Lower tier UC or CUNY Hunter

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I've been a lurker here on CC for a while, but as I receive my final decision notifications in the next few days, I'm extremely conflicted on which college to choose. I've been admitted to these CA schools and am planning to major in sociology:</p>

<p>SF State
SJ State
SD State
UC Santa Cruz
UC Riverside</p>

<p>And in NY, CUNY Hunter. </p>

<p>I also applied to UC Davis and Irvine but I'm not really expecting admission =/</p>

<p>Financially, the California schools would be the most feasible choice, especially since SFSU, SJSU, and UCSC are all no more than 1-1.5 hours away from where I live. However, my dream school would be without a doubt, in New York City, where I'm hoping to live after graduating college. But for an out-of-state student, CUNY Hunter is significantly more expensive, including the costs of living (I'm probably going to have to seek alternative housing as competition is stiff for Hunter's Residence Hall). I'm just not entirely sure that the education I will be getting at Hunter will make up for the costs I'm going to have to pay to live in New York and so far from home.</p>

<p>I was thinking that if after a few semesters and I really didn't like Hunter, I could try transferring to NYU (which I got rejected this time around) or if I'm ambitious, Columbia.</p>

<p>Any advice would be greatly appreciated!</p>

2

<p>I’d go to one of the California schools. The CUNY education will likely be worse than the UC/CSU education and more expensive. Also, going into debt for a bachelor’s degree is a bad idea.</p>

3

<p>UC Santa Cruz is moving out of the “lower tier” realm of the UC’s rather rapidly. If you do well there you will have no trouble in getting into a grad school anywhere in the country. I would opt for Santa Cruz, unless Davis comes calling.</p>

4

<p>UC Riverside’s undergrad academia leaves something to be desired. I can’t say much for the other schools except Santa Cruz who’s Sociology program isn’t that bad.</p>

5

<p>Thanks for the advice everyone. I initially dreaded the thought of attending UCSC because it’s so close to home and from my past visits to Santa Cruz, I’ve been given the impression that the majority of the city and school is pretty low-key, though I’m sure that I’m very much a city girl. That’s the major draw I have to Hunter College, and I’m afraid I’ll go to UCSC and hate it there.</p>