Saturday, July 16, 2011

Need some SERIOUS help on picking between colleges.?


Need some SERIOUS help on picking between colleges.?
OK, so I am a rising senior at a high school on the outskirts of North Carolina. I have awesome grades, and I have applied to another of schools. While I'm not Ivy League material, I have some good options. I got accepted into UNC and Duke. But, here's the thing. There is a small college called Wingate University that's near Charlotte. I received a full four year ride there for winning their annual Shakespeare recitation competition, including room and board, books, and a meal card. So, my parents are giving me the choice. I'll get ten grand a year from them no matter what. So, I can spend that ten grand plus take loans out every year and attend UNC. So, by the end of college, I'll be forty thousand dollars in debt. Or, I can just buy a new car with the money and also have some spending cash, but have to go to Wingate. I don't know if this changes anything, but I want to be a lawyer. Also, I want to be close to home, but not too close, and UNC and Wingate are the same distance away from me. Im not sure if I want a big college or a small one. But here is the main decision. Choose the expensive better college, or the free, smaller college.
Higher Education (University +) - 5 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
I would say go to the smaller college. law school is ridiculously expensive, and forty thousand dollars saved is forty thousand dollars you don't have to pile onto law school debt. OR, you could transfer after going to Wingate to save ten thousand - twenty thousand dollars to UNC to have that nice name on your degree and look better in law school admission eyes.
2 :
Take the free, see how you like it for you can always transfer after taking some basic courses. Anywhere you go you still need math, English and some pre-law. You will appreciate the free later on.
3 :
You'll probably have a much better experience at UNC or Duke than the smaller school, you don't want to be spending 4 years of your life at a place you settled for just because of the money because you will be miserable. It's not worth it, plus almost every has debt from college, it's not uncommon and you'll be able to pay it off. You'll have a much better chance of getting into a good law school from a better college and with law, it's all about where you went. Good luck.
4 :
There are a few things to kick around here, Jake.. The conventional wisdom says to go to the larger, big-name school as a likely better springboard for graduate school and your career in law.. those things matter because people believe that they matter, they use the university's screening process as a de facto screening process for you throughout your life.. but, that's primarily a perceptual issue and if the educational resources are similar at both schools, you do have an important determination to make.. The truth is, though, that you need to know some things about yourself, perhaps not yet in evidence.. which environment will you enjoy more and thrive in? Answer, probably both.. remember that the main thing that you have going for you on the path that you're on is that you're the one on that path, and can change direction if need be.. Here's one perspective: put the debt and other financial considerations aside for a moment and consider this a long-term decision.. if the financial aspects were exactly the same, which would you choose? that's where you should strongly consider going.. Have you visited the campuses? if not, do so.. sit in on a class.. talk to the students.. eat the food.. check out the talent, whatever, but get a feeling for the places.. and trust your feelings.. Bottom line, please yourself.. you're the one that's going to have to "walk the walk" of this decision.. But the reality is, that while very different, the choice here isn't between poison and food, it's between two different alternative paths with a bunch of positives going for each one.. Good luck Forrest Gump. Life may be like a box of chocolates, but you do get to choose which ones you actually bite into.. And one more thing. The world isn't just hoping that you figure out this dilemma and many more along your path to becoming a productive member of society and making the world a little better place every day.. it's counting on it.. good luck, Jake.. this may feel like an awkward decision with lots of implications that you'll be living with, and it is, but it's part of one the best times of your life.. how exciting!
5 :
There are many online websites that offer you a list of colleges and universities, but most of them are paid. Here is one site that offer you to browse schools around the world for totally free . Just complete their questions and they will accept you. Enter: http://EducationFindr.com Hope that will help you

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