I am in dire need of help. I’m having such a hard time deciding which college I want to go to.
I have been accepted into all 3 universities: UTA, A&M, and U of H.
• I will be a biology major
• Bachelor’s degree after 4 yrs
• Go to Physician’s Assistant school
• Finish with my master’s degree
• Money is definitely a deciding factor
• I received a scholarship that is a total of $16,000 divided over six years
• My top choice for school is UT Austin, however if it really comes down to it, I do not mind going to A&M of U of H
P.S. [I am still a little confused whether or not I should lean towards nursing or physician’s assistant, so if you could offer a little advice, that would be wonderful, thank you!]
I’ve been trying to look all over for biology undergraduate rankings for Texas schools, but I just cannot find it.
Out of the three schools, which has a better undergrad biology program?
Details about UT A:
• My estimated net cost [minus the grants/scholarships from UT]: ~10,437
• I’ve toured UT A, I love it a lot!
Details about A&M:
• My estimated net cost [minus the grants/scholarships from A&M]: ~8,073
• Never visited
Details about U of H: (Haven’t received financial aid, but both UT&A&M gave me 10 worth of financial aid)
• My estimated net cost [minus grants/scholarships U of H]: ~3,000-4,000
• Campus isn’t all that great in my opinion
In my opinion, the difference between UT & TAMU (A&M) is miniscule, so I would say go where you like it more. Having said that, keep in mind that living in Austin is a LOT more expensive than College Station. I have family in Austin & I still would not have been able to swing attending UT.
In some fields, like engineering, the difference between UT and A&M is miniscule. In biology, however, UT ranks quite a bit higher than A&M at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. UH is still a ranked program, albeit lower than the other two schools.
If your financial aid comes back anywhere near their estimate, you might want to give UH some real consideration if money is a deciding factor. The campus is definitely not as nice as the other two, but the new dorms are great and Houston gives you easy access to the amazing Texas Medical Center for research and employment possibilities. If you haven’t already applied the UH Honors College, you should definitely do so. A&M offers neither the lowest cost nor the strongest program in your instance and, in my opinion, is the easiest of the three to eliminate from consideration.
I did not go to UT due to the cost. I wound up at Texas Tech because of a transfer scholarship & it is VERY economical here. I have my eyes set on graduate school, so maintaining low debt in my undergraduate studies is a priority. If you go to UH make sure you apply & get accepted to their Honors College.
UT has the highest ranking as a university in Texas, so I would recommend UT, however if money is a great issue then go with TAMU, they have the 2nd highest ranking as a university in Texas. Also College Station has a lower standard of living then Houston and Austin. However, remember that the standard of living in Austin really isn’t that high for a city, especially when compared to California and New England. As for tuition, you might be able to get scholarships or grants. If you can afford it go to UT, if not then TAMU. They are both great schools.