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Alright...I'm puting this on the forum as a sort of stress relief measure...I though getting into college was supposed to be relaxing, but i've got a problem...I have too many options and no idea how to choose which college...I know I want to major in Biomedical Engineering and minor in either Spanish or Korean, but here's the catch...I've gotten into Stanford, USC, Duke, and Case Western with full tuition scholarships...What do i do now? I know I want to work as an engineer for a few years and head to law school...does it really matter where I end up going? Man...decisions suck.

By Anxious_Mom (Anxious_Mom) on Wednesday, March 10, 2004 - 01:47 am: Edit

Did you get full tuition at all of the colleges? wow. If it were 1 of my sons,and if they like all of them about the same, then I'd say Stanford. It tops most engineering rankings I've ever seen, and is very strong in languages as well. Students seem to really like the college, and it is not considered a high stress place.

But, if you meant that you have full tuition at Case Western, but got into the others, then it is a much harder choice. I know there are a lot of students on this site that are brilliant and get full rides at less competitive schools, but also get accepted to HYPS. Is it really worth spending lots of bucks, when a high quality, but perhaps not as highly ranked school wants to pay the full cost? I'd sure like to hear some others address that general question.

By H0neymoon (H0neymoon) on Wednesday, March 10, 2004 - 02:08 am: Edit

I'd chose Stanford...... it's STANFORD.

By Thedad (Thedad) on Wednesday, March 10, 2004 - 02:11 am: Edit

Well, *not* USC for engineering, given those choices.

For the others, compare the departments in your area of interest and also see which campus feels most comfortable to you. All very different. Though telling an engineer to compare how things feel is often a waste of energy ===> "Does not compute."

By May_1 (May_1) on Wednesday, March 10, 2004 - 02:54 am: Edit

Well, really, *not* USC for anything but Film, Architecture, Business, or Music.

Unless, there was an insurmountable difference in post-undergrad debt (and by that I mean 50K+ at the VERY least), I'd go with Stanford.

Just mentioning Stanford and knowing the notification date is only weeks away gives me chills.

By Deltaaovert (Deltaaovert) on Wednesday, March 10, 2004 - 12:24 pm: Edit

Yeah...I got full tuition at all 4...and I've heard the Stanford thing from just about everyone...I was wondering why no one seems to like USC, though...it didn't seem too bad to me

By Thedad (Thedad) on Wednesday, March 10, 2004 - 12:59 pm: Edit

May1, I don't like USC for ug business, either.

By Stanfordrulez (Stanfordrulez) on Wednesday, March 10, 2004 - 01:03 pm: Edit

One word of advice:
Shhhhhtttaannnfoorrrrd!
I hope to see you later this year. It'd be a shame if you didn't turn up, after being admitted.

By Sac (Sac) on Wednesday, March 10, 2004 - 01:26 pm: Edit

Congratulations on your choices!

I think you're asking for some advice on how to make this decision, rather than a knee-jerk response based on Stanford's prestige. How about making a list of factors that might be important to YOU, whatever they are: distance from home or family, weather, faculty interaction, research opportunities, diversity of student body, strength of the engineering (or specifically bioengineering) program, availability of minor courses of study or of double majors, dorms, campus life, costs above and beyond tuition, extracurricular clubs or groups in some area you'd like to continue....Just making this list might help clarify for you what your priorities are. Then, you can consider each school in turn and, hopefully, revisit some that remain strong contenders. It's good that you want to be thoughtful about this and not just automatically choose the school everyone tell's you that you should without knowing anything about you.

By Abz1986 (Abz1986) on Wednesday, March 10, 2004 - 05:02 pm: Edit

Well Stanford is highly regarded for engineering...

By Liek0806 (Liek0806) on Wednesday, March 10, 2004 - 08:39 pm: Edit

Deltaaovert,
From the way you defend USC it seems like you want to go there only that the reputation of how good the other schools are influences you to become doubtful. That's the way I see things. I recommend you listen to your first instinct whatever it is. Do it by pretending your at the school and ask yourself if your regretting not having gone to any of the others, until you know that you won't regret not having gone to the other schools.

By Thedad (Thedad) on Wednesday, March 10, 2004 - 10:11 pm: Edit

That's not a bad suggestion: imagine yourself at school A and seeing if you have regrets you didn't go to B, C, or D.

Unfortunately, I don't think that scenario will help my D decide...but it's a nice tool in the toolkit.

By Libsters (Libsters) on Wednesday, March 10, 2004 - 10:45 pm: Edit

Are your scholarships merit based or financial need based?

By Deltaaovert (Deltaaovert) on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 12:30 am: Edit

USC, Duke, and Case are all pure merit, Stanford is half merit half need

By Haithman (Haithman) on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 02:40 am: Edit

Umm is there really a use for this post? Stanford should undoubtably be your final choice!
Unless of course, money is an issue but that is a different story.

By Randi2005 (Randi2005) on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 08:39 am: Edit

I am going to OHIO