time is ticking and I need to decide. help me out!
Which is cheaper?
UVM offered more aid but Purdue ends up being cheaper.
Then go to Purdue. Truly, these both are excellent universities. You can follow the money with no regrets.
What’s your major?
environmental science, conservation with a focus on fisheries and sustainability
not sure I like Purdue’s location but I do think its a better education. Having a really hard time!
Both excellent schools. Both similar in ratings for enviro sci. UVM though has the more crunchy, earth friendly reputation which is what one would look for when studying e. science, yes? Also they are right on a large body of water which they might (?) utilize to study the fisheries portion of the degree(?). Probably also depends on where you want to end up after graduation - in the Northeast/East Coast or out towards Purdue area in terms of more alumni to tap for job opportunities and the like. I’m a big proponent of the least amount of debt however so Purdue would be the smarter option there and all other things equal I would go there.
Good luck!
Thank you for that thoughtful answer Momtofourkids. I am from a big eastern city so Indian seems not very exciting. The difference in cost by the end would be about $50,000 for the four years, so it does add up. I feel like Purdue is offering me more, especially since I would be in the honors college. It’s the location and the mid western vibe that are my concerns. I am fairly liberal.
Have you visited Purdue? Don’t underestimate the possibility that it may be a bastion of liberal sentiment in an otherwise conservative region.
Your major is not going to send you directly into a well-paying job, and may eventually require some graduate work. $50,000 is a sizable chunk of change that could go a long way toward making your life easier the first couple of years out of college - or could cover living expenses while on a couple badly paid or volunteer internships.
What’s your budget?
What’s net cost* at each?
*(tuition, fees, room, board)-(scholarships, grants) =
I have visited. My concern is that many of the people I met (who are current students) are really different than me. I worry I won’t be comfortable there. Since I will be in the Ag school a lot of the people are true farmers, etc. which is very different than someone who grew up in an urban environment.
MYOS1634, cost of Purdue would be $27,000 and UVM $39,000
For 13k a year you can hire an interpreter to help relay urban lingo into farm talk.
Just joking. But Perdue is a diverse and intellectually rigorous as any school. And I really like UVM. Lake Champlain is the body of water and lots to do from an outdoors activity perspective. But you should like winter sports as part of that.
haha! I do like winter sports also. I ski and like to ice fish. I am so afraid of making the wrong choice it’s like I’m paralyzed.
UVM would be a home run with those interests plus major plus personality. It’s not like signing up for the military. You can change your mind if you don’t like. But you will.
May parents basically said that if I’m not happy wherever I choose I can always transfer. but I can’t figure out where I want to go. I know Purdue is probably stronger academically and I will need a graduate degree so not sure if I should choose UVM because it does not have as good a reputation.
If you are going to grad school, it matters even less where you go undergrad. Not much in terms of skiing at Purdue unless you are doing cross country ; ). IMO, you can’t make a mistake here. Work hard and you will be OK. If Purdue wasn’t stronger academically, would the decision be a no brainer for UVM?
If you like ice fishing, you are already half-way to being friends with a whole bunch of those farmers at Purdue. 
I never thought of UVM as second rate academically. Actually the opposite. I think highly of Perdue and it may have research funding advantages but thats all I can think of in terms of academics. You want have any problem getting into grad school at UVM. Unless you play too much