Can't choose! TCNJ, Fordham, or NYU?

<p>So, I have narrowed down my selection list to either TCNJ, Fordham, or NYU. I'm simply clueless, and I was wondering if anyone could help me out by giving firsthand testimony as to your experience in one of these schools, etc. Thanks so much.</p>

<p>TCNJ: I would be a psychology major. I visited one of their accepted students fairs and really liked it. The campus is cutesy and it wouldn't be super-expensive because I'm in-state. I want to go to med school to be a psychiatrist, and their med-school acceptance rate is pretty high (85% or so). It's close to home, which is also important to me. However, my mom and grandma are in LOVE with the place and keep shoving it down my throat, and it's making me not like it as much. I loved it when I visited, but there is just something kind of missing. It'd be a great place to go, but I keep getting it pushed down my throat and I didn't love it to the same extent as my mom and grandma.</p>

<p>Fordham: I would also be a psychology major. I visited Fordham yesterday for their spring preview day. I LOVED it. The campus is gorgeous, the kids seemed more down-to-earth than I've heard through all the rumors, and their psych curriculum offers a BS degree instead of a BA, which is fairly important to me. I just felt very at home there and I really liked the surrounding area (Arthur Avenue has a long history in my family). It's obviously gonna be more expensive than TCNJ, but their aid package wasn't too bad. I'm just worried about affording med school. This is probably my top choice, but I don't want to make an uninformed decision.</p>

<p>NYU: I would be in their core liberal studies program. I'm not sure how much I'd like it for those first two years, but once junior year rolls around I'd be able to pick a different major (bio, neuroscience, etc.)...maybe something a little more "medical" for med school. I mean, it's NYU. It's got the name that everyone hears and admires. And I like that. But it's expensive as sin, and their campus is, well, they don't have one. I love the huge environment but I'm also very much the kind of person who likes to lounge around outside, and I wouldn't have that at NYU. It's a wonderful school and I'd feel honored to go there, and the LSP doesn't sound as bad as the reputation makes it sound, but I'm worried I'd never be able to afford med school (although getting in would probably be a little easier).</p>

<p>It comes down to the TCNJ and Fordham, IMO. What is the out of pocket cost for each? Take loans and Work study out of the packages and come up with the actual dollars charged. Then you decide if the cost differential is doable and worth. You are or will be an adult soon, so don’t let petty trivialities like your family’s enthusiasm make a difference in the decision. </p>

<p>Sounds like NYU isn’t the place for you in terms of both fit and finances. My S graduated from Fordham and had a fantastic experience in every respect. I’d say the choice between Fordham and TCNJ (also a fine school from what I hear) comes down to finances and what your family can comfortably afford knowing med school might be down the road.</p>