@Publisher , if being ranked 218 by USNWR is indicative of being a inadequate university, in your opinion what is the cutoff line for a university to be considered adequate?
I ask because the OP listed two schools ranked approximately the same. UMBC is 166. St Mary’s is #92 for LACs, which would probably place it below UNM on a combined list. I would hate for the OP to get the impression that those schools might also be subpar.
Though to the extent that they are selecting based on where someone went to college, they are selecting based heavily on parental circumstances and choices (mainly location and finances) and how well the student did in high school.
Honestly, I would try to talk to all your top choices and ask if due to the financial situation many are in right now due to pandemic, if they would defer your scholarships a year or two. As I noted, while you say community college (which is much cheaper for tuition typically) is not an option because you “cant live at home”, as I noted, there are at least 2 community colleges in your state that have dorms or student housing. My son goes to a technical college and lives in a dorm and many more are available because lots of kids dont have the financial means for a 4 year right away yet want the true college experience by living away. This might save you a slight bit of money which it sounds like to you every dollar counts.
But if your parents are willing to sign for loans, you will likely make a decent starting salary when you graduate and if you can remain frugal for a few years the debt may be worth it.
I know its a rough spot and tough decision but you arent alone, many high school grads have this same dilemma. You sound drive to succeed which is a huge plus for you!
@ucbalumnus: So one’s prior track record is irrelevant ?
There is a very large number of colleges & universities in the US which provide oppotunities for an outstanding education, but employers have little reason to hire any but the best available applicants.
The point is to know the limitations & benefits of any opportunity–even with respect to education & reasonable post-degree opportunities.
This is getting a little off topic. We could have debated the merits of UNM at an earlier date, but the window for those scholarships is, I’m pretty sure, passed. See deadlines here:
http://scholarship.unm.edu/devl/scholarships/non-resident.html
Even if he got say in-state tuition, he can’t afford UMD in-state without loans, how is he going to afford UNM in-state tuition without loans? We’re spinning our wheels. And UMD is by far the better school anyway.
@lupelupe55 First, I am sorry for your situation. You sound like a smart, motivated student who will work hard and succeed post-graduation. I think @publisher’s suggestion you start by contacting FA at the schools you’ve been accepted to is a good first step. Bryn Mawr might be the most receptive. Was most of the $$ you received need-based or merit? Was work-study included? If dorms are required freshman year, could you volunteer for a triple and save a few $$$. For subsequent years, the suggestions to apply to be an RA or live off-campus make sense - but first you’ve got to figure out the first year.
Unfortunately, given Covid-19 and the resulting financial meltdown you won’t be the only one asking for more, please. Could they defer your acceptance (scholarship intact) until Spring 2021? Or Fall 2021? You could work and save a few $$$ - of course, that’s if you could find work as unemployment skyrockets and if your parents are okay with you living home for a few more months.
I would push hard to make one of your current options affordable. It’s unfortunate your summer internship was canceled. Ask them if they have any suggestions on where else you might apply. Apply anywhere and everywhere now for summer employment. It sounds like you’re good at math. Can you offer your tutoring services locally at a reasonable rate? Plan on working over school breaks if you can.
Hoping this works out for you. Please keep us posted. We’re cheering for you.
@Publisher, I presume you have deep and intimate knowledge of the education one can receive at UNM. I say that because I have little respect for those who spout off on subjects they know little about, and I don’t want to think less of you.
In any case, yes, this digression is an unhelpful waste of time for the OP as UNM likely isn’t a cheaper option in any case.
Her options are some combination of large amount of debt or working her way through a degree. Checking what academic requirements she needs to meet to maintain the fin aid at Bryn Mawr and Banneker-Key at UMD as well as knowing how long they would last is of the utmost importance.
Some colleges offer tuition remission to employees. Possibly something to look into. I know Columbia does, though you’d still have to get in (probably through Columbia GS, which requires a year off from schooling before entering).
Who is more likely to be recruited?
Who has the stronger track record that is more likely to be relevant?
(Assume same major.)
A. New graduate from Highly Selective Expensive Prestigious College with a 3.0 college GPA.
B. New graduate from Less Selective Inexpensive Commuter College with a 4.0 college GPA.
You got good advice including to call the schools and see if you can get more money. Bryn Mawr has nearly a billion in its endowment so might be able to give you better funding. It does happen sometimes so I would call and ask all the schools.
My friend’s son majored in math at a local regional state school and got into both stats grad programs to which he applied (both very competitive programs) and plans to get an M.A. My understanding is that data science/stats is a field with a lot of jobs and not enough people to fill them, but I would be wrong. If that is still the case, I’d err a bit more on the debt because of the high chance to have a good job. I’m sorry you have this added stress and hope things work out for you.
I would look at ROTC, it will help close the gap, you can not count on being a RA but it that happens , you would be in much better shape.
Make sure your parents are aware that most schools have payment plans. Coming up with a large amount of money all at once might be overwhelming, but if they can split it up into smaller monthly payments that might be more doable for them.
This may sound extreme, but it can be an option. Enlist in the military. After you come out, your college is fully paid for.
@Publisher if you’re wondering if UNM provides an adequate undergrad education–
the answer is yes it does.
UNM has one of the few quantum computing groups in the US so many tech companies recruit here, including the big players like Google, Amazon, Microsoft…
Additionally many of federal agencies (CIA, FBI, Dept of Homeland Security, DoD, Dept of Energy, USDA) recruit here. As well as international companies doing business is Central and South America. (UNM has well regarded international business program focussing on Latin America, plus NM has a large population of native or near native level Spanish speakers). Netflix and NBC both recruited at UNM last year, looking for technical people and for film business majors.
I’d send you a link to the UNM’s corporate recruiting schedule but the spring career fairs have all been cancelled like they have everywhere else.
As I wrote earlier, UNM is great for pre-med.
@WayOutWestMom: Are you refering to placement of undergraduate students ? If so, it would be helpful to see some actual stats released by the school.
Also, past recruiting event schedules would be fine.
@WayOutWestMom: If undergraduate student placement is as strong as you suggest in your post above, then why is UNM so desperate for students ? Especially when, if I recall correctly, New Mexico has a state supported lottery scholarship for its students similiar to the state of Georgia.
Film producers should recruit at UNM since the state is quite generous to that industry. These are not high paying jobs, but do get one industry experience.
Also, I do understand that the federal government has a significant presence in the state.
P.S. Just looked up the quantum computing research at UNM. It is a joint effort of UArizona, UNM, Sandia National Labs & of Los Alamos–not something for the average UNM undergrad. Quality of student matters.
Please please please do not enlist in the military or do ROTC unless you want to be in the military. These do provide college cost assistance but really should only be used by folks who really WANT to be in the military…not as a cash cow for college.
Links to past events have already been taken down.
But yes Google did recruit at UNM last year.
Everything in science, engineering and computer science is done in connection with LANL and SNL. Many (Most?) physical science, engineering and comp sci faculty hold joint appointments/joint contracts at one of the National Labs. Just the way the university runs. Just because any project has LANL or SNL added on to it as a sponsor means next to nothing.
NM can be a fairly schizophrenic place to live. On the one hand, NM has the highest per capita number of STEM PhDs in the nation. On the other, outside of ABQ-Los Alamos corridor, NM is poor and rural with a struggling public education system.
UNM enrolls a large portion of the offspring of those STEM PhDs so there is decent pool of high achieving students.
However, over 50% of UNM students receive Pell grants. (The median income for a family of 4 in NM is just over $36K/year.) 1/3 of UNM freshman–particularly those coming from low resource public high schools outside of I-25 corridor-- require remedial coursework in math, writing or both.
So UNM’s student enrollment reflects the state–a pool of strong, high achieving students with a pool of economically and educational disadvantaged students.
UNM declining enrollment reflects that fact even with the Lottery Scholarship program college is just too expensive for many NM families. (The Lottery requires all students today for their first semester of college OOP. In subsequent years, the lottery pays~ 70% of tuition (varies by legislative fiat year-to-year) and zero toward fees. Plus students still need to have about $11k/year for room & board.) Also NM’s major industries (oil & gas production, farming & ranching, tourism) do not require a college education. In recent years the booming energy economy and tourism industry have employed many young adults who might otherwise have gone to college.