Would like opinions on this choice. OOS for both.
UGA = $15000/yr
W&M = $29000/yr
International Affairs Major
Possibly double Major in Psych & Int’l Affairs
More AP credits at UGA
Like big athletics/school spirit at UGA
Like charm, history at W&M
Did he get Honors or Scholars at either one?
What’s your budget ? (from income and saving only, add the 5.5k loan and any student savings if Relevant)
Waiting to hear if got honors at UGA. Not looking likely.
Budget is around $18k/yr but we have a 529 that could bridge gap to W&M for 4 yrs. Don’t want to do any loans
UGA total includes the almost $10k/yr scholarship, so need to keep a 3.0 for it.
Is W&M worth $60,000 more than UGA total? That would come from 529. Or if we don’t use on this kid could roll that to other kids…we have 3 more to follow for college.
Since you have the money in a 529, it’s a hard decision - what does your kid think?
(Using the money you set aside for him/her on another kid shouldn’t enter the picture.)
If UGA Honors, it should be a no brainer, but without honors she may dislike the huge university environment. Check to see if honors required applying for (if deadline passed look at profile and see if she’s close or within their range, then post here so we can see what to do). If she’s applied, email to ask when decisions were made.
UGA is well regarded for IR though so it seems like the best deal for her/him.
W&M offers a different general experience - it’s like it’s all honors and less huge. You may see where she’d like to go if you make her take the $2,500 subsidized loan. It’s not an impossible amount to pay back and it’d alleviate some costs for you.
UGA without honors is fine for an IA major as SPIA students are serious students. And with advanced standing, your student could get earlier registration (though not as early as honors students).
The College of William & Mary has a split program allowing students to spend 2 years at Wm. & Mary & two year at St. Andrews in Scotland (which offers a very well respected IR/IA type major).
A reasonable path would be to study at the University of Georgia but do a junior year abroad & use the $56,000 savings for a masters degree.
I agree. IA/IR requires strengths in languages and study abroad in the region/theme of interest. So saving money from W&M and using that money to fund a language-focusedd summer abroad (perhaps after freshman year to allow for more advanced classes right away as a sophomore) and a full semester abroad junior year would be a smart investment.
If you want to do the W&M/St Andrews apply to st.Andrews directly, it’ll cost much less.
Cost is the same for all joint degree participants regardless of home institution & regardless of state residency.
^ sorry, just checked. I seemed to recall that Americans at stA thought it’d have been simpler and cheaper to start at St Andrews but was clearly wrong as the costs are exactly the same regardless of where the students start, and no SAAS funding. Sorry.
StA/W&M program is super competitive. Admitted as incoming freshman and decided not to apply b/c not sure if want to give up 2 yrs at US school. Also interested in abroad in more than one location.
DD very interested in study abroad, especially Middle Eastern. UGA has interesting program in Morocco for Maymester or Summer that qualifies as another course of Arabic. But our perception is W&M has great connections via DC to the international workforce/internships, etc. Perhaps UGA does as well.
Just wanted to see other opinions of the quality of education of the two schools. We are too close to be very objective anymore. Really appreciate the feedback…thanks so much!
@itsgettingreal17 has a Dd at UGA who has taken Arabic there and will be studying abroad. She might be able to give younspecific insight into UGA’s program.
@itsgettingreal17 do you have any feedback? Any other opinion on these two options?
I’ll PM you.