<p>I have been accepted to Oglethorpe University and Georgia State University. I want to major in science with a pre-medicine program. Georgia State will be free for me with books and all tuition/fees;however, Oglethorpe will cost me around $1,300 for the entire year for tuition, books, and all fees. Which do you think is better for me?</p>
<p>Go to Georgia State. Good luck!</p>
<p>definitely gsu</p>
<p>Which one do you prefer?</p>
<p>Well I hear that GSU has a new science center with new labs and that it is bigger so more opportunities available for students. For Oglethorpe, the pluses are that it is closer to my house, in the north atlanta location where it is quiet and the campus is a castle, and that the classes are smaller. I don’t know, I got 28,500 in scholarships and grants for Oglethorpe so I am only 400 short of the tuition, but with books and fees I would have to pay 1300 for the year. On a overall scale, does Oglethorpe have a good reputation and would it be even worthwhile going?</p>
<p>^ go to Georgia State. You won’t regret it :D</p>
<p>Why woeishe?</p>
<p>^Because it’s free!</p>
<p>Now just compare the colleges if money wasn’t a deciding factor. Still GSU? I’m looking for legit answers.</p>
<p>I’d pick Oglethorpe. One thousand students instead of 20,000. Primarily residential instead of a commuter school. More selective student body and a more collegiate ambience. Plus, they have a more geographically-diverse student body. $1,300 there is a bargain!</p>
<p>Personally, I would discount “closer to my house” if you are either going to reside on campus or if the commute to GSU is not totally burdensome.</p>
<p>So… that means it is a question of how you weigh and balance the following:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Cost difference - free is nice (really nice), but the cost of Oglethorpe is quite reasonable.</p></li>
<li><p>New science center and labs and lots of opportunities for students vs. quiet location with campus “like a castle”.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>ETA: gadad, who I’m guessing is pretty knowledgeable about Ga. schools ;), has added some other factors to consider.</p>
<p>So weigh and balance the ones you mentioned, which I summarized, plus gadad’s comments about residential atmosphere, more diverse student body, collegiate ambience. </p>
<p>Myself, I would recommend weighing the academic advantages (labs and opportunities), student body composition, etc… more than the campus living amenities.</p>
<p>For pre-med, either would do you good. What do you like about each one? Georgia State is undergoing a lot of expansion, while Oglethorpe is not. Oglethorpe has more money to spend per students, while GSU opened a brand new science center. It’s up to you to decide.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your responses. I’ve been weighing it out and it looks to me that if I look at it from a purely academic standpoint and quality, GSU would be better not that Oglethorpe doesn’t have quality education; however, if I looked at it from an aesthetic standpoint, student body standpoint, and location standpoint I would choose Oglethorpe. So, I am leaning more towards Oglethorpe. Btw, I am only 16 so my mom said that it would be better to study at a smaller campus.</p>
<p>Being only 16 probably adds another plus to Oglethorpe - likely a more “nurturing” environment, maybe easier to build relationships with advisers/Deans. I don’t know either school, but that would be a common advantage of the smaller schools in general. Maybe gadad will comment again, given this new info about your age.</p>
<p>That is just a guess, but your age could be an important factor to consider.</p>
<p>Will you be living on campus - either as a freshman or in later years?</p>
<p>Great good luck to you in whichever you choose.</p>
<p>Also, I would add… there is real value in going to the place which makes you feel happy, which just feels right. It seems as though you have two very good options, each financially a sensible choice. So I do think you should give serious weight to your own “gut” feeling and wishes.</p>
<p>I will be commuting probably all 4 years to save money.
Im 16 and 9 months if that helps.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I wouldn’t think so. At Oglethorpe, the entering student SAT out of 1600 is 1135; at GSU it’s 1090. At Oglethorpe, the acceptance rate is 42%; at GSU it’s 52%. Oglethorpe’s 6-year graduation rate is 62%, GSU’s is 57%. None of those differences are dramatic enough to justify selecting Oglethorpe over GSU, but they certainly wouldn’t suggest that GSU offers a stronger academic environment.</p>
<p>I guess I should of said since of the new addition of the science center w/ new labs this is a plus in bringing better quality at GSU. But, I do agree now by the numbers about GSU not necessarily having a stronger academic environment than Oglethorpe.</p>
<p>Small classes at Oglethorpe, chance to have great relationships with professors.
You will not fall into the cracks there, there is something to be said for that. </p>
<p>The review of Oglethorpe in Princeton Review’s Best 373 has always impressed me, personally.</p>
<p>You can always start at Oglethorpe and if you don’t like it, you can transfer to GSU and you won’t have lost anything. However, if you start at GSU and don’t like it, you may not get another scholarship at Oglethorpe.</p>
<p>^^^ Excellent point.</p>