Choosing colleges

[lollercaust]

As I move into my junior year, we are being pushed toward making decisions about our college goals. Many will stay nearby in Massachusetts, going to Bridgewater State, UMass, Suffolk, or Massasoit Community College at the worst. While I'm looking at those, a college that I want to aim for is Oxford University in England (that's right British users, another ignorant, fat american taking up space in your country. :evillaugh:). I've mainly considered taking a computer science course there. I can't really explain why I want to go to it so badly, but I feel that it would be a great place to learn and just be while living a college life.
I think I could get into it. I have good, competitive grades and believe that I could score high enough on the SAT to be competitive. I also have extra college courses that I am already taking, so I think it's a very possible goal. However, being an overseas applicant the cost is around 22k USD per year. Obviously, since I've been studying up on this, I think I could manage paying for it one way or another. But my question to Explosm is do you believe it'd be worth it?
I could apply for and take a computer science course here in the states, and even in Massachusetts. But I've been so into going to Oxford for years, and I'm noticing that the time to choose is getting closer and closer. I do know that I still have 2 years before I get out of high school, though. What do you guys think? Should I am for it, or would it be a better idea to just stay here? Decisions you made and why you think I should decide one way or another would be greatly appreciated.

[mikhial66]

Wait until the week before the deadline to apply to make a decision. You don't want to rush into it now.

[Chardon07]

Its not like your going to be in real life, " hey that one kid from that forum suggested this, i think i might try it"

[Casalen]

Load of crap; that's what I get to say about every life changing event since I got internet access at home.

No one cares if you went to Oxford or Yale or Bridgewater. Maybe some people would, but not many. The only reason you would think it's worth the investment is for your personal sake, which doesn't seem at all worth it to me.

[gtrst7711]

Shit, 22K? I'm in state and paying more than that WITH financial aid.

And I'd say go for it. Its a cool way to meet new people, get acquainted with other cultures, and see a different part of the world.

[The Fetus]

Yeah, I know what you mean. I'm a junoir now too and I got to look into colleges. Mostly places in Britain. Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales, and other places like New Zealand. I really don't know why but I really want to live on an island. :ahe:

I don't really for sure know if it's worth it. There's an almost 100% guarantee that you can get the same courses in the states, but if you just want to check out the UK and get your degree there, then I guess it'd be worth it.

[Mr. Crow]

Load of crap; that's what I get to say about every life changing event since I got internet access at home.

No one cares if you went to Oxford or Yale or Bridgewater. Maybe some people would, but not many. The only reason you would think it's worth the investment is for your personal sake, which doesn't seem at all worth it to me.

Yes, it does matter. Besides the self-satisfaction and prestige that comes along with being a student at one of those schools, you'll make contacts with some of the leaders of the next generation, the brilliant minds of the next decade. It's the difference between, "I went to the state school, got a good education, and made some friends" and "I went to Harvard, got a good education, and made friends with the son of a major corporation dealing with my major, and a future Nobel prize winner." Also, especially if you're a science major and going into research, you make friends and contacts with the professors, who are well-known experts in their field.

[Lynley]

Most US schools have programs for students doing study in other countries. It might be cheaper to go to a US school and do one of these programs at Oxford. Then, if you find that the experience was everything you expected and wanted, you could transfer. This way, you spend one year at a cheaper school and get to check out Oxford for probably cheaper.

Most of these programs are one semester or a few months or weeks in the summer, though some are a full year. I know someone who's going to France this year to do it, and I know someone who went to Germany for 6 weeks over the summer and took some summer courses there.

[spaj]

Be careful with looking into UK universities.

I can assure you that the culture will pound your face into a wall until you adapt, which may take a while, so you have to be prepared for a completely new change of environment. Anyway, you still have a lot of time to actually choose your major and a university.

lollercaust, one reason why I think it's a bit early for them to force you now is because of long term decisions. The university name is much better when you're interested in a getting a job after a BSc or a MComp degree. If you decide to go into extensive research (MSci and/or PhD), the university name makes very marginal difference for postgraduate applicants (they just want you to get a 2:1 or a first).

Anyway, good luck.

[Jallen]

My dad works at a private college that costs $30,000 for yearly tuition. Since he works there, I have to pay....zero. Problem is, I really dont like that college. Solution: The discounted tuition works on a whole bunch of colleges all around the nation. Sweet.

[Kawligia]

Apply to every one that you would want to go to. If you only apply to 1 or 2 you may not get in.

It is important to go to a "prestigious" one, but if you don't, its not the end of the world.

If you plan to go to graduate school for a Masters or PhD, then it matters much less where you got your undergraduate from.

[John Travolta]

You really need to aim for a school that has a good department on the subject that you're majoring in. I want to go to UT in Arlington just because they have a good Criminal Justice department, even if the school isn't top notch.

[innerearth]

You really need to aim for a school that has a good department on the subject that you're majoring in. I want to go to UT in Arlington just because they have a good Criminal Justice department, even if the school isn't top notch.
Very true.
Don’t go to a school just because of the name, make sure the department is at the level you want.
IE: Don’t go to Harvard or Yale if you want to study science or music. Do go if you want to do pre law.