Help me choose! Macaulay Honors at CCNY versus Binghamton

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Hi! I’m closing in on where I want to go, but I’m stuck between Macaulay Honors at CCNY versus Bing. I was wondering what would be better. Both would cost around the same for me (if I dorm at CCNY) - 30k a year at Bing and 20k a year at CCNY.

I want to major in either Theoretical Physics/Aerospace Engineering or English/History (Archeology mostly). I also want to study abroad, and be able to academically and socially thrive. And wherever I go, I want to be able to make a difference. Where would you suggest? I’m pretty stuck now lol.

I also got into other schools like Stonybrook and UMich (but I’m reconsidering UMich because of how expensive it would be - 80k a year.) Let me know if those are better too!

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Can your family comfortably afford both options?

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Which do you prefer environmentally ?

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Yes.

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Both work well for me. I was mostly wondering in terms of opportunities and education.

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You can ask each school for a career report - but I have to think both.

One must work for you better - if nothing else, location wise - NYC vs. way up state.

What does Macaulay offer enrichment or benefit wise - and does that make your student experience better? All Honors programs are different - so study what they offer - does that make a difference vs. being a regular student at Bing?

I don’t see either school as better - but one might be better for you - so decide and pick one. It could be both simply work - there’s not just one school for a student. There’s likely many schools that can work.

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I think both can provide you with a fine education. Often you need to be proactive to find opportunities (ex. asking professors you like if you could help with research, etc.).

To me the biggest difference (assuming both are affordable – which I define as no hardship for your family and no or minimal loans) is do you want to live at home or have a residential campus experience.

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I would grab the opportunity at Macaulay. Some honors programs are honors in name only, but Macaulay brings real tangible benefits:

www.Macaulay Honors College | The City College of New York

Both schools have top notch faculty and good course selection in the fields you’re interested in.

When my niece went to Sophie Davis BS/MD program, dorm space was limited. Are you guaranteed 4 years of housing?

Macaulay includes free tuition. Did you factor that into the cost of attendance numbers that you posted?

Obviously the 2 schools offer a different kind of experience outside the classroom with Binghamton being a residential campus and City being primarily a commuter campus. If you’re good with that, then I see a lot in favor of City, not the least of which would be the $40,000 savings over 4 years. If you choose aerospace from among your interests, that would be a big help in paying for grad school to get an advanced degree in your field at a place like RPI.

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