I was selected as a Banneker/Key Scholar (only 150 every year) for a full scholarship to UMD and the honors program there. My other choices are University of Southern California ($40k a year with FA), UVA ($20k a year with FA) and UNC Chapel Hill ($16k a year with FA). I got into the business school at UMD and USC already, but if I go to UNC or UVA I would have to apply to the business school my sophomore year. But I know their business programs are ranked much higher than UMD. I really wanted to go out-of state and have a new environment…but I don’t know if the costs are worth it. And does it make sense to just go to UNC or UVA(another STATE school) for more money than UMD just because I want to go out-of state? Is the full ride at UMD worth missing out on much more rigorous and higher ranked schools? and is USC worth the money? (My parents are willing to pay $16k a year to help with my college, but they want me to go to UMD to save money). I’m a very laid back person, pretty social, and I definitely want to rush as well. I’m planning on pursuing a business related degree with a double major/minor in political science or computer science. PLEASE HELP!!
Full ride at UMD and honors college is AWESOME! Are you planning on grad school? If so, could you do undergrad at UMD and then go out of state for grad school.
Also, will you be living on campus if you choose UMD? If so, it will be totally differently than being at home. You will have the full college experience!
UMD 100%.
UMD seems like the obvious choice not only because of cost but also because of acceptance into business program. Congratulations.
I’m an alum and definitely don’t think USC is worth the extra $40K a year.
Agree, UMD with a preadmit to the b-school sounds like a winning plan. You can always do a semester or a year abroad or at a program with another school to get a different experience while you are in college.
If you’re worried about not getting into the Commerce school at UVA, it’s not that difficult. It’s around a 50% acceptance rate, so just work hard, keep your grades up, and continue doing EC’s and you’ll be fine.
the thing is I wasn’t planning on going to grad school and I know that UMD’s business program is not as high level as UVA or UNC
OP,
There’s a decade-long pinned thread at the top of the “What Are My Chances?” area. Somewhere in that 150+ page (or more?) thread is someone who turned down Stanford for a full ride at UMD. Why? He was in the same situation as you. Stanford, as prestigious as it is, was not worth the 38K per year, especially when there is a full ride being offered. If you’re curious, it’s probably somewhere between pages 20 and 40 (so you don’t have to read through thousands of posts).
Conventional wisdom here on CC is that is not worth getting into significant debt (or have your family hurt their financial situation) to attend a dream school when there is a stunning offer on the table (UMD is a fine school, with a very low acceptance rate for a public university). UNC is your next most affordable option, but I honestly don’t see that big a difference between one flagship and another.
I know you don’t have the time or desire to read a book recommended by an online poster, but if you can, take a look at Frank Bruni’s “Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll Be: An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania.” Bruni basically addresses the current obsession where students and families feel that a student must attend a “top” college or life will be ruined.
OP -
Before you let yourself get too caught up in the notion that the business program at UMD is not as good as others, dig carefully through the formula used for that ranking system. Lots of ranking systems involve items that are immaterial for specific individuals, or are based on the general opinion of someone who doesn’t have any immediate personal experience with the institution.
Graduating debt-free, with top connections because of your scholar status, and possibly with money in the bank that your parents didn’t have to shell out for four years, are huge advantages over whatever it is that the other options have to offer. That 16k x 4 = 64k saved over UNC can start you out with a decent new car, new work wardrobe, apartment deposit, and several months rent. Look at things that way.
UMD is showing you serious love. Think carefully before turning that down.
I agree with most people above. UMD ftw!