Waitlistees at Chicago: What have you done with your app?

<p>go to Chicago. You will never regret it, however, if you go to UM you will will always wonder???..</p>

<p>^That’s my point!! I have no idea what it would be like to going to the “other” school! Travelling through time and to alternate realities would totally make my decision much easier.</p>

<p>Btw me talking about alternate realities makes it seem like I’m a better fit at Chicago, doesn’t it? Most (but not all) people at Michigan are more excited talking about football games and the Big Ten.</p>

<p>I think it all boils down to what you want out of college. I want to get a PhD in biology or chemistry. That was why I picked UChicago. I just finished my IB program, and completely loved it. I definitely find myself liking UChicago.</p>

<p>However, when it comes to costs, I am an international student, so tuition costs the same. I might just as well enroll in UChicago.</p>

<p>Have you visited either school?</p>

<p>^I’ve campus visited both schools. Yes. And I’ve done orientation at UMich. </p>

<p>But this choice is definitely easier said than done. My head is twirling in all directions. I find mixed opinions on this site - go to Chicago, go to Michigan. Then, there are my parents. My parents tell me that they can afford for my Chicago education but nothing else, especially when my sister enters college in 2 years. My mom tells me Michigan, but my dad says Chicago. Then, there’s a friend who tells me that she knows a UMich Ross Business School professor who thinks that going to Chicago is definitely worth 140k. And he teaches at Michigan!</p>

<p>Still, I just don’t see a definite “right” choice (unlike drinking vs. abstaining), and that is what’s making this so hard and frustrating.</p>

<p>where did you get the 140k figure?</p>

<p>aargh I accidentally hit the backspace button so I have to do this all over again. </p>

<p>First, I know exactly how much my UMich education is this year: 22k. We already got the bill, and they gave us the entire year’s total because we’re paying it over a monthly installment over 10 months. Obviously, the number goes up for the upper years to 25k. But this doesn’t count $4k in scholarships. </p>

<p>Then for UChicago, I took the estimated cost of attendance from their website ([Office</a> of College Aid](<a href=“http://collegeaid.uchicago.edu/cost.shtml]Office”>http://collegeaid.uchicago.edu/cost.shtml)), which is 55k for upperclass students. I’m using this figure for all 4 years, because I like to play safe in the event that they decide to have a tuition hike or something like that. But this number doesn’t account for any internships or jobs during the school year that will help cut down on the tuition.</p>

<p>So the cost difference is (55k x 4) - ((22k x 2) + (25k x 2) - 4k) = 130k. I rounded up to 140k to account for any other extras (like further tuition hikes and study abroad). This number is huge … for some people it’s what they earn in 2 years … and I can’t exactly justify how Chicago is worth this much other than my burning desire to go there.</p>

<p>ah that makes sense. i had to make that same decision, in that case.</p>

<p>^What do you mean by that? “Same decision”?</p>

<p>choosing to pay roughly 140k more for u chicago over my state school.</p>

<p>^Did or will you pay 140k more for uchicago than for your state school? (Which state school is it?)</p>

<p>are there any other students that haven’t been notified yet?
– like offered a spot or been declined?</p>

<p>^The last time I spoke to my admit counselor she said that waitlist decisions have wrapped up for the year.</p>

<p>I rejected Chicago. I’m going to Michigan.</p>

<p>And now I feel crushed, but I feel like it was the right thing to do. :(</p>

<p>Congratulations, ab! Making choices can be tough and you really worked through this one.
Wishing you all the best and no regrets!</p>

<p>Don’t feel bad, that 30k tuition hike was just not worth it, especially over a school of Michigan’s caliber and you said you had a younger sister coming up? In my opinion you absolutely made the right decision. Besides, Michigan is a great place, you’re gonna love it there.
Congrats and I wish you every success at Michigan and no regrets.</p>

<p>Congrats, AB! I would’ve made exactly the same decision as you. Michigan is a great school, and really, no school is worth that much debt if you can avoid it. All the same, it was a tough decision, and of course you feel crushed…but you made the right call, and I’m sure you’ll love it at Michigan. I wish you the best!</p>

<p>You will not regret attending the University of Michigan. It is a wonderful school with many wonderful opportunities.</p>