I was recently contacted by emory admissions. They are offering to remove me from the waitlist and me a spot as a freshman undergrad at the school. I’m pretty sure I’d love to attend emory, but I’ve never had the chance to go on any campus visits and I’m a bit apprehensive of the workload/rigor and leaving the relative security of CSU, what with already having submitted my housing deposit, signed up for orientation, etc. Do any current undergrads at emory (or anywhere in general, actually) have any advice for me? I only have 48 hours to decide!
If you can afford to go I’d say go for it. Emory is really good, on another level from CSU. If they take you off the wait list, they obviously think you can handle the work.
For me, I originally planned on attending my state flagship, but ultimately decided to go to a school far away once I got over the fact that I’ll be in a new place with new people. I was a bit scared for that, but now I’m excited for a new start.
Is there anything you dislike about Emory besides the lack of security? Is there a major cost difference? As the poster above pointed out, Emory is really on another academic level.
Well, yes, the cost is a pretty big factor, but besides that, the only other thing I’m concerned about is the atmosphere. I’m a person who is can be pretty easily affected by the environment they reside in and I’m just scared that I won’t be happy there. CSU, with its less rigorous workload, seems to have a more relaxed atmosphere.
No doubt Emory is a much more respected and better school than Colorado State. Go for it as long as you can afford it with or without a little loan.
Congratulation!
Emory is a nationally recognized school and is a wonderful place if you can afford it. Perhaps consider posting in the Emory forum? If they accepted you, it means they think you are capable of handling the workload. Perhaps ask for an extension to decide? 48 hours is not a lot of time and it is a big decision. It’s also a new place to explore and if you don’t like it, you can always transfer back. It’s up to you, however, I would lay out some pros-cons on what are the most important factors for you in a college
What’s the net cost of each school? How much would you have to borrow? It’s important that the school you choose is affordable for your family.
This is a huge decision, and I can’t imagine making this kind of decision without a campus visit. Is a visit possible for you and your family?
Emory has a more unique campus atmosphere, and has more recently been in the news for student protests of microaggressions. Google to see what the current students are scared of. The school is not centered around sports teams and school spirit, but instead greek life and parties. The academics are good, but it may be hard to find like-minded people to hang out with.
What is most important to you? If you trust that you really know yourself, and you are confident that the atmosphere at CSU is going to be a supportive place, don’t stress about Emory. If you are one to take on every challenge, excel in being pushed to new extremes, and feel accomplished when mastering new environments, then maybe Emory is for you.
What career goal do you have? Does Emory further that desire for a health/science/research related career? Most colleges don’t matter once you get past your first job out of college. There are a couple of industries where elite schools do matter, and where alumni networking is vital. So tell us what you are thinking about a possible career.
HUGE Financial decision. I don’t think you have said enough details about the money. If you are going to pile up student and parent loans to pay for Emory, don’t bother. It isn’t worth it.
Breathe deeply, ask for an extension, and do whatever it takes to get on a plane and head to Emory for a visit.
Emory is a great school. Large enough that you can find your people, pretty relaxed, good weather, great campus, lots of resources, city nearby. And they wouldn’t admit you if they didn’t think you couldn’t handle it. Avail yourself of all their resources if that’s a big worry, keep partying to Friday/Saturday, and all will be well.
The BIG issue is costs:
can you afford it without going over the Federal loans?
The fact that Emory is nationally recognized and more prestigious should not be the only or even primary factor in deciding, and shouldn’t produce a kneejerk response of “Of course you should go there, it’s better-known.” My counterpoint there is that you can have a really successful, high-flying even, career from Colorado State if you want that. There’s a top-level executive at my company (and a prominent, well-known figure in my industry) who got her undergrad degree from Colorado State. I know lots of other successful people at my company who attended a regional public (or private) university for undergrad.
Wondering whether the atmosphere is not what you’d want for college is a valid concern. I’m not sure that I would describe Emory’s vibe as “laid-back.” It’s not quite cutthroat, either.
So, I think the question here is - what is it about Emory removing you from the wait list is appealing enough to you that you are considering them? Think about why you applied to Emory in the first place, and think about why you ultimately chose Colorado State. Frankly, you sound very happy with your decision to go to CSU, so IMO there should be a pretty big advantage that Emory offers you (both in overall experience and post-graduation outcomes) that would make you change your mind. I agree that you should contact them and ask them for an extension, because 48 hours isn’t nearly enough time to make a decision. It’d be ideal if you could visit, but at the very least you don’t want to feel rushed and make a decision emotionally.
And of course, a really big factor is affordability. How much would it cost your family? How much would you have to borrow? Is it substantially more than Colorado State? Would you have to borrow over the federal Direct loan limits (they come out to around $30K total for undergrads).
The cost is a pretty big factor - it’s much more expensive than CSU. Besides that though, I don’t really have any other reservations about the school.
Thanks!
Well, the estimated cost for everything is about 60,000. the average financial aid package is around 40,000 I believe. Emory has some pretty amazing endowments and most of the reviews I’ve seen regarding less affluent families’ ability to keep up with tuition costs have been pretty good.
Thanks for the advice! -
My family and I are planning a visit down there in a few weeks. But there’s no way to see the school before I have to make the decision. I’m a lot like the students that attend Emory - career/goal oriented, open to challenging environments, and very academically driven. I find it hard to maintain a positive atmosphere when I’m around people who aren’t driven. On the other hand though, I fear that the competitive environment may cause me much discouragement.
I plan to become a lawyer which is a field in which having those pre-established connections can be a great aid. Even though Emory is more renowned for its premed/research programs, it’s a better school for pre-professional studies in general, no?
Cost is a pretty big worry for me. My family isn’t struggling per say, but we’re not extremely well off either - we’re your average middle class family. Not to mention, my parents are putting two other kids through college right now. I’m just afraid that we’ll be put into the common classification as “making enough money to pay off all loans” when, in reality, we need/want as much grant aid as possible.
Thanks as well for the advice! -
One of the biggest reasons why I chose Emory was that it’s located in my hometown. The area is much more familiar and feels a whole lot more like home to me than Colorado does. (I only moved here a year ago.) Also, going to school out of Colorado was a requirement for me when I began applying to schools; CSU was, in fact, my last choice. My eagerness to attend CSU only really developed after I had accepted their offer of admission and began the initial processes to join clubs, student organizations, etc. It actually took me quite a while to come to terms with the fact that I’d be attending the college that was last on my list. The only reservations I have about withdrawing my intent to attend CSU is that I’ll be leaving the relative stability I’ve found there - what with already having my housing assignment, been accepted to a few programs, met some students, etc. I’m quite concerned that I won’t have enough time to make the same preparations for Emory that I did at CSU.
If money is a “pretty big worry” I’d say you SHOULDN’T visit Emory until you know exactly what it’s offering you in FA. Emory will have a more impressive campus and a more impressive “spin” that will make CSU pale in comparison. My advice: don’t fall in love with a school your family can’t really afford.
To use another poster’s metaphor: it’s like looking at a million dollar house when all you can buy is one that costs half that. All of the sudden, what you can afford will seem shabby and small! Don’t do this to yourself.
Haven’t you received your financial aid offer yet ?