Alabama or Leipzig?
Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 8:20 am
Hi,
I recently made a thread about liberal arts colleges. I didn't do too well on my SATs (it's an okay score, but I don't think it's good enough), and odds are I won't get into any of the ones I'm applying to with financial aid. Well, there is a chance that I do get in, so I'm still gonna apply. But I'm not counting on it. So, I gotta explore some other options.
One is Leipzig, another is Alabama. Leipzig doesn't have any tuition fees, and my living expenses will probably range between 6k and 7k USD (used Google to convert from euros) per year.
The living expenses in Leipzig are significantly lower than in Alabama. I don't go "clubbing", and I probably won't be spending on anything at all except for food, rent, and the occasional book or beer. At most, I will be spending ~7k USD (most I can afford) per year. Probably much less. (I have a friend there who spends ~5k USD)
In Alabama, this number would be much higher. That is also assuming I get a full tuition scholarship. They require my grades to be evaluated by an external agency, but assuming that it's a 3.5 GPA, with my *current* scores, I only qualify for 2/3 of tuition. So, I will have to spend ~12k on living expenses + another ~7k on 1/3 of tuition. (but I plan on retaking, so let's assume I'm not paying tuition; best-case scenario)
I'm not very rich (haha), so I will have to take out some loans if I want to attend Alabama. That's in addition of working at minimum wage for 20 hours per week. (assuming I can get a job)
I've lurked on here long enough to know people who haven't done their undergrad degrees in the US have a much harder time getting into PhD programs.
Would I be in a better position, as far as grad school goes, if I were to attend 'Bama (Huntsville or Tuscaloosa) instead of Leipzig? If yes, are the advantages gained so much that they are worth my taking up some debt, working more than I would need to in Leipzig, and thus leaving me with much less personal time (and possibly lower grades too!)? Actually, if I go to Leipzig, I may even not need to work during school. Just the summer. If I get insanely lucky, I could get a paid research internship, but that's just wishful thinking. Failing that, I guess I could offer to clean the lab and make a few bucks off of that.
Since I'm not American, I can't apply for REUs either! So, I'm not sure where I could get research experience, outside of 'Bama. One thing that a certain liberal arts college does, is that they send their international students (physics) to do research in...wait for it...GERMANY! But I don't know where, and I've never heard of any kind of formal undergraduate research internships over there.
A PhD is brutal enough as it is. Do I want to make myself miserable for 3-4 additional years? I guess it would be good training...
Don't get me wrong, I'm quite confident that I will enjoy getting my butt kicked and my head banged against walls by our beloved physics. It's challenging, and I like that. But I would indeed need some down-time. Otherwise I will break.
I'll turn 20 next year, and the Leipzig degree is 3 years long, so maybe that's another pro for going there.
You guys know better. Let me know what you think.
Thanks.
I recently made a thread about liberal arts colleges. I didn't do too well on my SATs (it's an okay score, but I don't think it's good enough), and odds are I won't get into any of the ones I'm applying to with financial aid. Well, there is a chance that I do get in, so I'm still gonna apply. But I'm not counting on it. So, I gotta explore some other options.
One is Leipzig, another is Alabama. Leipzig doesn't have any tuition fees, and my living expenses will probably range between 6k and 7k USD (used Google to convert from euros) per year.
The living expenses in Leipzig are significantly lower than in Alabama. I don't go "clubbing", and I probably won't be spending on anything at all except for food, rent, and the occasional book or beer. At most, I will be spending ~7k USD (most I can afford) per year. Probably much less. (I have a friend there who spends ~5k USD)
In Alabama, this number would be much higher. That is also assuming I get a full tuition scholarship. They require my grades to be evaluated by an external agency, but assuming that it's a 3.5 GPA, with my *current* scores, I only qualify for 2/3 of tuition. So, I will have to spend ~12k on living expenses + another ~7k on 1/3 of tuition. (but I plan on retaking, so let's assume I'm not paying tuition; best-case scenario)
I'm not very rich (haha), so I will have to take out some loans if I want to attend Alabama. That's in addition of working at minimum wage for 20 hours per week. (assuming I can get a job)
I've lurked on here long enough to know people who haven't done their undergrad degrees in the US have a much harder time getting into PhD programs.
Would I be in a better position, as far as grad school goes, if I were to attend 'Bama (Huntsville or Tuscaloosa) instead of Leipzig? If yes, are the advantages gained so much that they are worth my taking up some debt, working more than I would need to in Leipzig, and thus leaving me with much less personal time (and possibly lower grades too!)? Actually, if I go to Leipzig, I may even not need to work during school. Just the summer. If I get insanely lucky, I could get a paid research internship, but that's just wishful thinking. Failing that, I guess I could offer to clean the lab and make a few bucks off of that.
Since I'm not American, I can't apply for REUs either! So, I'm not sure where I could get research experience, outside of 'Bama. One thing that a certain liberal arts college does, is that they send their international students (physics) to do research in...wait for it...GERMANY! But I don't know where, and I've never heard of any kind of formal undergraduate research internships over there.
A PhD is brutal enough as it is. Do I want to make myself miserable for 3-4 additional years? I guess it would be good training...
Don't get me wrong, I'm quite confident that I will enjoy getting my butt kicked and my head banged against walls by our beloved physics. It's challenging, and I like that. But I would indeed need some down-time. Otherwise I will break.
I'll turn 20 next year, and the Leipzig degree is 3 years long, so maybe that's another pro for going there.
You guys know better. Let me know what you think.
Thanks.