scholarships that would make your cost of attendance as cheap as at Bloomsburg. Then you could apply to both universities, and wait to make a final decision after you find out about your financial aid and packages at both places.</p>
<p>happymomof1 makes a good point. just as a side factor - maybe look at the student populations at each school; I know UIUC’s social scene tends to be dominated by fraternities and sororities (one of the reasons I decided against applying) and that students there tend to be more open towards drinking, etc. </p>
<p>*For almost a year now, I’ve been stuck between 2 schools I would love to attend; Bloomsburg University and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. </p>
<p>My parents are set on my going to Bloomsburg because of in-state tuition being so low and how they think it’s the perfect school for me. I, on the other hand, would love to go to UIUC, but whenever I bring it up, my parents always find a way to make it seem like a bad school, and always say how they refuse to let me go there. </p>
<p>It’s one of the top schools for students who want to major in Education *</p>
<p>Your parents probably have no intention of paying $40k+ per year for you to go to UIUC. And, since you’re going to be an education major, then taking out loans to go there isn’t a good idea either.</p>
<p>You need to sit down and ask your parents how much they’ll spend each year for college. If they would pay for Bloomsburg, would they pay all costs…tuition, fees, room, board, books? Or is this a school that you could commute to?</p>
<p>As for 'trying your hardest" to go to UIUC…that may all be for naught if your parents won’t pay. You could get in, but if they won’t pay, then you can’t go.</p>
<p>What are your stats?</p>
<p>BTW…your choices don’t necessarily have to be between those two schools…there are other in-state schools.</p>
<p>Do you plan on returning to PA to teach if you go to UIUC? At UIUC you will only get a license for IL, not PA. I imagine the same would be true in PA. Occasionally there are states that grant reciprocal licenses, but I don’t think PA and IL do.</p>
<p>Also, at UIUC one applies to Education in sophomore year, and there is no guarantee of acceptance into the program.</p>
<p>The tuition at UIUC for OOS is ridiculous.</p>
<p>My son is a graduate of UIUC, but I’m with your parents on this one.</p>
<p>I’ve researched both schools pretty well, and quite honestly, I’m stuck. I haven’t been looking at Penn State because it’s the ‘cliche’ school that kids go to after graduating from my HS. Bloomsburg isn’t a school I could commute to. I probably wouldn’t move back to PA if I attended UIUC or another out-of-state school. I haven’t taken my SATs yet, but my practice tests have been between 1700-1900 (without writing, probably about 1100-1300). I have looked at some other in-state schools (mainly those from which I’ve received info in the mail from), and they cost 40k+. I’ve even gotten mail from Vanderbilt, but I figure there’s no way my parents are paying over 50k a year…</p>
<p>My parents said they would only pay about 25k a year for college. I know they want me to get a great education, and I do partially understand where they’re coming from. I’ve looked through UIUC’s scholarship database about 2 times now, and I see a few I could apply for, but they don’t state how much these scholarships are worth. Many of them are for minority students, or students who are majoring elementary education (I’m looking to major in secondary education).</p>
<p>I feel like I need to spend more time researching these schools and see what current students and graduates have to say about them. Thanks for all of your help, everyone, it was really insightful! I just wish this whole college search process was easier -.-</p>
<p>but my practice tests have been between 1700-1900 (without writing, probably about 1100-1300).</p>
<p>My parents said they would only pay about 25k a year for college. I know they want me to get a great education, and I do partially understand where they’re coming from. I’ve looked through UIUC’s scholarship database about 2 times now, and I see a few I could apply for, but they don’t state how much these scholarships are worth. Many of them are for minority students, or students who are majoring elementary education (I’m looking to major in secondary education).</p>
<p>You can email the Education office and ask how much the scholarships are typically for and whether the awards are a “one time” scholarship or for all 4 years. I doubt the scholarships are for very much. </p>
<p>Obviously, if your parents will only pay $25k per year, then you probably will be limited in your choices depending on whatever final scores you end up with. </p>
<p>If your stats are high enough, you could still go out of state to a school that would give you good merit (if your stats are good enough).</p>
<p>I think you are narrowing down your choices too early. There are a lot of schools that someone can go to to major in education, and UIUC honestly sounds like kind of a random choice unless you’ve visited there.</p>
<p>^ This. You are a junior who hasn’t even taken the SATs yet. How about waiting until you get accepted to some places before you choose. Since you know your budget ($25K) look for schools you can afford.</p>