So time is running out and I don’t have that much time left to decide between colleges. I was lucky enough to gain admittance to both CMC and UT McCombs (in state, not auto admit). Both are well ranked and very good colleges with strong reputations.
I applied to CMC for the 3+2 Management engineering program which interested me a lot… even though I have never been really good at science. As soon as I got in, my parents were extremely interested in a major that also focused on STEM and loved the track that CMC has with Colombia given you maintain a 3.3 average. The school is small and idiosyncratic, and has a lot of access to internships and opportunities throughout LA and the world that I will definitely make use of. Not just that, but the interaction with professors is unbeatable. And I love the consortium environment.
However, CMC is very very very far away (I’m from Houston), and it’s very very very expensive (I don’t qualify for financial aid and I didn’t recieve any scholarships). Almost everyday since I’ve gotten in, I’ve heard my parents brainstorming ways to cut down on their spending or sell their cars and stuff to save money to pay for my school–this puts a lot of pressure on me. In addition, I have never been a genius or even gifted at STEM. I’ve always had a flair for business, but physics and chemistry are not my strong suits and I only applied to the major because it interested me and I figured I would take a chance. One of the best things about a liberal arts school like CMC is the flexibility that it offers, but my parents are dead set on me pursuing this major. I have done engineering related projects before and show a lot of promise, but am a little stressed about the pressure and intensity of the major and the financial baggage CMC carries.
My other option is UT McCombs, which is a great school for less than half the price because of in-state tuition. It’s not nearly as expensive and is ranked very highly. I know I would be able to have a good future in invest banking or accounting. It’s close to home and has a strong alumni base, so I’m not too worried about getting a job either. Plus, a lot of my friends will be going there too, so I will know a lot of people.
The major downfalls to UT are that 1) the class sizes are huge and there is not that much interaction with professors, and 2) McCombs is a business only school which means my options are pretty limited to majors within business. It’s well reputed for finance and accounting, but those are not necessarily career paths that interest me. I am more intrigued by innovation and social entrepreneurship rather than hardcore number crunching.
So basically, my problem is: does it make sense to choose a college far away that’s very expensive for a major that I may have to struggle to A LOT for just because of the environment and the opportunities it presents and a future that really interests me? Or should I stick to the safer option that’s close to home and doesn’t break my parents back financially that’s a little less stressful in terms of academics but doesn’t give me nearly the same opportunities or the satisfaction in career path as the other?
Gosh, McCombs has such a great reputation that I would choose it in a heartbeat.
And believe me, you CAN interact with professors if you want to. My very favorite class at UT was American History with George Forgie. There were over 300 students in the class. But he was a great story teller and I looked forward to everyone of his classes. He assigned lots of interesting books to read and gave interesting exams. I went to his office hours pretty often and got to know him. He tried to convince me to switch majors from engineering to history, ha!
So if you make the effort, you can get to know profs.
If it were me, I would attend UT and then go on to grad school.
Just so you’re clear on this. You can be an accounting or finance major and not be abean counter. Social entrepreneurs with a a flair for business and head for numbers are a rare combo!
This, again, is a easy decision. Your parents can not afford to send you for four years of a private college, let alone a five year program at two different private colleges. UT is where you need to go.
And I assume that you know many, many kids would be THRILLED to be in your shoes and get to go to UT! My nephew was devastated when he didn’t get into McCombs a few years ago.
At Claremont McKenna one does not declare their major until end of sophomore year. So you are only tied to the STEM major by your parents. You get into the school, not a particular program. And I do believe all programs are available to all freshmen. I find it interesting that your parents would require a STEM major at CMC but not UT. If that is in fact true, and you don’t feel strong in STEM, you should select UT.
vote for UT as well. Signing up for STEM when you say you are not strong in STEM just seems like not the best idea. McCombs is so well thought of here in Texas that I just can’t imagine spending the extra to to to CMC
There’s plenty of opportunities and satisfaction for UT, as well as job prospects. I don’t see any real need to go all the way to LA and spend large amounts of money to get the same education and training you can do in Texas. In fact CA is a place people are trying to move out of. Texas is one of the largest economies in the nation and employers recruit heavily from UT.
Okay, so thanks for everyone’s opinion but I think my decision was made even before I came here, I just needed enough people to tell me not to do it. I’m gonna choose cmc because there are some experiences and opportunities that you can’t put a price on… no matter how much you try. UT is a great school without a doubt and I am so lucky to be accepted into both… but guys… i was 12% class rank. I am a B student with a lot of passion and a lot of interests and a lot of drive to bring my visions to life… and holy crap! I got into one of my top choice schools because they saw me for it, and I’m confident i won’t let them down.
For everyone who laughs/judged because I’m paying double the tuition, keep in mind that I would have also paid 20 grand extra to stay in private housing at UT… and i genuinely feel that every penny is worth it at cmc. I think it is so important to be responsible when making college decisions, especially when your parents are generously willing to pay for it. But I am choosing CMC over other top tier institutions such as UT McCombs, Babson, Northwestern, cmc’s sister school Pitzer, and Rice. It’s not for the name, it’s for the opportunities/experience/attention/guidance/emphasis on each individual student. I don’t think you can OR should put a price on that.
As for everyone else, thanks anyways. I’m officially a stag! (or athena?)
@ajipop You asked for people’s opinions, and they offered them for free, so be careful with the attitude that you display in response to their generosity. Congratulations on being admitted to two fine universities, but keep in mind it is your parents, not you, who are paying the freight, so do not become so pleased with yourself and your decision.
Well, your mind seems to have been made up and you had little intention of listening to – of hearing – what others had to say. You “needed to have enough people to tell you not to do it??” How many is enough?!?
Frankly, I would have taken UT McCombs, Rice, or Northwestern in a heartbeat over CMC – the only reason I might choose CMC is for its PPE major, but even then…
Then again, you don’t seem to care what I or anyone else thinks – not are you giving much thought to how this might “break (your) parents back financially” so I’m not sure why you bothered to post in the first place.
yes, that was my fault for posting in the first place, I guess I just wanted info. Sorry for being rude guys, I was just triggered by some other responses I had gotten myself. And for those who are still judgng, I’m also paying for most of it either thorugh money I saved or with loans.
Either way, please don’t attack personally. I’m sure those are part of the rules. I shouldn’t have even posted, my bad. Won’t make the mistake again.
@ajipop. Congratulations on your choice. I have a simple request. In six years, which will be two years after your graduate and an about a year after your first loan repayment deferral and when you are 24, share with the board the following: (1) the current amount of your monthly loan payment; (2) the expected year by which your student loans will be repaid in full; and (3) your starting salary.
3+2 means you have to pay an extra year of tuition just for another bachelor degree when you can get another masters. You didn’t check out industrial engineering and management sciences at NU (ranked higher than Columbia) and it’s Kellogg certificate program? Heck, I’d much much rather spend that extra year of tuition (debt!) on MS in management from Kellogg. CMC may market themselves as top ranked but even most people in Los Angeles never heard of it.
