<p>Hi. I am currently at Lehigh Uni in PA and I do not like it. I won't go into why, that would take up too much space! It was never my first choice but I got in and got a TON of aid. So...being the proactive person I am I applied to transfer! I applied to NYU and Barnard for Fall 2005 admissions because a) I love NY. My sister lives there, I've been a ton of times etc. etc. So no questions about location. b) I know they are both strong schools academically, and the students are, for the most part, interested in their education and don't feel like they "have to be there" as students in high school (and Lehigh) do. c) There should be some kind of social life. By that I mean, people I can be good friends with, extracurrics to get involved with plus a city bigger than a village. Now, this is my dilemma: I got accepted to NYU (yay) BUT got an awful aid package ($21,000 for a school that costs more than $44,000 a year, and there's no way on this earth my mom could pay for ANY of it, and I am not willing to take out over $20,000 in loans per year). However, my older sister says if we have to we will make it work (yes, she's amazing). Now, I have not yet heard from Barnard but I applied as a freshmen and got waitlisted, my sister is an alumna, I got a 4.0GPA in my first semester at Lehigh and great teacher recs. So I'm hoping for a decent chance of getting in. So let's say I do, and disregarding the aid for a moment (even though I know Barnard is better for aid than NYU) WHERE SHOULD I GO?! I've read a lot of posts on this amazing website but, being selfish, I was hoping for some personal answers. I am looking to major in History with minors in Classical Civilization and English. If anyone has any advice or comments I would be so grateful. Thanks a million and good luck to everyone.</p>
<p>Just so you know, $21,000 is an awesome aid package, especially for a transfer. Most people would kill for that.</p>
<p>Oh, I'm sure some people who choose NYU would think it's a great package, and I know transfers get less aid. But I'm from a working-class, single-parent family and there is no way we can afford that personally.</p>
<p>The most NYU gives to anyone is $25,000. You probably should have looked at that before applying. I applied to, and I am from a single parent home as well. There are always outside scholarships and loans. But $21,000 is a huge amount, and definitely much less of a burden.</p>
<p>NYU, handss down</p>
<p>I definitely did look into aid before I applied! NYU said nothing about $25,000 being the highest amount they give, nor did people I spoke to who go there. I am willing to take out more loans to go to NYU or Barnard than I have at Lehigh but not $20,000 of loans. So I think I would definitely choose Barnard if it came down to it. I certainly wish someone, anyone, had told me $25,000 is the most that's given. I only have to pay $5000 per year at Lehigh, plus $4000 in loans.</p>
<p>I agree with Mattistotle, go with NYU. I'm not sure how the financial aid thing works, but I hear if you get into both schools you can have them negotiate to see who gives you the better deal. It's akin to being a star player and having teams lock horns to land you. It might be worth a shot if money is a very big worry and then you can pick whatever is cheaper.</p>
<p>Have you visited both places? I think you should take a trip to new york, and take the tours offered at both barnard and nyu. And inside look can definitely give you a better picture of what the schools are like and it'll be easier to imagine yourself there. Then you can make the personal decision of which one would be a better fit for you. if you determine nyu is definitely the school for you, don't let cost keep you from going there. apply to a bunch of outside scholarships...most of them require essays, so not very many people apply which gives you a better chance to earn the money. It'll take some work, but if you really like nyu, then it should be worth it =)</p>
<p>Nirvana33: Yes I've been to NYC a million times and I've been on the tours, did the pre-college program at Barnard. Thanks for the scholarship info. If I didn't get into Barnard at all, I would consider it. </p>
<p>However, even with both schools negotiating I doubt NYU could give me an extra $10,000 or more! I only have to pay $5000 outside of my financial aid package to go to Lehigh and that's the upper range I can afford and then I have to take out loans. </p>
<p>Thanks for the replies ppl!</p>
<p>I just want to reiterate what others have said. By NYU standards, your financial aid package is <em>HUGE</em>.</p>
<p><em>H</em>U<em>G</em>E*</p>
<p>Ok, I think I get that now. That still does not change my or my family's financial situation, and the fact I'm not willing to start off my life with a minimum of $60,000 in debt. So unless I win the lottery, or unless my sister finds a way to work, I won't be going to NYU. But if I were to end up at NYU, I just wanted to know what the SCHOOL was like. So if anyone has info on that, that is what I am looking for. Thanks.</p>
<p>Edit: "Unless my sister finds a way to make it work..."</p>
<p>Ok....</p>
<p>I'm sorry that I don't really know anything about Barnard, so I can't give you much information there. However as an NYU student (wrapping up my first semester), I think I'm qualified to give you my take about school-life over here.</p>
<p>First of all, and very unfortunately, I must say that my experience at NYU has been a disappointment. That is not to say that it is not a very good school, etcetera, etcetera...but the image potrayed in the literature and in the recruitment tours differs greatly from what I have actually found here.</p>
<p>What I have experienced is a vast bureaucratic nightmare that looks for every opportunity to suck out more money while providing little in return. <em>Everything</em> costs another chuck of money. Those working at the school are often very, very rude and unhelpful (except for the advising centre - which I think is superb!), and any problem is often met with the attitude, "Well, you're at <em>NYU</em>...what more do you want?"</p>
<p>As a transfer, I have found myself to be getting the short end of the bargain in every way. I think I can be forgiven for getting the impression that NYU deems transfers second-class. </p>
<p>So, I'm sorry to say all of that, but yes - my biggest complaint is that NYU has a major attitude problem. It is like they are accountable for nothing and are under no obligation to be of much service. Just send those cheques in. That's all they want. And, if your cheque is big enough, we might even name a coffee table after you.</p>
<p>Now, I'll wait for the backlash, but this is <em>my</em> experience, and the experience of other transfres with whom I have spoken. You'll get a lot of ra-ra NYU, but take it with a grain of salt.</p>
<p>Wow thanks that was a really useful comment! I really wanted a transfer's opinion as well. What made you transfer to NYU? I get the feeling, especially from reading some posts on NYU's board that is the attitude some people have. And the money-sucking thing? That is Exactly what my current school is like, so I am definitely not interested in that. I hate schools that run the school like a business. I mean, I guess college is a business in America but they should at least pretend otherwise! I get the feeling that barnard cares more about the students somehow. Anyway, thanks again for your post and I really hope NYU gets better for you.</p>
<p>Thanks for the good wishes. I wish you all the best as well.</p>
<p>I do agree with you, that in the USA a lot of the big-name universities are run just like corporations. That is exactly what NYU is like - a big business. Basically, it looks a lot of the time like NYU is trying to promote itself like a brand-name.</p>
<p>Anyway... </p>
<p>I see that you're from Devon. Although I'm an American, I lived in different places in Europe during my secondary school years (I lived for a while in Reading, Berks), and so the American university model is different for me as well. I'm not sure if this is what it is like everywhere in this country or not, but the focus so often seems like - money, money, money - an emphasis I didn't really see in Europe. </p>
<p>I studied my first year of school at the University of Bucharest in Romania, where I was studying languages. I transferred because I felt I needed more opportunities and because of some family issues. I do think that it was a wise move (that is not to say that I don't often wish to go back). Interestingly - in Romania, and at the University of Bucharest, I was very much accustomed to horrible systems of bureaucracy, and thus, it was with no small shock to find that same kind of environment at - of all places - a presitigous American university. </p>
<p>Basically, I'm simply arriving to the conclusion that NYU is just over-rated, and when I say that, I don't mean over-rated by others; I mean over-rated by themselves. The literature is very slick. The propaganda is quite impressive, but..... I wonder if breeding that kind of spirited feeling is just a way for NYU to keep the momentum going. I just don't get it.</p>
<p>Anyway, I apologise if I come across as overly negative. I'm not bitter against the school or anything. I just feel that potential students should hear the other side of the story as well. It's a lot of money to be spent, and students should be absolutely sure.</p>
<p>All the best,</p>
<p>I agree, however I think a lot of American students are used to this "money money money" mentality. That's not an insult (half my family is American!) but a fact. In England, it's incredibly cheap to go to school and none of them really advertise themselves like they do here. Oxbridge is definitely snooty, when they shouldn't be, as Oxford/Cambridge is no longer top for many subjects. I like a school that listen to its students and cares about them during and after college. I do think NYU is strong academically and of course does have many, many options and opportunities. I guess that's why it's good to study abroad so you really see how the other half lives.</p>
<p>just a question, your sister graduated from barnard already right? does she live in her own place because if so, maybe you could just not dorm and stay with her. that would cut out a pretty big part of the tuition you have to pay.</p>
<p>blueangel? when did u do the summer program at barnard and what classes did you take? I did the summer program the summer of 2003 before my senior year of high school . I currently attend Bryn Mawr College and I applied as a transfer as well.</p>
<p>Moose35: Even if I could live with my sis, I'd rather get the dorm life experience. She only has a 1 bedroom apartment and she travels a lot so sublets. Good suggestion though!</p>
<p>ln6104: I did the pre-college program in the summer of 2000 when I was 16. I took Law & Ethics and Film of New York. They were pretty tough, so I hope after a year of college I could handle it, if I got in. Did you apply to transfer Fall 2005? Have you heard yet?</p>
<p>did you have Michael Siebaker as your Law and Ethics professor? I remember how he once mentioned he had a student that was from England.</p>