Hello,
I received 11 university admissions. After cutting the options, I have come down to 3 options and I am confused in these three universities :
Now I am confused in choosing amongst these. Please help me out and let me decide what can be done.
Hoping for an honest and quick response.
Congratulations! Penn State and MSU are reasonably similar. I could see how a student might be attracted to both. I’m just curious about your interest in Baruch, only because it is different than the other two?
What are your costs for all of these?
@TTG Thank you! So what should I choose between Penn State and MSU? I am interested in Baruch because of the networking that they could offer me being in NY. My future goal is to work in the field of Finance. Do you have any idea about Baruch and will it be worthwhile leaving the other two options for Baruch?
@happymomof1 To be very frank to you, I have received scholarship from Michigan State so the tuition would be 150% of the in state fees which is approximately $37000. Penn State will cost me around $47000 where Baruch will only cost me around $22000.
Sorry, I didn’t really comment just because I don’t know Baruch well (not my area of country, and not one we’ve ever looked at, just because of interest). I’m not at all suggesting or not suggesting it. I was just curious because it would be such a different environment from the other two schools. It’s not uncommon for a student’s choice to be among schools that are not very similar, but just curious in this case.
You have very good reasons for choosing it. I know a couple of very recent grads of the New School in NYC, and they loved being in NYC and the work opportunities it offered, which were really terrific.
Baruch looks like the best deal, which is important, but I’m afraid I really can’t offer any helpful advice in this case. It seems like excellent choices (congratulations on that!) and good luck with the decision!
@TTG Can you please contact with your known associates you were grads from NYC? They might have some idea about Baruch. I am very worried about it since the tuition is strangely low.
I don’t think the New School students would be very helpful to you. All three were college students not that interested college, and I know they don’t know much about other schools. I think they sort of stumbled into the school and were mostly happy to be in NYC and working and enjoying all that comes with being in the city. One was in dance/performing arts, none of them were in business programs. (They are all very talented, creative people.)
I don’t know much about Baruch. The big thing is that it is very much of an urban campus. I believe all or most of the “campus” is a 17-story building. USNWR gives the campus size as 3 acres. In contrast, it gives Penn State (main campus) as 7958 acres and Michigan State as 5192 acres. Baruch will be very much living in a major city. The other two will be a traditional state university campus experience with dorms, dining halls, Big Ten sports, Greek life, etc. etc. Some would prefer the one, and some the other. How about you?
I always argue that rankings really are of very limited usefulness. They are based on specific criteria, which may or may not jibe with a student’s interests and goals. Also, how can a small rural LAC like Williams be ranked in comparison to a major urban research university like UT Austin? But, in your case, I think it is a little helpful to see the overall numbers, just for a rough picture. Forbes has Penn State #142; Michigan State #178; and Baruch #200 out of all colleges/universities. USNWR has Penn State #52 and Michigan State #81 in National Universities; Baruch #20 in Northern Regional Universities. (USNWR classifies schools as national universities, liberal arts colleges, and regional universities, which are schools that generally attract students from their region, and perhaps most will end up living and working in the region. These do include many excellent schools.)
Out of over 3000 total US schools, these are all highly ranked. For your purposes, Baruch is a little lower, but not significantly so. I think it certainly is a quality school where you can get a quality education. As you point out, Baruch students are living in NYC, which can give some great networking opportunities.
One question I have: have you factored housing, food, and other costs into the numbers you provide? Baruch does have some housing. Are you living there? If so, is that included in the $22k? If not, that would be a substantial additional cost. Food and transportation in NYC will be expensive too.
So, for me, it comes down maybe a little to ranking/reputation, but maybe more to lifestyle and cost. Do you want to live in NYC more than a big state u. campus? If not, how affordable are MSU and PSU? Is the price difference minor or substantial or prohibitive for you and your family?
I personally find it useful to look at deciding to spend more on school a matter of deciding if you want to bet on yourself. If you spend extra, will you get up everyday and go to class, seek out professors and TA’s for extra help, take advantage of opportunities, make opportunities, treat everyone with dignity and respect? If so, the extra cost can be money well spent, if it’s affordable. It’s money you’re putting on yourself to do well. If not, it won’t be worth it. You get to decide the answer to that one.
Unless the differences in costs are pocket change for your family, there is no reason to go anywhere but Baruch.
Baruch, like the other CUNY campuses has a long history of providing good quality educations at affordable costs. What looks “strangely low” to you is simply a result of that history.
@TTG Sorry for the delayed response and thank you so much for providing with substantial details about all the three options.
The housing cost is included in the tuition fees of Baruch which is $22000. To the answer of your second if I get ample of opportunities the cost will not matter to that extent.
Now I have shortlisted 2 universities by striking out Penn State University. The only thing on which my decision depends is the type of internships or placements Baruch and MSU will offer me after I complete my courses.
I have another question ready for you which is will there be major differences in the internships for finance provided by the above two universities? As this is the only parameter for me now to decide onto one university, it is important for me to know so. If possible, can you please contact through my email id?
@happymomof1 I have the same question and request to you too. Please look into it.
It really is OK for you to contact the Career Center at each university, and ask about internship and job placements after graduation. Given that Baruch is in NYC, it only stands to reason that the contacts there should be excellent.
You’re welcome!
I’m sorry I don’t know anything about finance internships at those particular schools.
I can suggest that either way you choose it’s a very good idea to develop relationships in the career/career counseling offices at the school. They now often offer non-credit classes (part-time and often for, say, 6-10 class sessions per semester) where students can learn about how the offices work, what opportunities are available, and tips on how to conduct oneself. They also often nuts-and-bolts classes on resumes and interviews. Many students take advantage of these opportunities, which they are paying for, and many don’t. They can be very helpful and are a great way to develop relationships with people in the office. That can be very useful down the road. These offices also often employ students. That’s another way to get to know the ropes and always have fresh knowledge of opportunities.
Your question is a good one. Wish I could offer better specific advice. To me, a big part of the choice would be “fit” just because they are such different environments, AND I admire your flexibility in looking for the school with the best opportunity.
Good luck!