<p>Okay guys, I've got a dilemma and didn't know where else to turn-- this is my first post.</p>
<p>I've lived my entire life in New York City and as a high school senior about to graduate, I can hardly wait for college to start. At first, my best option was to choose between Macaulay Honors College at CCNY (CUNY) and New York University College of Arts and Science. The only reason I even considered CCNY honors was because they were paying me around 15K to go per year, while NYU would cost me around 30K. On the other hand, I just learned a few days ago that I've been accepted from the Duke University waitlist, it'll cost me around 35K to go to Duke. I want to be a physician so I'm definitely going to be doing something medicine-related like premed or biology oriented.</p>
<p>I can't really elaborate because I, being the bad student I am, did no research on any of the schools I applied to. Please don't reprimand me now, I had personal reasons that conflicted with my entire college application process. From strictly an academic standpoint, which decision would be the best for me. I have a personal reason to stay in New York City that is making me biased, so it's difficult for me to do what is truly right for me. I am aware that none of you will be able to make the decision for me, especially since I gave such crappy circumstantial details. Input would be greatly appreciated from anyone, Duke vs NYU CAS?</p>
<p>Thanks for your time and I don't have much time to read up on the traditional way to start a topic or if this is even posted in the correct section, so sorry in advance if I have done something wrong.</p>
<p>^I agree, academically, but can you handle it financially? I don't think there will be too much a difference between NYU and Duke though, and you seem to be reluctant to leave NYC.</p>
<p>Academically, Duke is superior to NYU in the areas you want to study hands down. </p>
<p>However, do realize the lifestyles and people you meet at Duke and NYU will be VERY different. And sometimes thats a good thing. But you as a pesron need to be realy to accept the fact you will have to adapt to the different culture and people found at Duke and if that is something your not willing to risk trying then stay at NYU.</p>
<p>Thanks for the great feedback, I mean in my school halls, the NYU name is being trashed. People are saying I'm dumb to be deciding over two schools when Duke is the obvious choice.</p>
<p>Just wanted to check with the experts here, now I have to personally decide between Duke and New York City. </p>
<p>Feel free to post more input if you disagree. I was afraid of some kind of middleground argument.</p>
<p>Whichever one you like the best, or feel the most comfortable at. Who cares what kids at your school say. They are just mad they don't have the choice.</p>
<p>iniquus, NYU is ana amazing school where some people dream of going. Hell, any top 100 school is amazing and has its perks, so really dont let your peers opinoins influence a decision that will affect YOU and not them. And yes, at this juncture it is a decision of location, not school. Personal happiness comes before everything.</p>
<p>I went to Columbia, and no one is a bigger booster of going to college in NYC. Therefore my recommendation is for you to go to Duke. Why? Because there is something special in being around a student body where EVERYONE is incredibly smart and driven, it changes you as a person for the better, and that is more true at Duke than at NYU. </p>
<p>There is also a lot to be said for getting outside your comfort zone for college - you don't want to be one of those people who's 50 years old, has lived in manhattan their whole lives, and is a total snob about it despite having left the city twice in those 50 years, both times to go to florida. Don't be that guy. Try some new things in your life, prove to yourself that you can make another atmosphere feel like home, that the excitement in your life is because YOU are exciting, not just because you happen to live in an exciting city.</p>
<p>Visit Duke, get a feel for it, and if you can see yourself enjoying life there, enroll. It's a little harder to get a sense of it during a summer session, but talk to people and have them tell you stories about the place. They'll really sell you. Plus, Duke is a pretty good party school, by comparison to its academic tier - probably better than NYU, despite the downtown bar scene. And let's not even talk athletics (though I hope you don't play lacrosse). NYU also only guarantees housing for first-years, after that they may tell you "sorry, no vacancy".</p>
<p>Since there is little difference between the cost of Duke & NYU.. I would say pick Duke!
Also since you have lived in the city for your whole life, the "Duke Experience" will seem a lot more exciting than the "NYU Experience".. </p>
<p>If you want a very campus-oriented college.. definitely pick Duke.
I don't even think NYU has a campus..</p>
<p>Most people who are familiar with the schools will say Duke, but this decision-making process is a difficult one because you seem reluctant to leave NYC. </p>
<p>You are not choosing between a first and third or fourth tier university. Both universities are first-tier, top 40 universities.</p>
<p>NYU is a respected, reputable university and you certainly would not be disadvantaged by attending it. You will be spending $5,000 more to attend Duke when NYU is not far behind regarding academic quality, which has improved measurably over the last 10 years.</p>
<p>Good luck on your choice. Please tell us which university you chose.</p>
<p>I'm going to play devil's advocate and put in a plug for Macaulay Honors College at CCNY (CUNY), assuming that you believe that med school is likely. </p>
<p>Admissions at medical schools are based on a number of factors - GPA, MCAT scores, recommendations, quality of ugrad institution, research/voluteering. One can make a case for being one of the top students at a lesser-known institution - GPA, recommendations, and possibly research ops. </p>
<p>Another factor is financial. If you folks can send you to college, and help with med school without busting the retirement bank, this may not apply to you. But if not, think long and hard about the money, and discuss with your folks. </p>
<p>Congrats on your acceptances, and best wishes whatever your decision.</p>
<p>I think ohio_mom makes an excellent point regarding the finances. That's why I mentioned finances. Medical school is expensive, and if the quality between the schools are not significant, then chose the school that will cost you the least.</p>
<p>Your decision has to be based on the big, long term picture. How you feel today is pretty irrelevant. In 5 years (probably more like 6 months) I doubt if you will remember or care about the personal issue that might keep you in New York. For the rest of your life you will be answerng the question of where you went to college. I can promise you that Duke will be a head-turner no matter where you live and that you will never regret going there. In that you are from NY and already know the city, this is a no-brainer.</p>
<p>I've been consulting a lot of my friends and my personal reason to stay, and I've considered that Duke is the way better choice, but my parents are so adamant for me to stay in NYC.</p>
<p>I don't want to go to CCNY because I wouldn't fit in with the people there. I'd have a better time adjusting to Duke then to CCNY probably, even though I've lived in NYC all my life. Please don't force me to explain, although those of you who live in the city will know.</p>
<p>My parents even tried to hide the Duke acceptance from me and saying how they wont support me if I go there. Honestly, Duke might be 5K more expensive and even if you consider travel fare, I'm sure it'll somewhat balance out in the end since the prices in Manhattan are ridiculous, heh.
Medical school is expensive, I'm in for a long life of debt, but someone told me if you really want to go somewhere, you'll find ways to pay for it. The smarter financial decision would be to have chose CCNY, but I chose NYU over that so that's totally out of the picture. I mean when I went to one of the CCNY dinners, one of the higher-up counselors asked me if I took the Calculus Regents...I don't know if any of you are familiar with the regents, but there is no Calculus regents. I told her that and she was surprised. I feel that in her high position, she should have been acquainted with the tests.</p>
<p>Although I'd like to entertain the thought of Duke, my parents might not make it happen. My father was arguing with my mother for even telling me I made Duke in the first place, which didn't really matter because I knew by e-mail ahead of time. My parents should have known that by applying to waitlist, NYU was in a lower priority than those schools. Well, sorry to turn this whole forums into a personal rant instead of a objective college discussion.</p>
<p>I can only wait for my brother to come home today to help me argue this case. Thanks a lot for the input guys, especially the poster who went to Columbia, really meant a lot.</p>