Intended career is stable/makes for a good living, currently loving and doing well in classes related to my major, personality fits, enjoying internship in my field of study
Job market for major is saturated though; unsure about the availability of job with technology improvements
Starting salary stays the same throughout my whole career no matter where I work
Basically, I am pretty confident in my choice of career based on fit, but I am apprehensive about the future job market.
UMich:
Pros: In case I would want to switch majors, any major is strong
More exploration (admitted to College of Literature, Science, and the Arts- 85 different majors)
More well-rounded, cultured education (read many times, felt the same way at Campus Day for admitted students)
Strongest school spirit
Walked along shops near campus and ate nearby; very pleasant
Would enjoy studying inside the Law Library
Telling myself that prestige is not a factor, but deep down is a factor
Cons: Route toward degree will be 1-2 years longer than the other two schools
Most rigorous; small rural high school, had to prep a lot for the SAT, unsure if I can transition well academically
Logistically more hassle
Purdue:
Pros: After adding cost for all years of schooling (including increased rates third year and on), half the price of the other two
Campus most centralized, most “green space”
Have several friends currently there
Loved summer camp there, made lots of memories
Night before Purdue’s For Me (admitted students’ day), drove around campus during a basketball game, felt vibrant
Cons: Have to reapply after two years; application process after the two years is brutal (videotaped oral presentation, separate 30 min interview, timed writing prompt on the spot, rank students numerically for spots in 3rd year class)
Only 1/3 of freshmen with the same major are able to pass the admission process (which also emphasizes work experience, community service, extracurriculars, etc.) to make it to the 3rd year
First two years are non-degree
At the session specifically for my major, it felt like there was a “weed-out” mentality (I could be wrong about this, and I really hope that I am wrong)
Pitt:
Pros: Program for major is the most straightforward of the three
Pittsburgh would probably be the best location of the three after graduation
Guaranteed an internship and can gain experience right at the U of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Enjoyed museum adjacent to campus, loved eating at a restaurant in downtown by the river, could spend hours standing at Point Park or Duquesne Incline and soaking it in
Cathedral of Learning is beautiful and has 34 different nationality rooms inside (parent compares to Epcot at Disney World); would love studying there
Cons: Lots going on in Pittsburgh, but not sure if there’s a lot going on at campus?
Career-focused; exploration in other areas?
Parents are willing to pay for any of the three colleges (incredibly thankful!!)
Thank you so much for your input as well as taking the time to read all of that! I appreciate it so much!
confusedhssenior88