Stressful decision

[Jera]

Posted: 4/21/05 at 8:51pm

I need some help! I'm about to face one of the hardest decisions of my life thus far:

I have to choose between four universities.

University A and B are offering me $2500 in scolarships. University C is offering me $10 000.
University D is offering me nothing! But D is where I really want to go.

Should I listen to my heart or to the money? I don't have alot of money, and I was relying on getting at least some money from university D. I am so conflicted.

Any advice would be appreciated
jera

[liotte]

Posted: 4/21/05 at 8:53pm

Student loans are great- Go to D

[Aigoo]

Posted: 4/21/05 at 8:53pm

uhh..not to pry, but what are the universities? ^___^;

Well, if you think you can afford it, definitely take D, or you'll regret it. Maybe you can go back for grad school or something? O.o;

If C is your second choice in terms of "wantingness to go", then go with C, it'd be the smartest choice, considering the amount of money they're offering you.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 4/21/05 at 8:55pm

Is it possible to go to C and then transfer to D in your second year?

[Aigoo]

Posted: 4/21/05 at 8:56pm

Actually, I guess it would depend on the individual costs of the colleges, too. But I'm assuming they all cost within the same range.

[Plum]

Posted: 4/21/05 at 8:58pm

I'd be thinking about academic quality and the quality of the department(s) you're interested in.

[Jera]

Posted: 4/21/05 at 9:00pm

A- University of Toronto
B- McMaster
C- University of Western Ontario
D- Queens University

I'm in Canada. U of T and Queens are very prestigeous (sort of the Ivey league of Canada).

My first year of univeristy will cost about $17 000 in total, with the exception of U of T, because I can stay home. U of T would cost me about $7 000

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 4/21/05 at 9:01pm

Ahh you're Canadian! I can help you out with this. I'll give you my 2c after The Apprentice is over.

Posted: 4/21/05 at 9:05pm

Poor baby. If life's decisions are hard for your now, wait.

Be thankful you have choices.

Thousands of students around the country don't have choices. They are limited to their local junior colleges and/or universities. Many have no choice but to work full-time and attend the most affordable local university at night. Some of them even have families that depend on them to feed and clothe and house them.

Your decision is less "stressful" than you think.

I'm sure you'll make the choice that's right for you.

[Aigoo]

Posted: 4/21/05 at 9:06pm

Think about what you want to do in the future as a career, and which university will help strengthen that with the majors and programs that they offer.

I'm not very good at giving advice, but I hope you eventually feel as if you made the right decision. :)

[Jera]

Posted: 4/21/05 at 9:12pm

I feel very lucky that I have choice, but this still is an extremely stressful time for me. It's not just choosing the university, it's the realization that my highschool years are over, and I have my whole life ahead of me. Whatever choices I make now could determine what will happen to me in my life.

I have been accepted to sciences/biochem at all the universities. I want to be a medical doctor or a researcher/biochemist.

I just hope I don't screw this up.

jera

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/21/05 at 9:13pm

Oh my God. Even the most expensive of those is less than half of what my college tuition is costing. I know there's a slight difference in Canadian and American dollars, but

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 4/21/05 at 9:14pm

May I ask why you're choosing Queens over the other three? I thought UT was pretty much the one to beat. Queens is one of the best undergrad schools out there though.

Posted: 4/21/05 at 9:16pm

Hanging out among the off-topic message board threads of a Broadway-centric website isn't exactly a step towoards your goal of a career in the medical/bio-research/bio-chemistry professions.

You have no time to waste.

[KelRel]

Posted: 4/21/05 at 9:46pm

Lay off...scientists can love B-way...to a high school kid (no offense Jera!) college is a huge decision. I am one of those people who works full time to go to school and is supporting a family...I am not offended by her stress so back off of her and lighten up. If you don't want to offer advice don't respond..*steps off soap box*
Jera- follow your heart. Apply for financial aide and student loans. Good luck hon!

[Plum]

Posted: 4/21/05 at 9:48pm

Emcee, it's not just an exchange rate thing. American colleges, I'm pretty sure, cost far more than their counterparts just about anywhere in the world because of the relative lack of government support they get.

Shoo, Jose'. Or at least try to remember what life was like for you when you were 18. Updated On: 4/21/05 at 09:48 PM

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 4/21/05 at 9:50pm

Plum, you're right about the reason why Canadian universities are better. (And for the record for those who were wondering, the level of education is equal to our American counterparts. ) For all the bitching we make about how expensive college is, we get a LOT of subsidies from the government.

Posted: 4/21/05 at 9:51pm

Plumster, when I was 18, I was already in college, hoping I wasn't about to get drafted to the University of Viet Nam.

[Plum]

Posted: 4/21/05 at 9:54pm

At least you didn't have to get special papers to ensure you wouldn't get drafted into the University of Guarding the West Bank Border, which would make you lose your American citizenship.

[Jess1483]

Posted: 4/21/05 at 9:54pm

I'm pre-med, and I hang out on the BWW message board. And I'm doing quite well in pursuit of my career. I'm in fact quite excited about other science-minded people on the board.

And Jera--first, congrats on getting accepted to all these schools. I say go with the one you really want to attend. The money will be worth it in the end. Your happiness is more important.

[Plum]

Posted: 4/21/05 at 9:55pm

All 3 of my best pre-med friends dropped it this year, though 2 of them are staying in the sciences. You're taking on a hard thing, and I commend you for it, Jera. Here's hoping you stick it out, whichever college you choose.

[Jess1483]

Posted: 4/21/05 at 9:59pm

Haha, interestingly enough, I'm considering dropping it as well. I'm doing fine in the classes, I just don't like them very much. Who wants to name organic molecules you need 20 words and numbers to name correctly? I'm going to do some work/internship at a hospital this summer and make sure it's really what i want to do. It's definitely tough, but if you're convinced it's what you want to do, that's awesome.

[Plum]

Posted: 4/21/05 at 10:02pm

The funny thing is, orgo was one of my favorite parts of chemistry in high school. I think that proves once and for all I'm a deeply twisted soul. :)

[Jess1483]

Posted: 4/21/05 at 10:03pm

Yes, yes you are. Actually, I like orgo better than inorganic chem, but i certainly didn't really like either. I'm a bigger biology fan. Loving my human genetics course.

[Plum]

Posted: 4/21/05 at 10:04pm

Well, yeah- in the larger context of the hard sciences, bio was my favorite by far, with physics proving occassionally enjoyable and chemistry making want to tear out my hair. :)