Where to go?

jonesy9020 · 05-12-2008, 08:48 PM

I've decided to defer enrollment for a year (or a semester if I figure it out in time) and I was wondering what you thought about my options.

Here's where I've been accepted (Scholarships in parens)

Boston College (None)
College of the Holy Cross (None)
Fordham University (15k/yr)
Franklin and Marshall College (15k/yr)
Lafayette College (8k/yr)
Loyola College in Maryland (25k/yr)
Penn State - University Park (State School)

Waitlisted at Georgetown, but I turned them down because frankly I'm tired of dealing with their outrageously disorganized admissions office.

Basically it's come down to BC, Fordham, Loyola, and F+M. Penn State isn't my kind of place. Great school, don't get me wrong, but not my type.

I got into the Honors Program at Loyola and there are tons of opportunities there for research & publication, a nice scholarship, and it seems like a fun place, but I don't know if it will have the name to take me places after I graduate. Loyola also seemed to have by far the happiest students of all the schools.

I want to be a communications major, so Fordham seems like an obvious choice, but as a Philadelphian through and through I could not stand NY fans for 3/4 of the year.

BC has a great name, but the lack of money puts a financial strain on my family and me that I don't think I can justify. I've also heard that BC has become just a name and the education doesn't justify the price.

F+M may have the best overall education out of the group, but they advertise their stress level and brag about grade deflation. I'm also not to big on the frat/sorority scene and don't know if I could find a lot else to do there. It was also weird on my visit that guys sat with guys and girls with girls at tables and there wasn't a whole lot of talking. People never said hi to each other and tables rarely had more than 2 people at them. Maybe I'm reading too far into this, but it was weird.

What do you think of all this, hit me with some advice.

chocolatealtoids · 05-12-2008, 09:00 PM

I'd say loyola.

bms2009 · 05-12-2008, 09:04 PM

Go to Loyola--I live 10 minutes from campus and I know a TON of people who go there and they all LOVE it. Plus the dorms are AMAZING and I personally think Baltimore is an AWESOME city!

collegbounder · 05-12-2008, 09:32 PM

I'd be very tempted to go to Fordham. Much better known than Loyola or F&M and great reputation and location in NYC. Holy Cross is also an excellent education but very expensive w/o scholarship.

Gryffon5147 · 05-12-2008, 09:37 PM

Loyola..... Name matters little when you get right down to it.

greatescape74 · 05-13-2008, 11:16 AM

So, for all you who know both F and M and Loyola (MD) - You'd say Loyola?
I need to let F and M know today - they originally weight listed me and I chose Loyola from the decissions I had back. What do you think Jonesy9020?

Chedva · 05-13-2008, 11:37 AM

jonesy, didn't you have to reply to these schools by May 1? Are you sure that you still even have a spot at the schools?

And do you know that you can defer your merit aid? Many schools do not permit that - if you defer, they evaluate you again for aid, and you may not get the same amount based on your competition in the applicant pool and the amount of money they have to give.

yesnomaybeso7 · 05-13-2008, 03:16 PM

My vote is for Loyola. You got very good scholarship for a well known school that is near a city.

Megan2010 · 05-13-2008, 03:18 PM

Loyola because you have a scholarship their.

jonesy9020 · 05-13-2008, 09:49 PM

greatescape74 - I think it depends what you want. F+M is a great school for sciences and pre-med, but for stuff like journalism, they don't even offer a course, nevermind a major. Business is stronger at loyola. It also depends on what you wanna do about the frats and sororities, since they seem to be the main social life on campus.

I have decided to go to Loyola since I was leaning that way and everyone here backed it up.

Also think about whether you want a small college or a medium sized university that goes by the name "college?"

One of the things that I really liked about Loyola was that its Jesuit. I go to a Jesuit HS right now and I love it. I wanted to have that in college and that was a big plus for all the Jesuits on my list right off the bat.

Both are great schools. Good luck with your decision, and thanks everyone for helping me with mine.

jonesy9020 · 05-13-2008, 09:50 PM

Yeah my counselor dropped the ball on HC. Told me they still give money and they haven't for like three years now. Kind of a bummer.

jonesy9020 · 05-13-2008, 09:52 PM

Also just noticed that nobody was for BC. Any reasons why? Just curious. It was my top choice until I had to deal with their finaid office. Cold form responses really don't draw in prospective students.

dpc1192 · 05-13-2008, 10:56 PM

I'd probably go to BC

world changer · 05-13-2008, 10:56 PM

I'd actually say Fordham...it's a slightly better school than Loyola, and it has a more interesting location than F&M.

Plus, the Rose Hill campus is really nice.

EDIT: Just kidding, you already chose. Good luck!

beanieboo · 05-14-2008, 01:15 AM

well, i didnt answer in time.. but i probably wouldnt have picked BC anyway. you said that you theoretically could afford it but it would put a big strain on your family. i love BC SO much but i wouldnt have gone there if my parents werent okay with the financial situation and knew that they could handle it without TOO much difficulty.

with your list and situation i wouldve picked loyola too. the way i see it, theres not TOO much of a difference between loyala and fordham quality and the extra 10k and honors program. NYC is my fav city in the world but it seems a little too close for me and i think i would prefer the social scene at loyola anyway, clubs/getting decked out every night isnt really my thing. id rather the traditional on campus/frat-ish parties that loyola seems to have

you made the right choice!