<p>I recently got accepted for NYU's LSP program and am later planning on transferring to the CAS program for Economics. However, today, I was accepted into Carnegie Mellon's Economics program as well. I am looking for quality of education, reputation, social life, opportunities available outside of school, and cost of living.</p>
<p>Can you please help me make the right decision?</p>
<p>Did you apply for financial aid for both schools? That could make a difference.</p>
<p>Here is a ranking for undergraduate econ department someone came up with a few years ago:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/business-major/56075-rankings-undergraduate-economics.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/business-major/56075-rankings-undergraduate-economics.html</a>
The ranking is biased, but the truth is no matter which one you end up attending, you can’t go wrong as long as you make the most out of your education.</p>
<p>In terms of location. Pittsburg has been declining in recent years (at least most people believe so), but NYC, especially Manhattan, is still the center of everything. Since you’re a econ major, NYC might be a slightly better location? </p>
<p>I know someone who chose CMU over NYU though (econ major also). When he visited both schools, he found that CMU has a more tranquil campus which enabled him to focus more on his academics, while there’s more distractions in NYC. You should visit both schools before you decide.</p>
<p>They’re comparable in terms of quality of academics and reputation. We have a career conference entirely dedicated to business/econ majors, so we’re on the map and job placement is good.</p>
<p>I don’t know much about Manhattan. Pittsburgh is in a slump outside the college community (Duquesne, UPitt, CMU, Chatham, AIP, et cetera) but the college community encompasses a large and thriving part of the city which is doing quite well.</p>
<p>The social life at CMU and NYU are going to be very, very different. Keep in mind that NYU (at least in my personal experience) attracts a certain kind of person; exuberant, fabulous, exciting. CMU attracts more of the introspective, LAC, intellectual type. Tech-heads, too. </p>
<p>The opportunities available outside of school are plentiful in both places. It’s what you make of it, I guess. NYC is larger and more diverse, but there are also a lot more students competing for those same opportunities. Pittsburgh is smaller, but there are fewer econ/business students to contend with for top opportunities.</p>
<p>The cost of living in Pittsburgh is probably half of NYC. Maybe even less. 
For example, my boyfriend’s rent is $350 a month in squirrel hill and he gets a safe, clean, spacious 1-bedroom to himself, utilities included. The same thing in NYC would probably be comparable to LA or San Francisco - over $1000/mo.</p>
<p>I had the same dilemma: choosing between NYU and CMU. I chose CMU, but I also live in Pittsburgh so I’m kinda biased when it comes to the city. Although, I did really enjoy my visit to NYU back in September… :)</p>