<p>So i just wanted to learn more about both of these universities so this thread is a place that anyone can discuss NYU or Columbia or ask questions to others. My question is which is better in terms of an education, financial aid, sense of community, sense of NYC, and acceptance.</p>
<p>Education - This really depends on whats a better fit for you and what particular major you want to pursue, but overall, Columbia is better in terms of education.</p>
<p>Financial Aid - Hands down, Columbia is a million times better. NYU is notorious for horrible aid, unless you are a top applicant. </p>
<p>Sense of Community - Hard to say, but NYU is much bigger and doesn’t have things like football games where everyone goes and hangs out. </p>
<p>Sense of NYC - This is really a preference matter. NYU has no traditional campus. Its just spread out in the middle of NYC. Columbia on the other hand has a defined campus with plenty of green space, but also easy access to the city. </p>
<p>Acceptance - I assume you mean which is easier to get into? That would be NYU.</p>
<p>A girl at Columbia joked to me once that what an NYU student and a Columbia student have in common is that the Columbia student got into NYU. -shrug- If you can get into Columbia, you can for sure get into NYU. </p>
<p>I’ve only been to Columbia once but the sense of NYC seems pretty different to me. For NYU, I was really drawn to the funky, alternative, artsy vibe that I got from the Village, although I know that the same thing is a huge turnoff to some people. Columbia seemed way more campus/college-like; you get all the spacious green quad areas and trees and whatnot and everyone around you goes to the school.</p>
<p>Columbia is an Ivy League school. There is no question of which is better unless you have a specific major in mind that is offered at NYU and not Columbia. Columbia has a huge endowment and therefore can give a lot of financial aid, NYU does not although there is some aid available (grants as opposed to loans) for top applicants and minorities. It goes without saying that Columbia is much more competitive in terms of admissions.</p>
<p>NYU’s in a much better area (IMO) but Columbia is a lot harder to get into (obviously.)</p>