Columbia vs. NYU??

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
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<p>I agree I would also like to say that as far as Undergraduate Art Departments are concerned, NYU is superior. Columbia Undergraduates who want to take art or concentrate in art have limited opportunity to do so. At NYU, this is not the case. There are also more options simply because NYU has several schools as part of its University rather than just a college. In addition, concerning an area, such as art, NYU has more of a specialized focus. There is more than one school designated to artistic study therefore students can go to a whole school designated to performance art (at Tishe), Fine art (which as an Undergraduate is in the College of Arts and Sciences) or Studio Art, located in Steinhardt. I am not criticizing Columbia. I am stating a difference between the two (NYU and Columbia). This is another reason why many students, including myself, choose NYU rather than Columbia despite reputation. </p>

<p>**I think was originally started this argument is that a student who had specific needs came on here asking for advice and people simply stated..."go to Columbia because it is known as a better school" I think that type of statement is too general...</p>

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<p>I came to the CC boards and there's already a thread for what I'm looking for.</p>

<p>Here's the thing: I applied for Columbia ED and was rejected for Fall 2004. I went to NYU Stern instead (the only business school I applied to out of my entire lot --- I was fairly convinced I wanted to go into Political Science).</p>

<p>However, NYU is known for being isolated socially, as in, it's hard to hit your stride immediately, and many students feel alone for longer than the usual adjustment period (if there is one). I felt the same way at the beginning, and applied for transfer for Columbia basically because my parents wanted me to. I really wasn't counting on getting in...but I did.</p>

<p>I have roughly two and a half weeks to make the decision (June 3, I believe). The thing is, I have really adjusted to NYU and have grown to love it. The Ivy label doesn't mean that much to me, though Columbia's prestige is undeniable. Columbia was my dream school -- a year ago. I'm not even sure I can see myself pursuing PoliSci as my straight major; right now I have it planned as a minor with my Stern major (essentially Entertainment Marketing). </p>

<p>So the answer really isn't very clear. If possible, any insight from Columbia students: social life, academics, housing, study abroad?
Social Life: It seems that though Columbia and NYU both share New York, they inhabit VERY different areas. My friend goes to Barnard, and she says that she always has to leave the area completely when she's looking for entertainment, whereas I can find almost anything I want to do (shopping, bars, etc.) in the Village and nearby areas.
Academics: How is the Core -- overly rigorous/tedious or a truly good foundation for a liberal arts education?
Housing: Just a random nitpicky thing...because I love NYU's apartment-style dorms and locations. I lived on Broadway this past year, and I've been so excited about living in the heart of Greenwich Village next year and visiting my friends in their luxury NYU apartments at the Seaport..
Study Abroad: Just general insight; I've been planning on studying abroad in London or Florence and was wondering if Columbia had similar programs (maybe even in Venice?).</p>

<p>Thanks so much!</p>

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<p>GO TO NYU!! </p>

<p>i got into columbia and nyu and i am going to nyu this fall. i am so excited. i think what made my decision is that nyu's pre-law track is considered better than columbia's and that is what i am studying.</p>

<p>i visited nyu and found that even though it does not have gates enclosing it, it is still much more of a college feel that most tend to think. also, nyu is in the best part of manhattan. the area is beautiful and alive. columbia is not even in manhattan. it is in harlem! </p>

<p>harlem...eww! as much as people try to tell you that morningside heights is its own community...thats not true. that is just their excuse. columbia students are often afraid to leave campus at night bc of the surrounding area (dangerous). </p>

<p>as far as the social environment, nyu students are much more involved and friendly. columbia students are often too involved with themselves and do not branch out to make friends.</p>

<p>NYU, by far!</p>

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<p>im not one to judge, but you posted this literally the DAY before receiving decisions.</p>

<p>"I have been praying all week, actually, probably all year, for God to help me get accepted to Columbia University. I applied to the College and I want to major in English Literature. Please God, please help me get in. I really deserve to be accepted. I have worked so hard for this opportunity and I even sent them a letter a few weeks ago, renewing my interest. It is the perfect school for me. Not only is New York an amazing place to live; I would love to be that close to the Met and be able to take classes at SAB, but Columbia also has the perfect student body. The class size is small and the school is amazing. Some of the best professors in the world teach there! The core curricullum can teach me so much; you get an exposure to things you will never study again. PLEASE, Please, I really hope that I get in. I really don't know why I am posting this up here. I have so much homework right now, but all I can think about is that email that I will get on the 31st from Columbia.
Last year, I would have gotten a B in AP chemistry if I hadn't passed the AP test because I did poorly on the first semester final. On that day, I went home to check my grade on WEBGRADE, just hoping that my grade hadnt dropped from the incredibly difficult final exam. <strong>NExt was that feeling of uncertainty, of not knowing what will happen next, but knowing that it could change your life</strong> When I opened the webgrade page, I saw that i had gotten a B+. Fortunately, the grade went up to an A after the AP test.
This time, however, the decision that Columbia makes will be final. I will read that email. I will try not to cry, and I will feel the hopelessness. I will feel the uselessness of all of my high school work. I probably wont cry at first because I will be in denial. I will be hoping that it is all a dream--by the way, i had a dream last night that i did not get in anywhere--and it wont hit me for a little while. Then, the next day and everyday after that i will be crying, really crying, not just tears coming down my cheeks, but my heart wrenching and my breath stopping and my arms and legs banging on the floor. Of course, i would never show this to anyone. I would tell all my friends and family that i really didnt care about getting in to Columbia and that it was not a big deal. Inside, I will be dying. I will want to come back to this moment, because this moment of uncertainty is much better than the moment of and after REjection!</p>

<p>OR...............wow, its really hard to get myself up from that mood that i just described. i will have to pace myself to explain how happy i will be if i get in. If i open that letter and it says congratulations, I WILL jump up and down like two thousand times. I will not be able to control the excitement. I will scream at the top of my lungs, Oh my gosh!!!! i got in. Then, i will call all of my friends and even the people that i dont really talk to and i will go out and buy a columbia t-shirt and a columbia hat, stickers and everything else. I will wear them all and stick them all over my car! i will be the happiest person on earth. Then, i will call the ad com and tell them that i love them. I will be a maniac and crazy happy and i will love everyone in the world. I will go out and donate all the money in my wallet to those people who stand by supermarkets and stuff asking for money, i will be ecstatic OH MY GOSH. my heart is jumping up and down right now thinking about this. I HAVE worked so hard and i really want to get in. Please, please, please, please.</p>

<p>WELL> I WILL SEE IN 2 days.
I wil come back to this post and read my descriptions and whichever I am feeling, well, that will be it. I really hope i get in. Other than the health of my family, I want this more that anything in the world.</p>

<p>PLEASE< PLEASE ACCEPT ME!!!! COLUMBIA, I love you more than anything!
PLEASE</p>

<p>OH< ALSO IF I GET IN I WILL TELL MY RECOMMENDING TEACHER BECAUSE HE WAS SO NICE TO ME AND WHEN I GOT THE DEANS SCHOLARSHIP FOR NYU, HE TOLD ME I DESERVED IT></p>

<p>i am sorry i am being so obsessive and revealing everything to you guys, but all i want for you guys to do right now is please, PRAY FOR ME to get into columbia! PLEASE.</p>

<p>THANK YOU ALL"</p>

<p>why the quick and complete change in heart?</p>

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<p>Okay, I understand a lot of the things that make people want to go to NYU --- after all, I went there for a year.</p>

<p>I think both colleges have campuses. NYU has Washington Square Park, which of course is public space, but it's mostly college students, musicians, street performers, the old men playing chess, etc. All of the buildings are contained within a relatively small radius (unless you're a med student or whatnot). So to say NYU does not have a campus is not really justified --- it's a campus, essentially, that makes you feel like you're in the thick of the city without actually putting you among random buildings.</p>

<p>And to say Columbia is in Harlem is also not really justified. Anywhere you go in New York, you will be bordered by risky areas. That's the city. I strongly doubt that Columbia or its students have a lot of problems with the area. Penn borders a bad neighborhood too, supposedly.</p>

<p>What I'm concerned about is of course academics and social life. NYU students are not accepting immediately; that is always a huge concern for people. But I have surpassed that point, and am extremely happy at NYU socially. I'm also in the business school, so my academic career will take a completely different path if I go to Columbia instead. I've also heard about Columbia being really hard...</p>

<p>On top of everything, I'm in the Scholars program at NYU, which offers tons of perks, scholarships, etc. Is it better for me to continue as part of the upper echelon among many at NYU, or just be one of many in the upper echelon of universities at Columbia?</p>

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<p>Caromage:
I post this as the parent of a happy Columbia student.</p>

<p>You are "extremely happy socially." You are in a business program that doesn't exist at Columbia. You are in a scholars program with tons of perks and scholarships. You love NYU's housing and like it's neighborhood. You're not sure you want Columbia's core. You're thinking of study abroad, which is much easier to do at NYU than Columbia, especially if you come in as a sophomore and have to catch up on the core requirements.</p>

<p>Why on earth WOULD you transfer? NYU is an excellent school and if you do well there I don't think there is any program that you could get into as a Columbia grad that you couldn't get into as a top NYU grad. Congrats on getting into Columbia, you have done what your parents asked and made them proud. Tell them that you have carefully compared the opportunities, and are convinced the Scholars program at NYU offers more of them.</p>

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<p>^^^^^^^^The most logical post thus far...^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>

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<p>
[quote]
Penn borders a bad neighborhood too, supposedly.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Heck yes. Can't wait til we drive up property values enough to gentrify the place.</p>

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<p>thats the thing...i visited nyu three days later and i also visited columbia on that same weekend. i had never visited either. i think it was the idea of columbia that i had and the fact that it was ivy that made me want it..then, when i got in i was so excited but was underwhelmed when i visited. i did not apply for financial aid at either and the fact that i got $25000 scholarship at nyu made me want to go there instead. i wanted an ivy in nyc, but then decided that it wasnt worth it. it seemed like a great school in my mind, then i thought it over and became sane. i liked the nyc idea, but columbia didnt fit that, nyu fit it better....NYU rocks and is worth the money and scholarship.</p>

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<p>Agreed. sac -- thank you so much. It really helps my decision. I'm not 100% sure yet, but I will definitely keep your words in mind. Thanks!</p>

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<p>You're welcome. Not that I want to lose an obviously teriffic student for Columbia:) If you have doubts about business and really crave a liberal arts education that might influence my arguments (I'm a big proponent of liberal arts), but I do think NYU makes sense based on the info you gave. The bottom line is that there should be a reason to transfer -- the Columbia name alone does not justify uprooting yourself from an excellent college where you are obviously thriving both academically and socially. Maybe you have a reason, but it didn't pop out at me from what you posted. </p>

<p>But it is great you are still pondering and seeking information. I'd suggest you look on the study abroad site at Columbia and see what it says about the possibility for transfer students, given the limit on the number of units that can be earned at other institutions. If you wanted to study abroad but that meant adding an extra year to your undergrad education, could you swing it and would it be worth it? If a transfer to Columbia meant giving up the idea of a year abroad, would that be ok? (I'm also a great proponent of taking a year abroad). Just some more grist for the mill.</p>

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<p>sac, it looks like I may need your help again.</p>

<p>As for Study Abroad, I went on Columbia's website and all I found was this: <a href="http://www.ce.columbia.edu/op%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.ce.columbia.edu/op&lt;/a>, which seems rather limiting compared to the semester that could be spent abroad at NYU's various international campuses.</p>

<p>But basically, I decided that I agree with you. I love NYU and came out of my freshman year happier, and have started on a path at NYU that points to an opportunity for me to really excel within my class.</p>

<h2>But here's the kicker (and I would like to take advice from anyone). I received this EMAIL this morning --- yes, email, even though I am currently at home with both of my parents.</h2>

<p>I have decided that if you don't take the opportunity of going Columbia, we will not support you going back NYU or to any out-of-state college either. Choosing NYU over Columbia at this stage of your career suggests that you don't really care about the academic reputation. In that case, I don't think that ~$50,000 per year is well spent to "buy" you better reputation with NYU than with Pitt. As you know, undergraduation education quality between NYU and Pitt are comparable. Therefore, if you don't go Columbia next fall, you will be coming back to Pitt, which will save us a lot of money. I have told mom about this decision.</p>

<h2>Dad</h2>

<p>(Note: I would be able to attend Pitt for free through my father's work. I'm taking a class there right now, chiefly to satisfy my NYU Natural Science Requirement. I don't like Pitt. It's the right school for many, but far from the right school for me --- too big, too much sports, too many frats, too many problems with administration. My parents know that I haven't liked Pitt so far.)</p>

<p>My dad is currently at work, and I spoke with my mother, who essentially shares his sentiments. These are Asian parents we are talking about --- my mother brought up the fact that I turned down Penn at the end of senior year to attend NYU (I had no real interest in Penn; I applied only because they encouraged me to). She also mentioned how people "ooh" and "aah" when she tells them that my brother goes to Cornell, but that she doesn't receive the same reaction when telling people that I attend NYU. This is very upsetting and downright offensive to me, and they would not listen to me; they called me small-minded for not seeing the obvious long-term rewards I would receive from a Columbia education.</p>

<p>The thing is, I have decided that I would much rather pursue an undergraduate business education (the #5 program in the country, it seems) than a liberal arts education. I'm past wanting to take more literature and was never a fan of taking more science courses than were required of me in high school. I believe in Stern;s reputation, especially since I hope to pursue work in New York City following my undergraduate career before applying to an MBA program. I know the importance of work experience when applying to graduate school, and do not think I would get the same experience with a liberal arts degree that I would with a Stern degree. Furthermore, there is no single liberal arts major that I feel I could devote a career to; I'm interested in political science but would never dare enter politics as my career (it's much too shady and twisted for me).</p>

<p>This is not to say I don't like Columbia. It was my dream school a year ago, and is no doubt an extremely impressive institution. But a lot has changed in a year...and my goals are different.</p>

<p>I have of course told my mother all these things...to no avail.</p>

<p>What do I do?</p>

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<p>If you are planning on getting an MBA later, you should definitely be getting a broad liberal arts education as an undergrad. Go to Columbia for the great liberal arts education and then you will get your business skills later with an MBA.</p>

<p>And if you do that, you will be far more well-rounded, interesting, and desirable to employers than someone who just studied business and then business again.</p>

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<p>Caromage -- I am so sorry that your parents seem to be taking this decision out of your hands. They do not realize how much NYU has climbed up in the academic world in recent years, and that it has always been respected in business. It also sounds as if there is no time now to educate them. (I am not Asian, but I do know the syndrome. Some Asian friends and colleagues were shocked at the college decision we allowed our son to make. They made us feel like bad parents, and I'm sure your parents feel they are doing their best to rectify your own lack of judgment on this.)</p>

<p>Since they are paying the bills, I guess your option is to take out loans and finance your education yourself. I actually don't know if that is an option or not. If not, and you feel strongly enough, you could take a year off and work. The only other thing I can think of is to find someone to talk to your parents whose opinion they respect and who can discuss how well regarded NYU is in the field you've chosen. Would your sibling at Cornell be any help in this regard? A relative or one of your Dad's colleagues?</p>

<p>Do your parents know it might take you an extra year to graduate from Columbia because of the core curriculum and their policies on transfer credits? Would that make a difference to them?</p>

<p>What if you find out how NYU grads fare getting into top business schools? (Perhaps you could contact an NYU prof for ammunition) Would a promise that you'll strive for a Columbia MBA satisfy them? </p>

<p>If you do end up at Columbia, I am sure you will thrive just as you have at NYU. After all, it was your first choice not so long ago. I never thought I'd commiserate with someone about the "bad luck" of getting into Columbia. Good luck and keep us posted!</p>

<p>(As to work experience -- Columbia students get lots of internships in business, so I wouldn't worry about that. There is a program that also encourages students to start businesses --look at the career center site. And you can major in political science or just about anything, as long as you pick up some quantitative skills.)</p>

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<p>Justice:</p>

<p>So what's your situation right now? Are you bordering suicide or are you in?
I wish you the best luck!</p>

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<p>caromage: what are you planning on doing? i believe the columbia deposit was due last week. are you staying at NYU?</p>

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<p>haha im actually going to columbia next yr. i think you misread...i was quoting someone earlier in the thread who said she turned down columbia for nyu and i was just curious why she changed her mind so suddenly and completely.</p>

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<p>*<strong><em>ing columbia rocks...... NYU is a *</em></strong>ty ass school... ( not only by the rankings but also by the increasing suicidal rates!!) </p>

<p>I know this is not a persuasive argument to begin with but I just felt like throwing in my two cents. </p>

<p>HEY i have a question?? What scholarships did NYU give out to undergraduate applicants?? what were the stats of the people who got these scholarships? Did you have to get an interview??</p>

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<p>justice: now I get it. And yes, you're write, it's quite a weird change, isn't it?</p>