So I was awarded a full tuition scholarship to Syracuse University, I have to let them know by February 15. I was leaning towards Syracuse because I was accepted to their dual major Newhouse/Whitman program and I intend to major in marketing and public relations. I would have to pay room and board which would be around 15-16k, I could manage it but its going to be extremely tight.
I just found out that I have been admitted to the University of Florida which is 20k/year. My pell grant and bright futures would bring it down to 15k but I still don’t know if I have received merit aid or any sort of additional financial help. However, I carelessly chose to be considered of the Innovation Academy and didn’t know I wouldn’t have a choice. I would start in Spring 2018 instead of Fall and take classes in Summer and Spring for the rest of the four years. They make you minor in innovation and there might be complications with my desire to double major. Don’t get me wrong, I am interested in the opportunities but am worried about how restrictive it is.
I was hoping to get the opinions of others on which school is better for Marketing/Public Relations? UF is ranked slightly higher and I would have the comfort of being relatively close to home (5 hours away) but Syracuse holds the prestige of Newhouse and advantage of New York location.
UF won’t cost you 20k per year. The most expensive year is the first year because you usually stay in a corn and get the meal plan, but not 20k. Consider the weather and whether or not you want to be in the innovation academy. Sleep on it.
@SouthFloridaMom9 I got into UCF and FIU but also applied to 15 other schools (Boston University, George Washington, American, Babson, etc) but don’t find out till March, My main issue is figuring out if I should pass on the Syracuse scholarship
Edited: Deleted - just saw you are supposed to let Syracuse know by 2/15. Not sure if I would want to commit by then, before you know what else comes in. What do your parents think?
@SouthFloridaMom9 No, I applied ED1 through a nonprofit but didn’t get that specific scholarship so I am not minded but do have to let them know by Feb.15
You cannot pass on NEWHOUSE/WHITMAN. It is one of the best programs in the country with a full scholarship it should be a no brainer. Newhouse/Whitman will ensure you a job out of college and access to amazing alum/alumni clubs. Not to mention, SU is often thought of to be better than UF, especially for Communications and business. I strongly urge you to take SU. GO ORANGE.
It is? I could argue that, but there isn’t that much separation between the two schools, so it wouldn’t matter to the OP.
With UF, you have to decide if the IA program is an option or not. Some love it, others hate it. The UF student newspaper wrote a 5 part article on it…
If you’re not locked into ED (and don’t have to withdraw your other apps) because you applied through a special program, accept Syracuse and see what else you get. If you have to reply and withdraw your other apps, only do it if you can afford your state safety if costs as Syracuse don’t work out.
Did you run the NPCs on the other schools? Do any seem affordable?
That might have been a valid point 40 years ago, but with the recent poor administration of the school and the long-term collapse of the upstate NY economy, it is no longer true. If anything, UF is a higher ranked school, although the difference is meaningless at this level.
I would not attend UF through the Innovation Academy unless one desperately wanted to be a Gator and it was the only way to get into school. You should contact UF and see if you can change to a normal acceptance or even a Summer B acceptance. People have successfully petitioned to do so in the past. Otherwise, IA IMHO is too restrictive unless you really wanted to go that route.
That said, free tuition to a school like Syracuse is an impressive achievement and hard to turn down. The other schools you listed are similar to Syracuse in rank, so you should feel positive about being accepted to them. However, it is doubtful you will get anything close to a free tuition offer. If you like Syracuse and the dual major works for you, I would take it.
Newhouse/Whitman is better than UF IA.
IA is more restrictive and would make it harder for the OP to achieve her goals.
While UF is very prestigious on its own (I’d say it’s “better” than Syracuse overall), the Newhouse/Whitman is different from Syracuse-overall, it’s kind of like getting the top program for access to all the Northern/Eastern Seaboard markets for busines and communication, whereas IA tends to be offered to borderline applicants who need a little push to get in and really really want UF (and people know it.)
In this case, the OP does not seem to be a borderline applicant as the OP clicked a box on the application about Innovation Academy without knowing what it was. There are numerous posts on the UF board about people who did the same thing, and some have been able to successfully petition for regular admission. Besides, I doubt someone who received a full tuition merit offer from Syracuse would be borderline at UF.
^I know, but many IA are, and so, instead of being “creme de la creme” at Syracuse, she’d be in a program for academically borderline students. It matters for peer group and for public perception.
@MYOS1634 I’m not a big fan of IA, but it does work for some few folks, especially those that use the fall for internships and travel.
On peer group, IA students take the same classes, with the same students as others in their major. The only “unique” IA classes would be associated with the innovation minor (15 to 16 credits out of 120 or so required for their major). They belong to the same clubs, work on the same projects, etc.
A degree via IA is exactly the same as any other degree. Would some employees hold it against the student that they were in IA? Perhaps, but I think employers will be looking much more at GPA, skills, internships, etc. Many likely wouldn’t care.
^I understand, but here it’s been offered to a student who wants to double major and has also been offered an elite program elsewhere. In addition, half her classes would have to be in the summer, so the peer group is different.
I agree IA can work for some students, but I don’t think it’d work for the OP, especially when compared with the other offer she has.
If she can have Summer B or Fall, things change.
@MYOS1634 Oh, I agree, they should contact UF and see if they can switch to summer B or Fall. Otherwise, IA seems way to restrictive, especially when they have Syracuse as an option.