<p>So, my parents want me to decide my college today and I still have no idea where I want to go. Here are the colleges that I've been accepted to and why and like and dislike them. I would apprieciate any opinions :)</p>
<p>Vassar: I applied to Vassar for Enlish and Environmentla Science. I like it because of the close community feel and the intellectual atmosphere, but I'm afraid that 4 years in a small college might get old. Also, the location isn't that great, and it's very expensive.</p>
<p>Emerson: I applied to Emerson for WLP. I enjoy the school because I have a half-tution solarship and it has a very broad major that covers the business side of writing too. For me, Emerson is not as intellectual of an atmosphere as I was looking for and does not offer the oppurtunity to double major in something like an Environmental Science. I am, though, in Emerson's honors program which might make up for the overall lack of intellectual-ness.</p>
<p>NYU: I applied to NYU for dramtic writing at tisch. Out of the 3 school, this is by far my favorite major and I like the mix of concentrated studies in Tisch and broader studies with the College of Arts and Sciences. My two biggest downsaides for NYU are that: 1. it really scares me socailly 2. it's insanely expensive.</p>
<p>My Top Priorities For a College Are:
1. good writing major or good writing courses
2. good social life
3. ability to double major with something more practical than Enlgish/Writing
4. intellectual atmosphere
5. solid, balanced acedemics
6. accessible faculty
7. strong school identity</p>
<p>As I said before, any advice or opinions would be greatly appreciated...thanks so much!! :P</p>
<p>NYU is the best writing program of the three. Vassar is a very strong second. Emerson is a distant third, in my opinion. </p>
<p>Emerson is mainly known for the communications fields, and for theater; and you mentioned that you wanted to double major in environmental science, and they don’t offer that. To me, therefore, it doesn’t seem like a fit for you. Great location, though, and you did get the scholarship. </p>
<p>NYU and Vassar both offer the intellectual atmosphere that you like. NYU’s social life is mostly off-campus, and for Vassar, it’s mostly on-campus. It’s a matter of which you prefer. Both are very expensive. </p>
<p>So how vital are finances to your decision? </p>
<p>That’s actually a key question. You need to think hard on that one. How much debt can you afford to be in, after graduation? For some people, that’s their #1 priority, and that’d mean they’d go to Emerson no matter what. For others, though, that’s less of a concern, and other things about the schools are more priorities for them. What is the case for you? Because you mention the expense of NYU and Vassar, and the scholarship at Emerson, but you don’t list cost in your list of “Top Priorities for a College”. </p>
<p>Based only on what you listed on your list, I’d cut Emerson from your list. But if finances are a real concern for you, it’s an entirely different story.</p>
<p>Here is my bias; I believe that writers can become terrific writers by writing. Peer and mentors are great and may provide great insight and perspective as to how your writing comes across … but bottom line … it’s about you developing your craft. Same for art. Same for Film. Could someone save four years of college expenses and become a great writer? Absolutely. Become a great engineer? Absolutely not. So, with that thought process, if I would take a hard look at the least expensive of the schools. </p>
<p>We attended a WLP open house session at Emerson and although my son didn’t go there, he was quite impressed. Emerson has both formal and informal peer review of a student’s writing. They have writing floors where you can take advantage of being with those of like interests. You will have amazing access to Emerson’s faculty. I can’t speak to the faculty first hand, but you certainly can google them and find out about their accomplishments. Certainly Emerson has a very well respected WLP program with many successful Emerson grads that are successful published writers or involved in some aspect of book and periodical publishing. </p>
<p>The downside of Emerson is that if your interests shifted to (say) studying Philosophy or a language, both NYU and Vassar will have many more options than Emerson. Emerson is a better option for someone that really thinks they have a decent handle on what they want to do. Also , Emerson is a small school on a small campus (ignoring that you have Boston at your footsteps) so like Vassar you might get tired of that. </p>
<p>I’d cut out NYU. It’s a big, impersonal school that may not give you a really focused education–also, NY is fabulous but distracting. Vassar will probably be more worthwhile for your $50,000 because it will have a lot of very personal kinds of touches, like advisors that really spend time with you, professors who will talk to you after class, etc. </p>
<p>Emerson is also another tempting prospect. If you are in love with NY, you can apply some of that half-tuition to doing internships in your field in New York in the summers! Or, going on a trip abroad. The short version is: New York will always be there. The opportunity to live on a campus like Vassar’s will not be. So, Emerson splits the difference. </p>
<p>Oh–the other factor, though, is prestige. And Vassar is the top of that pile.</p>
<p>I agree with above poster. Vassar would be my choice. NYU definitely second, just not for me. Do you want a liberal arts college or NYC? While I agree that NYU will be distracting because of NYC, that’s part of its draw. It’s the real world and will help you grow in other ways than pure academics. So, as always, it comes down to fit. Eliminating Emerson is easy though.</p>
<p>I will say Vassar first choice, then NYU second. A third would be Emerson. If finances will be an issue, as in massive loans for years to come, go with the cheapest. </p>
<p>I’m personally against of very pre-professional niche schools like Emerson, because one doesn’t really get exposed a broad education, and that broad education is necessary to KNOW what to major in, even if you think you know what you want to major in.</p>
<p>Vassar and NYU will allow you both that flexibility while offering strong programs.</p>
<p>I personally favor Vassar for the overall experience. You COULD always go to the city during the weekends. By the way, while be under 21, how many things can you ACTUALLY do that you can’t do now?</p>
<p>New York University, though negative things about the school… lacks a large campus, football team etc… so school spirit/ community is very minimial.</p>
<p>My son will be in the Tisch Film and TV program next Fall. We looked at all three of the schools- you should be proud of yourself for having such great choices. </p>
<p>I just want to address some of the NYU comments. While NYU is a large school, Tisch is not. Further, Dramatic Writing is a small program. It strikes me as the perfect balance of a small setting with the incredible opportunities that a larger university can provide. </p>
<p>I’m not very knowledgeable about any of these schools, but I know that Vassar is generally considered the best overall academic institution out of these three. I have a friend at Vassar who absolutely loves it there. NYU is also great, but I’d say Emerson shouldn’t be in the conversation.</p>
<p>I’d say watch the loans very, very carefully. It usually takes time to nurture a writing career (and I say that as a former publisher, and author of 8 books), with the majority of folks never making it at all. Which isn’t to say you shouldn’t grab for it - you should! You just don’t want to put yourself in a position where your choice of colleges severely limits other possibilities in the future.</p>
<p>Just a note that although Vassar outranks NYU overall, NYU’s dramatic writing program is elite-level. It has a fabulous rep. As others said, the program is very small and nurturing. A friend of mine went there, and loved it. </p>
<p>Vassar is outside NYC, but it’s in Poughkeepsie, which is a small city with a funky arts scene. P’keepsie is on the Metro North train to NYC, so you can get into town from there. </p>
<p>Emerson is smack-dab in a great part of Boston. Amazing location. The dorms are converted old hotels, with the goods and bads of that (big rooms, fireplaces… that don’t work :winks: ) You’re steps from everything in the city. </p>
<p>NYU is, of course, right in Washington Square. It’s very urban in feel - no true campus, more like a series of buildings in a neighborhood. It’s truly part of the city around it. </p>
<p>As Mini said, if you want to be a writer, coming out of college with as little debt as possible is a blessing. It gives you more freedom to actually write, rather than to have to take a job in order to pay back loans. That said, most writers start out working two jobs, anyway - their day job, and the writing they do in their off hours. That’s more the norm than not.</p>
<p>I would pick NYU since I don’t know much about the other colleges. Think of everything that goes on in NYC that you could be then be apart of. </p>
<p>1) The experience of living in Manhattan
2) The opportunity to get very good connections
3) Awesome Reputation
4) Fun Things (Macy’s Day Parade, Christmas in NY, Occasional Movies being filmed, Ice skating in Central Park, New Years Eve, Fashion Week, Celebrities, etc.)
5) Wide variety of classes
6) Diversity
7) Many student clubs
8) Awesome location for a city person</p>
<p>I would DEFINATELY go to NYU if I had the money!</p>
<p>As a professional writer myself, I’d like to second Mini. Writers don’t make a lot of money – especially not at first – so huge loans will be a terrific burden. All things being equal (finances, fit, etc.), I’d recommend Vassar simply because of its strong liberal arts approach that gives a writer a solid base of interdisciplinary knowledge to draw from. Emerson is terrific for writing (one of the premier literary journals, Ploughshares, comes out of there) and performing arts, as is NYU for dramatic writing, but those educations tend to be focused. Of course, you can’t be in a more exciting locale than NYU if you want to be a playwright or a screenwriter. Still, you have to consider your broader education.</p>
<p>BTW, I know professional writers from all three, either alums or professors. I don’t think any of the choices will make or break your career.</p>