NYU Liberal Studies vs Middlebury

First of all, I need to decide by tonight so please respond…

Second of all, this is a follow-up to an earlier post made by me. I narrowed my list down to NYU and Middlebury.

I really like NYC and I have few problems with Liberal Studies (I applied directly to it). I want to transfer to CAS probably following a PreHealth curriculum. I’m mainly worried about NYU life as a whole. Will I have trouble making friends (I’ve gotten a lot better at socializing)? I like small classes, but the PreHealth classes are going to be filled to the brim. Transferring after sophomore year sounds easy, but will I be at a disadvantage academically and socially? These are people who’ve had 2 years to establish themselves with ‘typical’ classes where I’ll have only had a few of these classes. I’ve heard that LS students aren’t treated poorly anymore by some, but others have debated that claim. Coming from a small school, I want to be treated like anyone else. I’ve read that it’s a tier 1 school and that leads to a better grad school, Middlebury is considered a tier 2. I’m also not sure if I will be able to succeed better at NYU than at Midd. I love NYC almost more than any city ever, the culture, diversity, food, activities, and family that surround it cannot be beaten. Academically, they are probably even although NYU is better in the arts, business, and CS and Midd is better at Languages. That being said do these cons outweigh the pros?

Middlebury is a safer option for me. I’m used to a small school with a campus where people know each other. The largest classes are like 50 people at Midd. I like the curriculum and J term. I DON’T like where it is. It’s definitely a larger problem in my head than in reality. I also don’t like how homogenous it is. There aren’t as many opportunities( hospitals, internships). Culturally there isn’t near as much as NYU. Food too, and family. College is a time to learn about yourself, and I’m not sure if I want to spend it like how I spent the last four years of mine (similar to a LAC). These aren’t huge problems like the ones at NYU in my mind. Basically, do I play it risky and put myself outside of my comfort zone at NYU or do I play it safe and go to Middlebury where I feel like I will succeed more. I went to an NYU event and someone said that being outside of your comfort zone is the best way to learn and grow, but what if I can’t adjust to life in NYC? I’ll have no one, compared to Middlebury where (I am assuming) I will have more close friends.

Thanks for reading!

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I’ve read that it’s a tier 1 school and that leads to a better grad school, Middlebury is considered a tier 2.

What? Where did you read that?

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If you feel that Middlebury is the better fit and it is affordable then go for it – it’s a fantastic school!

Middlebury is a fantastic school. Your post makes it sound like it’s significantly less prestigious than NYU and going there would be “settling”. Nothing could be further from the truth. Of course comparing NYU and Middlebury is like comparing apples and Volkswagens.

Yes Middlebury is in an isolated rural location, but once you are busy with classes and friends and clubs and socializing you won’t notice. Students somehow end up with internships and research opportunities.

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If NYU is tier 1, Middlebury might be tier 0.

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Middlebury is highly regarded and a much better school for you, given what you’ve said here. I assume you made a decision and I hope it was Middlebury.

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Congrats on having two great options. I am not sure if you deposited yet but I’ll throw in my two cents on NYU. Liberal Studies is one of the largest cohorts of incoming first-years at NYU and LS students are treated like everyone else on campus. I don’t believe that LS students are at any disadvantage academically once they transition into their majors.

Since you applied directly to LS, you know the biggest advantage: the smaller class sizes for your first two years at NYU. This will be a definite advantage with making friends. I’m not sure how small, though. LS classes are described as “tiny” on the NYU website.

This all being said, IMO, the student who chooses to move to NYC to attend NYU embraces the idea of adventure and challenge as part of the college experience. They are drawn to it.

Are you this student? You said that you love NYC. The City is the campus at NYU. It does not have anything resembling a traditional campus like Middlebury. Yes, as you said, the breadth of internship opportunities in NYC will be better than at Middlebury. But, you have to love actually living in the City.

On the other hand, it does sound like you’re being pulled toward Middlebury. Sometimes just going with your “gut” is best. This will help reduce rather than exacerbate the anxiety and stress that comes with heading into college. You seem to really understand that.

Please let us know your decision.

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Sorry for not checking back in until a day later. I decided to go with NYU, mainly because I wanted to go outside of my comfort zone. I feel kind of stupid after reading what everyone has posted but whatever. I’m also having trouble with the deposit system so I’m not sure what to do.

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Call admissions first thing Monday if you haven’t figured out the deposit system before that.

Thanks for the follow up and all the best at NYU.

Congrats! Nothing stupid about your choice. You really seemed very thoughtful in weighing your options.

D21 is finishing her first year at NYU and loves it. Let me know if you have questions.

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Based on the majority of your criteria, I believe you made the right choice. Wishing you the best of luck at NYU!

OP here, new account. My ‘small’ LS classes have around 20-25 people in them. I do have a writing class with 15 people which is nice. I wouldn’t say they are tiny though, especially compared to actual LAC. The city is a lot. I think I know that I want to be close to a city, but not in it. I’d rather live in the open air with a college campus and go to the city on weekends then live in the city at all times and have no campus. As you can tell, I am sort of regretting my decision a bit now that school has started, but I can always transfer I guess…

There are a lot of LACs out there less isolated than Middlebury, including Macalester, Wesleyan, Trinity, Occidental, URichmond, Swarthmore, Haverford, Pomona, Claremont-McKenna, Pitzer, - just off the top of my head. EDIT: Amherst.