It's a wrap - Decision time
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Anonymous
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The majority of the decisions are in and DD has whittled them down to the below. The final price tag for all is within the range and just off by a few thousand (no huge difference).
I am just interested in some of the cons/pros some can give from their kid's experience at those places. We are trying to help her make a decision and I am sure there are arguments for and against each we have not thought of yet. My husband and I got our degrees in another country so this whole thing over here has been a constant learning process for us. Major Biology Carnegie Mellon UVA Chapel Hill UofRochester William and Mary |
Anonymous
| What is the end goal with a biology degree? All schools will have an accepted student day and I would encourage you and her to attend these for her top 3 schools. Very different from a school tour—they will have student and parent panels which are helpful. |
Anonymous
PhD - going into research. |
Anonymous
| Great choices - I would choose Carnegie Melon but your kid should pick - I liked small feeling, smart kids, in a good city. |
Anonymous
| Those are some fantastic accepts. Congrats OP to your daughter who has a bright future. |
Anonymous
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If CMU's finaid package is truly on par with UVA and you have assurances is renewable, they are the stronger school.
Otherwise, it is a tossup between UVA and NC Chapel Hill. One attraction of NC Chapel Hill is the ability to move to in state tuition after 1 year. NC Chapel Hill has a traditionally strong relationship with FDA, if that career path is of interest to your child. |
Anonymous
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Those are all very fine schools and she will get a terrific education at any of them. Some things you might think about:
--will she have more opportunities for undergrad research at a place like W&M, where there are no PhDs in biology? -- what general ed requirements are there and what is your DD's reaction to those requirements? But honestly, there are all great choices, and I would strongly encourage her to attend admitted students events and pick the school that just feels best to her. Easier to do if there is one or two that she just likes less than the others for whatever reason--if so, cross it off the list and don't look back. Congrats to her! |
Anonymous
| If she wants to do research, William and Mary is the best way to get that experience and the relationships with professors. |
Anonymous
| Yes, great choices. Congrats! |
Anonymous
This will not happen. You have to live there for a year proving no financial connection to your parents whatsoever. |
Anonymous
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Congratulations on such great choices!
U of R might be the underdog here, but it is worth considering. I went there a million years ago. Biology was (and would expect still is) a very big major with with fantastic research opportunities. There is a pretty big pre-med crowd. U of R has a similar vibe as CMU in many ways, but less CS/engineering focused (just my perception). Pittsburgh seems like a fun city though (my son was very interested in CMU). UVA and Chapel Hill are obviously very different than the other two. I imagine your student will have a preference! Of course, finances could be an important factor, particularly with such good choices. They really can’t go wrong. |
Anonymous
| All great options- congrats to your DC! |
Anonymous
| I would choose NC! But like others said, this is such a personal choice! |
Anonymous
| Does your DD thrive best as a big fish in a little pond or is swimming with the sharks what excites her? |
Anonymous
Good question, she is content being a medium size fish  . While in a demanding magnet, the program kids are not cut-throat or hyper competitive (except for a few). So basically she enjoys the challenges and the cooperation in her current program.
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