My dtr is torn between Marist and Bloomsburg University. She has toured both & likes them both. Bloom offered her a
spot on their Honors program. Bloom is more affordable but twice as far (3 hrs. vs 1 1/2 hr). She is interested in the equestrian team, with Bloom being more reasonable (she wants to bring her horse). Any suggestions? Marist I believe is the more academically challenging school of the two.
All the benefits you mentioned have been on the Bloomsburg side of the ledger. Honors, more affordable, more reasonable for the horse. The difference in distance is negligible.
Is it you or your D who is concerned about the distance? If it’s you, she needs to go to Bloom. I actually told my D that I want her to be at least 2+ hours away, otherwise I will find reasons to suddenly be driving by campus. Give her the space. It sounds like everything thing she wants is at Bloom. 3 hours is no time at all.
Marist is stronger academically to a significant degree and she likes the school. These key aspects should be prominent in the decision.
Lindagaf, it is actually my dtr that is concerned about the drive. I suggested she could take the Greyhound bus home for about $67 and do homework on the way home!
Is a Marist degree really more valuable than a Bloomsburg degree? If you are going to save significant money at Bloomsburg, I bet that value is negligible between the two. Real money is real money. And maybe the H program at Bloomsburg is more rigorous and therefore closer to what Marist offers. If you were talking Harvard or Bloomsburg, it would be more important, but that isn’t the reality. I think you sould go with what is better value. Her college degree is what she makes of it.
I’m not sure why Harvard gets thrown into so many topics. However, the statistical difference (measured by 25th percentile SAT scores), between Marist and Bloomsburg is greater than that between Harvard and schools ranked over 70 places (USNWR) lower than Harvard. In these types of pairings, academic considerations should at least be discussed seriously.
Thank you all for your responses. These are the same questions/concerns we are having, especially my dtr.
I would choose Bloomsburg if that’s what she prefers.
Marist is a good school, but it’s very expensive. I don’t see a reason to spend possibly $100,000+ on a school she doesn’t love.
newjerseygirl98, she does like Marist too, the campus, location, distance from home etc so that’s why she is having difficulty choosing. I suggested she chat with her counselor for some direction. Just wanted to know what others thought.
How often would she be going home and leaving her horse in Bloomsburg? How is the availability for on campus housing at both schools? Is class or school size or Greek life a factor? Exactly what does the honors program at Bloomsburg offer? Is she eligible for merit aid at Marist? What are the factors that she likes at both schools? Does either school offer more opportunities for internships. What are the courses like in her intended major?
ECmotherx2, all good points to discuss with my dtr. She is currently undecided as far as a major goes. Thnx for the advice.
In your opinion, would it be better to go to a more challenging school where GPA & SAT’s are average or a school where she is at the top level of SAT’s/GPA and offered a spot on the Honors program?