<p>I only have less than 1 week to enroll. I am a Maryland resident and I got into the university of maryland (45 minutes away), honors program, but with absolutely no financial aid/scholarships/grants.
I also got into Tulane University's honors program, with a 24k scholarship for 4 years. </p>
<p>I would go to Maryland because a lot of my friends are there, and I know that they have a wide range of student groups/activities that I would LOVE (and not be too hesitant/shy) to participate in. However, the fact that I got absolutely nothing financially (it's still a lot of money) just holds me back from attending. At Tulane, I know it is a wonderful school, however I am just nervous about the prospect of leaving so far from home especially to New Orleans. I don't know if this is true, but I heard that Tulane is not very diverse, and I just don't know if I can fit in there. I am a shy person and i know that i'll feel comfortable in maryland, but a lot of my friends received full rides to Maryland, which makes me feel sort of...inferior (I know, stupid). I don't know if I can turn down such an amazing scholarship from tulane to attend maryland, and i also dont know if i can adjust to a new life in new orleans...
Even with the scholarship from tulane, UMD tuition is about $7,000 less because i am instate and i dont need to consider longdistance traveling</p>
<p>my parents have also looked at a lot of things and they say that tulane's public health program (which is what i want to do) is more suited for me...cuz UMD's relies heavily on science...and i am not good at science. I like it, but i can't handle too much science.</p>
<p>i feel like i want to go to UMD because it feels safe. (i know about the crime rate there lol, but it's a different type of safe). I want to try so many new things in college, and I know I will feel comfortable joining things in UMD. At Tulane, I feel like I'd be too shy to put myself out there. If i go to tulane, i feel like i'd be too shy to audition for an a cappella group (they only have 2...) and i'd probably back out of a lot of things, just because when i am in a new surrounding, i freeze up. But then again, i feel like this is why i should leave for tulane, so i can get used to being in the real world...</p>
<p>Also, if I do enroll at Tulane, how am i gonna get my violin, guitar, lacrosse stuff, and everything else down there? and the travel costs are there...for like break and stuff</p>
<p>Also, I've been thinking about the music schools at both. i know umd's orchestra/music school is like amazing and tulane's orchestra is prettyyyy small...but i'm used to small, because my community orchestra is small...my parents are worried that i probably wont make it into UMD's symphony...and i guess im used to that whole big fish little pond thing at my orchestra now...i mean i get a lot more opportunities than i ever would at the more "prestigious" youth orchestra in MD</p>