Pros and Cons of the Schools to Which I am Applying

The college search has been a part of my life since about the end of sophomore year. Today, I am in the home stretch of it. I have officially sent out all 13 of my applications to the various institutions and now await to hear back if I have been accepted or denied. I have a loose idea of were each school stands on my “list”  but many factors can change my opinion. My “top” schools have changed more times than I can count. This is reality for a majority of high school students. The schools on my list currently include James Madison University, The University of Rhode Island, Towson University, St. John’s University, SUNY Albany, SUNY Cortland, Fordham University, George Mason University, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Bryant University, Farmingdale State College, The University of New Haven, Ohio University. For each school I will provide in my opinion the Pros and Cons in my opinion, about each university. 

James Madison University

Pros

• #5 Ranked campus
• #10 Ranked on campus food
• Offers my major(Sports and recreation management)
• The best dorms I have seen out of 300+ colleges I have visited
• Friendly student body from my visits
• D1 sports teams
• I got accepted
• Thriving nightlife

Cons

• It is located six and a half hours away
• Costs over $40,000 per year
• Does not send out scholarships till mid March

University Of Rhode Island

Pros

• Top 2 campus in my opinion
• An interesting major (sport media and communications)
• Close proximity to Newport Rhode Island and its beaches
• Vibrant student life
• Greek life is a big part of campus
• D1 sports teams
• Offered me $8,750 a year in scholarships and accepted me

Cons

• Costs over $45,000 a year
• Does not offer any minors that interest me

George Mason University

Pros

• Accepted me and offered me $9,000 per year in scholarships
• Offers a major that intrigues me
• Located 15 miles outside of Washington D.C.
• D1 sports
• Minor in sports communications
• Offers a law degree fro after undergrad
• Highly rated law schools

Cons

• It costs over 47 thousand dollars a year 
• Is in a slightly less competitive athletic conference
• I have not yet seen the campus 
• Unsure of how the food is 

Towson University

• I have friends that go there
• They have my major(sport management)
•  Large diverse campus
• Well designed stunts union center
• Lots of new buildings being constructed
• Good D1 sports

Cons

• Costs $41,000 dollars per year
• No masters or graduate program 
• Near Baltimore 

SUNY Albany

Pros

• Costs only 25 thousand dollars per year
• Is a medium sized school
• Has good D1 sports
• Night life is abundant

Cons

• It is SUNY and I would stay in New York
• I would be going with a ⅕ of my high school class most likely
• They don’t offer my major
• Okay campus 
• Supposedly bad food

Umass Amherst

Pros

• They have the top sports management program in the country
• Challenging curriculum 
• Top ranked food in the USA
• Large spread out campus
• Amazing graduate school

Cons

• Most likely going to get deferred or rejected
• Only takes 100 out of 1200 applicants for my major
• Over 45,000 dollars per year
• No air conditioning in most dorms

SUNY  Cortland

Pros 

• Has the in-state cost
• Offers a version of my major
• D1 sports
• Good night life

Cons

• Offers the major under education not business or management 
• I would go with a 4th of  my graduating class
• Greek life isn’t too big 
• It is located in New York

Bryant University

Pros

• Has a very nice small campus
• D1 sports
• Offers my major somewhat
• Decent food options
• Updated droms

Cons

• I have yet to hear from them
• I would have to take calculus while there
• Very expensive private school
• Is located in a very odd spot in rhode island
• Uncertain of the night life there

St. Johns

Pros

• Very active alumni
• Great D1 sports
• Offers my major
• Located near NYC
• Offered me a scholarship
• Renown throughout the country 

Cons

• Has a base price over 60 thousand dollars
• Limited rooms available
• If I commute it would be a 40+ min drive everyday

University of New Haven

Pros

• Has an amazing course catalog
• Offers 3 sub categories for my major 
• Not too far but not too close to home
• Offered me a scholarship
• Great professors 
• D1 sports

Cons

• An expensive private college
• Not known for their nightlife
• Almost no greek life
• Bad dorms
• Not great food

Ohio University 

Pros

• Well renowned program 
•  I would get far away from bethpage
• Supposedly has a very nice campus
• Offers a masters program

Cons 

• A bit too far for my liking
• Didn’t offer me a good scholarship
• Wants me to commit before may 1st
• I haven’t visited campus

Farmingdale State College

Pro

• They are very affordable
• Offers my major
• D1 sports

Cons

• I would be staying at home
• I would still be in Bethpage

Fordham University 

Pros

• None

Cons

• THEY REJECTED ME

At the moment I am unsure of where I want to go but in my mind it is between 4-5 schools most likely. Getting the scholarship info back from the last remaining schools will ultimately help me in my decision. If I had to pick one at the moment it would be JMU as they have everything I want out of the college experience. By May 1st I will post another article updating everyone on my decision.