<p>@cobrat I am trying to understand what you are saying. Are you saying that Union college is a party school that has all those problems you listed for the hard working non-partying student? Need to know this since Union is one of my son’s top choices at the moment. We knew about the partying but is it to the point where it’s a problem?</p>
<p>Whaaa?? Afraid of attending Grinnell because it’s a party school?? Sure, kids party there, but the students are insanely interested in ideas, intellectual endeavors, personal passions, changing the world, debating, discussing, supporting each other, providing a sense of community, allowing individual identity to flourish. As a parent of a current Grinnellian, I could go on and on about this wonderful place. If a student wants to party, they will find more than enough opportunity for that, but if they don’t, they will find camaraderie and activities galore as well. </p>
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<p>The consensus among the Union College alums I knew/worked with and the local reputation in my area of NYC is that Union College has a heavy party/drinking campus culture which is fine for those who enjoy the work hard or party/drink hard atmosphere…or at least can tolerate living around loud partying/drunken students. </p>
<p>For some, it’s fun or tolerable. For others, it’s not exactly one’s ideal of a good college experience. Knew some who transferred out because they found it was the latter…though their experiences are from a decade or more ago. </p>
<p>@lax248 Isn’t this skewed a little by those who just have the money because it’s like a brand name fad thing? It’s like some of the private high schools in our area. You pay a lot of money but the product is actually not that great compared to other cheaper private schools or even some of the public schools. Problem is most people going to college are getting exposed to all this college comparison experience for the first time. Tough in the short amount of time to determine if a school is worth the money or not.</p>
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<p>One would hope, but College Park also is quite close to home for many UMCP students, and, by reputation anyway, many of the quieter types head home on weekends, leaving the Route 1 corridor to the revelers. </p>
<p>I already posted this on a separate thread but you guys seem very opinionated (in a very good way), so I thought it wouldn’t hurt to post here too
Deciding between Washington and Lee (full ride + personal expenses stipend) and Vanderbilt (10k per year)
Okay, I know the general consensus on debt on is never-never-never, but I wholeheartedly believe that I won’t be happy at W&L. It’s an incredible institution–don’t get me wrong–but I just can’t bring myself to be excited about the prospect of attending. It just doesn’t feel…right. I visited after I applied, and as an African-American who is not planning to rush, I didn’t like it at all, but I still kept it on my list. Now there’s a full ride on the table. Different story. </p>
<p>My other options presented good FA, but Vanderbilt offered the most, with about a 10k out of pocket cost. Although it’s manageable, my dad recently lost his job, we would have to take out the entire bill in loans to pay it off, at least for the first year. I am sure my dad can get a job in the next four years, but everything is sooo uncertain, and I really don’t wAnt to burden them when money is incredibly right. </p>
<p>My head just keeps telling me to take the W&L offer, but I just don’t want to. Should I? Should I just suck it up and take it?</p>
<p>@girlincross - You are in a very fortunate predicament - very few people in this country have a full ride on the table - most students are deciding where to attend based on which institution will leave them with the least debt. I’d say go for W&L - if you don’t like it after a year or two (or after you father finds work) - then transfer to Vanderbilt. 20k isn’t nearly as bad as 40k and you’d still be getting your degree from Vandy. 
Good luck!</p>
<p>On a similar note - a free BA sounds phenomenal. You can maximize your borrowing power for grad school where the job prospects may be better afterwards so loans would be a more fiscally responsible decision than UG debt.</p>
<p>Can I also ask your oadvice on my college decision ? I narrowed down to three options. (1) Univ of Chicago with 12K/yr, (2) Case Western Reserve Univ w/ 30K/yr, and (3) Baylor university with full ride even covering summer tuition/research if I want. My parent think Baylor is the best option to have a resourceful undergraduate life as pre-med student. But I am leaning toward Univ of Chicago because of college quality and better potential on my career. I don’t want to make a decision which may make me regret 10 years from now. Should I listen to my parent who is responsible for financial support on my college education anyway as a middle class family ? </p>
<p>@gr8kids - If you’re planning on medical school, your primary concern should be to minimize debt - Baylor might serve you better because you’d be a bigger fish in a smaller pond rather than at UChicago where you might not rise to the top and have access to prime research opportunities (like at Baylor where you’d more likely be towards the top of your class - an ideal situation.) Prestige of undergraduate doesn’t have much bearing on grad school admissions. </p>
<p>@preamble1776, Thanks for your advice. It seems like I have to listen to my parent, not to my teachers who told me to go to U Chicago. I am a top 1% in my class with 2400 SAT and reasonable ECs. Let me think more on a bigger fish in a smaller pond in college decision to go to a good medical school. Thanks again.</p>