<p>I'm very confused right now...I've recently been admitted to Columbia University as a transfer student. My previous institution was NYU, and I guess I just can't decide whether the move would be best for me. I visited the Columbia campus not too long ago and it had everything I wanted: a beautiful campus, studious undergrads on the steps of the library, a great department for my major, and plenty of community service and research opportunities for pre-meds.</p>
<p>The thing is, I was involved in the Scholars program at NYU and that was a fantastic experience. I kinda went into my freshman year intending to transfer, which I understand is very narrow-minded and horrible...but now that I've been admitted, I'm becoming more and more confused as to whether I should do this or not. The lack of a campus bothered me, which was why I submitted the transfer application in the first place.</p>
<p>Rather than feeling either college is better for me...I feel like I'm comparing the benefits that each have and drawing a blank as to which better fits my needs. On the one hand, I have the opportunity to mingle in a small group of intellectuals at NYU and have the chance to study abroad in Paris and Berlin. At Columbia, I won't have the opportunity to study abroad, and I won't get the special treatment that I've been getting at NYU.</p>
<p>Sorry for the long post, but I would really appreciate any input you guys have. If anyone has experienced the same dilemma, please give me your advice and how you managed to make your decision. Thanks in advance, everyone.</p>
<p>It's not lame at all- i was just cracking up picturing- like- 100 students blocking you from the entrance because they were studying- random, i know.</p>
<p>It's a tough decision though. Both are extremely prestigious. But there's a reason you have always wanted to got to Columbia. You don't want to stay at NYU and regret it later. Can't you do 'leave of ansence'?</p>
<p>You have one of those situations that comes up in life - two good choices. Each good for different reasons. You can't really make a bad choice between the two.</p>
<p>I don't know your entire situation, but some things come to mind:</p>
<p>1) Columbia is more prestigious and highly regarded than NYU.
2) If you're receiving financial aid, how is Columbia's offer compared to NYU? Since you're in scholars, you may be getting a nice renewable scholarship, but I hear NYU is bad with aid and it gets worse as you progress.
3) Studying abroad is an amazing opportunity that is hard to pass up, but you can also usually do it in grad school, if you're willing to wait.
4) NYU's location seemed SO MUCH more full of life when I visited whereas Morningside Heights felt very quiet and not at all like NYC. But, the presence of a beautiful campus is a huge plus, IMO.</p>
<p>Those are just some thoughts. If I were you, I'd put aside the study abroad deal (which seems to be the only real drawback to attending Columbia) and go with Columbia. It is just such a strong school, IMO a peer to the very best that American education has to offer. NYU is great, but it is not Columbia and will likely never achieve its status. You also seem to like Columbia a bit more. As Andale said, you've got two awesome choices and in the end you can't go wrong.</p>
<p>Thanks for the insights brand and andale. I'm getting a very good financial package from Columbia: expecting to take about 7k out in loans per year as opposed to the 15k for NYU.</p>
<p>Objectively, I would choose to transfer. But subjectively, there's still a part of me that wants to stay behind. I think I'm afraid that transferring will not make me happier.</p>
<p>I think happiness is up to you. If you've been able to find happiness at NYU, where you claim that you are part of a small group of the "intellectual" crowd, how much moreso do you expect to enjoy your time at a school where the students are arguably more intellectual? I think it's probably just hard to let go of the security you've found at NYU, but that you will have no problem transitioning into Columbia. I mean, you've made friends and taken advantage of a school with no campus and little cohesion. You'd be transferring to a school with a tightly knit campus located in Morningside Heights, filled with Columbia students. I don't think it'd be tough to find the same satisfaction, if not more, at Columbia.</p>
<p>You have some elements of best of both worlds here. You can keep in touch with your NYU friends quite easily. My S had to transfer and he keeps in touch with his old friends via IM/phone and occasional visits... but, in his case, that means getting on a plane ;). So, enjoy Columbia and keep up with the group of like-minded kids you found at NYU. When they take a term abroad, you might even be able to get a cheap flight and visit them over a break.</p>