Hi all. I am currently in CAS at NYU and have gotten into Brown as a transfer. I am strongly leaning towards going but am also a little bit conflicted and would love some advice. I feel like my main reasons for going are that Brown has an open curriculum, is ranked better, has more academically minded students, and has smaller classes. On the other hand, NYU is giving me 90% free tuition. I can afford Brown, but it will make paying for law school tough. I like my friends here and I really enjoy living off campus. Also, I have a job here and have taken some great creative writing classes. However, many students just seem lazy to me and it depresses me when nobody is trying that hard in certain classes. I would love some input on what you would do in my position. I’m majoring in philosophy and English. I want to be a lawyer.
Brown and the city of Providence are very near and dear to me. It’s an awesome place.
However tbh. The extra money is real. The classes are what you make of them at NYU.
And if you’re working harder that equals better grades. Better grades and more money equal better law school, lsats being equal.
If you hated nyc and your living situation, I would offer different guidance.
What happens if you go to the new school and it basically feels the same academically. Not saying it will, but it may.
Brown and NYU are equally impressive to the average joe and most sophisticated employers. A little less so here on cc and maybe some college students out there.
Sounds like you are happy were you are. Why wouldn’t you stay were you are happy? Never know if you’ll be as happy elsewhere so why chance it?
Well, as usual, Privatebanker gave you great advice.
I’m going to take a little bit of a different tack here, though. Are you sure you want to be a lawyer? You seem to be craving a more creative, intellectually stimulating college experience. If that’s the case, if it weren’t for the cost, I would say, without question, transfer to Brown. With law school tuition to think about, however, the cost is a consideration.
My concern is that you’ll get to law school and feel stifled. Law school isn’t so much school as it is a re-training of your thought process and approach to problems. While I was going through it, it actually kind of felt oppressive after coming from an undergrad experience where creativity was encouraged and cultivated, (Minor in Spanish Lit) Law school doesn’t change who you are, and it doesn’t necessarily change your capacity for creativity, but it certainly changes the way you think and if you’re not ready for that, it can almost feel violative.
I don’t know what the answer is for you, OP. But have you really done your due diligence with regard to what a career as a lawyer will entail? It’s much more monotonous and drudging than most people think.
@Trixy34 Wow. What a great point.
I hadn’t considered that option. Yes for many other fields, Brown is a unique environment. It would be hard to say no to Brown. Economically it’s hard to justify but very few students have the profile to get an ivy transfer option.
That also tells me you must be “knocking the cover off the ball” at NYU.
I would not think either decision is bad one.
If you could leverage your NYU undergrad and get a Columbia or NYU Law admission, NYC big Law is right there for you.
As trixy stated however, Big Law is not known as a creative outlet.