Selecting a college, advice?

Although I understand your hesitation to take out loans, I’d have to say that the University of Utah is by far your best bet. It is the only one with any reputation outside the local area, and will give you by far the most, and the best, options. It is a state school, so although it may be more expensive than the other two, you won’t be left with massive debt at the end of it, and given your major, you should easily be able to pay back what money you do borrow.

These choices are available to you now. If you pick something else thinking that later on you can make another choice, there is no guarantee that choice will be available (the school you decide to transfer to later on could reject you). Go for the best, not the safest, option. This is your only stab at what could be a life-changing experience. You will not regret it.

I take it that you’re from the Beehive State, so this is a great question. All 3 (and even Utah Valley State College) are good schools. I would go with Weber State and here is why. Weber is close to home and your first year/two are the most important. You could easily, also, transfer from Weber to UUtah after your sophomore year if you wanted and have very little in debt to deal with. Weber is a good school with an increasing reputation, so if you stayed at Weber all 4 years, you’d be in good shape there just as you would be at UUtah. For your undergrad, go with a comfort school (Weber). For your grad, go with the name (UUtah). Utah has good school all the way around, so you’re not going to want for a good education. I think you’ll like Weber and/or UUtah, but for financial reasons, I’d start out in Ogden. Good luck!

I am all for option 1 or 2. I spent two years at a small liberal arts university in Northern VA, before moving to a larger liberal arts university in DC. I saved a ton of money and had a more rounded view of the world because of my exposure to classes and classmates my peers at my alma mater didn’t.

UofUT is a great school, but as far as rooming with friends don’t do it. I know first hand that rooming with your best friend from high school might sound like a lot of fun, but you may end up fighting over everything. And you probably won’t make as many new friends as you could at such a large university. If you do go this route, why not take one of those stupid required freshman classes together and live with different people… expand your circle of friends.

Alot of it depends on you. However everyone at school will be looking for new friends, so don’t think of not knowing anyone as a disavengate. Also, remember that if you go to a community college and then switch schools, you’ll be starting over in a new place with new people for a second time.

Personally, I went to a Big 10 school and I loved it. There was so much to do that you could always find a place that you fit in at.

It sort-of depends on what you think you would like to do after college. The best credentials, for the higher-paying jobs tend to revolve around degrees from four-year-colleges. but that is not a set-in-concrete rule. There are many fulfilling careers that only require Associates degrees. When hiring companies are looking at degrees, they more-rely on schools whose names they recognize/acknowledge.

Sometimes, a University may not accept all the credits from two-year colleges, so you need to check with the School from where you want to get your final degree, before spending time at another school.

For all these reasons, I think you would be better off trying for Utah U., unless your career plans are more amenable to a lesser degree.

Remember, also, that colleges prepare you (mostly) to work for someone else. So, if you’re OK with that, move forward.