College Choices: UCONN, Penn State, Pitt, Toledo, SUNY?

Question

After college visits, these are the finalists. Order of cost for us: SUNY Buffalo, Toledo, Penn State, Pitt, UCONN (most expensive). Kid has to get out in 4 years and be able to earn a living, but isn't sure what she wants to do yet -- probably something in biology. She might want pharmacy, which isn't offered at Penn State. GPA is 3.65, SATs 1300, 12 AP/college credits in HS. Guidance counselor just says "pick the school you like." She likes all of them. Any suggestions? Help will be appreciated.

Answer 1

If she is really interested in Pharmacy, U of Toledo (where I am graduating from in Dec) is a good choice. They have a very good pharm program, but it is VERY competitive. I had a friend who was majoring in Pharmacy my freshman year. We actually went to high school together. After pharmacy majors sophomore year the school decides who makes it into pharmacy and who goes into pharmaceutical sales. They only take something like the best 125 students out of hundreds applying. And my friend was the valedictorian at my high school and was afraid he wouldn't get in so changed majors; that's how tough it is. But it's a very good program, as are all the medical programs now that we merged with MUO (Medical University of Ohio). But I just wanted to give you a heads up on the difficulty of the pharm program at Toledo. Good luck with your decision.

Answer 2

Because so many kids flunk out the first year, including myself, I told my kids that their first 1-2 years would be at a local college. Then, they could continue at any institution when they were more prepared to be totally independent.
They would stay at, or near home and make the transition/passage to independence more gradual. This has taken the intense pressures of the 1st year off their shoulders and saved our family thousands in wasted college funds.