Author Topic: College Decision Help (Read 6527 times)

rthprog · « **on:** March 29, 2010, 08:12:53 pm »

As a high school senior, my life is pretty much revolving around where I plan to go for college. I've narrowed it down to two schools, and was wondering if you guys (and girl) could help.

Option 1) AMAZING computer science school, in a nice city, that's the perfect distance away from home (like a 3 hour drive). They're offering a healthy amount of scholarship money, but it'll still cost me a hefty $40K a year... and I'm planning on being financially independent.

Option 2) Strong, local school in my hometown that's basically huge. They're giving me a full ride, but both my parents work there (in the same department in which I would be taking classes), and plus, I would really like to explore the world outside of Ohio.

For a computer science major, do you think it's worth taking up that much debt just to go to a (significantly) better school?

Eeems · « **Reply #1 on:** March 29, 2010, 08:18:28 pm »

hmm, well this is a hard choice...which do you think will give you a better future?

AssemblyBandit · « **Reply #2 on:** March 29, 2010, 08:31:04 pm »

This is an easy choice! Go to the better school away from your parents! Its probably going to be your first real time spent away from home and trust me you will be a lot happier with the independence. As long as you can afford it, its definitely the way to go. And even better its only 3 hours away so you can always come and go as you please if you really wanted to. I think most schools recommend that you live in the dorms at first (which is what I recommend, you'll make more friends and there will be more parties.) But after a couple of semesters you'll probably want to get your own apartment. 3 hours away is really the best of both worlds, you will be close to your family, but far enough to get away with whatever you want!

Madskillz · « **Reply #3 on:** March 29, 2010, 09:02:24 pm »

I agree I've stayed home for the majority of college experience and I prefer the independence that I had when I was away. I saved a lot of money by staying home for the first two years. If you can afford it I think you'll enjoy your freedom a lot more. However you'll be making some good cash with a computer science degree and either way you'll be ok your future is going to be bright no matter what school you'll go to.

Tizona · « **Reply #4 on:** March 29, 2010, 10:15:32 pm »

Just out of curiosity, what are the names of the two colleges? Im planning to go to RIT next year, also for computer science.

DJ Omnimaga · « **Reply #5 on:** March 29, 2010, 11:00:46 pm »

If it wasn't for learning a new language, the (normally) extreme cold weather during Winters, going to live extremly far, the teacher/student strikes, dealing with passports, not being sure if such studies would be approved in USA and stuff, over Quebec college admission is dirt cheap compared to other places.

rthprog · « **Reply #6 on:** March 30, 2010, 11:40:28 am »

@Tizona Nice! I actually have a good friend who's going to RIT... Carnegie Mellon and Ohio State.

Thanks guys... I've decided to visit CMU over break and just see what it's like, as well as beg for more financial aid.

DJ Omnimaga · « **Reply #7 on:** March 30, 2010, 11:45:24 am »

Good luck

I also hope you are accepted if you choose it (unless there's no cap for students being accepted?)

rthprog · « **Reply #8 on:** March 30, 2010, 11:54:38 am »

@DJO I was already accepted, thankfully. I haven't heard of any US colleges capping the number of students who can accept; if you're in, you're in (assuming you don't do something idiotic). The one thing is that the earlier your accept, the more options you have with housing ans such.

DJ Omnimaga · « **Reply #9 on:** March 30, 2010, 11:59:53 am »

Aaah ok. Over here, most college programs accept you regardless, providing you graduated and got high school diploma. However, certain college/cegeps programs caps the amount of student due to lack of space. For example, over here, multimedia integration technique was capped at 50 students and graphism 35. It depends of the city/college, too. For university, I think you need good grades to be accepted and enough credits.

jsj795 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 30, 2010, 03:12:34 pm »

Nice! Carnegie Mellon... If I wanted to major in Computer Science, I would have applied there, but no... I'm more toward Biology.
I think it depends on whether you would like to pursue grad school or not, or whether you will be working full or part time after you graduate. If you are going full time working, then it might be good to go to Carnegie Mellon and really build your knowledge there, and get a good job to pay off the loan, but if you want to go to grad school, it's good to stick with the cheaper school to save for later.

On the side note, I have a dilemma too.
I can either go to Private School with honors program for free, or Public School with honors program also for free... The Private School is St. John's, and I have to pay for the housing, which is around 10k per year IIRC, and for Public School, which is CUNY City College, and it's possible to get the housing for free.
I can't get loans, because I'm in US as an international student, so if I do go to St.John's I must pay 10k out of my pocket. Both have similar ranking.
(And I got rejected from MIT

)

DJ Omnimaga · « **Reply #11 on:** March 30, 2010, 03:27:23 pm »

Are any of those colleges like Noahbaby's hi school, where you are not able to get outside except during weekends once per month, not allowed to use a computer except maybe a few times a week and all websites are blocked on their internet?

jsj795 · « **Reply #12 on:** March 30, 2010, 03:43:16 pm »

Mine isn't. They both offer me a laptop, and it's open campus, meaning I can enter and leave campus whenever I want.

rthprog · « **Reply #13 on:** March 31, 2010, 09:22:12 am »

@DJO Hell no. Thank God.

...Oklahoma offers a full ride, travel stipends, and $1500 for a laptop...

@jsj795
Stupid MIT, they rejected me too

I would go to the Public school; did you feel that the private one was really all that much better than the public?

DJ Omnimaga · « **Reply #14 on:** March 31, 2010, 01:42:50 pm »

Over here, private schools are usually much better than public, because they're financed better, meaning usually the school material such as computers will be more up to date and there are much less chances of teacher strikes since they're paid higher. They're obviously more expensive, though. A semester for public school was $150 over here in 2003-04 if I remember. That, of course, excluded school material, transport and/or appartment/food/personal bills

Author Topic: College Decision Help (Read 6527 times)

rthprog

College Decision Help

Eeems

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AssemblyBandit

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Madskillz

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Tizona

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DJ Omnimaga

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rthprog

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DJ Omnimaga

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rthprog

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DJ Omnimaga

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jsj795

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DJ Omnimaga

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jsj795

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rthprog

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DJ Omnimaga

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