My close buddy’s son got called off the NYU waitlist on Friday and he’s beyond thrilled (both the son & the parents). He had already put a deposit down at their state university…its a middling school…not terrible…maybe ranked in the 50s or 60s…and very very affordable. So here’s what the Dad is thinking (and everybody in the family has brought into)…i’m not sure if this is smart or not but maybe it really is smart. Who knows. In any case, they have enough money to pay for 2 years at NYU and then the kid would transfer back to the affordable state U for the last two years…the way they look at it, two great years in NYC, great contacts, and great chances for internships going forward (He’s a theater major). And he’s be happy to finish up his credits at State U and then look for jobs back in NYC, etc.
Doesn’t make much sense to me. The diploma will say state U, not NYU. Most freshman and even sophomores are not able to take advantage of connections etc because they are still finding their way. At NYU, even though it is a private school, a lot of the classes are large. If he leaves after two year, will people really remember him or be connected to him in the way they would after 4 years?
If he really wants to do this, as twoin says, flip it.
However, NYU is ranked 36th. There are lot of good state schools ranked in the 50s or even the 60s. Penn State, Georgia, UT Austin, Maryland, Pitt, Rutgers. Is NYU really considered much more presitiguous or providing a better education than these schools? It boggles my mind that you call these middling schools when there are over 3000 colleges. Paying a huge amount of money for the difference between NYU (who many argue is ranked above where it should be on academics alone because NYC is so attractive) and even Rutgers may not make sense. That is not to say there aren’t very good reasons to attend NYU or not to attend a big state school - if the money is not an issue.
Definitely start at the affordable school. Think about transferring two years later.
If a student starts at the more expensive school, then in most cases they are also starting at the academically stronger school. If they transfer out after two years it is going to look like they couldn’t handle the academics there. Also, if they like it there then they will feel really bad when they transfer out. Also they degree will be from the last place they study, not the first place.
If the affordable state university is ranked somewhere around 50th or 60th in the US, then it is a VERY good university.
It is very common for students to be unable to afford their top choice.
good insights. And i shouldn’t have called it a middling school…poor choice of words…and CC has that 15 minute rule but in any case, i’m with you guys…I’d do the state school for two years & then NYU. I believe this family is going the other way…but at least it’ll be a good story for me to share two years from now when the family has run out of money & the kid really really doesn’t want to leave NYU.
The more important school is the one where you take the more specialized junior/senior level courses and graduate from.
So if you really want to finish at an expensive school, but can only afford two years of expensive school and two years of less expensive school, start at the less expensive school and try to transfer to the expensive school later.
State school all 4 years with a year abroad or in a fine arts year in NYC or similar. If the family can finance two years of NYU they can finance incredible summer/semester/year elsewhere opportunities for this kid.
I’m not a theater expert, but have several friends with kids “in the field”. My understanding is that NYU’s theater school is one of the best. (fully open to being corrected by others more knowledgeable in the area) Perhaps this is why the family is considering options which would include NYU. I think the real comparison should be State School Theater Department to Tisch - not State School to NYU.
Is it possible for the student to pick up gen eds in the summer at community college that would transfer to NYU? I have known kids able to work this out with acceptable credits from a cheaper school transferred in to save money.
So the kid hasn’t got stats for merit anywhere they like? NYU at full pay is like 70K right? 140K for 4 yrs would offer some great options if he had some merit, no?
Agree, agree, agree…You want to do the affordable college FIRST and the more “important” college second, because the one line on the resume is going to say BA or BS from blah blah blah college in year such…the first two years are pretty inconsequential.
NYU’s Tisch school is one of the best in the nation, but its debatable whether it’s worth shelling out $70k+ for 4 years of undergrad there. Especially considering average pay for theater folks is on the lowish side unless they’re one of the few lucky exceptions.
Another thing to consider is even 2 years worth of debt from NYU can still seriously hobble someone financially…especially when combined with required post-undergrad professional training. A younger friend is living this even after 10+ years out from 2 years NYU CAS(His first 2 years of undergrad was at a regional private where he received a complete free-ride).
And keep in mind that the fabulous connections from NYU (Director’s Showcase events, other networking opportunities) are for seniors, not for freshman.
interesting timing because i just got off the phone with my buddy…and when you talk with someone by phone these days rather than texting, you know it’s big. I guess his kid has to decide by tomorrow or so…I do think the appeal is the theater part…the state university is great…but its hard to beat Tisch (only from what i’ve heard…i’m not part of that world) when drama is on the table. In a nutshell, they’re starting to have qualms about the price…I think they’re getting maybe a very small bit of financial aid but it sounds like the wait list kids really arrive on the scene once all of the money is gone.
Part of it, i believe, is the excitement by everyone…the kid’s drama coach is beyond excited…his classmates (also in drama) are all “man, you are SO LUCKY”, the other parents are giving them great feedback…all ego boosts that, honestly, I get it…it’s hard to walk back from that.
I’ll let you all know what they decide tomorrow…it may come down to the heart can’t always have what it wants (in some way, I wish the kid hadn’t made it off the list…they were all pretty happy before he did)
NYU undergrad historically has had a well-known reputation for giving miserly levels of need-based FA*.
They do give full and half merit scholarships, but one needs to have Ivy/elite peer contender stats to be in a running for those. And most HS classmates who received even the full-merits still opted for one of the Ivy/peer elite acceptances because many times the Ivies/peer elites offered comparable FA packages without the onerous minimum GPA maintenance requirement(it was something like a 3.6) which made the choice a no-brainer for them.
Yours truly turned down admission to NYU CAS largely because of this issue....along with the fact the LAC I ended up graduating from was far stronger in my academic field of interest. Near-full ride with a much lower full-pay sticker price AND better academics.
The only school that people will care about is the one he ultimately graduates from. This kid is being INCREDIBLY shortsighted, to say the least. In addition to being financially irresponsible. He should go to the state school FIRST, then try to transfer to NYU after two years. Any NYU “connections” won’t count for jack squat if he leaves the school halfway through his undergraduate career.
While it is easy to be no non-sense on a forum, there is so much emotion in the decision that only OP has acknowledged. This family wants to send their kid to the “better” school now - that is what all their friends and peers are going to hear about. Of course in two years, no one will know, care, or remember where he went except close family/friends. So they are dealing with all that immediate perception pull, plus the parents want to do anything they can for their kid. I also believe the contacts and social circles made at a school are incredibly important to where a person ends up in life. Not sure if Plan C is an option which would be staying at NYU all four - but I would start at NYU and do everything to make it work.
I’m a gambler and believe things work out, I would send him to NYU and hope it gets figured out by saving, some jobs for student and some debt when done that could be managed. To me, it sounds like this kid and this family will always feel the state school is too big a downgrade and they settled. The investment and certain amount of debt could pay off really well over the decades this kid has to work when they finish college.
