hope2018transfer i’m a big fan of Haverford, but Haverford and NYU are such different colleges. It might be helpful to know where you are transering from, and why (is it due to social reasons?) What are the other schools you considered? Perhaps knowing this will give us insights as to what you are hoping for in student culture. Haverford is a tight-knit community. But the emphasis there is the academics. Students do go into Philly on weekends, but I imagine they aren’t socializing in the city in the way students at NYU do. The student bodies of these two colleges seem to me to be nearly polar opposite.
OP. Just remember everyone here comes with their best advice. Advice, however, is generally not completely unbiased. Many have children or they themselves who made a choice similar to yours. Despite good intentions these personal preferences and this frame of reference is reflected in the guidance. Also this forum in of itself is a very limited data set.
I would suggest Haverford based on your brief description of your preferences and goals. But it is completely conceivable that NYU is the much better choice. It is world renowned institution with catchet in the US and abroad. more so than Ford. IMHO. However academics and sophisticated recruiters will know each of these schools as elite. I have no idea what and where your career will bring you.
In the end neither will be a bad choice. They are both phenomenal . But perhaps you thought that about the school you currently attend and knowing why your are transferring may inform the advice.
I think the tiered housing thing is a big U thing - certainly the publics, often also the privates. My kid’s school charges the same for everyone regardless of their room size/# roommates, choosing is done via lottery within seniority tiers.
I like Haverford for all the reasons mentioned. IMO it’s easy for a shyish kid to get lost at NYU (first year or not). There’s no real campus, and social life is determined a lot by whether or not you can afford to eat out and go clubbing and all the NYC stuff.
@2mrmagoo @privatebanker Thank you both. I really appreciate your comments. I am currently attending GW in DC. I had kind of planned to transfer out from the beginning. I am transferring for academic reasons, because I can’t really study what I want here in the majors that they offer and when I tried to speak with someone about an individualized major, it did not go very well at all. Last year as a senior in high school I had honestly no idea whatsoever of what I wanted to study, but I thought about it constantly and looked into many majors and programs that seemed appealing to me. By conducting all this research and looking through the offerings of many schools (not just GW, not even just the other schools I had applied to during senior year), I was able to figure out what I wanted to study. Ultimately, my dream would be to attend the University of Pennsylvania to study Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (will receive Penn’s transfer decision one week from today…super nervous). However, I don’t plan on being accepted, so I also applied to schools that were strong in the social sciences and would provide enough academic freedom for me to pursue my interdisciplinary interests. In Gallatin at NYU, I have the option of an individual major, so that freedom is really alluring, as well as the opportunities available throughout NYC. I want to work in the business field, so access to Stern classes and New York internships/jobs/etc. is great for that as well. Haverford is also a great school though, and while I wouldn’t be in New York and couldn’t take classes at Stern, I could take classes at Penn/Wharton/Swarthmore through the consortium, so I don’t feel like I would really miss out on the Stern aspect, and with regard to internships, I am not that far from Philadelphia (I know it’s not the same as being in NY, but I’m from the Philadelphia area, about 25 min away from Haverford, and I love the Philadelphia area so I don’t feel that bad about not being in NY).
Being at a city school now has made me appreciate the access I have to the real world, but it is pretty difficult to make friends that I genuinely like and want to keep in touch with. Granted, I planned on transferring out since the beginning, so I did not try all that hard and most of my “friendships” here now have just kind of happened and I’ve kept them up so I have some people to hang out with/talk to. I also put a lot of work into my transfer apps and into my school work so that my grades would be good. This decision is really tough for me because I honestly feel like I could go to either school and be really happy, I’m just not sure what I want. I love the idea of being in New York around a ton of people and going out into the city and experiencing the real world. But I also love the idea of being on a really friendly, home-y campus where I have really close relationships with my professors and it’s a really safe, warm space.
Sorry this is super long, but basically that’s my thought process about transferring as of right now. Currently, i am leaning more toward Haverford, because I feel like the more intimate community would make it easier to really get to know my professors and form a close relationship with an advisor and that is something I would really appreciate. I’m also really wondering which environment would be a happier experience for me. At both schools, the academics are great and I could study what I want. At both schools, there are a lot of opportunities and great professors. But they’re super different places and I just don’t know for sure where I would be happier. I’m kind of nervous about making the wrong decision. Still, if I’m accepted to Penn next Tuesday, I will attend Penn, but I don’t feel very confident in that happening. Anyway, thank you again for all your help and advice, I really appreciate it everyone! Thank you
I think you have a good head on your shoulders. It’s two wonderful schools with two unique experiences to be had. But for me considering you’ve had the urban environment and at good school no less I would advise Haverford. You can get to the city. There’s a humanities sensibility that suits you and the building a program of study seems right up their alley. You’ll make friends and feel part of a community of learning. Go to NYC and phill on the weekends and get your fill!
Tbh I know penn is your dream but sometimes dreams aren’t what you expect. I would bet Haverford would be your absolute best school for you even if penn comes through. Honestly.
I agree with privatebanker. You have two great opportunities. (I will add, however, that your internship opportunities will be better in NYC, as well as ability to take classes in business at Stern. While you can take classes at Penn and Swarthmore if you go to Haverford, most students do not do this.) But it does sound like you are looking for a college with deep academics and a warm, inviting atmoshere. You’ll do well at either school but Haverford sounds like a better fit. When do you need to make a decision? Good luck with the Penn decison.
No shortage of internship opportunities as Haverford student. Plenty of options in Philly and the surrounding area as well as through alums elsewhere. Additionally, Haverford does provide funding for summer internships giving students the flexibility to take unpaid internships at nonprofits domestically and abroad.
This is true. Didn’t mean to imply that Haverford does not offer ample opportunities. It absolutely does. There will be more options in NYC however. There will also be more competition for these internships.
@2mrmagoo @doschicos Thank you both. I really am starting to think that Haverford is my best choice. I have to tell Haverford by May 20, so I’m just waiting for May 15 to see if I am accepted by Penn. I have already made a deposit at NYU because I heard from them on April 5 and had to let them know within two weeks, and it was the only school I’d heard back from at the time. Haverford’s website said decisions would come out on May 15, so I was shocked to hear on Friday and shocked that I was accepted. After I hear back from Penn on May 15, I will really have to make the decision. The only thing I’m not sure about with Haverford is they did not tell me in the acceptance email about my major. They didn’t ask for a major directly on the common app. Instead, you could choose 5 academic interests, so I am going to try to meet with someone on campus next week once my exams are done (finished with freshman year on Saturday!!) and gain a little more information. Thanks again
It’s too bad the colleges don’t have a common reply date for transfer like they do for 1st year students. That’s a very short window that NYU provided!
Haverford doesn’t require students to declare a major until the end of their sophomore year. Since you are going in as a sophomore, if I am remembering correctly, major is a moot point as you could choose any of their offerings.
Best wishes for success on your exams!
GWU is far more similar to NYU than it is to Haverford: city school, not much of a campus, much larger student body. If you didn’t have a great experience there, I think that’s one more reason to become a Ford. (kinda corny, IMO: Haverford Fords. But the squirrel mascot is cute, and the colors aren’t red and black; they’re scarlet and black! Nerdy panache in a (squirrel’s)
nutshell!)
Most Fords don’t take classes at Penn or Swat, but you could if you wanted to. It would take some extra logistical planning – might take away an hour or two from the rest of your day, but man, if I were given that opportunity, I’d try both schools at least once. And BMC apparently is much easier to utilize, so obviously there is that (closer) opportunity to see different faces.
@doschicos I believe that you are correct, but would still like to meet with someone at Haverford because I am curious about studying more of an individualized major and also about my credits/their requirements (I may have misunderstood, but it seemed like they require 6 quarters of physical education and that there was some sort of penalty if that was not completed by the end of sophomore year). I tried to make it clear in my common app essay that I am looking to study a combination of economics, political science, and some philosophy/sociology/psychology as a specific program. I also chose interdisciplinary and social sciences as my top two interests. I just want to make sure that Haverford and I are on the same page about whether I can make that happen. They must have seen this and been ok with it, considering that I was accepted, so I just have some questions about how that will all pan out. I know that they do offer an individualized major, and it seems that they would be much more willing to work with me than GW (which was practically not at all, a significant reason for why I decided to leave). I just would like some more information about that option before I make a final decision, since that is sort of one arena where NYU has Haverford beat – the whole Gallatin school is devoted to individualized study, and I know that my pursuing specific academic preferences is indeed do-able at NYU. I just want to make sure it’s also the case at Haverford, or at least have a better picture of what I’m walking into if there are certain limitations to the individualized major, etc. Thank you again for your help and advice.
@prezbucky Thank you. My reasons for leaving GW are almost entirely academic - there wasn’t a major that would allow me to pursue my combined academic interests and there was very little effort on their part to work with me. I don’t really have any big issue with the social scene. I haven’t had a great time here, but I realize that a lot of that is the result of me not really trying to meet people (since I planned on leaving pretty much since the beginning) and since I spent a significant amount of time on my transfer applications and meeting with faculty members for recommendations, required forms, etc. in addition to my full-time course load. I did still go out with people and maintain a somewhat active social life, but definitely not comparable to what I would normally without the extra time and effort required to transfer. I completely agree with you about the consortium – I would love to utilize that program. GW is also part of a consortium of DC schools, and I was planning on participating if transferring didn’t work out. I think it’s really great that some colleges have these opportunities and am excited to use them. Thanks again
Haverford, easy.
@hope2018transfer Have you read this? https://www.haverford.edu/sites/default/files/Office/independent_major.pdf
I’d give the personal attention thing at Haverford a run and see if you can reach out to an advisor about this, now, with your questions. Start with admissions, I guess, and go from there.
I’d pick Haverford if you want small, cozy and personal and a well-regarded education. However, as someone who went to NYU for grad school I believe I got an excellent education, and I was very pleased with the school. It seems to get knocked a lot, but it’s actually great in many ways… It’s just not the typical college experience.
@citymama9 I completely agree with you. NYU is a great opportunity, I just haven’t completely decided whether it’s the experience I want or if I would prefer Haverford’s college experience. Thank you
I was wondering if you ended up choosing Haverford? I am transferring there this Fall as well, and it would be awesome to find another transfer!