The Trek and the Jamis are similar bikes and are both popular and well liked on the forums. You can't really turn a hybrid into a road bike and the expense of replacing all if the components one by one indeed is much more expensive than purchasing a road bike. Many people really like their hybrids and take them on long rides. Your plan of test riding both and purchasing the one that fits best is a solid plan. A new hybrid will be a magnet for thieves on a college campus so make sure you invest in a good lock. There are several threads about how to properly lock a bike to minimize easy theft.