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I really need help picking a Florida college/university...this is so difficult! Too many options...?

Let me first start by giving you some background information on myself: - Senior - 3.7 GPA - Top 5% in class (rank 20) - 24 college credits earned in high school (AP and dual enrollment) - Undecided major, although I think business major is what I want most, specializing in entrepreneurship, since I've owned 3 of my own successful businesses since I was 16. - Have NOT visited any universities yet I applied to all of the major schools in Florida (resident), which are University of Florida, Florida State University, University of Central Florida, and Florida Atlantic University. I've found out that I've been accepted to all four, and all for the 2011 Fall Term, except for University of Florida in which I was accepted for the Summer B term (starts July). Now many people have told me that I'm stupid for even considering this, but I was thinking about staying here in Palm Beach and going to Palm Beach State College (previously Palm Beach Community College). The main reason I'm even considering this is because of the financial situation I would be in...my parents are going to try to help me out with some college expenses, but the tuition and housing will most likely be my own responsibility (I think they said they'd buy my meal plan and books). I've applied for FAFSA, and I'm not sure how much I'll be getting yet, but I think it will be a good amount due to the fact its only in my dad's name, and his income for this last year was like $10,000, just because the economy is so bad and no one is building large homes (he is an estate builder). So anyways I know I'll be getting some money from that, which will help, alongside hopefully a 75% tuition scholarship from Florida Bright Futures (my SAT score was 30 points too low to get a full ride). This can be applied to either a university or the community college, along with the FAFSA money. And finally I know this isn't something I should be basing my whole decision on but it is something...I have a girlfriend here that as of now I've been dating 5 months and I really do think I'm in love with her...however she's a year behind me and if I went away to a university (besides FAU which is close to home), then I would probably have to break it off with her. Here is the list of pro's and con's for each option that I've put together: Palm Beach State College: - Get paid to go to college through FAFSA; tuition is ~$1,200 semester, FAFSA pays more than $3,000 per semester, and that's without any help from Bright Futures even! - Still could live at home (eek!), but save ~$10k total (2 years in a dorm cost) on housing expenses - Options to explore different majors and take different electives to see what I like best at a cheaper cost then doing so at a university - Save on meal plan, which would be ~8k total in a dorm for unlimited meals (which I have at home) - Ability to keep my job at Hollister during the year and lifeguard at a local waterpark during summer - Staying with my girlfriend for 2 more years, although that would mean commitment and having to get married to her or something once she graduates...which I don't want yet, too expensive! - Already earned lots of dual enrollment credits here, which I think can be transfered. Florida Atlantic University: - Close enough to home (40 mins) where I could live on-campus or at home still. - Looks better than PBSC when I transfer after a year or two - Tuition is cheaper - Almost the same pro's as PBSC University of Central Florida: - Great party school (good or bad thing?) - Not really a strong business program though - Lots of friends going there and getting apartments (cheaper housing) - Close to theme parks in Orlando - Only 3 hours from home Florida State University: - Beautiful campus! - Good business program - Awesome area with lots to do around town - Originally my first pick for college - Lots of pretty girls I've heard (; - Only con is how far away from home it is...7 hours. Which could be good or bad! University of Florida: - VERY strong business college - Ranked top among public schools - Great football team - 5 hours from home - I heard Gainesville is a boring city however? And the campus isn't that pretty? - Admitted for Summer B, not Fall term. Meaning I'd have to leave this town in July, which seems so close :/ So as you can see I've really though this through, and I'm getting lots of opinions for both sides on things. The main issue I'm having is whether to stay at home and go to PBSC (or maybe FAU), or to go off to one of the universities. Remember, money is what it comes down to, but if I have to take a student loan because it's more worth it to go to a University and get a better job/connections, then I'll do that. I don't know if going to a community college then transferring will affect getting a better job or not? Also I forgot to mention, lately my girlfriend has been lying to me and just aggrivating me on certain issues such as her future, she doesn't take very serious. She's gotten two F's so far in high school, and only has a 2.2 GPA. She has no plans for college, and I guess thinks that I will support her after she graduates. Think again. She is also only a sophomore, so I'd be stuck dating a high school chick when there's plenty of hot college girls out there (even though trust me she's gorgeous and tops most college girls anyways). I just don't like the fact I've been busting her in lies and can't trust her when she'll be in school without me.

Public Comments

1. You need to go on college visits. You will be living there for the next four years. How can you pick a college when you have never been there? YOu need to meet with admissions, take a tour of the campus and meet with the head of the business department. girlfriend: she is lying to you ,and you are thinking about how you are going to date hot college girls??? so doesn't seem to be much of a relationship.