<p>So I committed to Tulane the morning of May 1st, but I had received an email that morning from UDel saying they had increased my scholarship. UDel extended my deadline to committ to the end of June so I need opinions. [Yes I am posting this in the Tulane thread too]</p>
<p>My total cost for Tulane is 30k and UDel would now be 18k. Financially we are struggling buy my parents are willing to make it work if I decide to go Tulane. I am planning to hopefully make a visit to UDel next week, and I've already been to Tulane and I loved it.</p>
<p>I am a Neuroscience major, pre-med. Grew up in CA so both locations will be a big change for me.</p>
<p>Wow, this is a tough one. Tulane certainly has what are, to me, some distinct advantages. More academically talented student body (about 100 point spread on the SAT’s for example), smaller (5500 full time undergrads vs. 15,000) and related to that an 8:1 student:teacher ratio vs. 12:1, nicer campus in a more exciting city, students from all over the USA vs 1/3 of them being from Delaware, etc.</p>
<p>I have been to UDel about 4 times. It is a nice campus, although it does have a lot more streets running through it. It has a very strong biochemistry department and some of the related scientific departments are strong. Newark is a pleasant college town, and Philadelphia, Baltimore and DC are all accessable, although you won’t likely take advantage of them very often.</p>
<p>But the money is fairly significant. That’s almost $50,000 over 4 years. So I don’t know exactly what “struggling” quantifies at, but as excited as I was to see you choose Tulane, it seems to me that if that money will be important to your family that tips the scales to UDel. Certainly you would get a fine education there, and come out with as good a chance at med school as if you went to Tulane. Maybe better if in fact the competition in the classes is not as strong.</p>
<p>While you are at UDel, you might want to make an appointment with whomever offered you the extra aid. Explain to them you have already committed to Tulane but money is a factor, and is there anything more they can do? You hold the cards. Doesn’t happen too often. They may say no, but you have nothing to lose.</p>
<p>I guess my summary would be I think Tulane is the better school and experience overall, most likely. But if UDel can make it even more worth your while, and maybe even if they can’t, you really have to pay attention to a $50,000 savings at what is still a fine school.</p>