Since most of the SkiBuilders community are rabid skiers and many of you are
Mechanical Engineers, I'm hoping to pick your brains. My son Cal (*ARMADA*) is
a senior in high school, planning to major in MechE in college. He has been
accepted to all the schools to which he has applied. (SUNY Binghamton,
Montana State, and U of Utah.) We are prosperous enough so that need-based
financial aid is not a likelihood. Our intention is to pay everything but
tuition (and maybe transportation). Tuitions for 4 years are about:
Binghamton-$20000, MS-$30000(after $30000 scholarship) and U of U-$60000(Hoping
for merit scholarship offer).
Cal is fanatical about skiing (no exaggeration). But we are hoping to get him
out of college with as small of debt load as possible so that his choices are
not limited by financial enslavement.
Binghamton - Strong ME program, 80 miles from home, Greek Peak about 40 miles
away, Could finish with no debt.
Montana State - Weaker ME program, far away, Big Sky about 50 miles, Would
have $20000 in debt.
U of U - Strong ME program, far away, can ride UTA bus to cottonwoods, would
have $30000-$40000 in debt.
Any insight to help a 17 year old make a good decision would be highly
appreciated.
College Choice
Moderators: Head Monkey, kelvin, bigKam, skidesmond, chrismp
I'd take Binghamton for these reasons.
1) good ME program means better chance at getting a good job
2) Finishing debt free means that the saved tuition costs can translate into ski holidays
3) Its close to skiing, so it would be possible to get out after class for a few hours
1) good ME program means better chance at getting a good job
2) Finishing debt free means that the saved tuition costs can translate into ski holidays
3) Its close to skiing, so it would be possible to get out after class for a few hours
I used to be a lifeguard, but some blue kid got me fired.
not BU, thats my two cents. about eight months ago I moved to the Binghamton area and we are already planning to move away within the year. the area is horrible in my opinion, the mountains are a joke and actual trails for hiking or biking are few and far between. also, the weather has to be mentioned. we have gotten almost NO snow at all, and the rain never stops. all year, floods. it is easy to hate college if your location sucks...i have been there. price should always be second to a good location, plus wealthier schools often have more money to offer as aid. when i first went to college, clarkson (40K) turned out to be the best deal due to aid. dont give up on a place due to the cost. go to Utah or Montana, you'll love it. Plus there are already people at both of those schools building skis and board, in Binghamton these projects are unheard of. Oh and there are NO good pizza places here.