<p>I was accepted to 7 schools and am looking for the best all around college experience. I am undecided on my major but looking to possibly study mathematics/statistics or business and would like to continue on to graduate school (likely an M.B.A, law, or both). My parents are not wealthy but started saving for my college the day I was born and have $200,000 set aside for my entire education including graduate school. So $200,000 is my entire budget. (I know I am lucky to be blessed with great hardworking parents.)
I am looking for a good all around college experience including a good sports scene, ECs, nice campus, and, of course, academics.
My college choices and their overal costs with merit aid (if given) are below:
1) Villanova University (Science- Undecided) $204,000
2) Pennsylvania State University (Undecided) $90,000
3) Temple University (Undecided) Honors Program/ Law Scholars (Conditional Acceptance to Beasley Law School) $60,000
4) Loyola Univeristy Maryland (Undecided) Honors Program $140,000
5) Univeristy of Delaware (Undecided) $126,000
6) Virginia Tech (Undecided) $114,000
7) Saint Joseph's University (Undecided) $111,000</p>
<p>I have visited each school at least once and most of them twice. I am leaning towards Penn State as I really loved the campus and also Temple due to the Honors and Law Scholars program. Loyola Maryland and VA Tech round out my top 4 choices. (I know these are really different environments although Penn State and VA Tech are most similar. I do like the larger campuses like Penn State and Temple. I love the excitement of the larger campuses and am a night person.) Also with my top choices I would have a nice budget set aside for graduate school. </p>
<p>If you were me, what school would you choose for your undergraduate studies?
Thank you.</p>
<p>Penn State would be the all around college experience, great school academically and one of your most affordable. The school would be a win win situation.</p>
<p>I’d list it as:
Penn State
Virginia Tech
'Nova / UDelaware </p>
<p>I chose PSU as first since they would offer the best college experience and they have the best athletics out of the other 6. I chose VT as second because it is a pretty big school and it’s Division I-A athletics. I put UDel and 'Nova as a tie because they both are great schools academically but lack in the athletics section. I know 'Nova has a great basketball program and were the champions in fooball but that was D-IAA. There is a HUGE difference between D-IA and D-IAA.</p>
<p>I’m sorry, but maybe I am missing something here.</p>
<p>Since when does a school that plays sports in D-IA supply a better college experience for someone than one that is in D-IAA, particularly if that student is not playing sports?</p>
<p>Because Delaware basketball sucks. Because Villanova football has very little support. Because Delaware has support, but they play at a lower level and play teams like Delaware State, Towson, Maine, and James Madison.</p>
<p>The other schools play at higher levels and against better teams.</p>
<p>Someone needs to define “all around college experience” for this thread to be productive. Good sports? Good parties? Greek? Good drug scene? Lots of alcohol? Define it and I’ll try and give you a better look as to which school to select.</p>
<p>It seems to me that Penn State has everything you’re looking for. Plus, the fact that it’s the 2nd-cheapest option out of your choices doesn’t hurt, either.</p>
<p>It should really come down to Temple and Penn State.
The things you need to decide on are is Penn State worth an additional $30K? You could use that $30K towards grad school/a car/investing/a house/etc.</p>
<p>What kind of setting is appealing? Penn State is nowhere near cities and Temple is located a few subway stops away from Center City Philadelphia. Your options for cultural attractions, restaurants, museums, etc. are infinitely better at Temple. You’re also much closer to NYC and D.C., which you can visit for the day/weekend.</p>
<p>What sports interest you the most? Penn State basketball is not good. Penn State football is one of the better programs in the country. Compare that to Temple with a top notch basketball team that contends for a conference title every year. Does being a part of March Madness interest you? You cant do that at Penn State. Temple has a greatly improving football team that will contend for a conference title every year, albeit not in a major conference (yet) like Penn State.</p>
<p>With Temple and the honors program, you’ll be around top students and in smaller classes for the most part. At Penn State, you’ll just be another student amongst a ton of students in large classes.</p>
<p>Well, no one’s put in any insight on Tech, so I will. :)</p>
<p>At Tech, I’m sure you’ll get a stellar education, as well as with all the other schools you’ve gotten into. They have numerous clubs and organizations, and the people who are involved are really into what they do…but I’m not totally sure about their Greek system. I know it exists, but I’m not sure if it’s an active thing?</p>
<p>AND Football is huuuuuuuuge. I think everyone goes to the games, and the maroon/orange effect days are pretty cool. I think football really unifies the whole school, and brings out a lot of spirit.</p>
<p>Other than that, Blacksburg is a bit boring.</p>
<p>Well, since you are able to clearly identify your top four choices, I would just get rid of everything else on your list. Out of the four choices, Penn State is probably the typical “All around college experience.”</p>
<p>pick the one that fits your academic needs more, they’re equal in practically every sport and Penn State may have a slightly bigger party scene but you can party hard at vt. They’re both in the middle of nowhere but in campus life is thriving</p>