NYU or Columbia

Colleges and Universities A-Z New York University
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<p>Hey everyone...I'm a transferring CC student who has been accepted at both Columbia and NYU (CAS) for the Spring semester. I'm having a bit of trouble deciding where to attend. If any current NYU student can give me some insight into what campus life and academics is really like, I would appreciate it. </p>

<p>I have maintained a 4.0 GPA through 54 credits (never a grade other than A) so I don't mind working hard, I just don't want to kill myself over 2 years, to the point where I have no life outside of studying. </p>

<p>I know Columbia has more of a rep as a hectic academic pace but I was wondering how current NYU students would rate the general difficulty and time consumption of NYU academics. I would also like to get a rundown on the social scene...I know there is no enclosed campus but is there a cohesive social scene present anyway? Basically anything someone can tell me that may help me decide where to go would be helpful so if you have some accurate criticisms or praise for either school, I'd like to hear it. Thanks.</p>

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<p>Not a current student, but this has been a reccurring topic amongst a bunch of us at my school. Columbia is more prestigious, and it's true both schools don't have much of a traditional "campus", but NYU certainly has more of a community feel and there's no doubt in my mind, location-wise NYU has got Columbia beat, and that the Villlage is much more appealing to a student. ALso, their dorms are lovely. Just an opinion, biased...but you ARE on the NYU boards. No doubt the same question posted on the Columbia boards will yield different results.</p>

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<p>Thks for the info Salem...I have decided to attend NYU this spring. My main reason had to do with my opinion that Columbia's GS school does not respect their GS students enough considering the requirements that a GS student must complete to receive a "Columbia Degree". Here is the post I made on the Columbia Forums for those that may be facing similar decisions involving other schools and NYU...</p>

<h1>See everyone in the Spring!!!</h1>

<p>(Originally Posted on Columbia Forums)</p>

<p>"Thks for the info in my last post ixjunitxi, but I think now I'm leaning towards NYU. I have read much about General Studies on these forums over the last few hours and a few things really distress me. </p>

<p>I understand that the admissions for GS are less stringent than Columbia College and that doesn't bother me because I know that I still worked hard and received the best possible grades in my two years of CC work (4.0, All A's through 54 credits). The way I look at it, GS students may have had an easier time getting into Columbia but in the end, things work out because students from the College and GS are intergrated into the same core and electives, sitting right next to each other in the same classes. So the unqualified students would be quickly weeded out or drop out on their own .</p>

<p>This is why the lengths that Columbia goes to in differentiating GS from Columbia College upsets me. If I survive my first semester and go on to graduate with a 3.8 GPA and some kid from Columbia College graduates with a 3.0, why do I receive a degree that is not even printed in Latin and makes a point of spelling out "General Studies". The term "General Studies" is too similar to other university programs that amount to nothing more than extension schools or continuing ed...</p>

<p>Considering I'm being charged the same tuition, taking the same curriculum, getting graded by the same professors... in the same classes as Columbia College and SEAS students, I don't see how the school can justify attempting to "water" down my accomplishment in a potential recruiter's eyes. I don't even get access to the same alumni network, listing in the job database or career services as Columbia College grads.</p>

<p>Basically I feel like I'm getting ripped off... Yes, I'm receiving a "Columbia" education and a "Columbia" Degree but why does the school go all out to make me feel like I'm really not a legitimate Columbia Grad?</p>

<p>I'm sorry but Columbia can't have it both ways...there is a definite pool of legit "non-traditional" students who are Columbia material. If Columbia wants to tap into that pool, take thier money and put them through the same rigorous course work once they arrive on campus, they cannot continue to justify perpetuating and aiding in the "second class" alumni stereotype that seems to be pervasive around some circles. </p>

<p>Well, they can and I'm sure they will continue to do so in order to reap the financial rewards without suffering the wrath of some (not all) of the spolied kids at Columbia College who may start crying if GS is FULLY integrated as an EQUAL school in Columbia, but the fact that they will continue to do it doesn't make it right. Hopefully more students who are truly qualified and get accepted into the FULL programs at other schools will also shun GS and send the administration a message.</p>

<p>At least NYU isn't suffering from the same split personality. They judged my superior academic record, took into account my non-traditional background and deemed me worthy to be a regular student at CAS, just like any other applicant. Columbia could easily admit an extra 100 or 150 non-traditional students into Columbia College with a few restrictions like access to on-campus student dorms but the other restrictions I mentioned are inexcusable in my view.</p>

<p>I'm sure there are a lot of current and former GS students who will vehemently disagree and that's fine, I'm sure you all have good points and may say that I have a warped opinion on the matter but in any case, I feel my concerns are real. In the end you have to trust your own gut feeling and do what you feel is best for your own life. I think I'll be just fine if I graduate from NYU, with a real NYU degree. I'll have a top education under my belt, have access to all support and alumni services commensurate with an NYU graduate and I won't ever have to deal with a company questioning the legitimacy of my educational accomplishments."</p>

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<p>hmm, i would say columbia. That is what i would choose.</p>

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<p>Brilliant...did you bother to read my reasons for NOT choosing Columbia or do you think my concerns are unfounded?</p>

<p>Columbia sounds like a good choice until you realize the "2nd class" status conferred upon GS students. A stigma that is not warranted considering GS students pay the same tution and take the same classes, with the same professors..right next to the Columbia College and SEAS kids....</p>

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<p>i think your agrument is really strong, and that you have made the right decision. unfortunately i am waiting on my early decision acceptance so I really do not have that much info to offer, but i think that columbia's system just is not correct.</p>

<p>also, if you dont mind me asking, where are you transferring from/is it easy to transfer in? if i dont get into NYU or Mcgill, I can guarantee I will be a spring transfer or one next fall to NYU. and the lateness of my ED letter is really getting to me.</p>

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<p>I'm transferring from Nassau Community College on Long Island. As far as Community Colleges go, it's considered a top one, with very good professors. All the Psych, Lit and Soc courses I took were taught by Phd's so I consider it a pretty strong program as far as liberal arts goes...</p>

<p>I can tell you that I read the average acceptance rate for transfers into NYU is no more than 10-12%, so that's pretty steep. It is a much smaller pool of competition than RD and ED freshmen apps so that helps but still you'll need a strong college record if you didn't do excellent in high school. They also consider how long you have been out of high school...so if you did poorly but you've been out for 5 years for example, enter some other Community College or University and ace your classes, the negatives from High School won't matter nearly as much.</p>

<p>They also really consider your essay and your short answers to the "creative" question section of the app. </p>

<p>I'll give you a rundown of my situation so you can get an idea of what was
good enough, in my case, to gain acceptance into CAS.</p>

<p>I'm 25, my high school record wasn't bad GPA wise, I had a 3.6 and graduated 62 out of 260 but I didn't want to goto college at the time so my junior and senior years weren't filled with any tough courses, no AP, Honors or anything special...my SAT scores were very mediocre, didn't study at all and didn't care - about 1100.</p>

<p>Over the last 2 years at NCC, I have maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA and have never received anything other than an A, through 54 credits. I have taken all the standard core intro liberal arts courses that one would expect to take.. Soc, Psy, His, Phi, Pol , 2 sciences (Chem. and Astron.) and 1 math (Logic). My electives have been advanced level lib. courses in the same areas, with a focus on advanced Lit. courses since I'd always planned to be an Englis/Lit major.</p>

<p>I had 2 excellent letters of recommendation from two of my professors, both PHd's, one a Lit. and the other a Psy professor. I also consider myself an above average writer so my essay was very well done, technically and creatively speaking. </p>

<p>Hope this helps, if you have any more questions, don't hesitate to ask.</p>

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<p>thank you for the info, it's very helpful. best of luck at nyu!</p>

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<p>Columbia and NYU felt VERY different when we visited them. You should make a decision based on where you would fit better, not on an outsider (and potentially incorrect) view of how they value you.</p>

<p>Columbia seemed more populated with kids who enjoy learning for the sake of learning. The school itself has very strong liberal art inclinations. NYU felt more like a school oriented towards giving grads a vocation, where students were perhaps a bit less bookish and more likely to pay attention to what is going on in the city. Before people flame me, let me put in a disclaimer - neither one of these is meant to be derogatory. Both qualities have their pluses and minuses. </p>

<p>If I was the one making the decision, I would ask myself where I would fit better, not which school I think "loves" me more. The bottom line is that both are large schools, you will mostly be a number at both, and it will be up to you to get the most out of your education.</p>

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<p>I understand what you're saying Groovy but it's not about "which school loves me"... it's about what school respects me as a legit. student. If you read my post above where I reprinted the post I made on the Columbia Forums, you'll se what the issues are for me.</p>

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<p>Track:</p>

<p>It seems you have issues with Columbia. They made their decision about your admission. Now you have to make your decision about where you'll go. It doesn't help to gripe on the two CC boards. List your pros/cons for each school. Do some soul searching and make your decision. I'm sure you make the best decision for you and things will work o ut great. After all you have two really good schools to chose from.</p>

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<p>as one of the few people who have been at NYU long enough to see job offers, junior year internship offers (retardedly important), etc....I will say this with absolute certainty, pick columbia. NYU might have the stats, but HR at every respectable firm still believe Columbia to be light years ahead of NYU. If it was Stern, it'd be a toss-up, but CAS is a POS.</p>

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<p>i just read the thread, no idea how recruiters handle the GS thing.</p>

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<p>On average this observation is certainly true. It is also certainly true that there simply are firms with lists of "preferred schools" that will hire mostly from those schools. However, each job offer is an individual decision, and a qualified candidate from any school can make it. I say that from experience - PhD from a 90-100 ranked school, was (barely) hired by one of those companies that tends to hire almost exclusively from top engineering schools, and have done wonderfully for myself since.</p>

<p>Track seems to have a good reason for choosing NYU over Columbia. It is more important for YOU to feel good about your college than it is for others to think that it is a good school.</p>

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<p>A POS? Aren't you exagerrating a bit. I mean, granted NYU is not Columbia, but your telling me a school ranked 30th in the entire nation has a POS college of liberal arts? I find that hard to believe. If I'm trying to get a job in an entertainment or movie production related company, and they see I graduated NYU with honors, your telling me I might not even get an interview if another applicant went to Columbia or Upenn and graduated without distinction? Wow, is there really THAT much of a HUGE gap between the reputations of both schools in the eyes of recruiters?</p>

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<p>why didn't you apply to Tisch or Gallatin then... When you start taking classes at CAS you'll see what I mean, I'm a politics minor...</p>

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<p>I didn't apply to Tisch cause I thought CAS is where you go to study Literature and that's where the Film Studies major is listed under too...</p>

<p>Now I'm worrried,exactly what's so horrible about it? The teachers? the facilities? the people? or all of the above? lol</p>

<p>Maybe I'll send in a deferment till Fall 2008 for Columbia and try one semester at NYU, if its that bad, I can always start CU in the Fall..but I would still like some more details on why it's so bad.. if you don't mind.. </p>

<p>BTW thought the population of the school was like 63% female, that has to go into the "Plus" column, doesn't it? lol</p>

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<p>in all honesty...if you are gonna transfer to tisch or stern, than go to NYU
but if you major isnt business/art related, then def go for COLUMBIA, it beats NYU academically, for obvious reasons.</p>

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<p>^^^^
Here is obvious proof:
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/new-york-university/324792-im-starting-petition-10.html#post5099326%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/new-york-university/324792-im-starting-petition-10.html#post5099326&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>You would NEVER see a thread like that in the Columbia forum</p>

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<p>Wow, that is an amazing opportunity to get into the two best schools in NYC.</p>

<p>If you are looking at general stats and prestige, COLUMBIA certainly beats NYU by far. It is one of the absolute hardest schools to get into, and holds incredible prestige. I would certainly feel honored if presented with a chance to go. But would I immediately take it?</p>

<p>The top Ivy Leagues aren't for everyone. I know the type of people who get into these schools, and honestly, I'm not one of them. These kids have been top of their class since they were 6, and are academically superior. I'm pretty smart, but I simply don't fall in with this group. I'm smart, but just not like this. After saying that, I wouldn't exactly feel in place at Columbia. But I really feel like NYU caters to the type of people like me. Not the absolute brightest people in America, but just right behind. You know the type of person you are, and you need to go to a place that fits you. But in the end, don't worry about it. You will end up great out of either one of these places!</p>