<p>I would agree with the full ride to Baruch. I am actually a freshman in the honors program now and I completed my first semester with a 4.0. I have a couple of co-workers who graduated from BU and a lot of them were laid off from the financial industry due to the massive recession. The debt they incurred upon graduation is a “pain the ass” as they say. Although you may have a happier four years you will be miserable graduating with over 100K in debt. </p>
<p>Quick question are you in Macauly or Scholars, cause it matters?</p>
<p>The classes are just as competitive as in any other school and you get priority registration in all of the semesters except your first (-__-, which really irked me since I didn’t know until they handed me my schedule). It isn’t a community college but its not as reputable as an ivy league school or another top private institution. The school has over 15,000 students, millions of clubs, many that serve no purpose at all. Most of your friends will be made in your first semester since you are taking classes with all the same people for the most part the whole week, but not all of your courses are honors. In fact, getting into honors classes is challenging because all of the honors kids are competing for a limited amount during registration. You usually get into the non-honors courses without a problem though. I work 35 hours a week and I am able to maintain a stellar gpa, although they advise that you don’t do more than 5-10 hours a week. As with any school you will find a lot of smart kids and a lot of dumb ones and you will ask yourself “how the hell they got where you are?”</p>
<p>Anyways, I am transferring to Cornell’s Hotel School this fall so I won’t be there. My suggestion is to establish yourself at Baruch, compile an impressive resume and try applying to more prestigious schools that will offer need-based aid!</p>